By Don Ketchum

Another outstanding Arizona high school sports year is in the books, so before the sun fries our brain, let’s remember some of the most noteworthy achievements from 2011-12 in Phoenix, Scottsdale, the southwest and northwest Valley, and northern Arizona . . .

Badminton

Jessica Michael of Phoenix Xavier Prep entered the Division I state tournament as the No. 4 seed, but when all was said and done, she took home the championship.  She defeated the No. 1 seed in the semifinals and the No. 2 seed in the finals.

Baseball

Scottsdale Chaparral earned its second straight title with a dramatic win over Phoenix Brophy Prep in Division I. Phoenix Sunnyslope, the No. 8 seed, proved that you don’t have to be in the top three or four to win it all when it defeated Peoria Liberty in the Division II title game. And top seed River Valley climbed to the top of Division III.

Boys’ basketball

Laveen Cesar Chavez was the No. 6 seed in the Division I tournament and reached the championship game before falling to Tempe Corona del Sol. Cesar Chavez scored a big overtime win over Phoenix Pinnacle in the semifinals to advance.

In Division II, Peoria High earned a last-second victory over Tucson Amphitheater as star point guard DeWayne Russell fed Sam Engler for a game-winning layup.

Phoenix Country Day School defeated Phoenix Arizona Lutheran in Division IV.

Girls’ basketball

Phoenix St. Mary’s was All-Everything, not just in Arizona, but on the national scene, after breezing to the Division I title. And in Division III, Page took care of long-time rival Winslow to win the title.

Cross country

Three outstanding runners were individual winners and led their teams to championships. They were Sarah Fakler of Phoenix Xavier Prep (Division I), Tatiana Gillick of Flagstaff (Division II) and Rolonda Jumbo of Chinle (Division III).

In addition, the boys’ and girls’ teams from Keams Canyon Hopi kept lengthy championship streaks alive with wins in Division IV.

Football

Scottsdale schools Chaparral (Division II) and Saguaro (Division III) won state titles, then lost their head coaches to rival colleges – Charlie Ragle to the University of Arizona and John Sanders to Arizona State.

Lakeside Blue Ridge continued an incredible run of success under coach Paul Moro in Division III.

The Yellowjackets won their 12^th title since 1987 with Moro leading the way.

Blue Ridge won it all in 1987, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2009 and 2011 and finished as state runner-up in 1998, 1999, 2008 and 2010.

And Joseph City appears to be building a mini-dynasty in eight-man Division VI after another title led by coach John Bryant.

Golf

Zach Wright of Phoenix Pinnacle and Sarah Schmelzel of Phoenix Xavier Prep won Division I individual titles.

Sand volleyball

As it is in many other sports, Phoenix Xavier Prep was triumphant in this first foray to beach-style.

It was rated very successful and has the capability of developing into one of the more popular sports.

Soccer

Phoenix Cortez (Division III) and Lakeside Blue Ridge (Division IV) won boys’ titles, and Goodyear Estrella Foothills captured the Division III girls’ crown.

Softball

Phoenix Bourgade Catholic defeated Winslow in the Division III title game.

Swimming and diving

Phoenix Brophy Prep (boys) and Phoenix Xavier Prep (girls) continued their dominance in Division I, and Phoenix Arcadia triumphed in Division II girls.

Tennis

Phoenix Brophy Prep (boys) and Phoenix Xavier Prep (girls) also ruled with racquets.

Among the area winners in doubles and singles . . .

Griffin Dales-Joshua Hedderig (Cave Creek Cactus Shadows), Division II; Matt Fisher-Jamie Sydnor (Fountain Hills), Division III; Max Schell (Goodyear Estrella Foothills), Division III; Maggie Cohen-Scarlet Rush (Phoenix Xavier Prep), Division I; Leah Stofko-Nicole Bassoff (Phoenix Country Day School), Division III; and Erin Cory (Goodyear Estrella Foothills), Division III.

Track and field

The southeast Valley and southern Arizona took home the bulk of the hardware, but the girls from Cottonwood Mingus did the upper part of the state proud with a win in Division III.

Girls’ volleyball

Phoenix Sunnyslope (Division II), Phoenix Northwest Christian (Division IV) and Phoenix Veritas Prep (Division V) were the big winners.

Wrestling

Among the top individual winners . . .

Division I – Samson Imonode, Phoenix Horizon, 152 pounds, 48-0 record; Matt Zismann, Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor, heavyweight.

Division II – Brad Lindsay, Flagstaff, 138 pounds; Luis Rivera, Lake Havasu, 170; Jamien Bennalley, Peoria, 220; Luke Braun, Phoenix Shadow Mountain, heavyweight, 28-0.

Division IV – Ryder Nielsen, St. Johns, 113; Ryan Allred, Camp Verde, 120; Dallyn Despain, Heber Mogollon, 126; Boone Baker, Mogollon, 195; Evan Barazza, Phoenix Bourgade Catholic, heavyweight.

St. Johns won the Division IV title with five individual winners.

Congratulations to everyone and we look forward to 2012-13 !!