by 
A group photo of all the award recipients.
Superior High School Principal and Athletic Director William Duarte emceed the school’s annual Sports Awards Banquet, which took place on May 10.
Duarte, along with Superior’s coaches and teachers, has helped facilitate success in the classroom and on the field for the Panthers’ student-athletes.
“It’s a dream I’ve been having for a long time,” Duarte said at last year’s banquet about the dual success of the school’s student-athletes. “It starts at the junior high and we want to build successful programs.”
Several of the Panthers’ athletic programs have achieved highest level of success, especially in recent years thanks, in part, to talented classes that have gone through the school. This year no exception.
Manny Ruiz Award recipient Joseph Diaz-Gonzalez (LT) with Superior Principal Billy Duarte (RT).
Seniors Joseph Diaz-Gonzalez, Maribel Castro and Austin Navarrette took home the top awards at the event. All three are multi-sport student-athletes.
Diaz-Gonzalez, who played football, basketball and baseball, was the winner of the Manny Ruiz Award, which is given each year to the student-athlete who displays good citizenship, excels academically, and performs well on the court or on the field.
“It means a lot to me because if you look at the teams I’ve been with, there are lot of players that could’ve won this award as well,” Diaz-Gonzalez said. “I’m very thankful and grateful to be chosen.”
He plans to study at Central Arizona College but is undecided on which area. He’s narrowed it to either Sports Physician or Engineering Robotics.
Female Athlete of the Year Maribel Castro (LT) and Male Athlete of the Year Austin Navarrette with Superior Principal Billy Duarte (center).
Maribel Castro, a three-sport athlete, was named the Female Athlete of the Year in addition to earning several other honors at the banquet, including MVP of the girls’ tennis team.
“I’ve worked really hard in varsity sports and in school,” Castro told the Superior Sun. “I’m very blessed and grateful to win this award.”
The owner of a 3.8 GPA, Castro plans to attend Central Arizona College before transferring to the University of Arizona. She wants to pursue a career as a trauma nurse.
Castro believes competing in sports has helped prepare for life after graduation.
“Any sport teaches teamwork, strength and communication,” she said. “You have to be able to communicate and understand others to be successful.”
Austin Navarrette, a member of the Panthers’ state champion baseball team, was named the Male Athlete of the Year after a four-year, three-sport career at Superior, where he earned a 3.3 GPA.
“It feels good to make my family proud,” Navarrette said about winning the top male award.
In addition to being named the Male Athlete of the Year, Navarrette earned the Coaches Award in baseball.
His future plans include studying to be a dental hygienist at Central Arizona College and Northern Arizona University.
“Everything you go through in sports prepares you for everything else in life,” Navarrette said. “Whatever you put in on the field translates off the field as well.”
Just about every Superior student-athlete is a multi-sport competitor and it showed at the banquet earlier this month as several athletes won awards in multiple sports.
Congratulations to all.
Varsity Football
Offensive MVP – Nicolaus Cruz
Defensive MVP – Jalon Murray
Team MVP – Nicolaus Cruz
HS JV Volleyball
Outstanding DEF Player – Marlee Estatico
Outstanding OFF Player – Augustine-Lou Hing
Most Improved – Julissa Garcia
Varsity Volleyball
Outstanding DEF Player – Kiki Arriola
Outstanding OFF Player – Maribel Castro
Most Improved – Korinna Romero
Football Spiritline
Leadership Award – Ashley Lira
Most Spirited – Sivanna Lopez
Most Improved – Amber Alonzo
Girls’ Basketball
MVP – Julissa Garcia
OFF Player – Marlee Estatico
DEF Player – Maribel Castro
Rose Award – Marlee Estatico
Basketball Spiritline
Leadership Award – Sivanna Lopez
Most Spirited – Ashley Lira
Most Improved – Makayla Martinez
Boys’ Basketball
Offensive POY – Marcos Bueno
Defensive POY – Marcos Bueno
Big Man Award – Jalon Murray
JV Boys’ Basketball
OFF MVP – Steven Ybarra
DEF MVP – Jesus Castellanos
Most Improved – Benjamin Hernandez
Varsity Baseball
Coaches Award – Nicolaus Cruz
Coaches Award – Austin Navarrette
Coaches Award – Edgar Galindo
Girls’ Tennis
MVP – Maribel Castro
Most Improved – Jewel Meza
Best Sportsmanship – Eleanna Ybarra
Boys’ Tennis
MVP – Dominic Perea
Most Improved – Matthew Hernandez
Best Sportsmanship – Jesus Gonzales
JV Softball
MVP – DeAndrian Bogenschutz
Offensive POY – Makayla Martinez
Defensive POY – Kayla Cardenas
Most Improved – Stephanie Martinez
Varsity Softball
MVP – Victoria Juarez
Offensive POY – Marissa Estatico
Defensive POY – Kiki Arriola
Most Improved – Marlee Estatico
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
by by