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Superior Panthers
Superior High School Principal and Athletic Director William Duarte emceed the annual Sports Awards Banquet, which took place on Wednesday, May 9, at the school.
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.
Senior Tori Juarez as well as juniors Kale Major and Jesus Castellanos were the recipients of the top awards at the event. All three are multi-sport student athletes.
Juarez, who committed to study and play softball at Glendale Community College in February, was named the Female Athlete of the Year.
Major, a three-sport athlete – football, basketball and baseball – at Superior after moving from New Mexico, was named the Male Athlete of the Year.
Castellanos, who played football and baseball this year, was the winner of the Manny Ruiz Award, which is given each year to the student-athlete who displays good citizenship, excels academically, exhibits grit, and performs well on the court or on the field.
Just about every Superior student-athlete is a multi-sport competitor and it showed at the banquet earlier this month as several won awards in multiple sports.
Congratulations to all.
Varsity Football
Team MVP – Steven Ybarra
Defensive MVP – Cedric Mendoza
Offensive MVP – Steven Ybarra
JV Volleyball
Best Off Player – McKenna Duarte
Best Def Player – Dolores Ramirez
Most Improved – Monique Sanchez
MVP – Marlee Estatico
Varsity Volleyball
Best Off Player – Lindsay Ketron
Best Def Player – Marisa Estatico
Most Improved – Marlee Estatico
MVP – Yuvithzia Romero
Football Spiritline
Leadership Award – Sivanna Lopez
Most Spirited – Ashley M. Lira
Most Improved – Elizabeth Valdez
Girls Varsity Basketball
MVP – Alexa Sandoval
Offensive Player – Alexa Sandoval
Defensive Player – Augustine Hing
Rose Award – Augustine Hing
Basketball Spiritline
Leadership Award – Sivanna Lopez
Most Spirited – Casandra Drennan
Most Improved – Alyssa Bailey
Boys Varsity Basketball
Off MVP – Cedric Mendoza
Def MVP – Cedric Mendoza
Most Improved – Nathan Duarte
Boys JV Basketball
Off MVP – Matthew Perez
Def MVP – Dominic Hernandez
Most Improved – Samuel Lopez
Varsity Baseball
Most Improved All-Michael Hing
Coach Awards – Jesus Castellanos, Kale Major, and Steven Ybarra
Girls Tennis
MVP – Naomi Bo Hing
Most Improved – Ashley Lira
Best Sportsmanship – Jewel Meza
Boys Tennis
MVP – Matthew Hernandez
Most Improved – Matthew Hernandez & Brandon Martinez
JV Softball
MVP – DeAndrian Bogenschutz
Off Player of the Year – McKenna Duarte
Def Player of the Year – Marlee Estatico
Most Improved – Jordan Lopez
Varsity Softball
MVP – Kiki Arriola
Off Player of the Year – Anisah Cardenas
Def Player of the Year – Marisa Estatico
Most Improved – Analysse Jaurez
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.
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