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The winningest group, the Ray Junior Lady Cats sports teams won four championships this year.
Copper Basin News
What a year it was for the female student-athletes at Ray Jr. High. They had a year to remember and perhaps not soon to be duplicated after winning championships in volleyball, basketball, softball and track.
As seventh graders, this group of girls won two championships; one in basketball and the other in track. The potential to exceed last year’s accomplishments was there when they returned for their final year of Jr. High School. But as most of us know, sometimes it’s easier said than done to meet such lofty expectations, which makes this year’s results even more rewarding.
Physical Education teacher and volleyball head coach Stacy Johnson attributed the success of all four teams to positive attitudes and behaviors and “real” teamwork.
“They play as a team, they’re selfless, they’re good humored, and they don’t get down on each other if one makes a bad play,” Johnson told the Copper Basin News. “Selfless is the big thing, I think.”
In addition to be champions on the court, in the field, and on the track, these true student-athletes were champions in the classroom.
“These female athletes stayed eligible this entire school year and most of these girls maintained high academic standards by being on the various honor rolls provided at Ray JR/SR High School this year,” Johnson wrote in an email. “All of these girls knew that their class work needed to come first before they could succeed on the court or in the field. They proved that good things happen when you work hard at everything you do.”
Of course, the teams could not have had the success without the coaches who dedicated their time, energy, and love for their respective sport and players. Each of them helped ensure positive values were instilled at each game and practice, which led their team to a championship level.
The following is a list of rosters for the Jr. Bearcats’ four championship teams:
Eighth-grade Volleyball:
Jorianna Hudson, Riley Cude, Tara Lorona, Julie Meza, Daniella Hinojos, Corrina Martinez, Augie-Lou Hing, Amee Kenyon, Myranda Figueroa and Hailey Rutter.
Eighth-grade Basketball:
Jorianna Hudson, Riley Cude, Tara Lorona, Julie Meza, Daniella Hinojos, Corrina Martinez, Amee Kenyon, Myranda Figueroa, Hailey Rutter, Destiny Gonzales and Anahi Aragon.
Eighth-grade Softball:
Tara Lorona, Julie Meza, Daniella Hinojos, Amee Kenyon, Myranda Figueroa and Destiny Gonzales.
Eighth-grade Track:
Jorianna Hudson, Riley Cude, Hailey Rutter, Brittany Smitch, Janna Lengel and Grassie Schepers.
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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