To wrap up the fall 2010 season, I’d like to congratulate several high schools teams on a job well done.

With All-Region and All-State considerations around the corner, I’d like to hand out a few fall sports awards of my own.

For my Team of the Year award, I’d like to nominate the Sedona Red Rock High School cross country team.
The Scorpions girls were outstanding in 2010, winning the first Division IV Section II championship in October and coming only 35 points away from claiming their first state title.

Sedona finished second overall at the Cave Creek Golf Course in Phoenix in early November at the Division IV State Championships behind cross country juggernaut, Hopi High School.

Individually, Sedona had at least three different girls win a race this season, with sophomore standouts Mykala Seresun, Taylor Gage and Eva Wilson leading the way. Senior Hope Goimarac won a race or two as well, making it the most successful cross country team the Scorpions have had in school history.

Receiving my runner-up Team of the Year award is the Sedona volleyball team.

Sedona claimed the 3A West region tournament championship over Wickenburg High School in October, and finished 30-4 overall this fall. It was Sedona’s fourth consecutive West region championship.

Although the No. 5-seed Scorpions were impressive this season, they were upset by No. 12 Snowflake High School in the first round of the 3A conference state tournament, prematurely ending their season.

For my Surprise Team of the Year award, the Camp Verde High School volleyball team could not be overlooked.

Second-year Head Coach Darcy Evans and her Cowboys finished ranked No. 17 in the 2A conference state playoffs. Camp Verde finished 15-15 overall this season after winning only a handful of matches in 2009.

The Cowboys qualified for the state playoffs after missing them all-together in 2009 but lost to No. 16 Horizon Honors High School in the first round, 3-0.

Key victories over several 2A Central region opponents and rival Chino Valley High School may earn Evans a coach of the year award from her peers.

As for a special mention in my Surprise Team of the Year award, I’d like to nominate the Mingus Union High School golf team.

The Marauders, under the tutelage of Head Coach Craig Mai, missed the Division II State Championships by only a few strokes, but were outstanding throughout regular season action.
Led by the play of senior Mike Rebstein, Mingus recorded several victories at dual matches this year.

With many young golfers coming up, the Marauders could be a solid team over the next two years.

As for the individual section of my fall sports awards column, I’d like to start with my Athlete of the Year nomination.

Camp Verde football senior Tanner Rezzonico was outstanding this fall and received an All-State selection by The Arizona Republic last month.

Rezzonico led the Cowboys in rushing with 854 yards, averaging 77.4 yards per game on the ground, while scoring 10 touchdowns.

Rezzonico wasn’t bad on defense either, finishing second overall in tackles with 97, including one interception and one fumble recovery.

Receiving my runner-up Athlete of the Year award, Sedona’s Evan Decker was outstanding in the water this season helping the Scorpions to a solid finish at state.

Decker won several events for the Scorpions and finished third overall at the Division II State Championships in November with a 1:59.65 time in the 200-meter individual medley.

And last, but not least, my nomination for the Coach of the Year award goes to long-time Mingus football Head Coach Bob Young.

Young and his Marauders entered the 2010 season with high expectations. Most considered Mingus a favorite to win the 4A-II state championship after a stellar junior class carried the Marauders to the state semifinals in 2009 before losing to Santa Rita High School.

This year, despite one devastating injury after another, the Marauders finished with an impressive 9-3 overall record, but lost to Notre Dame Preparatory Academy less than two weeks ago, ending its season.
Young, despite numerous injuries, kept the Mingus ship afloat, and the Marauders wound up having a stellar season.

Congratulations to all the award winners for the fall 2010 season, and we look forward to many fall athletes returning to the field of play for the winter sports.