• Slug: Sports-ASU Pitcher Race Car Driver, 1,200 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Dorian Zavala
Cronkite News

AVONDALE – Even in these days of specialization, two-sport high school athletes who excel on the field and the track aren’t unusual.

Unless the track is a raceway and the athlete’s “other” sport is professional stock car racing.

Meet Cody Kiemele, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound highly touted left-handed pitcher from Arlington High School, in Riverside, California, who has verbally committed to Arizona State. Continue reading “Driven: Sun Devils baseball recruit Cody Kiemele excels on diamond, oval”

• Slug: Sports-New ASU Swimming Coach, 970 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Stephen Buxton
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Eleven years ago, Herbie Behm was an athlete swimming at Arizona State. Now at his alma mater, Behm takes the reins of one of the country’s premier programs – a program completely shaped in the image of one man, Bob Bowman.

Bowman’s sudden departure to assume a newly-created role at the University of Texas after leading ASU to its first national championship last weekend left his replacement, Behm, with little time to process the move and sizable shoes to fill.

“I was told at 9:30 a.m. on Monday,” Behm said of learning Bowman was leaving ASU to become the Longhorns’ director of swimming and diving and head men’s swimming and diving coach. “We had a conversation with the (athletic directors), and Bob told me he was leaving for Texas.” Continue reading “Herbie Behm takes coaching reins from Bob Bowman, aims to keep ASU swimming on top”

• Slug: Sports-Coyotes Fans, Players Reax, 680 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Josh Jones
Cronkite News

TEMPE – As the season – and 28 years of ice hockey in the desert – came to a close, Arizona Coyotes players removed their jerseys and tossed them to chosen fans. There was no rush to get off the ice because nobody wanted to leave. The players stayed to sign autographs and tossed merchandise over the glass, while spectators and team employees choked back tears.

For upwards of 40 minutes postgame, the sold-out hometown crowd and the Coyotes shared one final moment in a season finale that brought on mixed emotions – from crying and cheers to hugs and shared memories throughout the concourse at Mullett Arena.

Wednesday night marked the end of a long, up-and-down era for the Coyotes, who are relocating to Salt Lake City after nearly three decades in the Valley, similar to how the game played out in Arizona’s 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Continue reading “Paradise lost: Coyotes, fans share emotional embrace in likely Arizona swan song”

• Slug: Sports-Writer Rockies Pitcher Connection, 1,800 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Josh Amick
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – In early November 2022, my life, college career and aspirations came to a screeching halt. The discovery of a mass led to a diagnosis of Stage 3 testicular cancer.

I was devastated.

The cancer, which is the most common among men 20 to 40 years old, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, required extensive chemotherapy, which greatly affected my physical and mental well-being. After doctors initially told me I would need three rounds of chemo, it soon became four. Then I learned I would need additional surgery to remove lymph nodes in my stomach, which meant 8-10 more weeks of recovery. Continue reading “Life’s curveballs: A writer and a righty find connection through health scares”

• Slug: Sports-WNBA Media Rights, 900 words.
• Photo available.

By Tia Reid
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Never in the existence of the sport has women’s basketball been bigger than it is right now, which has the WNBA looking forward to a big payday when it negotiates a new media rights deal after the 2025 season.

The 2024 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game averaged 18.9 million viewers, peaking at 24 million. It was the second-most-watched non-Olympic sporting ever in the United States. And Monday’s WNBA Draft drew 2.45 million viewers, the most ever, making it the most-viewed WNBA event on ESPN platforms.

Stars such as the newly drafted Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and exciting veterans like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart are attracting a whole new audience, rapidly shifting the media landscape of women’s basketball. Continue reading “WNBA evaluating how superstar Cailtlin Clark, women’s sports popularity can help secure lucrative media rights deal”

• Slug: Sports-Pat’s Run First Responders, 800 words.
• Photo available.

By Anthony Remedios
Cronkite News

TEMPE – A tradition like no other, Pat’s Run celebrated its 20th anniversary Saturday with approximately 28,000 participants taking part in a 4.2-mile run or walk along the scenic routes of Tempe.

The race featured a stampede from all backgrounds, including military veterans, Arizona State athletes and football coach Kenny Dillingham, Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon and senior citizens, among many more.

Perhaps no segment of the crowd stands out more than local firefighters and other first responders, who support the cause while wearing their full equipment, setting them apart from other participants.
Tillman’s legacy has inspired millions around the world since leaving the NFL in 2002 to enlist in the Army with his brother, Kevin, in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. That legacy lives on through not only the Pat Tillman Foundation but also through the many participants of Pat’s Run. Continue reading “The ultimate sacrifice: Tillman’s legacy burns bright as firefighters lead Pat’s Run 20-year celebration”

• Slug: Sports-GCU Men’s Volleyball, 660 words.
• Photo available.

By Connor Manning
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Following the announcement of Jamie Boggs taking over the athletic program at Grand Canyon University, sports across the board reached heights not seen in the school’s 10-year Division I era.

The men’s basketball team earned three NCAA tournament appearances in four seasons, including the program’s first tournament victory in March, while the women’s basketball team finished second in the Western Athletic Conference this year. The softball squad, meanwhile, is on pace for its third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.

Even club sports are seeing ascension and success, with the men’s hockey team competing in its first national tournament game during Bogg’s tenure. Continue reading “Up trend: GCU men’s volleyball program is latest Antelopes team to gain national attention”

• Slug: Sports-Mercury Draft Preview, 1,300 words.
• Photo available.

By Justin de Haas
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The 2024 WNBA Draft is garnering plenty of excitement off the heels of record-high viewership from the 2024 Women’s NCAA Final Four, but the Phoenix Mercury will not participate in much of the action.

The NCAA Championship game April 7 drew 18.7 million viewers –nearly four million more viewers than the men’s championship – and the momentum keeps rolling Monday with the 2024 WNBA Draft.

The NCAA Tournament interest was fueled by the success of Iowa star Caitlin Clark, who is expected to go No. 1 to the Indiana Fever in today’s draft. But there were other generational stars in the tournament who also will be among the top players in today’s draft, including Stanford forward Cameron Brink, South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso, Connecticut forward Aailiya Edwards and Louisiana State center Angel Reese. Continue reading “WNBA Draft Day arrives, but Phoenix Mercury’s splash already made in Kahleah Copper trade”

• Slug: Sports-WNBA Draft Impact, 1,250 words.
• Photo available.

By Tia Reid
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Just eight days separate the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship game and Monday’s WNBA Draft, meaning players from teams who made it far into the tournament have had just a little over a week to reset and turn their attention to the next phase of their careers.

While the turnaround may be short, it can also have its benefits. Players who put up stellar performances in the later stages of March Madness can leave a lasting impression in the minds of WNBA general managers and executives. Draft stocks can shoot up and solidify based on the way a player performs in the final few games of their collegiate careers, drastically changing the outlook on their professional careers.

“I think body of work is always important because consistency is something that’s important, but I do think that there’s something to be said about meeting the moment,” ESPN basketball analyst Andraya Carter said. “And in a very high-pressure situation, performing well and doing exactly what your team needs for success when there are times where you could fold or there are times where the pressure could be too much.” Continue reading “How 2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament affected WNBA Draft stock for collegiate superstars”

• Slug: Sports-Saguaro Beach Volleyball, 850 words.
• Photo available.

By Brett Lapinski
Cronkite News

SCOTTSDALE – One year ago, Saguaro High School’s beach volleyball team broke the mold for the program with its first playoff appearance, which included a first-round upset over No. 5 seed Valley Christian before losing a 3-2 heartbreaker in the quarterfinals to Northwest Christian. With this year’s playoffs slated to begin Tuesday afternoon, the Sabercats are in prime position for a title run just one season after their first playoff berth.

Saguaro enters the 2024 AIA Beach Volleyball Division II State Team Championship playoffs as the No. 6 seed behind a program-best 10-2 regular season and will face No. 11 AZ College Prep (10-3) in the first round.

Even though the Sabercats ended last season on a high note, they entered this season with multiple question marks. The first question was how would the team perform under new coach David Mietzner, who replaced Tim Church in the offseason. Mietzner came in with plenty of indoor volleyball coaching experience, but he knew beach volleyball is not the same playing field. Luckily for him, he happened to be friends with the most decorated high school beach volleyball coach in Arizona: Tim McHale. McHale has amassed eight championships during his current tenure at Xavier College Prep, so Mietzner knew if there was anyone to help him dip his toes into the beach volleyball coaching world, it would be McHale. Continue reading “Saguaro beach volleyball rides stellar season into promising playoff run”

• Slug: Sports-Brewers Hometown Teammates, 1,300 words.
• 2 file photos available.

By David Bernauer
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Familiarity may breed contempt, but not for pitchers JB Bukauskas and Taylor Clarke. They’ve found that, when entering a new situation for the first time, perhaps it’s better to have someone you know on your side.

Bukauskas and Clarke both hail from the same hometown, Ashburn, Virginia, and the two are both pitchers within the Milwaukee Brewers organization. The Brewers will look to them among others as they retool their pitching staff following the trade of 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes and a season-ending injury to Brandon Woodruff.

While Ashburn may be a typical Washington D.C. suburb, the town of about 45,000 people isn’t historically a baseball hotbed. Continue reading “Reunited: From Ashburn to Arizona to Milwaukee, pitchers JB Bukauskas and Taylor Clarke together again”

• Slug: Sports-Coyotes Outside Noise, 950 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Sean Brennan
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Shortly after Wednesday’s overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes players celebrated in the visitors’ dressing room in the bowels of Rogers Arena.

Forward Liam O’Brien handed a football meant to symbolize a “game ball” given to the squad’s best player that night to rookie forward Logan Cooley, who scored the game-winning goal, as cheers from his teammates filled the room. Amid the endless saga of recent relocation rumors, the latest of which came Wednesday and hinted at the franchise potentially relocating to Salt Lake City, none of it seemed to matter during that very moment.

While much of the sports world was riveted by rampant speculation that this might be the team’s final season in Arizona, the players seemed unfazed by the off-ice drama. After all, they’d just taken the Canucks, one of the NHL’s elite teams this season, to overtime before Cooley lit the lamp with just over a minute left in the frame to cement a 4-3 victory. Continue reading “Blocking the noise: Arizona Coyotes aim to limit outside distractions, finish season strong”

• Slug: Sports-Pat’s Run, 800 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Hannah Pedeferri
Cronkite News

TEMPE – In what has become an April ritual and a highlight of the Valley’s sports scene, approximately 30,000 people will flood the streets around Arizona State’s Tempe campus Saturday morning to participate in the 20th annual Pat’s Run, honoring fallen hero Pat Tillman.

As of Friday morning, more than 24,000 people had registered for the race, while more than 4,000 people signed up to participate virtually.

The 4.2-mile run was first held in 2005 by friends and family who wanted to honor the legacy of Tillman, a linebacker for Arizona State (and later an Arizona Cardinals safety for four seasons) who wore No. 42 for the Sun Devils while leading ASU to the Rose Bowl in 1997. Continue reading “‘We’re here because Pat lived’: Tempe gears up for 20th annual Pat’s Run, in honor of Pat Tillman”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Running Backs, 850 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Justin de Haas
Cronkite News

TEMPE – “Skattebo, Skatte-can, Skatte-touchdown!”

Those were the words of Fox Sports college football play-by-play announcer Tim Brando when Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo broke through two missed tackles to scamper in for a 52-yard touchdown against USC last season.

That was a breakout moment for Skattebo, who finished the season as the team’s leading rusher with 783 rushing yards and the third-most receiving yards (286). In a rebuilding 3-9 season, the performances from the ASU running back room was a silver lining amid the struggles. Continue reading “‘There ain’t no soft-baked cookies’: Arizona State taps transfer portal with running backs primed to reverse backslide”