• Slug: Sports–Arizona Wildcats Struggles. 800 words.
• Photo available.

By Saleh Awwad
Cronkite News

TUCSON – Just when it appeared Arizona was ready to live up to preseason expectations after they upset top-10 ranked Utah on the road, the Wildcats wasted a strong defensive effort and lost at home to Texas Tech.

The Wildcats dominated in almost every area against the Red Raiders, except the one that counts most – the score.

Arizona beat Tech handily in time of possession, total yards and first downs. However, the Wildcats were unable to finish off drives, settling instead for five Tyler Loop field goals in a 28-22 loss at Arizona Stadium. The offensive woes wasted a solid Wildcats defensive performance against a good Red Raiders offense that came in averaging 41.6 points a game.  Continue reading “Tech fall: Arizona slips to 3-2 with home loss to Red Raiders; road test at BYU next”

• Slug: Sports-BLK Run Club, 575 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Keller Brown
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Even with the scorching heat pummeling down on Arizona residents, hundreds of people still come out every Sunday morning to run on Tempe Town Lake because of the sense of community that BLK Arizona Run Club provides.

Every Sunday starts at 7:30 a.m. with a group stretch, with the runners surrounded by Black-owned business vendors. From fresh lemonade to granola bars, attendees are enticed by healthy options before, during and after running along the lake.

Emanuel Jones, a fitness trainer who founded the club in the beginning of June, created it to give opportunities for connections and community, and potentially even more. That includes possible romantic connections. Continue reading “BLK Arizona Run Club builds community in the Valley, one step at a time”

• Slug: Sports-Jack Gohlke Journey, 1,575 words.
• Photos available.

By Dylan Ackermann
Cronkite News

TACOMA – Jack Gohlke’s journey since he drilled 10 3-point shots to lead 14th seeded Oakland University to a Cinderella upset of third-seeded Kentucky in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament began as a nationwide tour.

And now it has taken an international turn.

Gohlke’s first stop took place during Final Four festivities in the 3-Point Contest at GCU’s Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix April 4, then he was off to State Farm Stadium in nearby Glendale for the Reese’s NABC All-Star Game the following day. Continue reading “March Madness sensation Jack Gohlke competes at Isaiah Thomas tournament, takes hoop dreams overseas”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Men’s Basketball, 675 words.
• Photo available.

By Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Shawn Philips and Adam Miller are just entering their 20s, but in the Arizona State locker room, they are now considered the old heads. Philips and Miller are two of only four players remaining from last year’s ASU men’s basketball team who will embark on another campaign in the desert.

Despite massive roster upheaval – for a second consecutive offseason – coach Bobby Hurley is optimistic as the new-look Sun Devils head into their first season in the Big 12 Conference in 2024-25.

“I think we have a good mixture of experienced and skilled guys,” Hurley said. “Our shooting should be vastly improved compared to last year or just our overall ability to put the ball in the basket.” Continue reading “Optimism surrounds Arizona State men’s basketball team as new season approaches”

• Slug: Sports-Diamondbacks Playoff Push, 760 words.
• 3 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Sean Brennan
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — During his playing career, which included seven seasons in the Major Leagues, Torey Lovullo saw the worst of a manager following a tough loss. Sometimes, Lovullo would take the frustrations to heart. There were also instances where there was no true message being sent, and he paid no mind.

Above all, those experiences have provided the eighth-year Arizona Diamondbacks manager with the knowledge of the right moment and circumstance to try and send a message to his group. There is a time and place, but if done right, a common sense of urgency is felt. And after suffering an 11-0 blowout to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday amid a tight wild-card race, he didn’t rip into his team, but tough conversations needed to be had.

“I did say some things to the team last night,” Lovullo said before Wednesday’s contest. “Everybody was engaged, everybody was listening to me and everybody was locked into what I was saying … I care about you guys, but we’ve got to figure some s— out.” Continue reading “Diamondbacks embrace pressure as MLB postseason push intensifies entering final regular-season series”

• Slug: Sports-Liberty Hayden Fletcher, 500 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Ethan Desjardine
Cronkite News

PEORIA – For the first time since 2021, after years of stellar play by two-time Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year Navi Bruzon, the Liberty Lions are looking to a new signal caller, senior quarterback Hayden Fletcher, to lead their offense.

Bruzon set the standard for quarterback play at Liberty, leading his team to a state championship in 2023, and finishing as the most decorated player in school history, passing for more than 7,500 yards and accounting for 112 touchdowns. Bruzon is now a freshman quarterback for Arizona State.

Those would be tough shoes for most players, but Fletcher is looking forward to the opportunity. Continue reading “Liberty’s new leader: Hayden Fletcher forges own path as QB for Arizona’s top-ranked team”

• Slug: Sports-Mercury WNBA Discrimination, 828 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Connor Moreno
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The rapid growth of the WNBA should be an opportunity for players to celebrate. But due to an unfortunate turn of events, players including Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner are taking a greater stance against the same social injustices she has fought against during her entire career.

Racism and sexism are all-too-familiar problems for Griner and they are starting to become a serious threat to the players in one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world.

After Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington shared a vulgar email that included a racial slur and explicit threats of sexual assault, Griner and Mercury guard Kahleah Copper felt compelled to speak out against foul behavior directed at WNBA players during Phoenix’s exit interviews Thursday. Continue reading “Phoenix Mercury stars Brittney Griner, Kahleah Copper speak out on WNBA’s handling of discrimination”

• Slug: Sports-Arizona Wildcats Triathlon, 730 words.
• 3 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Thomas Forbes
Cronkite News

TUCSON – Five athletes ran across the finish line under the Arizona Wildcats arch by the McKale Center chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” while freshman Mia Wentzy waved an American flag over her head. It was a picture-perfect finish for Team USA competing against Team International in a friendly intrasquad competition at the University of Arizona’s campus on a recent cool Saturday morning.

The Wildcats triathlon team continues to train hard and foster camaraderie in the program’s second year of existence. The athletes hope the chants of “U-S-A” at home in Tucson turn into even louder cheers of celebration at the USA Triathlon National Championship in November.

In the meantime, the Red-Blue intrasquad was held on Sept. 14, in preparation for the team’s trip to Fort Worth, Texas, to compete Sunday with six other schools at the Battle in the Fort race hosted by TCU at Marine Creek Reservoir. The race consists of a 750 meter swim, 12.4 mile bike and a 3.1 mile run. Continue reading “University of Arizona’s triathlon team determined to build success after squad’s rookie season”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Swimming Behm, 780 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Tucker L. Sennett
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Things have significantly changed on the pool deck of the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center for the Arizona State swim and dive program. Legendary coach Bob Bowman went to Texas. Leon Marchand and his five Olympic golds went professional.

Luckily for the program, new coach Herbie Behm and a cast of remaining talented swimmers have ASU poised for a successful first season in the Big 12 in the wake of those changes.

“Now that we’ve had a lot of success, it’s different goals and different things we’re trying to reach, but still kind of who we are is very much the same,” Behm said. Continue reading “Uncharted waters: Herbie Behm ready to defend NCAA title, navigate new changes with ASU Swim and Dive”

• Slug: Sports–Rising Preview Stone. 910 words.
• Photo available. Graphics available.

By Cooper Burns
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – After Saturday’s decisive 4-0 win, Phoenix Rising FC turn the page to arguably their biggest game of the season. On Wednesday night, Rising face their rivals, Orange County SC, in a matchup with playoff implications.

The game is packed with storylines as both teams compete for the final two spots in the Western Conference, but none bigger than facing former Phoenix Rising coach Danny Stone, who was named interim coach of Orange County SC on Aug. 30.

Stone, an assistant coach for Phoenix Rising from 2021-23, helped guide the team to its first USL championship title last season. On Jan. 18, he was promoted to Rising coach after Juan Guerra left for Major League Soccer. Continue reading “Phoenix Rising FC set for showdown against former coach Danny Stone, Orange County SC”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Volleyball Big 12. 834 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Anne-Marie Iemmolo
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Arizona State women’s volleyball assistant coach Shaughn McDonald stood near the end line of the court during a team practice, helping players perfect the form on their serves ahead of the Sun Devils’ upcoming game.

At times during the team scrimmage, McDonald paused play to direct the team to be more aggressive or correct players’ positions on the court. McDonald, a former libero for the Saint Francis Red Flash men’s volleyball team, has endless experience on the court and in the coaching zone.

Last year, he was the director of operations and technical coordinator for the Houston Cougars, one of ASU’s new Big 12 opponents. This year, McDonald uses his prior experience to help the Sun Devils adjust to their new conference and competition.

“This conference (Big 12) has retained a lot of really good players, so I do feel fortunate to have a little bit of insight into what those players and those teams do,” McDonald said following a recent team practice.

Continue reading “Shaughn McDonald brings valuable Big 12 insights as assistant to ASU women’s volleyball”

• Slug: Sports–Rising Hispanic Heritage, 700 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Sebastian Mondaca Sepulveda

Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Every time Phoenix Rising FC scored a goal, red smoke filled the sky, adding more color to an evening that was as festive as it was meaningful.

The goals came early and often – it was the first four-goal game this season for Phoenix, which had eight shots in the first 30 minutes – as the organization celebrated its annual Hispanic Heritage Night with a 4-0 victory against San Antonio FC Saturday at Phoenix Rising Stadium. The victory, which helped the defending USL champions keep their postseason hopes alive, also highlighted the importance of bringing in the culture within the community and the love of the sport.

Hispanic Heritage Month honors the diverse heritage of American citizens whose ancestors originate from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The celebration has grown since its origins as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, expanding into a full month under President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

Continue reading “On vibrant Hispanic Heritage Night, Phoenix Rising explodes with 4-0 win to keep playoff hopes alive”