• Slug: Sports–ASU Football Linebackers, 1,000 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Tucker Sennett
Cronkite News

TEMPE – The legendary coach Bill Parcells once said, “I like linebackers. I collect them. You can’t have too many good ones.” As the heartbeat of a defense, they are arguably the second-most important position on a football team.

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham, defensive coordinator Brian Ward and linebacker coach A.J. Cooper did their best to emulate the great Parcells by building a position group that has excelled in a number of ways in the 2024 season.

A perfect example of that excellence came in the Sun Devils’ 27-19 upset win over No. 16 Utah last Friday, which raised ASU’s record to 5-1, its best start in years. After being suspended for targeting the week before, junior linebacker Keyshaun Elliott had to watch the defense he normally leads from the sideline for the first half. Luckily for the Sun Devils, the depth of the group shined bright. Continue reading “Heart of the defense: ASU’s clutch linebacker room fuels team’s remarkable 5-1 start”

• Slug: Sports–Phoenix Rising Review, 780 words.
• Photo available.

By Cooper Burns
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Just two weeks remain in the United Soccer League’s regular season, and with only a handful of games left to play, the playoff picture is going from murky to clear. One notable team has yet to lock themselves into the playoffs.

That’s right, 2023 USL champion Phoenix Rising FC is still looking to punch their ticket to the playoffs.

Not having clinched a spot with two games remaining may sound the alarm bells in some quarters. But despite the season’s ups and downs, Rising still has a very good shot of making the playoffs. Continue reading “Can Phoenix Rising FC clinch a playoff berth at home? Memphis 901 match looms large”

• Slug: Sports–Vanden Bosch Twins, 700, words.
• 3 photos available.

By Jalen Weathers
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The 2024 high school football season has been nothing short of competitive in the AIA, and Brophy College Prep is at the center of it all. Ranked the No. 2 team in the Arizona 6A division, the 5-1 Broncos are in the midst of a fierce start thanks in part to key contributions from twin brothers Case and Bastian Vanden Bosch.

The dynamic duo benefits from Kyle Vanden Bosch’s 12 years of NFL experience, which he shares with his sons to make them better football players as the special team’s coordinator for the Broncos. But more than statistics, Kyle is focused on the character of his sons as teammates.

“I’m just proud of them for who they are,” Kyle said. “I told them from when they were little that you will get respect based upon how hard you work in life. Neither one of them is perfect. They make mistakes, but they’re tough. And they show a certain level of toughness on the football field.” Continue reading “Vanden Bosch twins take a page from father’s NFL playbook to power Brophy College Prep football”

• Slug: Sports–ASU Beach Volleyball Event, 670 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Shouts of excitement and bursts of sand filled the air at the Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Facility. The Arizona State beach volleyball season might not begin until February, but the athletes didn’t need competitors on the other side of the net to help push their sport last Wednesday.

As Sun Devils junior Tori Clement tossed volleyballs to her teammate Samaya Morin, Kastyn Hoffman helped an assembly of kids with their serving technique during a session of “Building Brilliant Futures,” a program created by Beach Nation Volleyball to reach out to underprivileged youth in multiple communities throughout the U.S.

“I hope that by being a role model for the kids here right now, they can follow by example and fill in those shoes when they get older,” Clement said. “These sessions help hone their skills, and learn about teamwork. The lessons learned can apply this to many different aspects of their life. They can really grow their game, make themselves better athletes, better friends and better leaders.” Continue reading “ASU beach volleyball serves up skills for local youth through ‘Building Brilliant Futures’ in first Tempe event”

• Slug: Sports–Marvin Harrison Jr. Past, 2,500 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Grace Del Pizzo
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – On every level, Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has taken the game of football by storm. He famously excelled at Ohio State, winning the 2023 Biletnikoff Award as the most outstanding receiver in college football. Before that, he was a three-time state champion at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia.

Oh, and his father – and namesake – happens to be a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Expectations have never been anything less than sky-high for Harrison. Now the world is watching as he makes his mark in the NFL, bringing his track record of success with him. Continue reading “‘He’s only scratching the surface’: Former coaches say Marvin Harrison Jr. will bring his winning tradition to Cardinals”

• Slug: Sports–Arizona Women’s Hockey, 1,200 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Anne-Marie Iemmolo
Cronkite News

PHOENIX — When Caitlin Hogan, a lifelong hockey player and Division I standout, saw that the University of Arizona was building a women’s hockey program, she reached out to offer her expertise to the burgeoning team in any way she could.

By the time Hogan contacted the school to extend her services, its national search for a hockey coach was already underway. But after Troy Vaughn, the director of campus recreation, and Chad Berman, the men’s ice hockey coach, met with Hogan, the hunt was over.

“She (Hogan), by far and away, rose to the top,” Vaughn said. Continue reading “Caitlin Hogan leads Arizona Wildcats’ revival of women’s hockey in Tucson”

• Slug: Sports–ASU Quarterback Change, 520 words.
• Photo available.

By Tucker L. Sennett
Cronkite News

TEMPE – After taking a hard hit in Arizona State’s win over Utah and sustaining a rib injury, redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt will not play Saturday against Cincinnati, ASU coach Kenny Dillingham announced Wednesday.

Senior quarterback Jeff Sims will take his place as the starter for the 5-1 Sun Devils on the road against the 4-2 Bearcats.

“We brought him in to compete to start,” Dillingham told reporters after ASU’s practice. “Now (Sims), who’s started a crap-ton of games, gets to go start again. To me, there’s not much drama.” Continue reading “Enter Jeff Sims: Veteran ASU quarterback poised to take over for injured Sam Leavitt”

• Slug: Sports–Fantasy Football Old School, 860 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Dane Palmer
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The first sign of this fantasy football league’s uniqueness is the walk commissioner Mark Armijo makes to his mailbox every August. Inside sit the $75 entry fee checks required of each participant. Venmo? PayPal? In this league, that’s blasphemous.

Fantasy football – a game in which members are general managers of teams they’ve drafted, often for money – has become a way to unite friends and family, as well as claim glory by way of bragging rights or prize. One group of friends with connections to the Arizona Republic have done just that for 46 years in the most old school of ways: no apps, no fantasy programs, just old-fashioned pen, paper and emails. Lots of emails.

“I still have a flip phone, I’m still living in the 20th century,” said Mark Armijo, commissioner of the Republic Football League. “I’m so attuned to our league that I don’t understand any other fantasy apps.” Continue reading “Snail mail, checks and flip phones: This journalists’ fantasy football league is keeping it old school for 46 years”

• Slug: Sports–Phoenix Rising FC, 740 words.
• Photo available.

By Sebastian Mondaca Sepulveda
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – After suffering its third straight loss last Friday, Phoenix Rising FC’s season was in jeopardy. Interim coach Diego Gómez was unable to propel his team to a needed victory, and everything looked dim for the club.

Despite the loss to Monterey Bay FC in front of Rising’s dejected but loyal fanbase, Gómez had a couple of words to share heading into Wednesday’s crucial matchup on the road against rival New Mexico United.

“Win,” Gómez said. “We need to win on Wednesday. We need to shake it off and push. The most important thing right now is our mentality and continue to work after this.” Continue reading “Phoenix Rising FC faces tough road ahead on cusp of USL postseason berth”