• Slug: Sports – GCU Fall League 858 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Kendall Flynn
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – MLB prospects in the Arizona Fall League went back to school over the weekend to relive their days of playing college baseball or, for some, experience competing on a college stage for the first time.

The Mesa Solar Sox (9-6) prevailed 14-10 over the Peoria Javelinas (4-11) Friday at GCU Ballpark as part of the AFL’s long-time partnership with Grand Canyon University that allows the Lopes to host games on campus. For GCU players who are set to participate in the MLB Desert Invitational in February 2025, hosting a Fall League offers the chance to see the growth that is possible for them to achieve in a college career.

For Xavier Isaac, ranked as MLB’s 36th-best prospect, playing at GCU was a first-time experience. The Tampa Bay Rays drafted him out of Forsyth High School in Kernersville, N.C. in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft. At No. 29, he was the highest-selected first baseman in that draft. Continue reading “Back to school: Arizona Fall League prospects take college stage at GCU Park for showcase”

• Slug: Sports – Phoenix Suns Reserves, 830 words.
• Photo available.

By Connor Moreno
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal will win their team a fair share of games. That’s their job. However, through an otherwise shaky 2-1 start to the season, it’s been the Big Three’s supporting cast that has stabilized the Suns.

Forwards Royce O’Neale and rookie Ryan Dunn have been especially instrumental.

O’Neale needed just the final 3.9 seconds of the third quarter to impact the outcome of a 114-102 Phoenix victory over the Dallas Mavericks Saturday. Continue reading “Phoenix Suns reserves Royce O’Neal, Ryan Dunn breathe life into team to start NBA season”

• Slug: Sports–Phoenix Rising Fans, 960 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Sebastian Mondaca Sepulveda
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Fan Appreciation Night is also known as a moment to honor fans for the support they’ve provided the entire season.

For Phoenix Rising FC, it means more than just honoring supporters, but paying it forward despite the adversity they faced throughout the season.

Rising’s efforts started Thursday at home by hosting a fan event, Rising Together, an open training session for attendees to watch the team train and be part of the squad. Continue reading “Nights to remember: Phoenix Rising FC honors Fan Appreciation Night in final home game of season”

• Slug: Sports–NBA Second Apron, 1,400 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Keller Brown
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns currently rank first in total team payroll heading into the 2024-25 season, with three big names on their roster making a majority of that money. Over $150 million in payroll is dedicated to players who were acquired by trading draft picks and combining player salaries to acquire the already highly paid players.

Team-building philosophies vary from team to team. Some organizations have an owner who is willing to shell out any amount of money necessary to compete, such as Mat Ishbia and the Suns, as well as Wyc Grousbeck and the Boston Celtics, who are the reigning NBA champions and have a payroll of $199 million.

This trend may come to a halt, however, due to new rules put in place regarding “aprons” in the salary cap. Continue reading “Buying championships: How NBA’s second apron changes team building for owners, general managers”

• Slug: Sports–Phoenix Country Day Volleyball, 1,000 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Sebastian Mondaca Sepulveda
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – It was one loss. One loss in a season otherwise stuffed with wins. One measly, soul-crushing loss from last November that should be a distant, fuzzy memory.

But not for Phoenix Country Day, which has one of the most dominant girls volleyball teams in the Valley’s 2A region. Part of that success comes from Kat Glaeseman, the team’s coach who brought in a new identity for the squad when she took over the program.

Between 2021 and Thursday night, Phoenix Country Day had won 57 and lost five matches in the regular season, while winning two state titles in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, the Eagles had their best year yet, going undefeated with a 17-0 record in the regular season. However, after reaching the 2A finals for a third consecutive season, Phoenix Country Day suffered an upset, losing to Trivium Preparatory Academy, marking the Eagles’ lone defeat that year. Continue reading “‘Hungry’ for redemption: Phoenix Country Day girls volleyball seeks third title in four years”

• 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 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–Melton Brothers NFL, 1,000 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Patrick Holleron
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – In the stands of SHI Stadium, Gary and Vicky Melton wiped away tears.

Their sons, Bo and Max Melton, took the field as teammates for the first time at the collegiate level for Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Scarlet Knights walked away with the victory over Michigan State, but the 38-27 final score took a backseat for the proud parents as they witnessed their sons fulfill their football dreams.

Now, four years later, Bo and Max will accomplish another milestone for the Melton family Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Bo, in his second year at wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers, and Max, rookie defensive back Cardinals, will face off against each other for the first time in the NFL.
For Max, the matinee matchup against his brother is one he always envisioned before his first NFL snap. Continue reading “Melton brothers set for first sibling rivalry as Max and Bo battle in Cardinals vs. Packers”

• Slug: Sports–ASU Men’s Swimming Kharum, 730 words.
• Photo available.

By Fletcher Anderson
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Arizona State swimmers took center stage in Paris during the Olympic finals of the 200-meter butterfly on July 31. The Canadian-born Ilya Kharun captured Olympic bronze, while his former Sun Devil teammate Leon Marchand of France won gold. Four days later, in the 100-meter butterfly, Kharun secured his second bronze for Canada at just 19 years old.

Nearly three months later, as Marchand settles into his professional career, Kharun is back in the Valley and leading the Sun Devils as ASU’s swim and dive team leaps into a new season under a new coach, Herbie Behm. Last Monday, Kharun and Behm paused to reflect on a wild summer in Paris, while looking ahead at the Sun Devils’ new era as part of the Big 12 Conference.

 “Such an honor, representing the country and performing at that stage,” Kharun said about his Olympic experience. “It did take me some time to actually (realize) like wow, I was there. Because in the moment at the Olympics, I didn’t think of it as a big deal.” Continue reading “After 2024 Paris Olympics success, ASU men’s swimmer Ilya Kharun looks to build on Sun Devils legacy”

• Slug: Sports-ASU First Pac-10 Win, 1,400 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Kendall Flynn
Cronkite News

TEMPE – As Arizona State looks to earn its first Big 12 win at home against Kansas University on Saturday, the Sun Devils could benefit from a look at the program’s past and its first Pac-10 win and historic upset in 1978 against USC.

The Sun Devils had moved from the Western Atlantic Conference and were set to join the Pac-8, helping expand it to the Pac-10 for the 1978 season. Like the 2024 Sun Devils squad, the 1978 team lost its first conference game on the road to Washington State at 51-26.

While ASU’s Sept. 21 loss to Texas Tech in its Big 12 debut was more competitive at 30-22, losing in the season’s first conference game and as a new member can be daunting. Former senior defensive lineman for Arizona State Al Harris remembered this feeling all too well. Continue reading “Echoes of 1978? Arizona State football seeks first Big 12 conference win in spirit of 1978 upset vs. USC”

• Slug: Sports-Jael Mary Jaelen Strong, 970 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Saleh Awward
Cronkite News

CHANDLER – The memory still lingers as if it happened yesterday, the details as crisp and clear as the summer sky.

Arizona State defied all odds, down 34-32 with the football at their 28-yard-line and just 23 seconds to go and no timeouts remaining. After a strike down the middle of the field from Mike Bercovici to Gary Chambers to the 45-yard line, the Sun Devils spiked the ball and had one final play left in store with seven seconds remaining.

Bercovici dropped back and let it fly for a Hail Mary, where Jaelen Strong high-pointed the ball over USC defenders and found himself in the end zone for a touchdown, upsetting the No. 16 Trojans on the road, 38-34. Continue reading “Still going Strong: 10 years after ‘Jael Mary,’ former ASU star receiver inspires next generation at AZ Compass Prep”