Sports – Pima Post

Hockey is still strong in the desert, 10 years after Tucson gains AHL team

7Nov

By Emma PetersonNo Comments

Arizona Sports, Arts & Entertainment, Athletic Voice, Sports

Hockey is still strong in the desert, 10 years after Tucson gains AHL team

By Rory Archer The Tucson Roadrunners circle center ice at the beginning of their 2025 home-opener. The team’s mascot, Dusty the Roadrunner, is seen hyping up the crowd in the center. Photo by Rory Archer. TUCSON, ARIZ. — The Tucson Roadrunners won their season’s third game and home-opener with a final 5-4 in overtime on Saturday, Oct. 18th against the Calgary Wranglers. The start of this season marks the tenth anniversary of the Tucson Roadrunners moving from Springfield, Mass., to Tucson, Ariz. The home-opener game started with its usual 4 p.m. tailgate and “red carpet” walk for players. Arena doors opened at 6 p.m., an hour before puck drop. There was an estimated 5,547 in attendance. Several players were scratched from the game, including Roadrunners long-time star Robb...

Arizona Basketball’s 2025 Recruiting and Transfer Class

19May

By Ambur WilkersonNo Comments

Arizona Sports, Sports

Arizona Basketball’s 2025 Recruiting and Transfer Class

By Joel Herrera Less than a month after the 2024-2025 NCAA men’s basketball season ended, the University of Arizona Wildcats have found themselves with the second best signing class nationally for the 2025 offseason. Loaded with five-star high school recruits and experienced transfers who already have ties to Tucson, head coach Tommy Lloyd has put together his best signing class since he took over the Arizona coaching position in 2021. Looking at the high school recruiting portion of the offseason, the Wildcats signed four players, two of which were five-star recruits. Koa Peat, a 6’7, 235 pound power forward from Gilbert, Arizona, decided to stay local for his college career, committing to Arizona back in March and signing earlier in April. Peat was named the Arizona Gator...

Pima Baseball Uses Walk-Off Homerun and Shutout to Sweep Double-Header vs Mesa

12May

By Ambur WilkersonNo Comments

Pima Sports

Pima Baseball Uses Walk-Off Homerun and Shutout to Sweep Double-Header vs Mesa

By Joel Herrera Pima starting pitcher Luis Pablo Navarro (5) and first baseman Nolan Ganter (34) after their 6-5 win over Mesa CC in the first of two games on April 8. Game one featured a walk-off three run homerun from Nolan Ganter, game two resulted in a 5-0 shutout and Pima Baseball completed the season sweep of Mesa Community College as they took both games on Tuesday, April 8. The first of the two games would only be seven innings due to the double header. Mesa CC jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first and the Thunderbirds would add on in the second inning taking a 2-0 lead. Pima cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the second thanks to a run batted in in-field single from catcher Ernie Alvarez. Outfielder Zach Plasschaert wou...

12May

By Ambur WilkersonNo Comments

Sports

Impact of the Game

By Jackson Melin Photo from Liz Nicholson's social media In 2002, former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Webster was found to have signs of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This was discovered posthumously by neuropathologist Bennet I. Omalu and published in 2005. The story has become the inspiration for the 2015 movie “Concussion”. Several players have had problems after their playing career, whether it is physical or mental. One such case being former Cleveland Brown Gerry Sullivan, who served as an offensive lineman from 1974-1981. Gerry’s partner Liz Nicholson, an advocate for the Concussion Legacy Foundation, reflected on when she noticed signs of Sullivan’s condition. “When I look back to first meeting Gerry in 1997, there were definitely signs,” Nicholson said. “I...

29Apr

By Ambur WilkersonNo Comments

Sports

Pre-Draft Prediction: Nick Nash

By Jackson Melin Photo of Nick Nash by Via Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images There were many names at the wide receiver position in the upcoming 2025 NFL draft. Headliners like University of Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, University of Missouri’s Luther Burden III and University of Texas’ wide receiver Matthew Golden. However there was one prospect that was being overlooked: San Jose State’s Nick Nash. Nash, who initially played quarterback for San Jose from 2019-2022, switched to a wide receiver in 2023. Since then, he has set school/national records. In 2023 (first year as a receiver), he posted 48 receptions, 728 yards and eight touchdowns. His senior year would be his breakout campaign, racking up 104 catches, 1382 yards and 16 touchdowns. All of which would be league bests,...

28Apr

By Ambur WilkersonNo Comments

Pima Sports

A Look at Pima’s Best: CohenJ Gonzalez

By Joel Herrera Photo of CohenJ Gonzalez With how dominant and successful Pima Men’s Basketball was during the 2024-2025 season, it's impossible to not talk about starting point guard and Arizona native CohenJ Gonzalez. The 5’9’ sophomore out of Gilbert, Arizona made his name known nationally in his second year of action with the Aztecs. Gonzalez averaged 18.4 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game and 5.1 assists per game, while also shooting a shade over 46% from the floor. These numbers earned Gonzalez All-ACCAC First-Team honors and led him to being named as region player of the year. The secret behind Gonzalez’s accolades is simple: “I definitely like to take naps on game days…I’m not very superstitious so I don’t have a set routine,” Gonzalez said. ...

4Apr

By Ambur WilkersonNo Comments

Sports, Top Stories

An Analysis of Travis Hunter

By Jackson Melin Colorado Buffaloes' Travis Hunter on the field. Photo by AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack University of Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter is projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL draft. He won numerous awards (including the Heisman Trophy) whilst playing on offense and defense. His play style consists of agility and strength. He can torch the defense with his speed, or go up top for a contested catch. He was also on the cover of the “College Football 25” video game. But how does he compare to other prospects in those same positions? As a five-star prospect in high school, Hunter chose to sign with Jackson State University. He made history as the only five-star recruit to sign with an FCS (Division-1) program. However, in 2023 he chose to tran...

Pima Men’s Basketball Advances in NJCAA Tournament with Win Over South Mountain

4Apr

By Ambur WilkersonNo Comments

Pima Sports, Top Stories

Pima Men’s Basketball Advances in NJCAA Tournament with Win Over South Mountain

By Joel Herrera Pima’s Wes Ball and South Mountain’s Drew Hoxie tip off the NJCAA Region 1, Division 2 Semifinals on March 5, 2025. Photo by Manuel Zepeda. Following their perfect regular season, Pima Men’s Basketball continued their winning ways in their opener of the NJCAA Division 2 Men’s Basketball tournament. The Aztecs knocked off region opponent South Mountain Community College with a final score of 80-55 Wednesday, March 5 at the Pima West Gym. CohenJ Gonzales led the Aztecs in scoring with 18 points, with freshmen Isaac Johnson adding 17 off the bench. Wes Ball (12) and Kota Benson (10) also added double-figure scoring for Pima. Drew Hoxie led South Mountain in scoring with 14 points. An uncharacteristic start for the Aztecs, they found themselv...

Expected Changes Coming This Upcoming 2025/26 Red Bull Racing Season

13Mar

By Ambur WilkersonNo Comments

Sports

Expected Changes Coming This Upcoming 2025/26 Red Bull Racing Season

By Roman Contreras Photo from Red Bull Racing’s Instagram Last season, Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen won the Drivers’ Championship for the 2024/25 F1 season. His path to victory was not as easy as it was the previous season, yet he prevailed to win three drivers’ championships in a row. This newest season for Red Bull introduces Liam Lawson as their second driver. The previous driver was Checo Perez and he has unfortunately left the team after a poor 2024 performance. To add to the changes coming in the 2026 season, Red Bull is going in a different direction with their engine. Red Bull is ditching their Honda engines and opting for a Ford engine. For this season the Bulls are expected to make a huge impact on the track as they have in previous seasons, even i...

13Mar

By Ambur WilkersonNo Comments

Pima Sports, Podcast, Sports

Pima Talks Sports: Pima Men’s Basketball Cap Off Historic Season

Hosted by Manuel Zepeda Manny and Joel talk about about the history Pima Men's Basketball made completing their regular season 30-0. Key points include the regular season stat leaders, the road to champions, and a preview of their first-round matchup against South Mountain. Music by Hxtel Beats https://open.spotify.com/episode/77v0DEL1m27JrzRCogViZ7?si=d92303f508bc4a3f