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Sports

Back-to-Back canceled games wake up bats

By Kyle McDaniel   The scheduled game at Paradise Valley Community College on Feb. 21 was cancelled and will be made up on Feb. 28 in Phoenix, the first pitch is 1 p.m.   The scheduled game vs GateWay CC on Feb. 23 was also cancelled and the date of the make up game will be announced later.   Feb. 26 (H): Game 1: PCC 14, Scottsdale CC 1 F/5   It looks like the back to back cancellations woke the Aztecs bats up, as they scored a combined 14 runs in the first three innings.   Multiple players played a key role in the demolition of the Artichokes, but the main architects were sophomore Maria Vanezza Caldera and freshman Hope Adams. Caldera finished 2 for 4 with two RBI’s, while Adams went 1 for 3, but her one hit was massive, because it was a three run ho...
Pima Aztecs get off to struggling starts
Sports

Pima Aztecs get off to struggling starts

By ANGEL CANEZ Dec.2 Pima Community College took their  talents on the road for the first time this season. The Aztecs took a trip to Yuma, Az to take on the number 17 ranked Western Arizona college Matadors. Pima fell on the road by 5 points 96-91. The Aztecs looked good at the beginning taking a double digit lead into the half as there were up by 13. However the Matadors would not be denied a victory, on their  home court as they came storming out in the second half outscoring Pima by 18. Pima seemingly shot their way out of the game as they shot 16% from 3 point range going 4-24. Pima’s Abram Carrasco lead the game in scoring putting up 35 points but it wasn't enough. Pima’s Robert Wilson added 15 and 7 rebounds. Meanwhile Kennedy Koehler continued his strong season posting his 7...
PCC soccer are the national champions
Sports

PCC soccer are the national champions

By KYLE MCDANIEL The Aztecs previously were 0-2 in national title games before their win on Nov. 17.  However, State Fair College who beat them in 1999 vacated its title.   Sophomore Hugo Kametani was voted MVP of the tournament after scoring three consecutive game winners. Coach David Cosgrove received the Coach of the Tournament award for leading the Aztecs. Both certainly deserved the awards after the season and national tournament they had.  The season was full of drama, with the team playing in six overtime games this year, including the championship game.  “Honestly, we had played so many and had been so successful, and of course the fact is we had Hugo, who scored four game winners,” Cosgrove said. “We felt confident going in and we felt like if anyone was going to make a play...
Women’s Basketball in slump, drop last 3
Sports

Women’s Basketball in slump, drop last 3

By HANK ROUBICHAUD  The Aztecs fell to 3-4 on the season and 0-2 in conference with their third straight loss on Nov. 28 by the score of 85-74 to the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters.  The Aztecs started well, having outscored the Gila Monsters 26-14 in the first quarter. From there, the Gila Monsters went on a 23-5 run to give them a double-digit lead 39-28. Pima then trailed 44-37 at the half.  The Aztecs started the third quarter on an 8-2 run, then took a 65-64 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. The Gila Monsters took the lead back with a 15-7 run to open the fourth, and the Aztecs could not recover. Sophomore Jacqulynn Nakai led all scorers with 27 points on 10 for 18 shooting. Fellow sophomore Shauna Bribiescas had a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Freshmen Tyra Do...
C.H.A.M.P.S. Bowl for Aztecs
Sports

C.H.A.M.P.S. Bowl for Aztecs

Story by HANK ROBICHAUD Photos by MADYSON HOWARTH The No. 20 Aztecs (6-4) traveled to Texas Dec. 1 for the C.H.A.M.P.S. to face off with No. 4 Kilgore College Rangers and play the program’s final game.  The game was played in Waco Independent School District Stadium in Waco.  The Aztecs were shut out by the Rangers in a 28-0 loss. The offense could not get momentum going in the game as they had a total of 195 yards (unofficial). The Aztecs only had 41 yards at the half. They also had 5 turnovers on the day, and allowed 13 points off those turnovers.  The one bright spot on the offense for the game was Larry Rembert with 11 catches for 107 yards. He earned Player of the Game for the Aztecs.  The defense played a decent game overall cutting the turnover margin to 2 with 2 interceptio...
Aztecs demolish first opponents at NJCAA Division I tournament
Sports

Aztecs demolish first opponents at NJCAA Division I tournament

BY KYLE MCDANIEL   Pima won their first game at Nationals pretty handily, by absolutely obliterating the Jayhawks from Muskegon CC. A stiffer opponent is next on the cards for Wednesday as they take on the #8 seeded North Texas CC. If the Aztecs win that game they will secure a spot in the semi-finals.   Nov. 12 Nationals Pool A, Game 1 vs #12 Muskegon CC vs #1 PCC 5   The Aztecs had their shooting boots on for this game as they scored three of the five goals in the first thirteen minutes. As well as outshooting the Jayhawks 23 to 5.   Freshman Itsuki Ishihara scored three of the five, including the first two. Sophomore Hugo Kametani and freshman Johan Anderson had the other two goals.   Freshman Ricky Gordillo, Edson Vazquez and Itsuki Ishihara each...
The search is over: Pima names new acting AD
News, Sports

The search is over: Pima names new acting AD

By ANGEL CANEZ         Pima Community College has come to a decision and the search for a new acting athletic director is over. Soon to be former football coach Jim Monaco was awarded the job on Oct. 29. “Jim was appointed and will be in this role ... through the balance of the academic year,” Pima Chancellor Lee Lambert said during the Oct. 30 press conference at the West Campus. Monaco beat out four other candidates -- Pima soccer coach David Cosgrove; women’s basketball coach Todd Holthaus; Akira Kondo, Pima’s athletic trainer; and David Donderwicz, fiscal advanced analysis -- financial aid at Pima’s District Office. Monaco is replacing Edgar Soto, who was Pima’s athletic director since 2016. “It doesn’t bother me to say this, but Jim (Monaco) is going to do a better job than I...
Season Ends at regional finals for Pima Volleyball
Sports

Season Ends at regional finals for Pima Volleyball

By ANGEL CANEZ A lot was on the line Nov. 3 for the Pima Community College Volleyball team.  The Aztecs had their season and a trip to Nationals in West Virginia in their grasp. They were only a win away, but their season’s biggest foe stood in their path.   The Aztecs found themselves in a rematch with the tournament’s opening match against South Mountain Community College. The Cougars came out and showed why they were the No. 1 seed, beating the Aztecs in three straight sets 25-22, 25-16, 25-19. That effectively put an end to the Aztecs’ season, who finished the season 16-15. “I am very happy and excited for our players to end the season they way we did this year,” said coach Dan Bithell. “We absolutely played our best volleyball in the Region Tournament, and that was one of our big ...
Women Aztecs start season 2-0
Sports

Women Aztecs start season 2-0

Story and photos By ANGEL CANEZ The Pima Community College Women’s basketball team kept the ball rolling as the Aztecs defended their home court and improved to 2-0 in a 30-point blowout versus Arizona Christian University (108-78).   The  Aztecs started off great right from the start and opened the game on a 10-2 run.  The Aztecs put in a team effort as they had six players score in double digits. They were led again by Sophomore Jacqulynn Nakai for the second game in a row as she put up 23 points on 8-11 shooting to go along with 9 assists and 4 rebounds.  Fellow sophomore Brianna Pitre tacked on 16 and 6-10 shooting, and Shauna Bribiescas and Freshman Ryleigh Long chipped in 11 points each as the returning players led the way. Freshman Alyssa Perez, for the second game in a row, di...
A chat with Pima Men’s Basketball coach
Sports

A chat with Pima Men’s Basketball coach

By HANK ROUBICHAUD  Coach Brian Peabody has been coaching basketball at Pima Community College since 1990.  Peabody started at Saguaro High School under Dick McConnell. This is season No. 18 as Pima’s basketball coach.  Q: What are some things you are looking for from the team this year, coming off of a great year last year?  A: “We just to get better each year. The first year, we won 15 games, then 18, then 21, then 23, then 31 last year, so we just try to get better each year. One thing we haven’t accomplished since I’ve been here is we haven’t won the league outright; so our first and foremost goalwise would be to win the league this year for the first time ever at Pima. That way, you could host every game in the tournament, and then obviously if we could go one game further then we...