Tag: Sports

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, ...
Aztecs bulldoze opponent, get first win
Sports

Aztecs bulldoze opponent, get first win

Story and photos By ANGEL CANEZ The Pima Community College Aztecs started the season steamrolled over Arizona Christian University on Nov. 9 at their home opener on the West Campus.  This put the team in a dominant position to start its six-game homestand. The team’s performance showed why it’s the No. 1 team in the nation, blowing out the Firestorm by 44 points with a final score of 120-76.   Pima started the game a little slow before reining it in and went on to hang up 50 points in the first half.  The Aztecs got everyone involved in the season opener, racking up 29 assists.  It seemed as if the team could do no wrong. Pima had eight players score in double figures with Freshman Rashad Smith living up to the hype in his first collegiate game, leading the way with 19 points on a...
Sports

Aztecs win 2 out of 3 but still continue to struggle  

The Aztec volleyball team seems to be getting on the right track finally. Winning two of their last three matches over the past two weeks from Sep. 27 to Oct. 4 after dropping four in a row and seven of their last eight  bringing their total record to 6-10. Pima play this season has mirror last season to almost a tee as the Aztecs record at this time last season was (7-11). Oct.4 (3-1) Pima over Phoenix college The Aztecs would go on to beat the Phoenix college bears three sets to one after dropping the first set. The win marked Pima first road win on the season. Madi Nash had 16 kills as she leads the team in that category this year. Nash and Jade Romine both posted double doubles in kills and digs to bring home the win against the Bears. Kaleigh Hockett Lead the Aztecs with an impres...
Aztec running toward the future.
Sports

Aztec running toward the future.

By ANGEL CANEZ   Katherine Bruno, Pima Community College’s cross-country star, has been running away from all the competition this season. Coming off a third-place finish at the NJCAA Region 1 championship Oct. 29, the 19-year-old sophomore finished in the Top 5 five times this season. Adding to her already impressive list of accolades, Bruno recently won her second NJCAA Player of the Week after winning three consecutive races. “I always remember there’s always someone faster”..... ‘There's always something to strive for, I'm not at the top yet.”   Sophomore Kaylen Fox, All-Region I Honorable Mention spoke highly of her two year teammate. “Katie is one of my best friends and it all began because she was such a good teammate to me last year. She always makes sure the re...
Simi struts into second at regional
Sports

Simi struts into second at regional

BY: ANGEL CANEZ   Five Aztec were named to all regional team. As Pima Community College men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the NJCAA Region I Championships at Freestone Park in Gilbert, AZ on Oct.29. The women's came in place second with a score of 67 beating out Mesa, Paradise Valley, and Estrella Mountain Community college, coming up short of first place to Central Arizona College who ended with 27 points and the first place plaque. “Central can always pull something out of a hat so, I’m on my toes” said Bruno before the race. Mary Siml crossed the finish line in second place for the Aztec earning her the teams top finish with a time of 18.26.4,Sophomore teammate Katherine Bruno finisher just behind with a time of 18:26.6. Both coming up short to Central colleg...
Aztecs Return, as Pima Clinches playoff spot.
Sports

Aztecs Return, as Pima Clinches playoff spot.

BY ANGEL CANEZ Pima Community College Volleyball team, wrapped up the regular season on a high note (14-13) putting together a string of wins before the playoffs begin next week. “Finishing the regular season with two wins at home was very exciting and very gratifying for our sophomores,” Dan Bithell Volleyball head coach said.  As the Aztecs put an end to the Scottsdale Community College Artichokes season, winning in four sets. Pima dropped the first set but got it together afterwards winning the match, 21-25, 28-26,25-12 and 25-19. Madi Nash and Jade Romine continued to play well as their record a double-double in kills and digs marking the third game in a row that they recorded a double digit in kills and digs. Pima, by hook or by crook managed to earn a spot in the playoffs be...
Pima Briefs: Monaco named the acting athletic director
News

Pima Briefs: Monaco named the acting athletic director

Photos and story By JOE GIDDENS Pima Football Head Coach Jim Monaco was named the acting athletic director of Pima Community College on Oct. 29.  Edgar Soto, who held the athletic director position for 11 years, is moving on to become president of the Desert Vista Campus.  Monaco started at Pima in 2011, and will be the school's final football coach as the program ends this season. After Pima Community College Chancellor Lee Lambert announced the appointment during a press conference, he said that more sports programs probably are going to be terminated at Pima. No specific sports programs were named, however, and a timeline was not given by the college’s administration.