<strong>Wrangler</strong> <strong>News</strong> • July 31 - Aug. 13, 2010 • Page 26Kyrene Corridor SportsCorona’s Class of ‘09: Where are they now?By Alex ZenerCorona del Sol’s class of 2009 has several starathletes, including members of the school’s2009 baseball team who won the State 5A-IChampionship.Several members of this bumper crop of athleteswent on <strong>to</strong> play at the college level.Here’s how some of these fared playing at the nextlevel.Michael Fel<strong>to</strong>n and Brock Abbadini played<strong>to</strong>gether at Southwestern Oklahoma State University,an NCAA Division II school located in Weatherford,Okla. SWOSU is part of the Lone Star AthleticConference.Fel<strong>to</strong>n had an exceptional freshman season for theBulldogs, garnering multiple school and conferencepost-season awards in a number of categories. Hewas named the league’s <strong>to</strong>p freshman and alsocaptured first-team honors as the league selection atsecond base. He became the first SWOSU player <strong>to</strong>earn a first team honor since the league combined itstwo divisions in 2008.Fel<strong>to</strong>n’s dazzling statistics tell the s<strong>to</strong>ry. He no<strong>to</strong>nly is ranked as the 2010 NCAA Division II’s thirdleadinghitter with a .495 average (92 hits in 186 atbats) but his .495 batting average was the highestsingle season record for any player in LSC his<strong>to</strong>ry.He shattered the previous LSC mark (.488) forsingle-season batting average, a record that hads<strong>to</strong>od since 1997, and set a SWOSU single-seasonrecord besting the previous record (.452) set in 1977.Fel<strong>to</strong>n set his second single-season record forthe Bulldogs with the most hits (92), bettering theprevious record (87) set by Jeff Deckard in 1987.He also led the team in runs batted in (50), doubles(18), <strong>to</strong>tal bases (123), and on-base percentage(.546). He was second in runs scored (51), <strong>to</strong>tal plateappearances (217) and hit three home runs.In addition, Fel<strong>to</strong>n had a 35-game consecutivehitting streak which is also believed <strong>to</strong> be a schoolrecord. He played in all 50 games, starting in 49 ofthem. He had 113 fielding assists and 22 double playsas second baseman for the Bulldogs.Fel<strong>to</strong>n’s post-season honors continued when hewas selected <strong>to</strong> the first-team of the 2010 DaktronicsAll-South Central Region Baseball Team, a selectionthat will advance him for nomination <strong>to</strong> theDaktronics All-American ballot later this summer.He was one of 35 players recognized as finalistsfor the Tino Martinez, the annual award given <strong>to</strong> the<strong>to</strong>p NCAA Division II player in the nation.Unfortunately for the Bulldogs and the LSC, Fel<strong>to</strong>n isnot returning <strong>to</strong> SWOSU this fall. Fel<strong>to</strong>n missed hisfamily and friends, and the weather was hard for him<strong>to</strong> get used <strong>to</strong>, so he moved back <strong>to</strong> Arizona.“Next year I’m going <strong>to</strong> Gateway CommunityCollege,” said Fel<strong>to</strong>n “After I finish the year, I willlook <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> the best place for me. It could be a D-IIor D-I school or maybe even the draft. It all dependson the year and how everything goes.”Abbadini, a 6’ 4” left-handed pitcher, had asolid season with the Bulldogs with a 7.79 ER.He appeared in 19 games and tied with two otherpitchers <strong>to</strong> lead the team in wins with four each.No word yet about whether Abbadini will bereturning <strong>to</strong> SWOSU.Ryan Moore and Tyler Giannonatti choseKansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., <strong>to</strong>showcase their baseball talents.Moore, a standout athlete at Corona, had asuccessful freshman season for the Wildcats in theoutfield and up at bat. The 5’11” Moore played in 45out of the <strong>to</strong>tal 59 games starting in two. He had asolid batting average of .464 with 13 hits out of 28times at bat. Al<strong>to</strong>gether he had 10 runs, two doublesand 13 RBI’s.Moore, one of best at stealing bases at Coronawith 21 steals on 22 attempts overall, continued hisprowess at Kansas State, stealing nine bases on nineattempts his first year.Giannonatti, a right-handed pitcher for theWildcats, also had a solid freshman campaign. Hepitched in 14 games earning a 6.27 ERA and is givencredit for winning two games.Two other 2009 Corona graduates did well theirfreshman season playing at the next level: LexieSchroeder and Nicole Coggins.Schroeder, a two-star athlete at Corona, chose<strong>to</strong> play volleyball over soccer at Northern Arizona,where she not only played the libero or defensivespecialist position but was a scholar athlete studyingnursing.Schroeder continued her competitive spirit atNAU, playing in 23 of 27 matches with 10 starts. Sheplayed defense for the Lumberjacks, finishing theseason with 2.09 digs per game, which placed herthird on the team in digs per game. She had a seasonhigh 14 digs against Sacramen<strong>to</strong> State on Sept. 24.In addition, Schroeder was awarded twoacademic awards: a 2009-10 Golden Eagle ScholarAthlete Award Recipient, given <strong>to</strong> honor athleteswho maintain high levels of scholastic achievementwhile performing with distinction in the university’sathletic programs.Schroeder was also one of seven student-athletesfrom the NAU volleyball team <strong>to</strong> be placed on the BigSky Conference’s All-Academic team.To be eligible for consideration for this award,she needed <strong>to</strong> participate in at least half of the team’scompetitions and achieve at least a 3.2 GPA.In addition, Northern Arizona’s volleyball teamrecently received the American Volleyball CoachesAssociation (WBCA) Team Academic Award forthe second straight year when they turned in acumulative grade point average of 3.40 for theacademic year. Schroeder was one of the team’sstudent-athletes <strong>to</strong> help the team win this award.Nicole Coggins played in 28 games herfreshman year as a wing on Denison University’sgirls basketball team. She <strong>to</strong>taled eight steals in anaverage of 10 minutes per game <strong>to</strong> earn a <strong>to</strong>tal of 50points most of them through three-point shooting.Denison is in the North Coast Athletic Conference.Butters updateAnother standout Corona athlete from theclass of 2009, Zeric Butters, graduated May 28from Salisbury Prep, in Salisbury, Conn.,where heZeric Butters, fourth from left, back, with other cadets atWest Point boot camp.collected first honors each semester. He reported <strong>to</strong>the West Point Military Academy on June 28. He iscurrently attending the West Point Boot camp, fondlyreferred <strong>to</strong> by the cadets as “The Beast.”Butters played football and lacrosse while atCorona. Like other first-year athletic recruits <strong>to</strong> WestPoint, he attended a prep school on the East Coast,where he also played lacrosse.Classes are scheduled <strong>to</strong> start Aug. 16 whenButters will also continue <strong>to</strong> train as the West Pointlacrosse goalie.A team <strong>to</strong> watchIt appears two Corona basketball players startedgetting the Aztec basketball team noticed during thesummer leagues.Rumor has it that senior guard CalaenRobinson, who has further developed his lefthandedplay, and senior big man Avery Moss, withhis improved offense and defense, have given othersthe impression that the Aztecs may be one of theteams <strong>to</strong> watch in the 5A-I league this next seasonalong with Mesa Mountain View and MountainPointe.Complaints prompt actionby TUHSD governing boardTUHSD officials were expected last week <strong>to</strong>determine Coach Zane Zamenski’s future at Coronadel Sol High School after a group of parents andstudents said he made repeated inappropriateremarks during campus football training sessions.Zamenski has been assigned <strong>to</strong> home pending aninvestigation in<strong>to</strong> the complaints.As many as 28 interviews, including a number ofCorona students, reportedly have been conductedsince a July 14 school board meeting at which adisplay of opposition <strong>to</strong> Zamenski’s alleged behaviorprompted the board <strong>to</strong> place him on temporary homeleave.Also following the meeting, the district’s HumanRelations Department and its direc<strong>to</strong>r of athleticslaunched their own investigation in<strong>to</strong> the matter, andwere said early last week <strong>to</strong> be considering options <strong>to</strong>recommend <strong>to</strong> the board on July 29.The board would have the decision on whatpenalty, if any, should be imposed on Zamensky.The school district’s direc<strong>to</strong>r of communications,Linda Littell, said Zamenski did not participate in theusual pre-season football camp that started last week,which probably meant that he would not receive thenormal stipend that goes with coaching assignments.
<strong>Wrangler</strong> <strong>News</strong> • July 31 - Aug. 13, 2010 • Page 27All inthefamilyA new chapterunfolds in trio’sathletic legacyS<strong>to</strong>ry & pho<strong>to</strong>s by Jake NovyTJ, Holly and Casey Benson have been aroundathletics their whole lives and have takendifferent paths <strong>to</strong> get <strong>to</strong> where they are <strong>to</strong>day.The family trio, a pair of Corona del Sol graduatesand an incoming Aztec freshman, have gone throughmany of the same experiences <strong>to</strong>gether, yet all findthemselves going in completely different directionsas their futures unfold.TJ, a 2004 Corona graduate, recently signed on<strong>to</strong> play professional basketball in Rio de Janeiro withthe expansion Tijuca Tenis Clube.The 24-year-old earned a number of accoladesas a senior in the Orange and Gold, taking home1st Team All-Region, Honorable Mention All-Stateand All-City Team award, which led him <strong>to</strong> MesaCommunity College <strong>to</strong> play ball.After two years there, including a one-yearmedical redshirt, TJ transferred <strong>to</strong> Weber State inOgden, Utah, where he spent another three yearstrying <strong>to</strong> master his craft.Luck once again wasn’t on his side as he broke hisfoot, causing yet another medical redshirt.He then transferred <strong>to</strong> Grand Canyon University,reconnecting with former friend and at the timeArizona State assistant Russ Pennell, who landed thehead coaching position with the Antelopes.TJ thrived his last season at GCU, earning 2ndTeam All-Pacific West honors. His luck had seemed<strong>to</strong> turn and an unexpected opportunity cameknocking shortly after his basketball career hadlooked <strong>to</strong> be coming <strong>to</strong> an end.One of his teammates was being recruited for theBrazilian startup squad, and one thing led <strong>to</strong> anotherwith TJ being offered a contract. He jumped on theopportunity and signed on the dotted line, which willhave him in Rio de Janeiro from Aug. 15 throughDec. 15.“I’m definitely excited, TJ said.“I wouldn’t say I’m nervous yet; it will probablykick in within the next couple weeks, but right nowI’m just more excited with the fact that I’m going <strong>to</strong>be a professional basketball player.”TJ (front), Casey and Holly Benson work out at south Tempe’s Fast Athlete training facility.The trio teams up for support in fulfilling long-term athletic goals.Travel costs, living expenses and a little extrawill be given <strong>to</strong> TJ as he kicks off his career as aprofessional player.“I’m getting paid <strong>to</strong> play basketball,” he says.“It’s been a goal of mine since starting college andis a dream-come-true.”The contract is guaranteed for only one season.However, with a solid performance, TJ may have <strong>to</strong>improve on his Portuguese and expect an extendedstay <strong>to</strong> build on his basketball career in Brazil whenanother league starts in January.TJ isn’t the only avowedathlete in the family. Afterplaying soccer at OregonState University, TJ’s sisterHolly played for the semi-proWomen’s Premier League withthe AZ Rush and Phoenix DelSol. She was a part of the2006 state championshipteam at Corona.Holly, academicallya senior who has twoyears of athletic eligibilityremaining, now attendsArizona State University.Little brother Casey will look <strong>to</strong> continuethe Benson legacy at Corona when he enters hisfreshman year next month. He was part of theundefeated squad at Kyrene Middle School and hasbeen participating with the Corona varsity teamduring summer play. There is definitely a differencein play coming from middle school <strong>to</strong> the high schoolgame.“Everyone’s a lot bigger and stronger,” Casey says.“It’s way more competitive.”He has followed his brother’s experiences andsays he will look <strong>to</strong> duplicate TJ’s success with theultimate goal of playing Division One basketball afterhigh school.“Just stay positive,” TJ has <strong>to</strong>ld his little brother.“It’s not going <strong>to</strong> be easy; be humble and always keepworking hard.”The hard work is evident as the trio worksout four times a weekat Tempe’s FastAthlete at Warnerand Kyrene <strong>to</strong> staysharp.The trainingfacility owned andoperated by Joshand Lara Clark giveshigh school andcollege kids, as wellas fitness-consciousadults looking <strong>to</strong> getin better shape, theopportunity <strong>to</strong> workout in a morerelaxed environment,but still with the benefit of <strong>to</strong>p-of-the-line equipment.The Benson trio has accomplished a lot <strong>to</strong>getherathletically and now embarks on the next chapter oftheir journey heading in<strong>to</strong> the future—and a brigh<strong>to</strong>ne, at that.
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