“They play hard but we got the best of them,” sophomore Russ Davis said.

The varsity boys basketball team have had a excellent season and looking forward to the playoffs. They have the number 1 seed in their sights, with a win Friday against McClintock.

The girls basketball teams on the other hand haven’t done so well, all the teams got beat by Dobson, and varsity and freshmen lost to Marcos.

The girls team will not be making the playoffs but they finished the season strong winning against McClintock.

“ The game is all about having fun, its not all about winning or losing,” sophomore Vicky Sanford said.

“We played a good game and we worked hard for that win,” sophomore Hannah Rowe said.

The team, however did not make the playoffs but ended their seasons 7 – 5 (varsity) and 7 – 5 (Jv).

With boys varsity basketball they had Mountain Pointe come to their house and beat the Pride soundly, 71 – 64.

“ I like playing against Mountain Pointe, it’s always fun playing them,” senior Calaen Robinson said.

The team has two more games and will soon be in the playoffs, hoping to make the nationally ranked season end well (ranked first at Arizona,34^th in the nation)going 20 – 1 and still having three more games left.

“It’s great, but I want that ring man,” Robinson said.

Concussions are provoking headaches and dizziness and causing long-term health risks and in rare cases, death, for young athletes throughout the country. Students are starting young, competing at a high level and not taking nearly enough recovery time to properly heal from injuries. TIME Magazine reports that from 2005 to 2008, 41 percent of athletes who suffered concussions in 100 high schools across the country returned to play too soon, disregarding guidelines set out by the American Academy of Neurology.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines a concussion on it’s website as “type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.”

At Corona, Certified Athletic Trainer Scott Mason, partnered with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, AXON sports and the AIA (Arizona Interscholastic Association) to put programs and tests in place, creating an efficient system for athletes to perform at optimal level by taking proper recovery time and being aware of the risk and symptoms prior to a concussion on the field or court.

One of the first steps taken has been done so by the AIA. The educational course, entitled Brainbook, was developed in coordination with the B.R.A.I.N.S Clinic of the Barrow Neurological Institute and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. It is now mandated by the AIA Executive Board to educate student athletes about concussions, and students must present proof of completing the program and passing the test at the end before they are even allowed to try-out for a sport.

Javier Cardenas, a neurologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital and director of the B.R.A.I.N.S. program, explains why creating a program like this was so important and how it was developed.

“The education that’s available currently through the CDC for the coaches is great education. It’s also available for the parents. But there is nothing directed at the athletes. What the states require is you handing a piece of paper to your parent and saying ‘you acknowledge you know the danger of concussion’ and then you sign off and you’re done. As a student, that’s not education,” Cardenas said. “About a year and a half ago, the Arizona Interscholastic Association and the Arizona Cardinals came to my institution because I run a program called B.R.A.I.N.S. They said, ‘Will you go educate all the schools about concussions? We’ll buy you a van and you can go throughout the state.’ But that wasn’t very practical.”

Instead, Cardenas worked with Arizona State University to create the online class that has come to be known as Brainbook.

“It’s interactive, it has a Facebook-like interface, even though there is no social networking, it’s multi-media, we included professional physicians and role models from the Arizona Cardinals and from the (Phoenix) Mercury. And lastly, there are some athlete peers talking about concussions,” he said.

Since the start of the program in August, 80,000 tests have been completed. Cardenas is recognizing great success and receiving positive feed back, as middle schools are beginning to use the tool for health education. Cardenas also says that they are trying to take the program nationally, tailoring it for each area.

“We are seeing a shift, and the intent of Brainbook is to create a culture shift, so that people are not afraid to report, that they are looking out for themselves and their peers, and they take the correct measures to sit out so they don’t suffer the injury or a second injury,” Cardenas said. “I link it to dehydration. When I was a high school athlete, if you ran off the field to get water, you were a sissy. You didn’t need it. But you know, people died. But that culture has shifted in the sports world. So that’s what I hope will happen.”

After team players have completed the Brainbook program, they are recommended to take the baseline concussion test at school, administered by Mason. Having a certified athletic trainer on-site is crucial to assist injured athletes, though TIME reports that only 42 percent of high schools in America have certified athletic trainers, like Mason. The baseline test is not mandatory, but proves to be off to a successful start, with about 300-400 tests conducted thus far on campus. The test has been mostly given to contact sports although it is the ultimate goal for all athletes to be tested.

The test is simple, and can provide excellent information in the event of an injury.

“We are looking at the scores of this baseline data, when an injury does occur, and then we’re comparing both to see the significance of the injury, to see if they have returned to where they were before the concussion,” Mason said.

For junior varsity OL/DL Aaron Simons, the baseline test helped him get back on the field. Having taken it prior to his massive collision in practice, the test was available for him to retake making sure that his transition off the bench would be a safe one.

“I was told that I got absolutely mollywhopped by this kid Josh Riedel,” Simons said. “I got hit in the head and l don’t remember much of it until about halfway to the hospital when my mom was like ‘You all right bud?’ and I was like ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Then she told me I got a concussion.”

Although suffering from brutal dizziness and headaches, Simons pleaded to be allowed back on the field, and bitterly understood why he wasn’t allowed to suit up again until he was fully recovered.

“That was a big discussion my mom and the doctors had, that I want to get back on the field as fast as possible. The doctors wanted a whole week of symptoms being gone from my body. They were gone in about a week, so I sat out two weeks,” Simons said. “I love the sport, I like playing, and it was a big game, it was DV, so I wanted to play. It’s a violent sport, it’s going to happen where people get hit, but don’t hit with your head. That’s a rule.”

Corona insists a safe return to his or her respective sport is the school’s primary goal, so as not to add to the whopping 16 percent of athletes nationally who suffered concussions and returned to the field the same day, as reported by TIME.

Many have noticed the NFL changing up the technology of their helmets to better support the head and protect the brain. Turns out the pros aren’t the only one’s suiting up a little safer.

Every year, Corona’s football program adds about 20 to 30 Schutt DNA helmets, one of the most advanced helmets on the market right now within the school’s price range. Since obtaining new coach Tom Joseph, Corona has also invested in helmets that are custom fit to the player, doing away with the “one size fits all” type protection.

“Helmets are good for 10 years and we have them tested each year by Sunvalco to make sure there are no cracks or defects,” football coach Tim Kelly said.

Girls soccer is also taking steps to reduce risk in the high-speed contact sport.

Head girls soccer coach Matt Smith said, “My wife has suffered over 25 concussions so its kind of a personal vendetta for me,” explaining why taking these precautions mean a lot to him, while protecting the long-term health of this players.

“We have purchased FULL90 headgear for each of our girls and require them to wear them for all training and games, both on the varsity and JV levels,” Smith said. “There are lots of people who argue about the effectiveness of the headgear, but we have seen less than two concussions per season over the last two years in the program, which is about 40 athletes each year.”

The steps Corona is taking to reduce concussion and brain injury risk is proving its effectiveness on campus with every practice and game, as athletes are performing at a safer level than ever before.

“It’s better to miss one game than the whole season,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states on their website.

Simons concludes with the idea the athletes need to be patient in a difficult, sometimes long-term process of recovery.

“I was angry (I couldn’t play), but I understood why,” Simons said. “You don’t mess around when stuff comes to your brain.”

“My mom works at Aprende Middle School and when I was in fifth grade, my mom took me into the wrestling practice at Aprende’s gym and let me watch,” Butler said.

This was a difficult time for Butler because his parents were going through a divorce.

“If anything, the divorce helped my wrestling because my mom and dad were constantly motivating me to do better,” Butler said.

Some students at Corona may not know what it’s like to have only one parent living with them; Butler has dealt with it since elementary school.

“My dad and mom got a divorce and he moved to Oklahoma,” Butler said.

After the spilt, one of the challenges he dealt with was not seeing his father, sending his relationship with his dad downhill.

“I just stopped talking to him. At first I talked to him everyday, and then it slowed down,” Butler said. “But I still have respect for him.”

With trouble at home and on his mind, he never let it distract him while on the mat.

This will be Butler’s seventh year wrestling, and third year being on varsity. However, he was about to put an end to wrestling career this year for his job of a year and a half of Taco Bell. His job is important to him for several reasons, one being he gives his mother some of his paychecks to help around the house.

“I was about to quit because I felt I could get farther in my job than in wrestling,” Butler said.

Butler was ready to walk away from wrestling if it wasn’t for one person who had stood by him all his life: his mom.

“My mom said I should finish off my last year, so then I just went for it,” Butler said. “And when I got my first match in, I decided to stick with it.”

While he has no college scholarship offers, he already decided where he will attend college.

“I’m planning to go to Mesa Community College,” Butler said.

Butler is having a great season, having seven wins and just one loss(as of press time) ; acting as one of the leaders of the team.

“He is a leader in experience, and we look forward to taking advantage of that as we work with the younger kids and help them understand what they need to need to get to through their career at Corona del Sol,” head coach Jim Martinez said.

Butler isn’t the biggest, or maybe not the strongest, but he’s certainly one of the best at what he does.

“If you’re talking about never giving up,  Justin is the best hands down,” senior teammate Jason Landrum said.

“I’ve seen progress since his sophomore year,” Martinez said.

Butler placed fifth in state last year and looks forward to placing this year.

“I was extremely surprised when I found out,” he said. “After all, I had never been on the cover of a magazine before.

In addition to surprising Robinson, the news was received happily by the rest of his family.

“My whole family was really happy,” Robinson said. “I got the opportunity to autograph all of their copies of the magazine.”

Though being put on the front cover of the ESPN magazine was a once- in- a- lifetime experience on its own, Robinson found the photo shoot to be yet another wonderful opportunity.

“To get on the cover, they hired a professional cameraman who took a lot of action shots,” Robinson said. “After looking through them, he decided which ones to keep. It was a really fun experience and a lot of work.”

But according to Robinson, perhaps the greatest part of the experience is the beneficial effects it will have on his future career as an athlete.

“I think that by gaining publicity, it will help my career a lot,” Robinson said.

“We look pretty solid,” said varsity soccer player sophomore Andrew Kyrondis.

The boy’s team has had over five games, and the girl’s have also had five, both teams have many more in January.

Boys basketball has started off with a good season; winning 6 of the 7 games they have played. They have a ways to go before the end of the season.

The girls basketball team is doing well also; winning 4 out of 6 games.

“ Our team is hoping to make it into the state tournament this year,” said varsity player sophomore Vicky Sanford.

The wrestling team has begun the season very successful, with no losses so far. They attended the Southwest Showdown and won against the Chandler Wolves. (getting quote)

During the winter break, all the winter sports were practicing for the rest games in this season, which begin again in January.

All the sports schedules and scores will be posted on the Sunrise website daily.

“Half-way though my junior year was my first time going out there on varsity and stuff, and I guess I’ve done pretty well since,” Moss said.

Many coaches and recruiters agree.

“Avery is an outstanding prospect and a potential All-American. He looks like a basketball player playing football at times but has what it takes to become a remarkable pass-rushing end,” Tom Lemming, pro football recruiter and scout said on the All American Bowl website.  “(He) has huge hands, loves physical contact, shows a great burst, and just needs to add weight and strength and then look out.”

Moss committed to Nebraska in the fourth quarter of the bowl game, with his father and now fellow teammate and Corona alumni, Todd Peat, standing by. Many speculate Moss’s decision was greatly influenced by close friend Peat. Although Moss says Peat was the reason he began playing football, in addition to being “one of the only sports you can hit people legally,” he denies Peat swayed his decision.

“Education, the character of the coaches I want to be playing for and the environment (were factors in my decision),” Moss said. “My family had a big influence, that’s what it came down to. Whether or not they (the school) were going to be engaged with my family. My dad is (supportive), but my mom doesn’t want me to get hurt.”

In addition to family, Moss’ decision was greatly weighed by educational opportunities, and “that’s why it came down to Nebraska and Purdue,” Moss said.

“I am going to major in psychology and major in business,” Moss said. “I want to be an Industrial Organization psychologist, psychology in the business world.”

Moss continued, “Nebraska leads the NCAA in Academic All Americans and that stuck out to me.”

He claims to have made his decision about a week before the bowl game, but speculation about the highly anticipated choice flooded the media outlets long before.

“Before that I’d say some people already knew, and the reporters are always trying to squeeze the juice out of you,” Moss said. “I am so glad it’s over with. It’s been hell (the recruitment process). If my kid is an athlete, I am going to feel sorry for him in the recruitment process. I’m going to tell him to commit early because it gets crazy.”

It has not yet been determined whether Moss will have playing time or redshirt as a freshman Cornhusker, but he is open to both options.

“I know they have a lot of people in my position that are going to be seniors, so I could just redshirt and take that year off and start my four years after that, or I could take the competition head up,” Moss said.

Moss is more than ready for the competition of a Division I football program and is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to say the least.

“(College competition will be) 10 times harder than what I experienced in this All American Bowl,” Moss said. “In the next level, motivation will be that I’m getting a free education, and thankful.”

The following wrestlers were named to the All Tournament team: Glenn Farina (6-1), Jason Landrum (7-0), Jay Tucker (7-0) and Steven Rodriguez (7-0). Undefeated wrestlers also include Daniel Cartagena (7-0) and Ethan Tursini (7-0). It was overall a successful weekend of wrestling for the Aztecs.

“We do what we do, and that’s what we did, and that’s what we’re always going to do,” said senior Jay Tucker said.

“I shot a basketball before I could write my name,” Benson said.

Benson recalls one of his early games he’ll never forget.

“In the fifth grade, I hit a half court shot to win the game, so that was pretty cool,” he said.

Benson is approaching his seventh year of play, competing on both the Corona varsity team and Arizona Magic’s Club basketball team.

“In school there are a lot more people at the games and a lot more of an atmosphere,” Benson said. “In the club there are not as many people, no student section or cheering section.”

Although always tall for his grade, Benson was also young for his grade level, and made the choice with his parents to be home schooled for one year after his promotion from eighth grade. Could this have aided his basketball career? Possibly. But he said that was not the primary focus of the decision.

“Maturity, that was the main thing,” Benson said. “In every aspect of my life in general it has been beneficial.”

Corona’s head varsity coach of nine years, Sammy Duane, can clearly see the high maturity level in the young athlete.

“Many times last year I would forget that he was a freshman,” Duane said. “His poise an maturity on the floor was like an upperclassman.”

Entering high school at age 15, Benson was ready to try out for the winter sport, as he practices or plays basketball every single day.

“I was really excited (to make varsity) and really excited to start playing with all the guys because I already knew a lot of them,” Benson said. “(My teammates) and I get along really well. We all like each other and we’re all friends.”

Benson said he would never consider switching schools for other basketball opportunities for several reasons, but just one being the coach.

“He (Duane) is a really good coach, he knows the game a lot and knows what he’s doing,” Benson said. “He is a personable guy too, he relates to the players. I really like Corona.”

Duane thinks Benson is an obvious asset to the team, beyond just athletic ability.

“Casey is very talented basketball player,” Duane said. “He has a great understanding of how to play the game. He can shoot the ball extremely well and is very unselfish. He’s a very hard worker.”

Duane continued, “He is a great character person of high integrity.”

“Off the court, Benson participates in both the DFR (Drug Free Revolution) Club and YoungLife, a youth Christian club.

YoungLife volunteer leader of 11 years Nick Moore has known Benson for about two years and had nothing but positive things to say about his character qualities.

“Casey is gifted in general. You wouldn’t know it, because I think often times with kids like him they are good at flaunting that, and he’s just really humble,” Moore said. “He knows what he needs to do, and he doesn’t feel he needs to flaunt anything. He has a gentleness and kindness you don’t see in a lot of kids, especially in high schoolers.”

Moore continues about the uniqueness of Benson.

“He has incredible character. He demonstrates it through his actions. he doesn’t have to use words, just through the standard he holds himself to both on and off the court. He values his friendships as well; he is the guy that will always say hi to you. A lot of people appreciate that about him,” he said.

Both Duane and Moore are predicting great things from Benson’s basketball career.

“He needs to continue to get stronger and keep developing all his skills,” Duane said. “I can see Casey as a Division I player; he can be as good as he wants to be.”

Moore agrees.

“In basketball I expect him to be the leader wherever he is playing, in a Division I school or in and out of the country leading by example for everyone on his team,” he said.

Benson has hopes to follow in his older brother’s footsteps, as he played professional basketball in Brazil. His role model sibling attended Weber State and Grand Canyon University, though Benson is far from a decision about what college he’ll attend.

“I have thought about it, but I still have three more years. So I have, but not too much,” Benson said.

And although academics are going to be a large factor in what school he chooses to play basketball for, he has no idea what he will study.

Speaking in more present tense, Benson is looking forward to a few games this year.

“Desert Vista and Marcos are two of our biggest rivals,” he said. “They both have good players and are good teams.”

Marcos is going to be the game not to miss as a spectator, according to Benson.

“We haven’t played Marcos in several years; we play them this year twice,” Benson said. “When my brother was playing, they played them. That was the biggest game and it was always packed.”

As the season is kicking off, Benson has high hopes of a successful second season at Corona.

“I want to have a really good season and win as many games as possible. The goal for every team is to win the state championship,” Benson said. “I think we have a good chance. I mean, I don’t want to sound…you know,” Benson said laughing.

If you can’t pick out which player he is on the court, just look for his hair.

“He needs to cut his hair, but he’d kill me for saying that,” Moore said laughing.

Duane recalls a funny memory from last season.

“I did get a laugh when opposing cheering sections chanted ‘Justin Bieber’ toward him!”

Benson’s excelling character and love for the game is not going anywhere anytime soon.

“I want to be the best that I can be,” Benson said. “I don’t have a set goal, just to be the best player I can be.”

Moore concludes, “He’ll go far; he’ll be one of those kids people write books about.”

“I was playing on Team Arizona at the U16AAA level; now I’m on a U18 AAA team,” Allen said.

Allen’s dream is to be drafted into the NAHL then be “offered a spot on a D1 college team”.

Allen has been playing hockey a total of 12 years, beginning when he was five-years old. His favorite thing about being on the ice is “getting out of the heat and playing the sport I love.”

“They recruited me from my team last year and they wanted me to come up there and play so I moved up there (Nebraska) at the beginning of this year,” Allen said.

Allen says part of the reason he was chosen was because he is a strong defenseman and an all-around “solid player.”

While in Nebraska, Allen lived with his cousins and worked hard on the ice.

“(The experience) was positive until I broke my ankle,” Allen said.

Allen broke his ankle when he was “hit weird” and the bones snapped inside his skate.

Another obstacle faced while in Nebraska was Allen’s attendance. Every Wednesday his team would leave for games and he would miss the rest of the week’s classes. In Nebraska, students are not allowed to miss more than 20 days of school. This was one of the reasons Allen decided to come back.

“I chose to come back because it is kind of boring up there and I was hurt so I couldn’t do anything,” Allen said.

It is expected that Allen will be allowed to play again will be around Dec. 2.

Allen said he will continue to play hockey in Arizona for Caha (Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association), though he will not participate on Corona’s club.

“I have to start training again a lot before I can get back on the ice so I don’t get hurt again,” Allen said.