High school tournament and invitationals are back for the winter sports season after a shorter 2021 season where high numbers of COVID-19 cases wiped them out.
The same was true during the fall season, and certainly volleyball, cross country and swimming benefited from the top level competition both in and out of state.
However, there may be no season and no sports that get more out of these non-regular season tourneys than the winter sports — basketball, soccer and wrestling — that always have a two-week break for the holidays in the middle of their season and almost always play a tournament before the regular season starts.
Willow Canyon wrestling coach Shane Tamez said no winter sport missed out more than wrestling, as teams take part in frequent invitationals involving 10 or more schools that are very similar to the state championship format.
“Already this year we have had more matches individually in less than two months than we had the whole season last year. This means that we are getting more experience with more difficult teams, preparing us better for the state competitions. Having tournaments also gives a renewed sense of passion and motivation as it gives a sense of competition and accomplishment throughout the year,” Tamez stated in an email.
He stated that tournaments give the wrestlers something to look forward to consistently, unlike last year where the Wildcats only had the state tournament to look forward to all season.
Paradise Honors boys basketball already finished — and won — two tournaments. After a win in its season opener against Chandler Seton Catholic the Panthers ran roughshod in four games at Panthers Hoops Classic, winning all by at least 30 points.
“It’s been great to have the invitationals back after last year’s COVID season. Gives us some extra games as well as opportunities to explore and play guys that may not get minutes early in the season. Wasn’t so much about winning, but just getting those extra games before that St Marys game for us,” Paradise Honors coach Zach Hettel said.
Teams reap tangible benefits of these extra chances to compete, whether it is testing themselves against the best in this state or others, or gaining experience playing together or learning a new coach’s system in games that do not “count.”
“The entire program is excited about the return of tournaments. They are a key component of the season and help in preparation for the season. We are so excited; we are planning to host our own next season. For now, we are looking forward to our upcoming tournament in the East Valley,” first-year Estrella Foothills girls soccer coach Sherri Schenkel stated in an email.
In the Wolves case, taking part in the Desert Ridge High School Cactus Cup in Mesa Dec. 2-4 may have resulted in two losses. But both were competitive games against solid 6A teams in Boulder Creek and Shadow Ridge.
Estrella Foothills routed its first 4A regular season opponent, Moon Valley, 17-0 on Dec. 13, then beat Deer Valley 5-1 on Dec. 16.
After Christmas, the Wolves will take part in a big East Valley tournament full of top 3A and 4A teams, the Epic Tourneys Winter Classic Dec. 28-30 in Mesa.
Willow Canyon boys wrestling, meanwhile, traveled for the first time to the Nate Johnson Duals in Mesa Dec. 3-4 and the Marana Duals Dec. 10-11.
Tamez said these two duals/tournaments were difficult but extremely beneficial for the team.
“The boys program this year has wrestled the hardest they have wrestled this season the most we’ve seen the past few years. Both the Nate Johnson and Marana duals showed the boys how to keep wrestling even when the match gets tough,” Tamez stated. “Individually, the boys have found things about themselves that they need to work on; using size to advantage and technique when they weigh underweight significantly, not being a nonchalant wrestler, etc.”
Tamez also coaches the Wildcats girls team, and said the early tournaments for varsity and JV girls helped the teams immensely. More girls tournaments give the team room to work and build experience in competition at the beginning of the year, rather than toward the end.
“In the past, the girls team has only had a handful of invitationals and tournaments meaning it was harder to get good competition in before state, making us become slightly unprepared,” Tamez stated.
Willow Canyon wrestling has three boys tournaments after the break and the girls one.
Tamez stated the boys are mainly looking forward to the Peoria Invitational Jan. 7-8 the most since the competition is going to be difficult. And the girls are excited for the Ironwood tournament Jan. 28 the most since it should be difficult with some of the best schools in the Valley.
Paradise Honors is basically taking Christmas break off, returning Jan. 4 for a game against Yuma before returning to class the next day.
The Panthers’ second tournament, the Pepsi Holiday Tournament Dec. 9-11 in Flagstaff, came at the perfect time. Paradise Honors went 5-0 up north after a tough last second 63-61 loss to Phoenix St. Mary’s Catholic then were upset at Peoria 81-73.
“Playing up in Flagstaff and spending time together as a team was great. The two losses to St Marys and Peoria was tough. The Peoria game especially we didn’t deserve to win and we needed a reset as a group. So going up to Flagstaff and winning that tournament without our leading scorer and leader Blessing Nwotite was huge for their confidence. This gave Luke Light, Zander Kamai and Matthew Henry-Harrison a chance to really step up,” Hettel stated.
For Schenkel every game, including the tournament contests, is as important as the next.
While many things are new for the Wolves, the new coach said she likes where the team is at.
“The program is coming together nicely. They are learning their new teammates and coaches. Like any team we can use improvement technically,” Schenkel stated.
Richard Smith Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps @rsmithYWV
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
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