Bronco
Athletics
2023-2024 Year in Review
The Brophy College Preparatory athletic program had a historic year, highlighted by four state titles, three runners-up and 19 top-10 finishes.
Numerous individual accomplishments aided the teams’ successes, as 44 Broncos earned All-State accolades, and 96 were all-region choices. The Broncos won eight region and conference titles, led by five coaches who earned state or region coach of the year titles. Overall, 273 athletes garnered SportsAZ360 All-Academic accolades.
Athletics By The Numbers
Fall Sports
The fall season was highlighted by a 10-win football season as the Broncos advanced to the AIA 6A Conference semifinals and were the No. 1 overall seed in the 6A Conference postseason. The program won the region title for the first time since 2014. Head Coach Jason Jewell, quarterback Charlie McGinnis ’24 and linebacker Alex Salome ’24 garnered Central Region Coach of the Year, Central Region Player of the Year and Central Region Defensive Player of the Year honors, respectively.
The swimming and diving team finished third at the AIA Division I State Championships. Head Coach Daren Brubaker was named the Division I Coach of the Year after leading the Broncos to three top relay and two podium finishes by senior Theodore Neilson ’24 in the 200-yard IM and 100-yard breaststroke. Neilson was named to the All-Arizona team by the “Arizona Republic” and was a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American selection.
The golf team finished second in the state behind Hamilton at the Division I State Championships. The Broncos were led by Henry Dall ’24, a University of San Diego signee, and Auburn-bound Tyler Spielman ’24, who recorded top-five finishes. The “Arizona Republic” named both to the All-Arizona team.
The cross country team placed ninth at the AIA Division I State Championship meet. The Brophy/Xavier Mountain Biking team won the Arizona Cycling Association South Conference title for the second consecutive season.
FALL RECAP
- Archery: NASP Second in Bullseye and fourth in 3D
- Crew: Two National Qualifiers and National Champion
- Cross Country: 9th in AIA Division 1, 6th in Southwest Section
- Football: AIA 6A Conference Semifinalist, No. 1 Seed in 6A Tournament (10-3), Central Region Champs
- Golf: AIA Division I State Runner-up
- Hockey: AHSHA State Quarterfinals (8-10-4)
- Mountain Biking: ACA South Conference Championship, 3rd in State
- Swimming: 3rd in AIA Division I
- Freshman Tennis: N/A
WINTER RECAP
- Basketball: AIA Open Quarterfinals (17-11), Tied for Premier Region Championship
- Soccer: AIA 6A Conference Playin Game (6-10-2)
- Wrestling: 9th at AIA Division I (75 points), 4 State Placers
Winter Sports
Winter sports were just as exciting and successful. The basketball team, coached by Matt Hooten, played in the AIA Open Division playoffs for the second consecutive season before losing in the quarterfinals. Brophy tied for the Premier Region title as Braeden Speed ’24 finished his career with nearly 1,300 points.
Wrestling recorded a top-10 state finish as four wrestlers finished on the podium at the state meet. Adam Angulo ’26 led the performances with a runner-up at 144 pounds. The archery program was second in the bullseye and fourth in 3D competitions, and the hockey program reached the AHSHA quarterfinals and appeared at Mullet Arena.
Spring Sports
Rugby started a championship run in the spring by winning the Arizona Rugby Division II state championship for the first time since 2018. Lacrosse followed with its third straight title to cap a season with three USA Lacrosse Player of the Week honors and a program-best No. 4 regional ranking. Head Coach Pat Harbeson tutored three All-America standouts: Erik Volfson ’24, Noah Burdick ’24 and Deion James ’24. Burdick was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Tennis won the Division I boys’ tennis individual doubles title, as Kentaro Akiyoshi ’24 and Ryan Zerbib ’25 paired for the win and then led the program to the team title in the Division I bracket. The Broncos now boast an impressive 22 state championships, dating back to their first triumph in 1973. They finished the season undefeated in Arizona behind the leadership of Division I Boys’ Tennis Coach of the Year Chris Campbell ’84.
Volleyball capped off the championship haul, winning the 6A Conference title behind Conference Player of the Year Connor Oldani ’24, a Grand Canyon University commitment who finished among the national leaders in kills and hitting percentage. Head Coach Tony Oldani was named the Coach of the Year as the Broncos capped their memorable season with the trophy. Brophy finished ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation.
Athletic Director and baseball head coach Josh Garcia ’07 led the Broncos to a 24-7 record, tying the mark for the most wins since 2012, while reaching the 6A Conference semifinals. The Broncos won their first-ever Premier Region title, posting an 8-0 record in region play and garnering the program’s first region title since winning the 5A Desert Valley section in 2009. The Arizona Baseball Coaches Association and the AIA named Garcia the Coach of the Year.
The track and field team finished 10th at the AIA Open Championships, with five student-athletes finishing among the top eight in the state. The Broncos were fifth at the Division I meet behind six top-five finishes. The Broncos also won the Northeast Region title.
In ESports, the Brophy Zephyr Overwatch team lost in the PlayVS Pacific Youth semifinals. Initium was the AIA runner-up in League of Legends, and Rocket League Iota was a playoff qualifier. Harvard commit Ian O’Riley ’24 led the rowing program, winning the USRowing Youth National Championship in the Men Youth 1x in 7:14.04 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla. He won the Men’s U19 single event at the USRowing Southwest Regional Championships; Brody Jennings ’26 was third in the Men’s U17.
Two-sport standout Sean Kennedy ’24 was honored as the Arizona State Male Winner in the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Student-Athlete Scholarship Competition.
SPRING RECAP
- Baseball: AIA 6A Semifinals (24-7), Premier Region Champions
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ESports:
League of Legends Initium: AIA State Runner-up
Overwatch Zephyr: Pacific Youth Championship Third Round
Rocket League Iota: AIA Round of 16
Valorant Protus: N/A - Lacrosse: Arizona Lacrosse League State Champion (22-2), Grand Canyon Region Champions
- Rowing: Ian O’Riley ’24 wins the USRowing Youth National Championship in the Men Youth 1x in 7:14.04
- Rugby: Arizona State Rugby State Champions Division II
- Tennis: AIA Division I State Champions (19-3), Premier Region Champions
- Track and Field: 10th in AIA Open (20.5 points), 5th in AIA Division I (49 points), Northeast Region Champions
- Volleyball: AIA 6A Conference State Champions (44-3-2), Premier Region Champions
Photos: Steve Shaff