The next stop on the 6th Annual MaxPreps Boys' Basketball Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard was held on the campus of the Corona del Sol Aztecs on Thursday, April 19th 2012 in Tempe, Arizona. The Arizona Army National Guard visited the school in full force to present the prestigious Army National Guard national ranking trophy to the boy's basketball team. Corona del Sol ended their season with a 32-1-0 overall record, 13-1 in their league and were ranked a phenomenal No. 38 nationally out of 20,000 high school boy's basketball teams in the country according to the MaxPreps Freeman poll. Since claiming their state title and being nationally ranked, the Aztecs were one of ten boy's teams selected across the nation to receive the honor.
Once I arrived at the Corona del Sol High School, I was greeted by MaxPreps veteran, Norris Thomas. We began setting up in the large courtyard area. It was a large open space filled with desert landscape with the huge Aztecs logo front and center. As the Arizona Army National Guard arrived, not one, not two, but six prepared officers climbed out of their vehicle. Command Sergeant Major Sojourner led the way with Staff Sergeant Laurel Walker, Private First Class Heureaux, Privates Robinson, Valencia, and Guevara. The Arizona Army National Guard officers brought two tables worth of free merchandise to distribute to everyone attending the premier Tour of Champions trophy presentation.
Once the Aztecs boy's basketball team arrived along with Head Coach Sam Duane Jr., Assistant Coach Dean Steffey, Tempe School District Athletic Director Dan Nero, the student body and parents along with the staff started to gather around the large Tour of Champions backdrop banners. Two large Army National Guard stands were places on both sides making the trophy presentation enclosed for those receiving the prestigious Army National Guard national ranking trophy or the "Minuteman" trophy, symbolic of excellence and dedication to a cause.
MaxPreps' Norris Thomas opened the presentation by hyping up the crowd with the team's awesome statistics and overall national ranking. The microphone was then passed over to Command Sergeant Major Sojourner who immediately put down the microphone, as he said he speaks to hundreds of command troops over large distracting noises so no microphone is needed. He explained how tremendous of an honor it is to receive such a symbolic trophy as the "Minuteman." He emphasized that the Corona del Sol Aztecs were one of only ten boy's teams selected out of 20,000 boy's basketball teams throughout this great land. He them presented the hardware to Head Coach Duane Jr. along with the entire varsity team and his assistant coaches. Head Coach Duane Jr. then explained how this particular team was special. They began the season with an early loss but went undefeated the remainder of the journey. He was truly honored to receive the "Minuteman."
Local media outlet, Channel 3, covered the presentation and was to air the celebration Friday evening during the High School Sports show. The students all gathered to view the trophy as each player held it separately for photographs. The Arizona Army National Guard stood tall and showed their respect to this fantastic team who overcame early obstacles en route to becoming Arizona Division 1 State Champions and one of only ten teams to receive the "Minuteman" trophy! Congratulations Aztecs!
