
Photo by Precision Sports Entertainment
The 2014-15 MaxPreps Tour of Champions made a stop in Tempe, Arizona to honor the
Corona del Sol boys' basketball team on the 9th Annual MaxPreps Basketball Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard. The Corona del Sol Aztecs finished the season 32-1. Not only did they win the Arizona Division 1 State title by defeating Desert Vista, MaxPreps also ranked them nationally. Out of 20,000 boys' basketball programs, Blanche Ely ranked No. 13 in the country.
On Wednesday, April 8th, MaxPreps and the Arizona Army National Guard traveled to the Grand Canyon State to visit Corona del Sol High School to honor the team on their national ranking and award them with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy. The team was presented the prestigious trophy during an awards ceremony in the gymnasium.
After all the students had entered the gym, Norris Thomas of MaxPreps started the ceremony by recounting to the crowd the Aztecs successful season. After speaking about the team, he continued by explaining the Tour of Champions as well as the MaxPreps Computer Rankings. Everyone cheered at the huge accomplishment.
Then, Sergeant First Class Richard Soto of the Arizona Army National Guard congratulated the team on their accomplishments and correlated many of the traits of the Army National Guard to that of a championship team, including hard work and determination. After stressing how proud the Arizona Army National Guard was to be presenting a team in Arizona with such a tremendous honor, SFC Soto presented Coach Sam Duane and the team with the Army National Guard national ranking trophy.
Once the presentation was finished, Coach Sam Duane and the team took formal photos with the trophy and were interviewed expressing their excitement and how honored they were to be presented with the trophy. SFC Soto handed out Tour of Champions commemorative shirts and cinch bags to the team as well.
Congratulations to Coach Duane and the boys' basketball team on an unbelievable season and national ranking!