Riley Mawson Named AIA Male Student of the Year

Miami High School’s Riley Mawson was named the Male Student of the Year at the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s Champions Award Luncheon in Surprise. Mawson was a multisport star at Miami while carrying a 4.02 grade point average.

The Arizona Republic reports that Cave Creek Cactus Shadows soccer player Lauren Lazo is the Female Student of the Year. Lazo will play for Princeton next season.

The athletic programs of Laakeside Blue Ridge and Nogales High received the Directors’ Cup award.

Anthem Boulder Creek baseball coach Joe McDonald was named Coach of the Year.

Lawmakers Consider Head Injury Bill

Arizona legislators are considering a bill to protect student athletes from head injuries during games. The bill would require all schools to pull a player from a game immediately if a head injury is suspected. ABC15 reports that the player would not be allowed to return until examined and cleared by a doctor.

Studies show that if players return to the game too quickly, another concussion could cause more problems. It can even be deadly.

The Arizona Sports Concussion Network says 40% of players receiving a concussion return to the game too soon.

Miami Sports Hall of Fame Inductions on Saturday

The Miami Sports Hall of Fame will induct nearly 50 people in a major induction event on Saturday. This will include mostly teams that won state titles, such as the 1987 Vandal volleyball and basketball teams. The tennis teams of 1986 through 1989 will also be honored, as well as the members of the Vandal boys basketball teams of 1981 and 1983.

Three coaches will be inducted. Memorial inductions will be for coach Vera Jackson, who was one of the founders of the Girls Athletic Association in 1948, and Dorothy Paddock will be honored for her work with the Vandal archery teams. Basketball Coach Henry Reyna will be inducted and will be at the event.

The Miami Hall of Fame event begins Saturday at 10:am with a meet and greet at the Miami Library. Lunch will be served at noon in the Miami High School Cafeteria. The induction ceremony will take place at 1:pm in the Miami High School auditorium, followed by an ice cream social. The public is invited to attend.