A sports themed podcast from PinalCentral.com that tells the stories of Pinal County athletes and memorable events in local sports history.
Former Casa Grande Union football player Louie Ramirez talks about growing up in Casa Grande and his journey into coaching. Ramirez was a graduate assistant at Arizona State and Northern Arizona among other schools before he got his first head coaching job at Marana.
Poston Butte baseball coach Chris Holcombe talks about how he has built a successful and consistent program as well as his baseball background in the state from playing for Peoria to coaching in Pinal County and its surrounding area.
Maricopa swim coach and founder of the Arizona Seals Swimming Academy, Laura Logan, talks about the adventure that came with developing a top notch swimming program in Pinal County as well as the many joys that comes along with coaching. Before coaching at Maricopa, Logan ran her Academy at the Central Arizona College pool and also coached the Casa Grande Union swim team.
Central Arizona baseball coach Anthony Gilich talks about his long tenure with the Vaqueros from being an assistant coach to taking over the program eight years ago. Gilich also spoke about this year's team and its National Championship run.
Casa Grande Union tennis coach Matt Lemberg talks about his love of tennis and his first year at the helm of the boys program. Lemberg played for the Cougars when he was in high school and his dad also coached the team.
Former Coolidge multi-sport athlete Alvin Moore talks about winning state championships in basketball and football for the Bears. He later went on to play football from Frank Kush at Arizona State and then played professionally in the NFL. After he retired from playing he was a coach at the Arizona Boys Ranch/Canyon State Academy which he is what he enjoyed the most.
Former Central Arizona College rodeo coach Varr Myers talk about how he first got his start in rodeo and how he ended up being the coach of the Vaqueros for 30 years. He also dives into what he would look for when recruiting an athlete and all the ins-and-outs of competing as a college athlete.
Tom Wilson talks about how he started one of the first organized youth soccer leagues in Casa Grande and how he has seen the sport grow in town. He also spoke about working along with Dave White himself in starting up the golf course, and now his infatuation with pickleball.
Former Casa Grande Union football player, Mark Luna talks about his journey from being an athlete to coaching different levels of football. Luna spoke about how he never imagined being the head coach at his alma mater and how excited he is about this next chapter.
Maria and David talk to former Santa Cruz Valley multi-sport athlete, Chris Zapata about playing football, basketball and baseball for the Dust Devils. Zapata spoke about being part of the state championship baseball team in 1976 and how growing up in the Eloy led him to wanting to be involved in the community and led to him becoming the City Manager.
Maria and David speak with former Casa Grande Union football player and wrestler Anthony Edwards about his time playing in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals. Edwards is now a pastor at the Greater Evangelist Temple and he was also in a dance group when he was a kid.
Maria and David speak with Grant Sugaski, the two-time state championship swimmer out of Casa Grande Union. Sugaski talked about being part of a club swim team and detailed how much training he did to be one of the top swimmers in the state.
Maria speaks to 9-time karate black belt George Mosson about the sport and how he went from being a student to a teacher and shared some of his favorite memories about teaching karate the Pinal County community.
Maria talks with Randy Youtsey about his impressive athletic career at Coolidge where he played quarterback, shooting guard and shortstop for the Bears. He was mostly known as the basketball guy but his first love was baseball as he went on to play for Central Arizona College.
Brian and Maria speak with Vista Grande head coach Jon Roberts about taking over the football program and what he's learned about being an assistant to many successful head coaches in Arizona. Roberts also spoke about what it was like growing up in the Robbins family and how his athletic pedigree is heavily influenced by his dad.
Brian and Maria speak with recently retired Vista Grande softball coach Rudy Valenzuela about his military career and how he got into coaching. Valenzuela also spoke about this year's championship run for the Spartans.
Brian and Maria talk to former running back Russell Trejo about his time at Casa Grande Union and how he ended up at Brigham Young University.
Brian and Maria talk to former Casa Grande Union distance runner Bill O'Neil about the influence some of Casa Grande's legendary coaches had on his life, specifically George Young. O'Neil also talks about a career ending injury and how he ended up getting a college education by singing and eventually becoming a judge in Pinal County.
Brian and Maria speak with long-time cross country and track coach Kurt Kieser about his high school running days at Flowing Wells and Casa Grande Union. Kieser also spoke about his coaching journey at Antelope, Maricopa and the many memorable athletes he's coached at CG Union.
Brian and Maria speak with former Casa Grande Union and current University of Arizona pitcher Gil Luna. Luna speaks about how he ended up playing for the Wildcats and how he dealt with the pandemic as a college athlete.
Brian and Maria talk to Coolidge football coach Rodger Schenks about his time playing for the Madison Mad Dogs in the Indoor Football League and his football coaching background in Arizona and Pinal County.
Brian speaks with Freddie Enke about his grandfather's coaching legacy at the University of Arizona. Fred A. Enke coached men's basketball at U of A for 36 seasons and one year of football. He also coached two seasons of football and basketball at the University of Louisville.
Freddie Enke speaks to Brian about the legacy of his father, Fred W. Enke, a member of the Arizona High School Sports Hall of Fame, a football legend at the University of Arizona and an NFL quarterback.
Maria speaks with former Casa Grande Union softball player Kimberlee Myers about playing for the University of Washington and then transferring to Auburn University. Myers talks about her high school days and how her college athletic career wasn't what she expected.
Brian and Maria speak with former Casa Grande Union softball player Bailey Wigness about her softball journey from starting off at an early age to playing at Arizona State to eventually finding a career in coaching and becoming the head coach at the University of South Carolina - Beaufort.
Brian and Maria speak with former Casa Grande Union and current Louisiana Lafayette football player Trevor Russell about his long journey to become a Ragin' Cajun.
Brian and Maria speak with Abel Ramos about how he became a professional boxer and his upcoming fight.
Brian speaks with Miranda Moore, former Coolidge and CAC basketball player about her long-standing relationship with Coolidge boys basketball coach Dave Glasgow. Moore also spoke about her athletic background in track and is the marketing director for the Barca Academy soccer program.
Brian and Maria speak with former Casa Grande Union girls tennis coach Margaret Leard who coached the Cougars to six team state titles and had a 106-match win streak.
Brian and Maria speak with Ben Gutierrez about the many hats he's worn from when he was a student at Casa Grande Union High School up to now that he's the equipment manager. Gutierrez reminisces about many memorable moments in the school's athletic programs as well as some well known coaches.
Brian and Maria speak with University of Arizona softball coach Mike Candrea about taking over the team in the late 80's and turning it into one of the most successful programs in the country. Candrea also spoke about softball in the Olympics and what it's been like coming back after the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 season.
Brian and Maria speak with current University of Arizona softball coach Mike Candrea about the start of his coaching career at Central Arizona College, recruiting athletes in the 80's and how the sport has grown since he first started coaching.
Brian and Maria speak with Coolidge boys basketball coach Dave Glasgow about his state championship teams during his first stint with the program and his return this season.
Brian and Maria speak with Casa Grande Union baseball coach John Batina about his long history at CG Union, dating back to his time as a student athlete. Batina also spoke about his college playing days at Brigham Young University.
Brian and Maria speak with Florence boys basketball coach David Silvas about this year's team and playing during a pandemic. Silvas also spoke about his long standing history with the basketball program and its rivalry with Coolidge.
Brian and Maria speak with Vista Grande boys basketball coach Hank Bias about his connection to legendary UCLA coach John Wooden and how he's managed to turnaround the Spartans program.
Brian and Maria speaker with former Florence pitcher Mat Olsen about playing for Central Arizona College about what it was like to redshirt his first college season, the roller coaster of emotions he felt during the MLB draft and why he changed his decision of playing for the University of Arizona to Arizona State.
Brian and Maria speak with Poston Butte girls basketball coach Savannah Bix about the challenges of playing high school basketball during a pandemic and having a very young team this season. She also spoke about her experience of being a head coach in her early 20s and her overall thoughts on girls basketball in the state.
Brian and Maria speak with current Coolidge Bears PA announcer Tom Shope about his time as a radio broadcaster. Shope also spoke about calling some historic football and basketball games during the Bears' championship runs.
Brian and Maria speak with Santa Cruz Valley football coach and athletic director Rishard Davis about growing up in Alabama and his coaching journey in Arizona high school football.
Brian and Maria speak with Casa Grande Union football coach Jake Barro about the 2020 pandemic season and the growth of football in Pinal County.
Brian and Maria speak with Casa Grande Union football coach Jake Barro about his coaching journey and turning the Cougars into a playoff contending team.
Brian and Maria speak with Casa Grande boxer Jesus Ramos before his next fight on Dec. 26.
Brian and Maria speak with CG Union alum and former ABC 15 sports reporter Shane Dale about writing a book about the Territorial Cup and the rivalry between former Arizona State coach Todd Graham and former U of A coach Rich Rodriguez.
Brian and Maria speak with former Arizona State and NFL player Stephen Trejo about going undrafted and making it onto the Detroit Lions roster. Trejo also spoke about being in the NFL during the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Brian and Maria speak with former Arizona State and NFL player Stephen Trejo about playing with former Sun Devil legends like Jake Plummer and Pat Tillman, and playing for Casa Grande Union in the 90's.
Brian and Maria speak with former Casa Grande Union volleyball standout Skylar Redd about her experience coaching junior varsity, her ACL injury and her advice to high school athletes.
Brian and Maria speak with former Maricopa Rams wide receiver Jacob Cowing about how he ended up at University of Texas, El Paso and what it's like to play college football during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brian And Maria speak with former Casa Grande Union football coach Scott McEuen about his only season coaching the varsity team and how he led them to the playoffs during an 11-game regular season.
Brian and Maria speak with former Central Arizona College athletic director George Young about the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany and the terrorist attack in which 11 Israeli athletes were killed. He also spoke about become the CAC athletic director and recruiting legendary coaches Lin Laursen and Mike Candrea.
Brian and Maria speak with former Central Arizona College athletic director George Young about being a 4-time Olympian. He spoke about how he got into the steeplechase and his experience at the 1960 Rome Olympics, 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.