My AIA365.com writing colleague, Les Willsey, did a great job of trying to be everywhere at once on Saturday (Nov. 3) with all of the state championship events being held. You can check the Web site for his reports on the cross country and swimming-diving meets.

But there were other events going on, and here is a bit of a recap . . .

*Congratulations are in order to the boys’ and girls’ fall soccer winners from Lakeside Blue Ridge. They proved that athletes from the school can do more than just play football.

A pair of penalty-kick goals by Clayton Crain lifted the Blue Ridge boys over Tucson Desert Christian 2-0. It was the fourth title in a row for the Yellowjackets.

On the girls’ side, Blue Ridge got two goals apiece from Jill Turner and Ashley Davidson in a 4-2 win over Desert Christian.

*Second-seeded Tuba City defeated No. 9 Safford in three sets to capture the Division III volleyball crown at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. Safford had a big season, defeating top-seeded Gilbert Campo Verde in the quarterfinals.

*In the Division IV title match, Sedona Red Rock pulled one of the weekend’s biggest surprises by rallying from a loss in the opening set to win three straight and put away top-seeded Phoenix Northwest Christian, which had won the two previous titles.

*Phoenix Veritas Prep won its third straight Division V crown by defeating Valley Lutheran in three sets.

Veritas features junior Sarah Sponcil, who was The Arizona Republic’s Small Schools Player of the Year last season. She should win it again. She would be a star at any level.

*Glendale Joy Christian defeated Phoenix Valley Lutheran 60-24 and Pima downed Bagdad 36-17 in the Division VI eight-man football semifinals on Saturday at Phoenix Sunnyslope.

This Saturday’s (Nov. 10) championship game (6 p.m.) at Sunnyslope will feature Joy Christian’s high-powered offense against Pima’s tough defense.

*If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out the video on azcentral.com that ran on Channel 12 Sunday night (Nov. 4), on the brother-sister cross country runners from Northwest Christian who dedicated the championship meet to their mother, who passed away a week earlier in an accident.

Go to http://www.azcentral.com/video/1947696216001