Arizona Cardinals, AIA team up on Sollenberger classic

 

PHOENIX, AZ (August 5, 2011) – For the first time in its five year history, the 6^th Annual Sollenberger Classic will feature two games at University of Phoenix Stadium, in partnership with the Arizona Cardinals, on Saturday, August 20, 2011.

 

“The Arizona Cardinals are pleased to be hosting the Sollenberger Classic at University of Phoenix Stadium for a second time,” stated team President Michael Bidwill. “We are also very excited about the development of the relationship between the AIA, Catholic Heathcare West and the Cardinals in the past year. Along with the efforts of the NFL, the goal of the three organizations is to spread the word about the importance of understanding the effects of sports-related head injuries. I encourage both student-athletes and their parents to take part in the educational session during the Sollenberger Classic.”

 

In the first game, the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s (AIA) Class 3A state champion, Show Low High School, will compete against the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s (NIAA) Class 3A title game runner-up, Moapa Valley High School.  The second game will feature the AIA’s 5A Division I state champion, Chaparral High School, and the NIAA’s 4A state champion, Bishop Gorman High School.

 

“We are excited to continue to expand the Sollenberger Classic in honor of the late Barry Sollenberger to two games,” AIA Executive Director Harold Slemmer said.  “This is truly becoming a big event, and this year it will be even bigger with officials, coaches and youth clinics around the games.”

 

“The State of Nevada is honored that we are now in our fourth year of participation in the Barry Sollenberger Football Classic,” Eddie Bonine, Executive Director of the NIAA said.  “The Arizona Interscholastic Association and the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s partnership in this event have proven to be a wonderful experience for our athletes, coaches and fans alike. This year’s format featuring two games is a splendid addition that will allow more participants to enjoy this event.”

 

Representing Arizona is the Show Low Cougars and the Chaparral Firebirds.  Show Low is coached by Randy Ricedorff, and won the 3A championship by defeating local rival Blue Ridge High School 20 to 17.  The Cougars finished the season with 12 wins and 1 loss.

 

“The Show Low High School Football team is honored to be selected to play in the 2011 Sollenberger Classic,” Ricedorff remarked.  “It is the mission of Show Low Football to become one of the premier football programs in the country by developing champions on and off the field who are academically sound, physically competitive and socially responsible. The administration, coaching staff, and players would like to thank The Arizona Interscholastic Association, Moapa Valley and those involved in the selection process, for helping make that dream a reality.”

 

The Firebirds are coached by Charlie Ragle, and fresh off their second straight 5A-II championship by defeating Centennial High School 32 to 17.  Chaparral finished the season with 14 wins and no losses, and their second straight AIA 5A-II state championship.

 

“Chaparral is honored to represent the State of Arizona in the Barry Sollenberger Classic.  Barry was Arizona High School Athletics and we hope to continue the legacy of the past participants in the Classic,” Ragle said.  “We are very excited to take on what we consider one of the best High School programs in the country in Bishop Gorman.  It has been our goal at Chaparral since taking over in 2007 to play on a national stage and we expect that our play on the field will showcase that.  We would like to thank the AIA for this opportunity and wish all the competing teams the best of luck.”

 

Representing Nevada is the Moapa Valley Pirates and Bishop Gorman Gaels.  Moapa Valley was the runner-up to Truckee in the NIAA Class 3A championship.  The Pirates are coached by Brent Lewis and finished the 2010 campaign with 7 wins and 5 losses.

 

“Moapa Valley High School is honored and excited to be invited to play in the 2011 Sollenberger Classic in Arizona,” Lewis stated.  “We look forward to competing with the Cougars of Show Low High School. This will be a great opportunity for our student/athletes to play against a school from another state at such a great venue in Glendale. Our coaching staff has already begun preparation to represent our state, school and the NIAA in this traditional football classic.”

 

Head Coach Tony Sanchez leads the Bishop Gorman Gaels back to the Sollenberger Classic for the second straight year, after winning the NIAA Class 4A championship defeating McQueen.  The Gaels finished the 2010 season with 13 wins and 2 losses, winning their second straight NIAA Class 4A title.

 

“We are very excited to be  competing in the 2011 Sollenberger Classic,” said Sanchez.  “Chaparral has been one of the top teams in the west over the past couple of years and we are honored and eager for this challenge to kick off our 2011 season.”

 

Tickets for the Sollenberger Classic are $10.00 for adults, $6.00 for students (ages 6-18) and children 5 and younger admitted free.  Tickets will be available starting Saturday, August 6 at the University of Phoenix Stadium ticket office and TicketMaster.com.

 

Game time is 3:00 p.m. between Show Low and Moapa Valley, and 7:00 p.m. between Chaparral and Bishop Gorman.

 

“We would like to thank the Arizona Cardinals for their continued support of the AIA and the high school football community,” Chuck Schmidt, AIA Chief Operating Officer, said.

 

“I also want to thank the Arizona Cardinals for their time and dedication to detail on hosting the classic,” Bonine remarked.  “The NIAA will continue our efforts to solidify the relationship between our two boarding state associations, and will continue to be committed to the AIA and their recognition for Barry. We are grateful for the outreach the AIA had displayed to the youth of Nevada.”

 

Sollenberger Classic History

 

The Sollenberger Classic honors the late Barry Sollenberger, a former AIA employee.  As a sports historian, Sollenberger was devoted to the task of documenting the achievements of high school athletes in the state of Arizona.

 

The first game honoring Barry was held at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University.  Chandler Hamilton, the 2005 AIA 5A Division I state runner-ups, defeated Mesa Red Mountain 21-7 on Friday, August 25, 2006.

 

The Phoenix Brophy Prep Broncos hosted Tucson Salpointe Catholic at Phoenix College on Thursday, August 23, 2007.  The Broncos defeated Salpointe Catholic 33-17 to take hold of the Sollenberger Classic Trophy.

 

In 2008, Phoenix Brophy Prep, the 2007 AIA 5A D-I state champions, defeated Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, the 2007 NIAA 4A state champions, 16-6.  The game was played on August 23, 2008 at University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals.

 

In 2009, the Sollenberger Classic was played in Reno, Nevada at MacKay Stadium on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno.  AIA 5A D-II defending state champion Peoria Centennial defeated NIAA 4A defending state champion Reno McQueen 51-20 on August 22, 2009.

 

The Hamilton Huskies and Bishop Gorman Gaels made their second Sollenberger Classic appearance in 2010 at NAU’s J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome.  The Huskies, the AIA defending 5A-I state champion, defeated the Gaels, the NIAA defending 4A state champion, 24 to 17, in a tightly contested game.

 

About Arizona Interscholastic Association

The AIA is a voluntary association of public and private high schools which was established by and is responsible to its members. The democratic governance of the AIA provides representation and input opportunities to all its member schools through their governing board members, administrators and teachers who serve on the Legislative Council, Executive Board and ad hoc committees.  There are currently 275 member high schools with over 305,000 students under the AIA.  The AIA was established in 1925.  The AIA is online at www.aiaonline.org.

 

About Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association

The NIAA is a non-profit organization of secondary schools in Nevada established in 1922. The NIAA is the governing body of high school athletics and activities in the Silver State as recognized by the Nevada state legislature.  The NIAA has 105 member schools divided into four classifications and is responsible for sponsoring, directing and developing athletics and activities in Nevada’s high schools.  The NIAA is online at: www.niaa.com.

 

AIA Media Contact: Brian Bolitho; Director of Business Media; bbolitho@aiaonline.org; 602-385-3822