Opening the new season at home and with high hopes for a turnaround season, the Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions’ offense struggled early in dropping their home opener 47-7 to Mesa Skyline Aug. 17 at Mountain Ridge High School.

After 43 professional fights, Arizona’s Ray Beltran achieved one of his dreams when he won the World Boxing Organization lightweight championship. Now at Gila River Arena Aug. 25 he will fight for his second dream, remaining in the United States.

Four years after winning the National Junior Community College Athletic Association Division II National title, Glendale Community College women’s volleyball head coach Lisa Stuck said her 2018 team is showing early signs similar to that national championship team.

As another football season gets underway, local teams are aimed at playoff berths and improved play as realignment makes for some intense competition between area teams.

As another football season gets underway, local teams are aimed at playoff berths and improved play as realignment makes for some intense competition between area teams.

After the end of the 2018 World Cup, Arizona soccer fans were treated to a friendly matchup between two of the top soccer teams in the world as Manchester United and Club America showcased the sport July 19 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Glendale is about to get international as two of the top soccer programs in the world face off July 19 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board voted May 24 in favor of adding girls wrestling as an emerging sport for the winter school year beginning with the 2018 season.

Several West Valley athletes have agreed to continue their college careers by agreeing to play at the next level.

Glendale resident Kevin Mearse, 13, may be one of the top soccer players in the state and he is not even ready for high school yet.

In a time when star athletes can be egotistical and arrogant, Mountain Ridge graduate Matthew Liberatore shows that young athletes can be the exact opposite on and off the field.

As Glendale awaits word on future sporting events to be held at University of Phoenix Stadium, the city was awarded two huge soccer events to be held over the next two years.

In the Cobras’ 2016 title game, a non home run call cost them, and this year, a safe call at first base led to two Tucson Salpointe Catholic runs that were the difference; Cactus (30-5) lost 2-0 in the 4A title game at Arizona State University Farrington Field May 15.

After a season that led the Mountain Ridge baseball team to its second state title game in the past three years, the Mountain Lions were in line to win the school’s first baseball title May 15 at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

“One more” has finally come to fruition for the Cactus Cobras.

After rolling through the first three rounds of the playoffs, Mountain Ridge entered the semifinals without a loss and looking at a second title game in the past three years facing the top team in 6A Mesa Mountain View May 11 at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Ironwood graduate Mackenzie Dern has been on a roller coaster over the past few weeks leading up to her second UFC fight at UFC 224 May 12.

One more has finally come to fruition for the Cactus Cobras.

Entering the Arizona Lacrosse state playoffs ranked number four, the Glendale Vipers hosted a home playoff game against the Anthem Boulder Creek Jaguars, a rematch of the third game of the season that the Vipers rebounded for a victory.

Editorial note: The print issue of The Glendale Star erroneously states Brittnie Henige commits to New Mexico State. This is incorrect; Henige committed to New Mexico.

Arizona native Justin Gaethje won two high school state titles at Gila River Arena, and on April 14 he returned to the arena to fight in an Ultimate Fighting Championship main event in front of a packed house at the arena for the first time since 2007.

When the Glendale and Mountain Ridge lacrosse teams get together, both teams know to play to the final whistle and their 2018 battle April 6 was no different.

As Gila River Arena prepares to host its first-ever Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event April 14, Arizona fan favorite Justin Gaethje is ready to headline his first UFC event in the state.

Performing at Gila River Arena for the first time, the Professional Bull Riders performed in front of a record-setting, sold-out crowd March 24 when Eduardo Aparecido won the 25th PBR: Unleash the Beast, Ak-Chin Invitational presented by Cooper Tires.

Ironwood head softball coach Jami Beebe knew she would have a tough season after losing five seniors from last year’s squad, but the Eagles have shined on the young season, winning seven of their first nine games.

Cactus District Councilmember Ian Hugh goes on a special behind-the-scenes tour with Scott Carter, marketing and corporate partnerships director for Camelback Ranch, on the latest episode of “Spotlight on the Cactus Corner” show.

After opening the season with four blow-out losses, Kellis softball faced one of the top teams in the Valley and, on paper, it looked like another long day March 9 against Sunrise Mountain.

In 2017, the West Valley had three softball teams qualify for the playoffs, with Sunrise Mountain losing the 4A title game and Cactus advancing to the semifinals. As 2018 gets underway, the West Valley continues to have strong contenders for the season.

Ironwood graduate Mackenzie Dern battled out a tough three-round, split-decision victory over Ashley Yoder March 3 in Las Vegas in one of the most anticipated debuts in UFC history.

Mountain Ridge lacrosse knows it has a target on its back after winning the Division II state title last season, and after opening its season with a 17-16 loss to Pinnacle Feb. 28, new head coach Derek Bahler knows his team has work to do.

Heritage Elementary School, a tuition-free charter school, made history this year when both the boys’ basketball team and girls softball team won state titles.

Deer Valley High School is full of talented and athletic people, Grace Reed being one of them. Reed, a junior, competes in the somewhat uncommon sport of archery. As a nationally ranked archer at number 27 in the United States, Reed is a force to be reckoned with. With a recent bronze medal …

Courtney Casey was a star soccer player in Arizona, but she always wanted to try mixed martial arts.

MacKenzie Dern has been the most sought after free agent in the world of combat sports for the past few years, but wasn’t sure she wanted any part of it.

The gym at Deer Valley High School Feb. 16 was a sea of white, as supporters showed up to cheer for their Skyhawk varsity men’s basketball team. The Skyhawks and the Apollo Hawks faced off Friday night in a game to remember, as both teams fought hard with a chance to clinch the 5A quarterfinal win.

Entering the 5A playoffs, Independence boys’ soccer head coach Sergio Gomez said his team had one goal –returning to the semifinals for the third straight season – and after dominating Tucson Desert View in a 1-0 quarterfinals victory, the Patriots are ready for the next step.

The Apollo Hawks girls’ basketball team is having its best season since winning the 2010-11 4A Division I State Title. The Hawks held senior night Feb. 2 and was tested by a scrappy Ironwood girls’ team with one senior and two juniors on the roster.

After four years as head coach of the Deer Valley Skyhawks football team, Eric Bolus announced his retirement early in December and the school announced former Arizona Christian assistant coach Dan Friedman will take over next season as leader of the Skyhawks football team.