Our sports writers have collaborated to select the best players from each sport on campus. While no team sport is won or lost based on any individual, “Perry’s Best” highlight student-athletes who were not only great at their sport, but also on campus and in the classroom.

JUSTIN DAWSON
Swim
Senior Justin Dawson is a four year veteran of the swim and dive team. Named to the all-CUSD swim team Dawson, boasts an impressive swim portfolio.
This past season he took 15th in state in the 200 free relay along with teammates Sam Morton, Jake Perrine, and Cody Stalcup. Nearly about to graduate, Dawson plans to continue his swimming career after high school.

JACOB SIWEK
Track

Senior Jacob Siwek is an essential part of the Perry track program. He is a leader during practice and a tough competitor at meets. On March 24, Siwek competed in the Chandler City Meet and placed third in the 1600 meter.  On May 1, he placed 11th in the Southeast Valley Invitational with a time of four minutes and twenty nine seconds. Siwek holds the mile record for Perry; he set this on Apr. 6 at the Sun Angel Classic meet held at ASU.

LAYNEE GOMEZ
Softball
Receiving the Female Scholar Athlete of the Year award for her class, three- year varsity veteran Laynee Gomez ended the 2012-2013 softball season strong. Finishing with a .496 batting average, Gomez was a key component to the team’s successful season.
With 57 hits, she had the largest amount out of the team. Being a reliable center fielder and hitter, Gomez had a huge impact on the softball team’s success this season.

SAMANTHA DeMARCO
G-Soccer
Another extraordinary athlete has reached their final season at Perry. Sam DeMarco has not only left a mark on the Pumas soccer team, but a mark on all of Puma sports. She led the soccer team to a playoff run this year, and has claimed the title of the best goalie to ever play for the Pumas.
DeMarco is on a full ride scholarship to NAU to display her talents in front of Lumberjack nation.

ARCH RATLIFF
Wrestling
Arch Ratliff has showed his talents on and off the mat. On the mat he is constantly beating old records and making Pumas proud. While at school he is bringing roses and balloons for his girlfriend or even helping students with problems and issues.
While at home, he’s doing homework and wrestling with his brother on the mat in their garage. Ratliff has truly showed what it’s like being a team player on and off the mat.

DUSTY WRIGHT
Baseball
Senior Dusty Wright’s high school baseball career may be over, but he has certainly left his mark. Batting .392 for the season with 19 RBIs and 23 runs scored, Wright was the player to watch this year.
A great defensive asset as well, Wright held it down in right field. Perry’s win over Basha during the game at Salt River Field, one of the standout season highlights, could even be accredited to an incredible throw by Wright in the final inning from far-right field.

REGGIE BLADER
Football
Perry football had many highlighted players throughout the season, but the one that stood out the most was senior running back, Reggie Blader.
Playing both sides of the ball, offense and defense, as well as special-teams, Blader was a triple threat- a component that opponents definitely didn’t know how to handle.
Overall Blader was a reliable player as well as an extremely valuable teammate.

RACHEL AMERINE
G-Basketball
Standing at a height of 6’2, junior Rachel Amerine is a beast on the basketball court. As a center and a forward for Perry’s varsity team, Amerine has seen a lot of playing time in her 2012-2013 season. With her 63% free throw average, 8 points averaged in a game, and 208 scored points overall, Amerine was a major player this year. She and the rest of this years girls’ team have a lot to look forward to for next year’s season.

MITCH HARRIS
B-Volleyball
Senior Mitch Harris is one of the top players on the Men’s Volleyball team. He plays as both a setter and outside hitter. Harris finished the season with 31 aces, 261 kills and 322 assists. He is a leader, both on and off the court and works extremely hard to better himself on and off the court. The strong performance of Harris played a key role in the team’s successful season.

Coaches

Brian Pomerantz, Boy’s Volleyball

Despite only coaching men’s volleyball for two seasons, Brian Pomerantz has shown why he is one of the top coaches on campus. In only his second year, Pomerantz lead his team to 16-2 power point record and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. With a strong crop of young athletes, Pomerantz looks primed to build upon this past season’s success.

Lerina Johnson, Badminton

After a successful season this year, the girls varsity badminton team ended with a record of 13-1. Badminton coach, Lerina Johnson was voted as the Division 1 State Coach of the Year as well as the Section 2 Coach of the Year.
Johnson has been coaching at Perry for four years, and is looking forward to coaching many more. With a strong crop of young athletes, Pomerantz looks primed to build upon this past season’s success.