Local boy does good at Gonzaga

Cactus Shadows sports supporters may remember Bryan Graziano, a 2005 graduate of the school.

The former baseball and basketball letterman is finding success at the next level–Gonzaga University.

Graziano was recently named to the school’s President List for his 3.7 GPA, while studying  biology and Spanish.

He recently completed a four‑week study abroad program in Costa Rica where he learned about sustainable development and gave a Spanish presentation to a panel of officials representing a national park.

His other extracurricular activities include volunteering in the emergency room of a hospital, teaching English to a family of Cuban refugees each week and participating in various intramural sports at Gonzaga.

Graziano’s career ambition is to work in a health services field and become bilingual.

Academic success is nothing new to Graziano. At Cactus Shadows, he earned a 4.5 GPA and finished ranked among the top 2 percent of his class. He received several academic           scholarships, including the CSHS Booster Award, to attend Gonzaga.

For those who don’t know  anything about Gonzaga other than its top‑flight, mid‑major men’s basketball team, here are some facts: It is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S., has an enrollment of approximately 6,700 and offers seven undergraduate degrees in 43 majors, 26 master’s programs, a Ph.D. program in leadership studies and a juris doctorate through the School of Law.

Graziano is obviously smarter than a fifth‑grader.            

WATCH OUT, TIGER Woods. Here comes 9‑year‑old Ciara Petronzio.

Petronzio, a student at Black Mountain Elementary School, came in second place in the Girls 10 and Under Division at the  Arizona State Championships last week in Prescott.

The Legend Trail resident has already amassed more than 20 wins in her career, and that helped her receive an invitation to the two‑day event at Antelope Hills Golf Course. The tournament was sponsored by the Southwest PGA Golf League.

Petronzio isn’t just a great golfer. She’s also an A‑plus student and volunteers her time with many animal rescue groups.

According to Ciara’s mother, Barbara, “With all the negative reports out lately regarding sports figures, it’s nice to know that the future of sports is in the hands of some really nice kids.”

THAT’S NOT THE only recent story about local kids excelling in sports.

Becky Dixon wrote us to tell  us about the track and field exploits of her 10‑year‑old daughter Hannah, who has been competing in the 100 and 200 meters and the long jump for the Arizona Blaze USA Track and Field Team. In seven meets,  Hannah was almost always in  the top three.

The Desert Hills resident capped her season competed in the Junior Olympic State Championships in June, where she was fourth in the 100 and 200 meters. In the long jump, however, Hannah finished third to qualify herself for the Region X Junior Olympic Championship in Albuquerque, N.M.

At that regional meet, Hannah finished third again to qualify for July’s National Junior Olympics in Walnut, Calif.

The Arizona Blaze is a team coached by Jim Prescott, father of cross country and track champion Lindsay Prescott of Sandra Day O’Connor High School. Prescott’s former            teammate, Camille Olson, is an assistant coach.