For many years, Buckeye and Goodyear were known for their cotton fields and limited infrastructure, with West Valley high school athletics often hidden in the dusty shadows.
Until now.
“I think it’s always been the growing area,” said Andrea Hudson, an early resident of the West Valley and the athletic director at Waddell’s Canyon View High School. “I think over the last 10 years, it’s exploded.”
The West Valley’s recent boom in its economy, infrastructure and population has not only reshaped the community, it has changed the trajectory of its football programs.
In previous eras, high school football was dominated by players in central and south Phoenix, Scottsdale and, later, the Gilbert and Chandler areas. The only schools that were in the West Valley when Phoenix began its original rise were Buckeye Union, which opened in 1921, Tolleson High School (1927) and Agua Fria (1956). Of these schools, Agua Fria was the first, and still the only school of the three, to win a state championship. The Owls have won four in their history. Tolleson and Buckeye Union are still trying to win their first.
Over time, schools such as Desert Edge, Millennium and Verrado opened in the early 2000s. Desert Edge has won two state championships (2015 and 2024), while Verrado and Millennium have moved closer toward division state championships, but haven’t earned appearances yet.
West Valley football remained out of the spotlight, even with successful seasons from Desert Edge and Verrado. Then a global pandemic struck.
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic slowed growth in nearly every aspect of life. Businesses closed, people socially distanced from others and the economy suffered. However, it paved the way for something the West Valley has never seen before at such a large scale: growth.
“Years ago, it was the East Valley that experienced this incredible growth,” said Tamee Gresseet, the Agua Fria District’s athletic director. “Now, since that growth has come to the West Valley, you’re seeing a higher level of competition. With this growth, more people move out here and living is more affordable for families, which brings in more athletes for our schools.”
Many residents moved to Arizona in 2020 from western states such as California, Nevada and Colorado. The 2024 population in Buckeye was 114,334 according to the U.S. Census, (a nearly 24% increase from 2020) and for Goodyear, it’s 118,116, also a significant jump from 2020.
This was the beginning of an economic and infrastructural explosion that led to West Valley football gaining more attention and support from various states and Arizona cities.
More than 11 million square feet of land was approved to begin construction on freeway expansions, living spaces and entertainment centers. Some of the projects that came in were build-to-rent homes, restaurants and shops and the new Goodyear High School, which opened this Monday.
The financial support gained from the beginning of the expansion in 2021 brought in more than $1.2 billion combined between Goodyear and Buckeye. Even though high school sports programs are not receiving much funding from the state because of shifting priorities, the expansion has brought new income for the schools’ football teams.
“The more students come to your district, the more money you have,” Gresseet said. “That doesn’t always equate to more money in the athletic budget. The budget goes towards small things like footballs. There’s also a capital budget used for equipment and uniforms.
“Schools have to work hard to submit that budget. They have to use it to hire more staff and buy education resources. They definitely have to supplement their budget to maintain a standard.”
Expansion has had a positive effect on West Valley high school football teams, attracting new talent from other states and Arizona cities. One coach from California, Brett Davis, is bringing a new style of offense to show the West Valley how things roll in the Golden State.
Davis previously coached at Coachella Valley High School in Thermal, California, producing consistent success. He then moved to Arizona to coach at Tonopah Valley High School, where he went 31-6 with a state championship appearance.
As the new coach for the Verrado Vipers, Davis reunites with a familiar face who transferred to his new home before his junior season: quarterback Malachi Wilt.
“It’s a very fortuitous thing,” Davis said. “We both think of it as a blessing. We were very close when he was (at Tonopah High School). He wanted a bigger opportunity and got it. To now be reunited with him, we’re both excited and it’s been going great this summer.”
Transfer students from other schools across the state and outside of Arizona have increased slightly over the last few years. Some West Valley high schools such as Desert Edge haven’t seen much change due to the focus on retaining local students, but are still welcoming new students from other states.
Concern remains in the West Valley about the number of students transferring between Arizona schools, and if high schools are going to put more effort into keeping students within their systems.
“From what I understand, people are very educated when it comes to understanding the transfer bylaws in the state of Arizona,” Desert Edge athletic director Peter Jelovic said. “They’re going to look and see which schools are the best fit for them. Ultimately, we’ve got to put that product where people want to come and be a part of that team and culture that we’re building here.”
Opinions differ on the population growth’s influence on transfer numbers, but growth has also brought stronger competition.
Several interesting and aggressive moves by schools in the Agua Fria District have defined this offseason.
Canyon View lured former Liberty running backs coach and former Ceasar Chavez coach J.R. Alcantar. He helped Liberty High School win back-to-back 6A state championships the last two seasons. He also led Cesar Chavez to three straight winning seasons from 2017 to 2019. With the program still looking for its first playoff win, Canyon View hopes Alcantar can get the team over the hump. Hudson believes that the school has found its new leader.
We are excited to announce Coach Alcantar as our new Head Football Coach! Go Jags!! @FBCOACHA @CVHSJags pic.twitter.com/LEE14EXgjA
— Canyon View Athletics (@mshudsonaz) December 1, 2024
“He is definitely the right guy,” Hudson said. “He knows the game and he knows how to build relationships with kids. He’s an all-around good guy. He’s exactly what our kids needed.”
Agua Fria has recently gone through multiple head coaching changes. It hasn’t found a consistent head coach since the 2013-17 era of Tony Cluff, who is now an assistant coach for the school. Manny James is Agua Fria’s newest head coach. He was Vista Valley High School’s offensive coordinator last season and is also an Arizona State alumnus.
Last season’s 5A state champion, Desert Edge, has retained most of its starters, including Blake Roskopf, the sixth-ranked quarterback in Arizona. The school hired former Paradise Honors head coach Josh Goodloe to be the team’s offensive coordinator. He brings 15 years of coaching experience and an air-raid offense.
The moves are positive for the schools, their football programs and for the West Valley communities. They help bring in new food and event vendors, sponsorships and support for the families of the players. It’s most effective for teams that are successful in the postseason. Each school does its best to include all of a community’s families.
Verrado athletic director Barry Cromer, two-time athletic director of the year winner at Walden Grove High School, believes that families are the No. 1 priority and wants to make sure that they know that.
“Verrado is a very close-knit community,” Cromer said. “We try to make our events as family-friendly as we can. I’m trying to get more community members to come here and alumni to come back to be a part of it. I mean, where else can you go for six bucks to see a high school football game?
“People come out to our games and they know their neighbor. There’s something special about the football games and being a part of this culture. You’re wearing our colors and you’re a part of our community.”
High school football in the West Valley is gearing up for another eventful season, with a bigger audience and more infrastructure than ever before. With new competition, more residents and a booming atmosphere, the West Valley will not be silent anymore.
“For years, (the West Valley has) been overshadowed,” Hudson said. “We’re young. We have all these schools in the West Valley now and we’re still trying to get up there. I think we’re getting there.”
Hooray. What are the GPA’s of the players?