In the new age of offensive explosiveness, state records are becoming more commonplace.
Last year, Desert Ridge running back Joey Counts, Saguaro running back D.J. Foster, Chaparral quarterback Connor Brewer, Scottsdale Prep quarterback Aidan Wright and Scottsdale Prep wide receiver Matt Munsil set various state records.
Last Friday night alone, Red Mountain quarterback Mason Thorman and Desert Mountain quarterback Kyle Allen each tied a 5A record with six touchdown passes in a game, while Cactus Shadows’ Bryce Kinsler threw for the most yards in Arizona history with 639 in a loss to Prescott.
Even though state records are now falling more consistently, it’s still a special achievement and these accomplishments deserve to be lauded — and logged.
However, there seems to be a disconnect between the schools and the Arizona Interscholastic Association regarding the protocol to add names to record books.
Kinsler’s passing yardage mark is now listed, but Foster’s historic playoff game and season is not, and the others are also nowhere to be found on the AIA’s list of state records.
Former high school guru Barry Sollenberger used to update the records regularly, but since his death in 2005, the bookkeeping has been sporadic.
According to AIA Director of Business Media Brian Bolitho, the school’s athletic directors must submit the statistical data through Maxpreps.com.
However, some coaches and athletic directors seem unaware of the process and where to report the records, and the confusion is leaving gaps in the annals.
While record-setting performances are becoming more common, the task of updating them is not cumbersome by any means. If the AIA put up a form on its website and sent out a link to it via email before each school year, coaches and athletic directors would have an easy way of passing along the information.
Keeping an accurate count of state records is an important part of the history of Arizona high school sports. It’s an easy fix and one the schools and AIA should work together to remedy.
Reach Kyle Odegard at (480) 898-6834 or kodegard@evtrib.com. Follow his blog at http://blogs.evtrib.com/varsityxtra, or find him on Twitter @Kyle_Odegard.
