38 NOVEMBER 2026 By AJ Stone Arcadia High School has plenty of reasons to be excited about the upcoming basketball season. With new head coach Rod Briggs at the helm, the Titans are looking to build on last year’s success and take the next step. The Titans finished last season 24-6, including a 7-3 mark in region play, earning second place in the 4A Desert Sky Region. Now, with a new leader, Arcadia hopes to keep that momentum going. Briggs brings a coaching philosophy rooted in communication, teamwork, and accountability. “I have 37 years of experience to draw upon, and I have learned from experience as a coach, administrator, and as a parent of student-athletes,” Briggs said. “I believe communication is a key to success, and that clear and honest communication with players is very important.” While winning is always a goal, Briggs also wants to build a program that develops resilient athletes and strong teammates. “We want to develop athletes that leave the program with this experience that will help them later in life,” Briggs said. “We have two main goals, and that is to play for each other and go 1-0 each day of practice and each game. If we don’t have a good practice or lose a game, we look forward to trying to go 1-0 the next day or game.” On the court, Briggs favors an up-tempo offense and a tough defensive approach. He wants the Titans to push the pace, create transition scoring opportunities, and keep opponents on their heels. “Our goal is to run in transition and score before the other team’s defense is set,” Briggs said. Making that style work starts in practice. Briggs plans to emphasize game-like situations, evidence-based learning and a balance of repetition and challenging drills to prepare players for competition. “Our practices are well planned to use the latest evidence- based learning. We focus on making practice like the game,” Briggs said. “I love using a constraint-led approach, but some long-proven repetition is the mother of all learning. We want to practice challenging both physically and mentally to maximize learning and time on task.” Briggs also knows that success takes more than scoring ability. When evaluating players, he looks for those willing to defend, rebound, and put the team first. “The guys who rebound and defend always are going to impress coaches,” Briggs said. “I want a team-first attitude and a great teammate.” The Titans have a strong foundation to build on. They went 11-2 at home last season and finished ranked No. 16 in Arizona. The team won the 2026 AIA 4A state championship, defeating top-ranked Deer Valley 57-51 in the title game. However, the team will need to account for the graduation of one of its top performers, Mason Kendrick, as it works to establish its identity under new leadership. For Briggs, the focus is less on expectations and outside opinions and more on building a team that improves every day. Discipline, focus, and trust will be essential as the Titans work toward their postseason goals. “We will build a solid foundation and work hard to be the best team we can be,” Briggs said. New coach looks to lead Arcadia basketball to the next level Arcadia High School boy's basketball coach Rod Briggs . PHOTO COURTESY OF AHS By Kylie de Best Mental health challenges affect millions of Americans. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with mental illness. Recognizing the growing need for support, Xavier alum Kelly Scott partnered with Valleywise Health in 2020 to establish Swim for the Light, an annual student- led campaign dedicated to addressing challenges facing young people. Now in its seventh year and currently led by Xavier seniors Ashley Gilcrest and Emily Horst, Swim for the Light aims to raise awareness and provide resources for behavioral health programs for teens and young adults at Valleywise Health. Throughout the campaign, the Xavier Swim and Dive Team has worked toward reaching a collective fundraising goal of $15,000 through online donations and their individual fundraising pages on Give Lively. This year, Brophy Prep also joined the initiative to help collect donations. A culminating event on September 18 marked the end of the campaign, bringing together student-athletes, coaches, alums, and families to talk about mental health and expand access to care for young people across Maricopa County. The team also completed 100-yard relays to show their commitment to visible support for those facing mental health challenges and to end the stigma. “Everyone knows someone who struggles with mental health,” Ashley said. “If you get an injury, you go to the doctor, and I think it’s equally important to find help when you’re struggling with mental health. We’re trying to bring awareness to that.” The campaign got an added boost with a new matching challenge from The Vineyard Family Foundation and Beyond Accessible, which matched donations dollar for dollar up to $5,000, letting community members double the impact of their gifts to support behavioral health programs for teens and young adults at Valleywise Health. Kelly originally became aware of the need for mental health support after a close friend of hers went through a behavioral health crisis in 2020, prompting Kelly to do something to help. She decided to partner with Valleywise because her dad worked with them, and she saw the many resources it offered, including the First Episode Center, which specifically serves adolescents experiencing behavioral health crises. “It has been so amazing to see Swim for the Light continue through the years,” Kelly said. “It is so important to continue to shed light on these issues because they are very real, and it is critical that people know they are not alone and there are support systems both willing and able to help.” Since its founding, Swim for the Light has raised over $70,000. As of press time, the swimmers have raised almost $19,000 – beating their original goal and then some. Beyond donating, any sports team, club, or organization is also encouraged to create their own fundraisers in support of Valleywise Health’s mission. swimforthelight.org Xavier swim teams raise almost $19K for mental health awareness In September, the Xavier swim and dive team completed 100-yard relays to show their visible support for those facing mental health challenges. PHOTO BY ERIC CARAIG It is so important to continue to shed light on these issues because they are very real.