Welcome to Junior High Athletics at Gateway

Teams

1st Quarter Sports

Swim

Head Coach- Teagan Condie
Assistant Coach-
Season dates: Tryouts/practices begin 7/28-8/1, Regular Season Aug 16-Sept 21st STATE MEET Oct. 4th

Girls Volleyball

Team #1 Head Coach- McKenna Nielson

Team #2 Head Coach- Laura Clark

Season dates: Tryouts/practices start 7/22-7/31, Regular Season Aug 16-Sept 25^th PLAYOFFS (team #1 only) Sept.29^th-Oct. 4th

Baseball

Head Coach-Jason Haines

Season dates: Tryouts/practices start 7/22-7/31, Regular Season Aug 16-Sept 25^th PLAYOFFS Sept.29^th-Oct. 4^th

Cross Country

Head Coach- Angie Bodine

Assistant Coach- Rachel Ekstrom

Season dates: Practices start 7/22-7/31, Regular Season Aug 30th-Oct. 12^th STATE MEET Oct. 18th

Co-Ed Soccer

Co-Ed Team #1

Head Coach-Brian Caldwell

Assistant Coach- Lincoln Phelps

Season dates: Tryouts/practices start 7/22-7/31, Regular Season Aug 16-Sept 25^th PLAYOFFS Sept.29^th-Oct. 4th

2nd Quarter Sports

Softball

Head Coach- Jessica Smith

Season dates: tryouts/practices start Oct. 14^th-18^th, Regular season Oct. 28^th-Dec.5^th, PLAYOFFS Dec. 9-14

’24-’25 ALL STARS

Passing League Football 7 v 7

Head Coach team #1- Chad Jefferies

Head Coach team #2- Jesse Brown

Season dates: tryouts/practices start Oct. 14^th-18^th, Regular season Oct. 28^th-Dec.5^th, PLAYOFFS (team #1 only) Dec. 9-14

’24-’25 ALL STARS

Boys Volleyball

Team #1 Head Coach- Stephanie Johnson

Team #2 Head Coach- Laura Clark

Season dates: tryouts/practices start Oct. 14^th-18^th, Regular season Oct. 28^th-Dec.5^th, PLAYOFFS (team #1 only) Dec. 9-14

’24-’25 ALL STARS

Wrestling

Head Coach- Jason Haines

Season dates: practices start Oct. 14^th-18^th, Regular season Oct. 28^th-Nov. 27^th, STATE MEET Dec. 7th

’24-’25 ALL STARS

3rd Quarter Sports

Flag Football

Team #1 Head Coach- Chad Jefferies

Team #2 Head Coach- Jesse Brown

Team #3 Coaches-Chad Jefferies/Jesse Brown

Season dates: practices start Jan. 6^th– 10^th, Regular season Jan.21^st-February 27^th, PLAYOFFS (team #1) February 27^th-March 8th

2024-2025 All Stars

Girls Basketball

Team #1 head coach- Jon Tellez

Team #2 head coach- Joe Luma

OPEN GYM December 16th and 18th 3:45-5pm JH GYM

Season dates: practices start Jan. 6^th– 10^th, Regular season Jan.21^st-February 27^th, PLAYOFFS (team #1) February 27^th-March 8th

2024-2025 ALL STAR

4th Quarter Sports

Track & Field

Boys head coach- Angie Bodine

Girls head coach- Rachel Ekstrom

Season dates: practices start March 24^th-28^th, regular season March 28^th– May 1^st, STATE MEET 7^th-10^th

’24-’25 All Stars

Boys Basketball

Team #1 head coach-Joe Luma

Team #2 head coach-Christie Higgins

Team #3 head coach- Beth Cowles

Season dates: tryouts/practices start March 24^th-28^th, regular season games, March 31^st– May 1^st, PLAYOFFS (team #1 only) May 5^th-10^th

’24-’25 ALL STARS

Girls Soccer

Head Coach- Lincoln Phelps

Season dates: tryouts/practices start March 24^th-28^th, regular season games, March 31^st– May 1^st, PLAYOFFS May 5^th-10^th

’24-’25 ALL STARS

Boys Soccer

Head Coach- Brian Caldwell

Season dates: tryouts/practices start March 24^th-28^th, regular season games, March 31^st– May 1^st, PLAYOFFS May 5^th-10^th

’24-’25 ALL STARS

Additional sports opportunities

Basketball

Private/group training/clinics:

DeRosier basketball academy

Local recreational leagues:

Queen Creek Youth Sports

Welcome to the Heritage Gateway junior high athletics website! Scholars at Heritage Gateway have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sports each quarter. Our school competes in the Canyon Athletic Association (CAA) throughout the valley. Good character is the main pilar of all our sports programs with the focus on developing not only athletic ability but also good citizenship. If you have any questions regarding sports at Heritage Gateway Junior high, please feel free to contact our athletic director Jesse Brown. jesse.brown@heritageacademyaz.com

GO HEROES!!

Helpful Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my 6th grader participate/tryout for JH sports?

6th graders may sign up for cross country, track and field, wrestling, and swim (given your 6th grader can meet the minimum swim qualification). For all other sports, 6th graders must request to be placed into tryouts with other 7th and 8th graders to try and make a 7th/8th grade team. There are no longer 6th grade only teams in the CAA. If you wish to be placed on the tryout out list you must contact Mr. Brown our JH AD during the class registration process BEFORE the school year. Because our team practices are held during the school day, we must have adequate time to adjust scholars schedules.

Does my scholar need a physical to participate?

Yes. Scholars will not be given their game uniform and be permitted to participate in an event until this and the full athletic registration process is completed. This process needs to be completed each school year. Please visit this link for more information and to start the process.

BOUND (athletic registration)

Will there be cuts?

With our growing school population, cuts are a possibility and often occur in most of our sports. If a scholar does not make the team, they will be placed into a study hall/PE class during the same class hour.

What are the athletic fees?

Each JH sports fee is $180 per season/quarter.

Is this a PE class or a competitive sport?

Because the sport practices take place during the school day 1:50-3:30, scholars receive a class grade. However, this is considered a “cut” competitive team sport. Athletes will be participating against other schools during after school hours in a very competitive CAA conference.

Will my scholar lose class points if they are absent from practice or games?

Yes. Any time a scholar is absent whether the absence is excused or not, they are required to complete a make up assignment if they wish to re-capture those points. Unexcused or late notice game absences will not be eligible for make up points. Please notify your coach at least 48 hours in advance of the game/meet time so that we can plan accordingly. Please keep in mind that in some sports we pay per athlete per event each week (swim, cross country, track and field, wrestling specifically).

This is JH sports, isn’t my scholar athlete guaranteed playing time?

Playing time is not guaranteed. Coaches of our team #1’s will be playing with the mindset to prepare athletes for HS sports and to win. Our team #2’s, #3’s, and 6th grade teams will focus on developing athletes more so with the intent to distribute more playing time among the athletes. However, equal playing time is never guaranteed across all levels.

Are there refunds for the athletic fee?

There are no refunds for the athletic fee once our seasons begin.

Is there a family max or yearly max I pay for athletic fees?

There is no cap or maximum amount of money paid for the athletic fee per family or per school year.

What is the academic eligibility policy?

You are a Student-Athlete and the student comes first! Grades will be monitored by your coaches and administrators. Scholars are required to maintain a 70% or higher in all classes to remain eligible for games/meets. If a scholar does become ineligible, they must sit out the entire 2 week period until the next grade check.

Every 2 weeks starting the first week of games

1^st failing grade check=warning

2^nd failing grade check=no game play

3^rd failing grade check=no play and no practice

Fees

Each sport has a one-time participation fee that will be assessed at the beginning of each season. The fee is to be paid prior to competing. Requests for fee waiver consideration due to hardship or payment plans must be directed to the school registrar Shereen Shaw. Funds generated will be used to pay for operational expenses of the programs and to benefit our scholar athletes. Please click the link below to go to our payment site.