Athletics
Heritage Academy-Gateway Athletics
Our #1 goal and focus is to build great athletes! Part of being a great athlete includes knowing what makes a good team and how to have a fun while developing character in youth through both academics and athletics. What makes us different and stand-above the rest when it comes to the Athletic experience? We are passionate about creating multi-sport athletes at our campus. By building great multi-sport athletes, we create great youth who have an inner-drive to become the best all-around person that they can be. Heritage Academy has a unique environment where ANY scholar who wants to participate and compete in a sport can. We make every possible effort to keep a NO CUT policy and there is a team for your athlete whether they are an all-star or a rookie! Heritage Academy employs the best coaches & faculty in the Valley. We invite you to come watch one of our games and meet our coaches and athletes to see what makes us stand above the rest.
3 CAA State Championships this Fall Sports Season!
Congratulations to the following teams:
High School Boys Cross Country
Jr High Boys Cross Country (3-peat)
Jr High Boys Swimming
Important Read before you register your athlete!: Athletic Changes for 18-19 School Year
Athletic Packets (which includes a current sports physical), concussion certificate (for every athlete this year) and fees are due no later than Thursday, August 9th. This deadline is for the entire school year including 2nd semester only athletes.
Exciting new sport offerings starting the 2019 Spring Sports season. Boys Volleyball (both High School & Jr High). Add this sport to your 2nd semester schedule today!
Mark your Calendars! Schedule of Mandatory Parent-Athlete Meetings for the 2018-2019 School Year. Your scholar athlete will not be cleared to participate without attending these meetings. You only need to attend with your athlete during the sports season in which they are participating/competing in a sport. All Meetings will be held here at campus from 5:30-6:30pm. Please meet on the back basketball court.
Spring Sports Season: Wednesday, January 23rd (This meeting is for HS Coed Soccer, JH Coed Soccer, JH Boys Baseball, HS & JH Boys Volleyball, JH Girls BBall & Track & Field)
IN THE NEWS!
A campus and culture of champions! No other CAA school during the 16-17 school year won more State Championships than Heritage Academy-Gateway! Check out our Article in the Queen Creek Independent Newspaper.
Now looking for coaches:
Interested in Coaching a sport at our campus? Now accepting resumes for the following Coaching positions: Jr High Coed Soccer & Jr High Girls Volleyball. Please send resumes to Coach Godfrey at: mgodfrey@heritageacademyaz.com
$20K opportunity for Scholar Athletes starting soon through Foot Locker. Please click on this link for details.
Advertising Opportunities:
Want to advertise on our campus? We are accepting businesses to get a banner hung on our fences. Please reach out directly to Coach Godfrey at: mgodfrey@heritageacademyaz.com if interested.
4 Required Items for ALL athletes:
There are 4 required items to become eligible to compete as an Athlete at our campus for all athletic contests:
1-Heritage Academy has an academic eligibility requirement in order to compete. Here is the wording from our handbook: “Academic Eligibility to Compete: Scholar Athlete grades are checked on Mondays before 4th hour (or the first day of the school week) during the sports season. Players must be passing with 70% or above in each of their individual classes to participate in the athletic contest, or to practice after school, for that week. Eligibility, therefore, is determined on a week-to-week basis and is checked on Mondays but is valid for Tuesday through the following Monday.”
2-Athletic Packet 2018-2019 This packet includes a current sports physical by a medical professional. Sports physicals are good (per our league bylaws) for twelve calendar months. The sports physical cannot expire during the season they are participating in. Our recommendation is to get a physical during the summer and then it will be good for the entire upcoming school year. Once every part of the Athletic Packet is completed, please scan or take a picture of it (please no printed copies of the packet) and email it directly to: mgodfrey@heritageacademyaz.com
3-CAA Concussion Course Student Guide. Must be completed by every athlete for this 18-19 school year prior to any participation per our league bylaws. Please watch the training video and answer all questions (aprox 30 minutes). Please scan or take a picture of the certificate once it has been completed and email it to Coach Godfrey at: mgodfrey@heritageacademyaz.com. Junior High athletes will only have to take it once during junior high (either 7th or 8th grade year). High School athletes will only have to take it once during their 9-12th grade years. Here is a direct link to where they register to take the course: https://learn.barrowneuro.org/login/index.php. There is an enrollment key that is required for the training: It is CAA18! If your 12-year-old scholar athlete is having issues registering for a username/password on the link above, the following concussion training will be acceptable for this school year: https://nfhslearn.com/courses/61151/concussion-in-sports
4-Sports Participation Fee Paid
Traveling to ASU Poly Prep to watch your scholar athlete compete? Click this link: ASU Parking for some important and helpful information.
Some good reads recommended by our A.D. Matt Godfrey:
1. “Coaching from the Sidelines”
2. College Coaches are looking for Multi-Sport Athletes
3. Why Conditioning in Sports is Vital
Sportsmanship for Parents and Fans
Heat Stroke Video for your education:
Heritage Academy is excited about our baseball program, which will be going into its’ 3rd season this year.
Currently, we offer a junior high baseball team which is becoming more competitive, and we offer opportunities for players who might need some skill development. The main requirement is a strong commitment to building excellence and team loyalty.
Meet the Coach:
Kinsey (KC) Caruth, has been coaching youth baseball since 2010. He recently assisted coaching the Heroes 2017 JH Flag Football A-team to the playoffs and as Head Coach, the B team won first place in their division. He hopes to have the same success with the 2018 JH baseball team and looks forward to winning multiple titles at Heritage Gateway.
Heritage has a number of boys and girls basketball teams for junior high, junior varsity and varsity levels. Heritage competes in the Charter Athletic Association (CAA). Come join the program!
Winter Basketball Sports Photo Day is coming:
Click on your Athlete’s team below to access their webpage on the CAA league website with schedules and roster:
18-19 Basketball Announcements:
If your athlete needs to complete the required paperwork still for this season, please visit our Athletics Homepage for the details.
Jr High BBall Team #3 warming up before a home game during the 16-17 season
Meet the Basketball Coaches:
Girls High School JV-Coach Beth Cowles
Athletics have always played a huge role in her life, from being a player, spectator, coach, referee/ official and even as an occupation. She began her coaching career as a teenager, coaching softball and basketball. She has experience in coaching at the High School Varsity and Junior Varsity levels as well as at the Junior High School. Cowles coaches: volleyball, basketball, softball, swimming, track and field, soccer and even football. Her coaching career has spanned several decades and what really motivates her, is seeing improvement in players as well as their developing a passion for the sport. Her philosophy has always been dedication and hard work creates success not only on an athletic field but also in life.
A few great accomplishments include, Boys Jr. High Basketball State Champions “B” Division – Canyon Athletic Association. Heritage Academy. A Championship teams in Florence Unified District: Jr. High Girls Basketball, Softball and Soccer. Girls Jr High Basketball Division Champions and State runners –up EDUPRIZE school.
JH Boys Basketball Team #1-Coach Cyndie Ribelin
Bachelor of Science in Education Northern Arizona University
We have a competitive cross country program which is quickly making a name for itself in the CAA. Come be a part of a championship experience!
Congratulations to the High School Boys Cross Country team for taking 1st place at both of their first 2 meets this season!
Congratulations to the Junior High Boys 2017 Cross Country Team for winning the CAA State Championship back-to-back years and to our High School Cross Country Boys for taking 2nd at State and the High School Girls for taking 4th! Great season for all of of our runners.
Boys XC Team are State Champs!
Visit this page to access a copy of this season’s Meet Schedule and Meet Results: CAA Cross Country Webpage
All-Around Pre-Season Conditioning and Training Camp:
This camp has been canceled due to lack of registrants. Please reach out directly to Coach Higgins to receive your pre-season workout plan for the remainder of the summer.
Scholar Athletes are allowed to participate in Cross Country as a 2nd sport during the same sports season. They should make every effort to attend and participate in at least half of the after-school practices. The athletic participation fee as a 2nd sport for the school year will apply in this case.
Meet the Coaches:
High School Head Coach: David Leavitt
Junior High Head Coach: Christie Higgins
Coaching Philosophy: I strongly believe that hard work and dedication can triumph over natural
physical ability. Any athlete who commits to a goal and pursues it wholeheartedly can achieve
tremendous personal success. Similarly, teammates who commit to each other and hold themselves
accountable produce team victories. I am a firm believer in a positive learning environment, where
teammates encourage and support one another to achieve both athletic and academic success.
Coaching Experience: I worked as an assistant cross country coach at a previous school that won state
championships for both the boys and girls teams. In the first season at Heritage Academy, the boys’
team won the state championship.
Running Career: I have run distance races for over 15 years. I participated in 3 marathons, 22 half
marathons, 3 Ragnar Relays, and many adventure/obstacle races.
Flag Football State Championship Team 2016
Click on your Flag Football team below to access Team Roster, Game Schedule, Team Stats, Standings, etc:
New for Fall 2018! High School Flag Football. Register today.
Meet the Coaches:
High School Flag Football Coach: Marc Gartman
Participated in multiple high school sports team/individual
activities including; football; basketball; weight training & conditioning, wrestling.
My coaching approach & philosophy is as follows:
COACHING TEAM PRIORITIES/PHYLOSOPHY
1. SAFETY First ALWAYS!
2. Learning/Experiencing/Overcoming Challenges
3. FUN while playing & practicing
4. Competition.
5. Promote Strong Core Values
I strongly believe that Scholastics & Good Education are the most important focus throughout the
school year. Additionally, I believe participating in sports helps to build many key character values
and exercise is very healthy for the student. I began my affiliation with Heritage
Academy-Gateway helping to coach baseball last season for the 7 th & 8th graders.
Congrats to the following Heritage Kenpo students for earning their Black Belt: Daniel Gallacher, Kevin Rowse, Lisa Fischer, and Vince Santos! Well done!
Since 1995, Kenpo classes have been taught by Jon Duke. Mr. Duke was the first certified Advanced American Kenpo Concepts instructor in the State of Arizona.
Mr. Duke’s martial art certifications include:
- 1995 – International Martial Arts Instructor License issued by the Matsusokan Karate Association
- 2002 – Teaching Credential Advanced American Kenpo issued by Martial Science University
- 2002 – 4th Degree Black Belt – Advanced American Kenpo issued by Martial Science University
- 2003 – 5th Degree Black Belt – Hakutsuru Master Level issued by Sandoval Karate Kobudo Federation
Heritage has an outstanding co-ed soccer program for junior high, junior varsity and varsity levels. Come out and play!
Parent/Athlete Meeting for all high school boys currently participating in Fall HS Boys Soccer will be held on Wed, Aug 8th 5:30-6:30pm here at campus. Attendance is mandatory to participate this season.
A Heritage of Success!
- 2016 – Junior High Soccer Team #1, State Runner-up, Charter Athletic Association (CAA)
- 2017 – Junior High Soccer Team #1, 2nd Round of the Playoffs
Varsity Head Coach for High School Boys & Coed Varsity Teams:
High School & Jr High Girls interested in playing softball during this 2017-2018 school year, please contact Coach Godfrey @ mgodfrey@heritageacademyaz.com to be added to the interest list.
You can register and pay for all camps here
All-Around Pre-Season Conditioning and Training Camp:
This camp has been canceled due to lack of registrants. Please reach out directly to Coach Higgins to receive your pre-season workout plan for the remainder of the summer.
Boys Basketball Camp:
Who: 7th-12th graders for the 18-19 school year
Dates: June 11-14, 2018
Times: 7:30am-9:30am
Location: Heritage Academy-Gateway
Cost: $70
Girls Basketball Camp:
Who: 7th-12th graders for the 18-19 school year
Dates: June 18-21, 25-28 2018
Times: 7-9:30am
Location: Heritage Academy-Gateway
Cost: $70
Summer Swim Camp:
Who: 7th-12th graders for the 18-19 school year
Dates: July 16-19, 2018
Times: 10am-Noon each day
Location: EVO Swim School-South Gilbert.
Cost: $70
Girls Volleyball Camps:
High School:
Junior High:
VOLLEYBALL –
Summer Soccer Camp:
These camps have been cancelled due to lack of registrations. Please check again for summer camps for the Summer of 2019.
Come be a part of a winning tradition and culture! According to Health Fitness Revolution, Swimming is in the top 10 of healthiest sports, “Swimming is an absolutely awesome sport for your heart. It also is a low-stress activity. It keeps you at a healthy body weight, improves lung capacity, and builds muscles, all in addition to burning calories.”
Get a copy of this season’s Swim Meet Schedule, Meet Sheets and Meet Results here: CAA Swimming Webpage
Building a tradition of excellence in the pool:
2016 Junior High Boys-State Runner-Up
2017 High School Boys-State Runner-Up
2017 High School Girls-State Runner-Up
2018 Jr High Boys-State Champions
2018 Jr High Girls-3rd Place Finish
Other results from 2018 State Championships:
Action shots of our awesome swimmers during the Swim Series #2 Meet.
We do our swim practices at EVO Swim School-South Gilbert
We have 3 options for our scholar swimmers:
1-Swim Class Only-This option is for those who are wanting to get some practice and instruction in before they decide to compete with the swim team.
2-Swim Team Only-This option is for those who are actively on a local competitive swim team during the Fall swim season and don’t have room on their class schedule to fit the swim class into their schedule. Current or prior experience on a swim team is required.
3-Swim Class and Swim Team-This is the preferred and recommended option. This will give the swimmer an opportunity to work out with the other swim team members and is the best value for your money.
Meet the Coach
Gateway Head Coach: Matt Godfrey
Coach Godfrey grew up participating on Swim Teams and still swims for exercise and as part of his daily training. He has worked as a Swim Instructor and a Swim Team Coach. He is passionate about the sport of Swimming and enjoys helping others to be the best swimmer that they can be. He understands the importance of teaching correct technique and form as Swimming is a “technical sport” which will help your swimmer become a better and faster swimmer.
Heritage Academy Gateway has 1 State Champion in Track and Field and our athletes are getting faster and better every year.
Congratulations to Jewelana Anderson for being the State Champion in the 800 Meter Run with a time of 1:12:177!
All-Around Pre-Season Conditioning and Training Camp:
This camp has been canceled due to lack of registrants. Please reach out directly to Coach Higgins to receive your pre-season workout plan for the remainder of the summer.
Scholar Athletes are allowed to participate in Track and Field as a 2nd sport during the same sports season. They should make every effort to attend and participate in at least half of the after-school practices. If this is their 3rd or 4th sport for the school year, then there is no additional fee.
Heritage competes in the Charter Athletic Association for junior high, junior varsity and varsity girls volleyball. Can you jump, set or spike? Come out and play!
Girls Volleyball Camps:
High School:
Discount for Heritage Volleyball players for ACE Summer Program (see flyer above for more details)
Junior High:
VOLLEYBALL –
Volleyball Program Director and Varsity Head Coach:
Heritage Academy 7-2017 to present
Higley High School 6-2014 to 9-2016
Chandler Prep Lady Titans 6-2012 to 6-2014
Named Coach of the Year by the AIA for the 2013 season.
Before that I worked as Assistant Coach and Guest Coach while donating my time to the Chandler Prep Volleyball Program.
Playing history:
I started playing volleyball in 1978 in a recreational league in my home town of Neenah, WI. As my skills developed, I learned the subtle nuances of each position. While attending college I formed and played on the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh Mens’ Club Volleyball Team as a Middle Blocker. My last season I was able to play Outside Hitter for one year before moving to MN. In MN I met a Div I setter for the University of MN Mens’ Volleyball Team and we formed a USA Volleyball team. We played in numerous tournaments throughout MN and surrounding areas in the A and BB levels. We played in Regional and National tournaments all over the Midwest.
Around this time I became a certified Regional Referee and Scorekeeper. I also worked with the North Country Region of USA Volleyball to host and conduct player and coach training all over the Midwest. In the fall of 2006 I was honored to be asked to join a fledgling group of girls from Chandler Prep and donate my time to work with them and help them develop their skills. After the first practice, I was hooked!! I have been honored to have been a full-time coach for over 350 girls over these past few years. I look forward to working with each of you!
Years coaching: 6
I am ULTRA-Competitive in every aspect of my life! “Never give up” is my motto! I am passionate about the sport and love coaching these young ladies. My real value as a coach is being able to relate and motivate these young ladies. My primary focus is impacting player performance through methods other than technical advice or drills. I also act as a liaison between the other coaches and these young players. I can sometimes offer perspectives to these players to help them understand why the coaches are saying/doing certain things and helping strengthen the coach-athlete bond. I am also good at bringing up the difficult topics and discussions about player/coach, player/player or even player/parent and helping facilitate communication between the parties involved.
I bring an energy and enthusiasm to each of the teams within ACE and I thoroughly enjoy developing friendships with these players. I coach ATTITUDE. I coach BEHAVIOR. I coach EFFORT. And I’m always here for you!
This class offers students an opportunity to improve their strength and basic athletic conditioning. We strongly recommend all of our High School athletes to do a minimum of 1 semester of weights each school year on B Days.
Students and teacher will work together to fit the individual’s needs and meet their goals. Classes are held at Desert Fitness Gym
We are excited that we will have a Weight Room in the new gymnasium building.
