Third Times a Charm for Scottdale Prep Athletics

For the third year in a row, the Athletics Department of Scottsdale Preparatory Academy, home of the Spartans, received the prestigious Great Hearts Directors Cup. This is only the fourth time this award has been presented, with Veritas Prep winning the cup in its inaugural year in 2019. But after that first year, the trophy has been on display for three consecutive years at Scottsdale Prep along with three permanent banners displayed in the gymnasium to commemorate the winning years.

Great Hearts Arizona Athletic Director Jon Rickey, who presents the award each year, said the purpose is to annually acknowledge the high school that does the best overall athletically in the network. It is a way to showcase the most successful Great Hearts Arizona Academy based on overall high school team wins. The trophy is meant to travel year to year to the winning school. The Great Hearts Directors Cup is modeled after the NCAA Directors Cup and uses a similar point system to calculate each year’s trophy recipient.

Rickey presented the award during a high school assembly and addressed the students. “This is something that is very highly wanted and desired by other schools,” he said. “I come to a ton of games, I see the great things that you do… I’m really proud of you and congratulations on winning the Directors Cup for another year to be displayed at your school once again.”

Scottsdale Prep Athletic Director Duane Ediger, who has served in Arizona Interscholastic Athletics (AIA) for over 30 years, graciously accepted the trophy on be-half of the school’s entire Athletic Department. “The reason our school is successful athletically is really two-fold in my mind,” he said. “First the coaches – never forget to thank your coaches on all the time and effort that they put in. And then primarily for you and all the efforts and time that you put in between your academics, athletics, and other things that you do in life. We’re successful because of you, so thank you students for all your efforts and everything you do for our school. For those of you not in sports, thank you for all the support that you give to your friends and for coming out and watching them as they participate. Again, we’re successful because of you and because of your coaches, so thank you so much. It’s greatly appreciated.”

The bleachers roared as the students and faculty cheered on for the amazing honor the school received. It was truly a great day at Scottsdale Prep. Go Spartans!

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