Whether it’s shown in the courage of a mountain biker, the endurance of a hotshot member or through the precision of an archer, Xavier offers many sports that may be seen as “niche” compared to traditional sports.
Xavier mountain biking is a fall sport led by head coach Rich Perrot. The team just concluded its season, with Clara Finley finishing 5th at the Mountain Biking State Final.
Finley is the third of five Finley sisters involved in mountain biking at Xavier. Her two older sisters graduated in 2018 and 2022, and her younger sister, Agnes Finley ‘29, is on the team with her.
The Finley sisters continue to carry on the mountain biking legacy at Xavier, and according to Perrot, having this many sisters as a part of the same program adds a special sense of tradition to the group.
Mountain biking is the only club sport paired with Brophy College Prep. The sport started with two girls, but has grown to nine this past season.
Perrott says his coaching goal is “to foster the joy of cycling.” He says that there is a spot for everyone on the team, as it is a no-cut program. He hopes more girls will give it a chance in the future.
No experience is required to join the mountain biking club. “Mountain biking can be hard to start, but easy to pick up. We have an amazing staff that supports and helps all athletes, regardless of their skill level,” Perrot said.
While mountain biking focuses on speed and quick reactions, archery requires patience and control.
Xavier’s archery team is a year-round sport, with various competitions throughout the year. The team is led by coach Kelsey Wicketts, who has won two state championships during her tenure.
This is Xavier’s 6th season with archery as a competitive sport, and the program has grown exponentially throughout the years.
There are 49 girls on the team, and the fall season is referred to as the “recreational season.” In the spring, tryouts are held for the competition team, with 20 spots available. Those who do not make the competition team are still able to compete, just on the developmental squad.
In the fall season, everyone can participate in “fun shoots” held throughout the state. In the spring, the competition team participates in various tournaments, where their combined team scores qualify them for competitions.
Senior captain Olivia Blackburn describes the culture on the team as “ a sisterhood.” She says her favorite part of being on the team is watching everyone develop as an athlete through this sport.
She says everyone is involved in each other’s development, always supporting each other, and she encourages girls to join, even if they have no previous experience.
“The sport brings about a sense of community that I have not experienced on any other sports team,” Blackburn said. Archery is an extremely technical sport, and this is what draws many athletes.
Hotshots is another competitive sport at Xavier, and coach Brian Trapp has led the team for the past seven years. The team trains athletes to handle shotguns safely and skillfully while teaching them how to read targets, adjust angles and stay calm under pressure.
Trapp was inducted into the Arizona Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame last March, a milestone that highlights his impact on the sport. He pours his experience into coaching the Xavier hotshots team, building confidence and technical skills in the program.
With an emphasis on safety and the mechanics of handling guns, the girls compete in double and single shooting events.
Senior Anya Szewczyk says, “The friendships that hotshots has provided me are probably my favorite part of the sport, but also learning a new activity and refining my technique has been super fun.”
Overall, hotshots, archery and mountain biking are all sports that are extremely technical and rewarding in their own ways. Each of these sports invites girls to step outside the norm and discover whether this technical side of Xavier sports is exactly what they’ve been looking for.
