(Marana, AZ) There comes a time in every athlete’s life where they face the crossroads of having to decide whether to continue at the next level, or to hang up the cleats, sneakers and spikes and concentrate on life itself.
Alizah Yrigolla stared at that fork in the road after a great basketball career with the Pueblo Warriors.
Yrigolla was a key part of Coach Ismael Galindo’s stellar teams that were an eyelash away from two state championships. With every success in a student athlete’s life, there are always disappointments as well. Frustration can be an attitude killer or a catalyst to improve and give it another shot.
With Yrigolla, a member of the Yaqui Tribal Nation outside of Tucson, it was more than just a passing thought. She wanted to be a trailblazer and a shinning star for her nation and heritage. She’s shown leadership by believing in herself and letting her play on the court do the talking. Alizah led by example which included her faith in God.
She graduated from Pueblo in 2019 prior to the covid situation and set her sights on college and for the first time, without athletics.
Alizah, now a college student at Grand Canyon University explained the obstacles one faces coming from a life on the reservation and trying to integrate into a different culture which includes trying to fit in. One thing she sought out were other students with similar issues of integrating into college life. Unfortunately, there are minimal scholarship opportunities for Native members. One big adjustment was living away from her parents in the unfamiliar city of Phoenix Arizona.
While concentrating on her studies which would lead to an undergrad degree in Public Health, she also took on a bigger class load with minor studies in Psychology and Nutrition.
Then an Antelope Rugby player approached her and persuaded her to try out a new sport. She had never played rugby, although her brother and uncle had played. She was familiar with the basics of the sport. Alizah decided this was something worthwhile and committed to Coach Linsey Mahoney and the Lopes Division 1 Club Rugby team.
Photo/GCU Women’s Rugby – Grand Canyon Athletics
With a new challenge of not only in learning a different sport, but the bigger adjustment was now time management with her extra coursework. She dove in head first not only going to practice, but also hitting the weight room and attending Zumba classes. To further develop her skills, she attended rugby training in Colorado.
Once again her thoughts and goals tuned to things she thought about when she was younger of being a role model for her Nation and the athletes that would come later. She always had wanted to explore new opportunities and forge her own path.
In addition to all her classes, rugby practice and trying to embrace student life, there was the task of helping out in fundraising. Club Teams have to financially support themselves unlike the regular Antelope teams which have sponsorships and NIL monies.
Here’s the link to help out the Antelope Rugby Team: https://app.scoreboard.coach/d/418354
Grand Canyon University is an up and coming institution, not only in academics but also their athletics. Theyve shown they can compete with the nation’s best schools. Ask the Arizona Wildcats and ASU Sun Devils. Both instate public institutions have been soundly beaten in various sports by both the Men’s and Women’s teams.
In Rugby, the Lopes are members of the PAC South Desert Conference, which includes teams from Arizona, Southern California, New Mexico and Utah.
Photo-Alizah Yrigolla/Grand Canyon Athletics
GCU finished their 2024 campaign undefeated with a record of 8-0, and included wins over both Arizona State and the University of Arizona. When asked which of those two teams were more difficult to beat, Alizah said the Sun Devils. With ASU just down the 10 freeway to the east, there’s always a rivalry between the two schools to determine who owns The Valley. Yrigolla admitted when not playing either in state school, she a Wildcat fan through and through.
With Grand Canyon now in the post season, they beat a stubborn California-Berkeley team in the Elite Eight to advance to the Final Four. Next up was the Virginia Cavaliers whom they disposed of to reach the National Championship Game against another team from the West, the Stanford Cardinal. Heads to head, both teams split the their previous two matchups.
Photo – Conference Champs/GCU Athletics
The Championship Game will be played on Sunday May 5th in Houston Texas at 1 p.m. Arizona Time. Fans can watch the game by downloading a free application the Rugby Network from the Apple Store or Google Play.
Alizah graduated last week and after Nationals will come back to Tucson and apply for her masters program at the University of Arizona. She plans on working as a caregiver and applying her knowledge to help finance her schooling.
The Yaqui Nation has assisted Yrigolla with money from the Higher Education Accredited Program (HEAP).
During her journey through college in Phoenix, Yrigolla has had to miss cultural ceremonies which conflicted with Rugby matches.
Alizah is anxious to return to the Old Pueblo to begin the next chapter in her life. With her confident attitude, work ethic and education, she’s a shinning star not only to the Yaqui Nation but to all who aspire to be successful.
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