Arizona high school football camps in photos, words: Cooler temps, bonding time, as 2022 season approaches

It's the great escape from the Valley heat. Summer camp.

With triple digits the norm in the Phoenix area, Arizona high school football teams are finding cooler destination spots for camps to get ready for the 2022 season.

Let's escape with the teams in photos, as they spread out to northern Arizona or the California beaches to break from the excruciating heat.

Verrado hits the beach

Buckeye Verrado got away to Carlsbad, California during the second week of July, working out at the Army Navy Sports Complex.

Coach Dustin Johnson ran them through drills, had them run on the beach. And they finished the camp with a bonfire on the beach.

Verrado will be relying on the leadership from its Big Four of defensive back/receiver Colin Tibbs, quarterback Erick Santiago, defensive lineman Ryan Willey and linebacker/running back Connor Gingg in its second season under Johnson, who led the Vipers to a 7-4 record last season. All but Willey are seniors. Willey is a junior.

Perry escapes to White Mountains

This was the first time for Gilbert Perry players to really get to know each other and their new coaches, led by Joseph Ortiz, as they headed to the White Mountains the week of July 11 at Lakeside Blue Ridge High School.

Perry is just one of about eight Valley high schools that are making Blue Ridge their summer camp digs.

Blue Ridge has been the host for several Valley high school teams with a drop in temperature of about 20 degrees.

"Great way to bond," said Ortiz, who led Glendale Cactus last season into the Open Division playoffs with a 10-0 record. "We definitely got to know each other. Team bonding was very emotional and made us a closer group. Very important in Year One."

Blue Ridge continues Moro tradition

Jeremy Hathcock, in his second season leading his alma mater, took his Blue Ridge players during the July 11 week to Huntington Beach, California, a tradition started by the late Paul Moro, who built 3A champions every summer with beach workouts that weren't for the weak-hearted.

Hathcock played for Moro in the late '80s and early '90s and knows what that experience is like.

"Our kids live in a resort community (Lakeside-Pinetop) already, so we left to California and continued in the tradition that Coach Moro started at Huntington Beach."

Hathcock quipped, "Honestly, I'm sitting here on the beach and I can't wait to go home because the weather is just so much better where I live."

Hamilton seniors take step forward in Thousand Oaks

Chandler Hamilton, a team loaded with athletes and strong veteran leadership. went to Thousand Oaks, California for camp at Cal Lutheran. Coach Mike Zdebski said the best things accomplished were developing their football IQ, conditioning and defining their core values.

He said it was important to "develop positive and supportive relationships."

"And our seniors took a step towards being the leaders of our program," Zdebski said.

ACP breaks camp on 'family'

Chandler Arizona College Prep, like Hamilton, used the California Lutheran facilities in Thousands Oaks. The main objective was to become a collective unit, said coach Myron Blueford, who has developed this program from scratch.

"After the season, they aren't allowed to break on 'family,' " Blueford said. "With seniors leaving, incoming freshmen and transfers, we have to rebuild every year.

"In summer camp, after we accomplished we everything we want, they break on 'family' for the first time. It's a huge moment for our program at camp."

Mountain Pointe bonds in Prescott

Mountain Pointe didn't need to drive too far for camp at Prescott High. Less than two hours up I-17. But it was still cooler, especially in the evenings, than Phoenix. And coach Eric Lauer made sure they find out about each other through the three Hs: Hero, hardship and highlight.

Each player had to give their hero, hardship and highlight as a way to bond with each other.

Lauer said he has a good relationship with Prescott coach Cody Collett and his staff and, under district permission, the Pride was given full use of the Badgers' facilities, including the synthetic turf field and gym.

"The weather is not that much different than in the Valley, except for the evenings," Lauer said. "But we are better for it. Because we care about each other a little more."

First time away for Skyline

First-year head coach Adam Schiermyer took his Mesa Skyline players to Snowflake for bonding and conditioning in the high elevations of the White Mountains. For most, Schiermyer said, it was the first time most of the players were in a team camp setting away from school.

"We gave them a grueling schedule with very little down time," he said. "Overall it was a very successful camp. We stressed to not accept mediocrity from teammates, everyone will be treated the same, coaches will hold coaches accountable. Most importantly to stay determined when things don’t go our way, and relying on the Juniors and seniors to lead themselves so they can lead others.

"We also had a BBQ where families gathered to mingle and get to know each other."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona HS football camps in photos as teams prepare for 2022 season