One week in to 2025! It’s that time again to look back on all the incredible things that the past 12 months have brought our way.

It is a privilege to work with this Sports360AZ team, full of incredible storytellers with a contagious work effort who are even better people. 2024 allowed me to do things I never thought imaginable just last year. 

When Claudia Collins started our Top 5 Rewind two years ago, I knew I wanted to take part and go through my own favorite stories. Below sit my Top-5 favorite stories that I had the privilege of helping tell in 2024 along with what I think are the Top-5 stories to come from our incredible team this year. So sit back, relax, and let’s take a look back at 2024!

 

Devon’s Top-5

5. Arizonan NASCAR Racers Dissect Season Heading Into Olympic Break

The illustrious list of sacred sports venues on Earth is a small group. Two years ago, I had the privilege of visiting one of those sacred grounds when I traveled to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While it was otherworldly standing on the hallowed grounds of the most iconic racing venue in the world, NASCAR raced on the road course that year. This season, the sport made a triumphant return to the legendary oval. Not only did I get to witness a race on the Brickyard, but also got to catchup with all three of Arizona’s full-time NASCAR drivers at this iconic location.

 

4. Anthony Robles Talks Coaching at Mesa, “Unstoppable” Movie, & Stunt Double Career

Before the silver screen hit, Unstoppable hit theaters in December, I got to catch up with ASU wrestling icon, Anthony Robles, in his element. Before coaching his alma mater, the Mesa Jackrabbits, against Liberty in February, sat down to ask about the then-upcoming biographical sports drama film, his coaching career as he gives back to the wrestling community, and some of his stunt double work.

 

3. Coach McDonald Leads ACU to NAIA World Series as Wife Continues Cancer Battle

Every year, a story comes out of nowhere and changes the way that I see life. Last May, Arizona Christian University baseball qualified to battle for their first national championship as one of the ten teams in the NAIA with a shot at taking home the NAIA World Series Championship. It was a remarkable season filled with Arizona-raised talent that started with a 14-14 record and ended up as a Cinderella run that nearly won the crown – a story I felt needed to be told. Little did I know, a bigger battle was taking place at that moment. While Head Coach, Joe McDonald, grew this program to the top of the leaderboard, he was also tending to his wife in her fight against Multiple myeloma.

 

2. T-Time: Making Buzzer Beaters, Meeting Curry, & Inspiring Others

Speaking of stories that have changed my life, I’ll never forget the night that “T” met Steph Curry. An English language learner and a special needs student with an intellectual disability at Liberty High School, Tonatiuh Ramirez, went viral across America after drilling a half-court buzzer beater in a Liberty Unified intramural basketball game – just like his favorite player Steph Curry would have. As word spread, the Golden State Warriors icon caught wind of the happenings in Peoria, and invited “T” to be his guest when the Warriors played the Phoenix Suns in January. I’ll never forget being able to follow T that night and seeing the smile on his face.

 

1. Devon Henry’s Sport of Speed on CW 7 Arizona

For years, Brad Cesmat and the Sports360AZ crew has supported me in making a NASCAR Championship TV Special for NASCAR Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway. After years of work, an opportunity to have a tv series following the sport I love arose. I had the privilege of hosting, producing, and directing Devon Henry’s Sport of Speed on CW 7 Arizona for six weeks leading up to NASCAR Championship Weekend. While it was a massive undertaking, it was beyond rewarding to be given the opportunity to showcase what I love doing.

 

Devon’s Top 5 Sports360AZ Picks

5. Interviews with Don Cheadle, Jharrel Jerome, Anthony & Judy Robles – ‘Unstoppable’

I quite literally gasped out loud when I saw Jordan Spurgeon interviewed the superstar cast of the Anthony Robles bio-drama, Unstoppable! Some amazing sitdowns with superstars ahead of the release of a film I think everyone at Sports360AZ would recommend! Spurge did an outstanding job digging into the stories, emotion, and heart behind this film.

 

4. Jordan Hamm’s ASU Football Coverage

One video does no justice to the blood, sweat, & tears invested by Jordan Hamm this year in his coverage of Arizona State Football’s Cinderella run to the first 12-team College Football Playoff. Every week, Jordy has his nose to the ground at every press conference, interview opportunity, and game that could possibly pop up. On top of that, when the time came to execute, Jodan delivered. From Dancing with the Devils to the Sun Devils putting the nation on notice against Texas, Jordan showed out on every opportunity.

 

3. Paige Heyn: Road to the Paris Olympics

Claudia Collins has watched Tempe’s Paige Heyn for the past five years as she followed her dream of making the Olympic games. Paige traveled the world, competing in skateboarding, and found her way onto Team USA. Claudia sat down with Paige in her element as she documented her path to be part of Team USA in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games. Years of watching led to a terrific story from Claudia, showcasing one of the Valley’s own on the biggest stage!

 

2. Pivot with Purpose: Charlie Duffy’s Story

The storytelling at Sports360AZ is second to none. Jordan Spurgeon and Brandy Aguilar have been following Charlie Duffy for a long time as a student-athlete at Northwest Christian High School with cerebral palsy. But she didn’t let that hold her back as she was on her way to becoming a star softball player. A major surgery that involved cutting her hamstring, achilles tendon, and femur in her left leg derailed her path though and set her on a new one with a larger scale that reaches beyond the softball field. An incredibly powerful story that’s a must-watch.

 

1. 2024 National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter Awards Show

Wrapping up our list is our most gratifying content to create, the annual NFF Awards Show! It’s one of the few times all year that we bring our small team at Sports360AZ together as one and create a phenomenal show to showcase the best of the best that Arizona has to offer. It’s an honor to recognize these athletes, a privilege to help such a prestigious organization in doing so, and an absolute blast to do it with such incredible individuals on our team.

 

 

Another incredible year filled with incredible people and insane opportunities comes to a close. I can’t wait to see how this Sports360AZ team grows and what we are able to accomplish in 2025. Happy New Year to you and yours! Can’t wait for all 2025 has in store!