Jaylaen Higgins is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Xavier Prep for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX – On a cool Phoenix morning, long before the sun has cleared the top of Camelback Mountain, the athletic fields are alive with movement. Coaches greet athletes with familiar smiles. Teammates offer hugs or share quick jokes before warmups. Bells from the chapel drift across campus, mixing with the sound of stretching bands and bouncing balls. 

At first glance, it looks like practice, but at Xavier College Preparatory, it’s something more profound. Known for its state titles and record-setting teams, Xavier is more about shaping young women into leaders who are grounded in faith, humility and an unmistakable sense of sisterhood. 

Athletics isn’t treated as a separate world from academics or faith – it’s an extension of the school’s identity. Administrators, coaches and athletes describe a culture built on unity, compassion and a shared belief in developing young women as whole people. 

Through traditions, leadership development, community involvement and an unmistakable sense of sisterhood, Xavier’s athletic program has grown into one of Arizona’s most respected models for how sports can shape character as much as performance. 

Sister Lynn Winsor, who was appointed athletic director in 1977, now serves as the vice principal of activities and athletics. She describes it as a mission that connects every corner of campus. 

“It’s more than the athletic culture,” Sister Lynn said. “Women of faith pursuing excellence is our model. And I think we do it in everything.” 

As of Nov. 15, Xavier has amassed 165 state championships, according to xavier.org. 

Despite the sheer number of titles, coaches insist that the program's consistency is not driven by pressure or expectation. Instead, it comes from stability and intentional investment in every sport. Xavier fields more than a dozen varsity programs – from tennis to golf, volleyball and emerging programs like flag football. 

Many of these teams have developed reputations as statewide powerhouses, not because of constant roster turnover or elite recruitment, but because the athletes grow up in a system that supports them year after year. Coaches often stay for decades, creating continuity and deep trust that athletes carry with them as they advance through the program. 

Faith is the foundation for Xavier’s success. Sister Lynn describes it as the “glue that holds everything together.” 

“First and foremost, they come to Xavier because of the faith-based environment we give them,” said Susan Contreras, director of athletics, scheduling and calendering. 

Each team prays before every game. They attend team masses, participate in reflection and retreat programs — such as Kairos, a spiritual retreat for students — pray the rosary and receive confession. Athletics is seen as a ministry. It’s not only about the performance on the field, but about forming fine young women. 

For many students, that spiritual grounding becomes one of the most memorable parts of their athletic journey. 

But faith at Xavier is not limited to ritual. It informs how coaches treat athletes, how teammates support one another and how students are taught to view themselves. It creates a standard: students strive for excellence, but they do so with humility, gratitude and care for others. 

Leadership explicitly sets a tone of unity, shared mission and high expectations. There’s an emphasis on respect, care, humility and the “team over self” mindset. 

The athletic department operates more like a family than an organization. 

“It’s the leadership of the school… the administration all the way down,” Sister Lynn said. “There’s a support system that has made it excellent.”

Everyone at Xavier is part of the community. This creates a coordinated support network for student well-being, from maintenance staff and bus drivers to counselors and all the way up to teachers and coaches. 

Students carry Xavier’s culture forward as much as their coaches do. They watch over each other, hold one another accountable and step up when someone is struggling – academically, emotionally or socially. 

“We are a very close-knit group,” Athletic Director Tui Selvaratnam said. “As soon as they tell us something, we are on it.” 

Sister Lynn offered several examples of students intervening when a teammate needs help. That willingness to speak up stems from knowing they’ll be heard and that the environment is built on trust. 

Even athletes who aren’t the stars of a roster feel included. Sister Lynn said those girls form some of the strongest lifelong bonds. 

“What matters is that they were part of something meaningful and something bigger than a scoreboard,” Sister Lynn said. 

Xavier’s athletic culture has never been built on quick success. It is rooted in decades of intentional tradition, carried forward by generations of athletes, families and coaches. 

Legacy is visible in the alumnae who return to visit their coaches, cheer on their teams or simply share life updates. It is visible in the number of alumnae daughters now attending Xavier. It is visible in the stories of former athletes who credit the school for helping them find confidence, discipline and purpose. 

Traditions aren’t merely old habits. They are practices intentionally preserved because of their meaning: team Masses, pregame prayers, senior blessings, rituals of support between teams and family involvement. 

“That support for each other – the kids do it, the teachers do it, the coaches do it, everybody does it,” Sister Lynn said.  

This identity is what allows Xavier to maintain consistency across eras of education and sports. 

Xavier’s success – including state titles across numerous sports – is not driven by a win-at-all-costs mentality. In fact, it’s the opposite. 

Winning at Xavier is a byproduct of expectation, not the expectation itself. Sister Lynn said the real focus is sportsmanship, character and respect. “You want somebody who is going to work with the young women and make them better people,” Sister Lynn said. “It’s not just about the sport.”

The Xavier community believes that its culture will evolve and grow stronger over time. Professional development for coaches, improved facilities, expanded sports offerings, and an ongoing commitment to student well-being all point toward growth. 

“I hope we grow,” Contreras said. “With our facilities, with opportunities, with everything we offer them.”

As long as the school continues to center faith, community and care, the athletic department believes the future will honor the past while meeting the needs of modern students. 

“As long as you pay attention and learn, we’ll continue to grow,” Sister Lynn said. 

As girls’ athletics continue to evolve nationwide with increased visibility, NIL discussions, club sports pressure and athlete burnout, Xavier leaders believe their culture positions them well for the future. 

They’ve expanded mental health support, increased communication between coaches and counselors and created expectations that prioritize rest and balance. 

The athletic department emphasized preparing athletes for a world where young women are increasingly breaking barriers in sports media, coaching and leadership. Their hope is not just to keep up with those changes, but to prepare students to lead them. 

Xavier athletics is defined not by statistics or championships, but by the people who athletes become – confident, caring young women who understand what it means to lead with purpose. 

“This is a lifetime, not just a high school,” Sister Lynn said. “This is going beyond what you’re going to do.” 

Athletes leave Xavier with memories, friendships and an identity shaped by faith and community. Whether they return as coaches, teachers, parents or mentors, they carry the same message forward: the lessons learned at Xavier last far beyond the final whistle.