Twelve months after overcoming the challenges set forth by cracked, warped and shrinking clay pieces, the students from last year’s Advanced Art Class at Ironwood Ridge High School have unveiled their mosaic mural at the entrance to the school, just in time for the new school year.

If you happen to be driving in the area of Naranja Drive and La Cholla Boulevard in the morning and hear Latin music drifting through the air, you're probably not crazy.

The coach and players of Canyon Del Oro High School basketball weren’t surprised, nor did they panic, when the Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter.

When the 2012 season was first getting under way, Ironwood Ridge Coach Matt Johnson and the Nighthawk players were clear on their goals. The first was to get past the semifinals in the state playoffs, a round they failed to win for three straight seasons. The second goal was to win it all and become the Division II State Champions.

The Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks remained undefeated on Friday, beating the Mountain View Mountain Lions 42-14.

The Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks’ football team was already in a very good position heading into last Friday night’s match up against the Cholla Chargers. The team had won its first three contests by a combined 109 points, while Cholla had struggled to an 0-3 record and combined deficit of 77 points. The Nighthawks stepped it up a notch on Friday though, completely overpowering the Chargers en route to a 62-6 shellacking.

Sophomore Aunesty Jantz’s double-double led the Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks volleyball team past the Catalina Foothills Falcons on Wednesday night.

The Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks and Canyon Del Oro Dorados met up for the fourth time this softball season, and when the dust cleared, it was the Nighthawks celebrating a 9-8 win and advancing to the semifinals of the state tournament.

The Ironwood Ridge softball program is en route to its eighth trip to the state tournament after another impressive regular season draws to a close.

The Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks’ season came to an end in the first round of the state tournament after they fell to 19th seed, Mountain Pointe High School, 53-47. The Nighthawks clinched the 14th seed in the state playoffs after an impressive 17-1 regular season record, but fell short in their post-season play, losing in sectional play to 3rd seed, Red Mountain High School, and again on Thursday night at home to end their hopes of a state championship run.

While defeating the Marana Tigers, 56-43, the Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks basketball team (12-0) displayed some of the reasons they are one of two unbeaten teams in Division I play in Arizona.

The Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks are on their way to the second round of the Division II state playoffs, after easily defeating Apollo Friday night.

A 20-point deficit in the first half was too much for the Ironwood Nighthawks to overcome in Friday’s final game of the regular season against Salpointe Catholic.

A 20-point deficit in the first half was too much for the Ironwood Nighthawks to overcome in Friday’s final game of the regular season against Salpointe Catholic.

The Nighthawks’ ground game continues to be the key to success, as Ironwood Ridge High School’s football team remains undefeated at 5-0, after defeating Marcos de Niza 34-20, Friday night.

A week after handing Canyon Del Oro its first regular season loss since 2008, the biggest concern for Ironwood Ridge High School’s football team was suffering a letdown against Marana.

For the first time since 2006, the Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks defeated the Canyon Del Oro Dorados in the inner-district showdown to open the 2011 high school football season Friday night.

The Ironwood Ridge Nighthawks handed Canyon Del Oro High School their first regular-season loss in two years Friday night, winning the inner-district rivalry 28-7.

While skill positions are seen as the team’s strength, Ironwood Ridge coaches are worried about the lack of experience on the offensive and defensive lines.