Hansen Sunday Notebook: 'Rock bottom' to the top

Besides being a golfer, Michael Thompson was an Eagle Scout and played soccer at Rincon/University High School. "We lost in the state playoffs and it was brutal. It still stings," said Thompson, 27, whose mom, Beth, teaches high school English at Sabino.

Hansen Sunday Notebook: 'Rock bottom' to the top

Before Michael Thompson won the Honda Classic last weekend, earning $1.08 million, he planned to spend this weekend in Tampa, visiting his wife's brother.

Greg Hansen: Southern Arizona's Top 100 sports figures of 2012

Caption unavailable

Greg Hansen: Southern Arizona's Top 100 sports figures of 2012

No. 1: Andy Lopez restored the glory days to Arizona baseball.

Greg Hansen: Southern Arizona's Top 100 sports figures of 2012

No. 5: Kurt Heyer, the Pac-12's top pitcher at 13-2 with a 2.24 ERA, shares the No. 5 spot with four other UA teammates, all juniors.

Greg Hansen: Southern Arizona's Top 100 sports figures of 2012

No. 3: Sahuaro H.S. grad Caitlin Leverenz, a Cal junior, was the NCAA's female Swimmer of the Year, then won a bronze medal in London.

Greg Hansen: Southern Arizona's Top 100 sports figures of 2012

Caption unavailable

Greg Hansen: Southern Arizona's Top 100 sports figures of 2012

No. 2: Brigetta Barrett, then a UA junior, won the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships, then won a silver medal at the London Olympics.

Greg Hansen: Southern Arizona's Top 100 sports figures of 2012

Caption unavailable

Greg Hansen: Southern Arizona's Top 100 sports figures of 2012

Greg Hansen presents his top 100 sports figure picks for 2012.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

Matt Grevers, left, and USA teammate Nick Thoman, both with Tucson ties, finished first and second in the 100-meter backstroke final.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

High-jumper Brigetta Barrett, a University of Arizona theater major, cleared 6 feet, 8 inches, winning an Olympic silver medal.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

Georganne Moline, a UA senior, set a personal best in the 400-meter hurdles during track events at the London Games. She finished about a half-second off the bronze.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

Above: Caitlin Leverenz, facing, embraces the United States' Arian Kukors after winning bronze in the 200-meter individual medley final. Leverenz is a Sahuaro High grad.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

Left: Bernard Lagat, a Tucson resident, left, and Britain's Mohamed Farah competed in the men's 5,000-meter final at the London Olympics. Lagat finished fourth, just off the bronze, after he was tripped in the final stretch.

Athletes with local ties have a solid showing of medals

The 23 Olympic athletes with Southern Arizona ties produced nine medals by the time closing ceremonies ended the London Games on Sunday.

Olympics: Swimming Greg Hansen: She's come a long way

Caitlin Leverenz gets a kiss from her boyfriend, Collin Smith, after claiming the bronze medal in the 200 individual medley.

Greg Hansen: Caitlin Leverenz has come a long way

Frank Busch's named popped up on my cell phone Tuesday at 1:12 p.m. "I'm standing a few feet from Caitlin Leverenz at the medal ceremony," said USA Swimming's national team director. "She has a bronze medal hanging around her neck. Do you realize how far she had to come to get here?"

Tucson's Leverenz earns Olympic bronze

Tucson native Caitlin Leverenz earned a bronze medal this afternoon in the 200 individual swimming medley.

Swimming: Tucsonan Caitlin Leverenz in finals for 200M IM

LONDON - Tucsonan Caitlin Leverenz had the third-fastest qualifying time in the women's 200-meter individual medley on Monday at the Aquatics Centre in London's Olympic Park.