5 Super Athletes With Ties To Scottsdale

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Scottsdale area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch has teamed up with T-Mobile to spotlight five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. While this list is just a snapshot, there are countless others who have helped shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Amanda Blumenherst (Golf)

Amanda Blumenherst, a Scottsdale native, made a name for herself in professional golfing. A three-time National Player of the Year at Duke University, she won the 2008 U.S. Women's Amateur before turning professional in 2009. She played on the LPGA Tour for several years before stepping away from professional golf in 2013 to focus on her family.

2. Dylan Cozens (Baseball)

Scottsdale-born Dylan Cozens is a former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies. A standout two-sport athlete, he first attended Desert Mountain High School before transferring to Chaparral High School, where he set a single-season home run record previously held by Paul Konerko. After being selected in the second round of the 2012 MLB draft, Cozens showcased impressive power in the minor leagues and debuted with the Phillies in 2018. In 2021, Cozens announced his retirement from baseball to pursue a professional football career.

3. Robelyn Garcia (Basketball)

Robelyn Garcia is a former professional basketball player, collegiate All-American and multi-sport athlete who has called Scottsdale home. She played for the Kansas Crusaders in the Women's Basketball Association (WBA), earning MVP honors, and was later inducted into the Black Archives of Mid-America WBA Hall of Fame. Beyond her playing career, Garcia has dedicated herself to education, earning multiple degrees and contributing to sports through coaching and research.

4. Jesse Ylönen (Ice Hockey)

Jesse Ylönen is a Finnish-American professional hockey winger currently playing for the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) under contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Though he was raised in Finland, Ylönen was born in Scottsdale, while his father, Juha Ylönen, played for the Phoenix Coyotes. Selected 35th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he has played in both the NHL and AHL.

5. Olga Korbut (Gymnastics)

Olga Korbut is a retired Soviet gymnast who changed the sport with her groundbreaking acrobatics. She won four Olympic gold medals (1972, 1976) and is credited with making gymnastics a global sensation. Inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, Korbut later emigrated to the United States, becoming a naturalized citizen in 2000. She settled in Scottsdale, where she has worked as a gymnastics coach and motivational speaker.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.