Fred Mann’s passion for volleyball still burns brightly.

The benefactors are the Perry Pumas, who lured the 59 year old out of volleyball retirement. On Wednesday, the sun set during a pleasant evening with both Perry and Mann making history at Casteel’s top-notch beach volleyball facility.

The Pumas became the first team to win the AIA Division I state title in boys beach volleyball after defeating Mesa Mountain View 3-1.

As for Mann, no other Arizona high school volleyball coach besides him has won state championships in indoor girls and boys, girls team beach and now boys team beach. 

Since Arizona is the only state that’s sanctioned high school beach volleyball for boys so far, Mann also is the only prep volleyball coach in the country to win the aforementioned team volleyball crowns. Becoming the first to do so cemented his legacy as arguably the greatest high school volleyball coach in the Grand Canyon State. 

“That (multiple volleyball rings) means ‘A’ longevity and ‘B' I’m super fortunate,” said Mann, who still works at Perry as a counselor. "I’ve got a bunch of studs and athletes. The hardest part is convincing them to come out and play beach volleyball and show them how much fun it’s going to be. It’s super, super cool. But, as a coach, I’ve had the experience of winning championships and I want kids to have that same experience.” 

The pivotal point of Wednesday’s championship came when the Pumas’ No. 2 flight of Brady Breinholt and Zac Tomlinson lost the first set.

Perry’s No. 4’s, Logan Gray and Tommy Henige, overpowered their opponents to win in two games while the No. 2’s were playing. Mountain View’s lefty freshman Paxon Boynton's tracking as a defender and teammate Tyn Denham’s blocking and hitting took control in the first game against Breinholt and Tomlinson. 

But, just like in their semifinal match, Breinholt and Tomlinson rallied to win in three.

“Our 2’s haven’t lost all year and lose Game 1 (to Williams Field) and lost Game 1 (to Mountain View) and make a comeback both nights and played some courageous volleyball,” Mann said. "Without those comebacks we don’t win either of those matches.”

Perry’s indoor boys volleyball team, which Tomlinson and Breinholt were a part of, trailed 0-2 in its 2025 indoor state championship match before pulling out a five set victory.  

“I just love this guy (Breinholt) and have really good chemistry,” Tomlinson said. "We are like minded and just play great together.”

Said Breinholt, “The one thing I told (Tomlinson) is 'This is my last time ever playing sand for Perry High School. I want another ring on my finger. So let’s make this thing happen.’”

With Breinholt and Tomlinson’s victory, the top-seeded Pumas went up 2-0 needing one more win to clinch the title, with the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5 pairs taking the sand.

But Mountain View’s Steven Jacobson and Levi Myers won their match against fellow No. 3’s Dax Stones and Everett Wagner in two games to give their team some hope. Then Mountain View’s No. 1’s, Matix Williams and Max Ashby, forced a third game in their match. 

But Perry’s No. 5’s, freshman Kai Higgins and junior Jaxson Bingham, wound up clinching the championship, sending second-seeded Mountain View with the runner-up trophy after a successful 17-2 campaign.

Mesa Mountain View’s beach program is off to a great start. (Jose Garcia/AZPreps365) Give an assist to Perry’s baseball team, which came to Casteel and cheered loudly for its classmates throughout the team beach final. 

“It was a good welcome to Perry,” Higgins said. "We had fun all year and won it. I wasn’t nervous. I’ve been playing with these guys all year, so I’m used to it by now. 

“He (Bingham) is like my Uber. He drives me everywhere. We met a month ago and we’ve just been best friends since. We’ve had fun all year.”

Higgins’ brother, Tate, is on Perry’s No. 1 team along with Grey Carter. 

The father of the Higginses, Tim, was a heck of a beach player back in the day in Arizona. Kai and Bingham finished 14-0 and didn’t drop a set this season.

As for their team, Perry ended its first beach team trip with an 18-1 record under the helm of one of the best.  

Mann grew up in South Africa and found his passion after watching a sports segment on U.S. beach greats Karch Kiraly, Kent Steffes, Sinjin Smith, and Randy Stoklos. He saved up to move to London before landing in the states and lived in a VW Bus while traveling and playing volleyball, he said.

He eventually “found a girl,” a new home and coaching. 

The rest is history.

“They are goofy bunch,” Perry volleyball coach Fred Mann said about his championship squad. Along with Mann (in blue cap), assistant Brady Wilkins also helped guide Perry's fun bunch. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)