August 2008 Archives
The Victor Valley College women's soccer team is the first fall sports team to begin its season. The Rams, defending champion in the Foothill Conference, will play a 4 p.m. match at San Diego Miramar Tuesday.
Then comes a three-game set at Yuba against Northern California foes. Coach Mike Bradbury's team makes its home debut Sept. 6-7 in its six-team tournament, including defending state champion Cerritos and Grossmont.
Victor Valley graduated its three leading scorers so it will rely more heavily on defense.
"We're definitely big and strong in the middle," said Bradbury, who will also be coaching the school's men's team. "It will be a little bit different look than we have had in the past but that's junior college. You're always going to have a lot of turnover."
Area college football fans can get their first look at the 2008 Chaffey Panthers this week. Coach Carl Beach's team will play an exhibition scrimmage at 11 a.m. Friday at Grigsby Field against Palomar College.
Beach said he has played that foe the last several years in a practice game.
"They're usually a very good team with some size," he said. "You always want to play someone that is pretty competitive so you can see how you stack up. And it's a not a team in our conference or one that we're going to see during the season. It just seems to work for both of us so why change it."
There will be no admission charge.
2008 1st team All-WSC selection Melanie Hansen became the first Lady Owls to sign following the conclusion of the season. Hansen, who hit .349 and drove in a team high 26 RBI's this past season, has accepted a scholarship offer from Concordia University (Irvine, CA) of the NAIA.
"Concordia is getting a solid individual in Melanie, she left a great mark here at Citrus and I know she will be an impact player at Concordia," said Head Citrus College Softball Coach Jackie Boxley. "Melanie's intangibles make her a great fit at a great university, and I know she wants to bring a championship to Concordia."
Following Hansen into the NAIA will be 2nd team All-WSC honoree and 2008 Citrus College Female Athlete of the Year Denise Hernandez. Hernandez also played two solid seasons for Citrus, hitting .297 and including a team high 5 doubles during the 2008 season. Hernandez will be joining the Swedes of Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, where she will also play soccer as well as softball.
"Bethany is allowing me the opportunity to play both soccer and softball and is that something that appealed to me," Hernandez said. "Coach Boxley has played a big role in helping me to achieve my goal of continuing my athletic career and education. It has been a dream of mine to move on to the four-year level, and Citrus played a huge part in that."
"Bethany is getting a great all around athlete. The softball and soccer programs are going to get one of the most determined individuals that I have ever met," Coach Boxley said. "Denise will rise to whatever challenge is placed in front of her and not stop until she has succeeded. Her work ethic is like no other and she knows what it takes to be a champion."
Also accepting a scholarship offer is Jennifer Anaya. Anaya hit .250 and recorded 16 runs during the 2008 season, and will continue her athletic career at NCAA Division II Cal State Monterrey Bay.
"Cal State Monterrey Bay has a great softball program, and it fit my needs as far as staying in the state of California," Anaya said. "Citrus played a tremendous role in helping me move on. The coaching staff helped me improve, and made me a %100 better then what I was before."
"Jennifer always plays hard. Without a doubt Monterey Bay is getting one of the hardest workers that have been through our program," Boxley said. "She has a fighter's spirit and will work as hard as she has to, to be successful and earn a spot with Cal State Monterrey Bay."
Joining Anaya at the NCAA Division II level will former Lady Owl Alex Arguelles, who has accepted an offer to walk-on at Cal State San Bernardino. Arguelles spent most of last season in the circle, making nine appearances and leading Citrus with a 1.04 ERA.
"I originally wanted to attend Cal State San Bernardino strictly on an academic basis, but half way through the season I can began to realize that I could probably play too," Arguelles said. "I'm excited about this opportunity because they are a team on the rise, and I really like their coach."
"Citrus helped make this a reality in a lot of ways," Arguelles said. "Coming out of a small school and straight into college was a whole new competitive level. Coach Boxley has given me the confidence over the last two years to know that I can do anything that they put in front of me."
"Alex is a quiet player that just flat out gets it done. She is the ultimate team player and will accept whatever role is needed of her," Boxley said. "She showed amazing character and strength this year when she stepped up and into a starting pitchers role without any warning. Every team needs an athlete like Alex."
Dylan Nielson, who ran the lead-off on the state-champion 4x100 relay team and also competed in the high hurdles, signed a full scholarship with Utah State. Meanwhile, teammate Lance Gonzales, who competed in the decathlon, javelin and long jump, has decided to continue his education and athletic career at Cal State Northridge on a full scholarship.
Both of these young men were clutch performers this year," said McCarron. "They were big factors in the our state championship run, and I know will have an immediate impact at the conference and national level at their universities."
Gonzales, who finished second in the decathlon and third in the javelin and seventh in the long jump at the state meet, is making a run for the 2012 Olympic Team in London. He concluded his career at Riverside as the record-holder in the decathlon, a student of distinction and a holder of a 3.4 GPA.
"I'm going to Northridge to focus specifically on the decathlon and possibly a shot at making the 2012 Olympic Team," said Gonzales, who is majoring in Physical Education and plans to become a teacher and a coach.
Nielson, a graduate of Palm Desert High School, said "Utah is a place where I can get that business degree, continue to develop as a hurdler and possibly, too, make the 2012 Olympic Team."
