Category Archives: Cal Poly Pomona

Top 10 jobs by local college coaches

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As always it was a banner year for local college programs. None won a national title but there were many in the running. Today’s countdown, the top 10 coaching jobs of the school year. Heavy emphasis placed on teams that won conference titles or were close.

10. Kristin Dowling, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s basketball

Gets major props for how far her team came in the course of a season. She got the job so late admissions were closed so she was left with whatever players remained. She had to get a tennis player and another who had never played before just to round out a roster of eight. The Athenas lost a lot of games early but were competitive by the end of the season. Can’t imagine how well she will do given a full year and chance to recruit.

9. Kristen Hauge, San Bernardino Valley College women’s soccer

The Wolverines (14-3-5) regained their Foothill Conference title and did so with a freshmen-laden roster. Some of the sophomores she did have, were ones with limited experience. Some minor injuries along the way also proved problematic but the Wolverines made their usual run deep into the playoffs. She also plays a difficult schedule and does a wonderful job of moving players on to the next level.

8. Bill Mierzwik, San Bernardino Valley College baseball

The Wolverines won their first Foothill Conference title since 2004 and they did it without a Pitcher of the Year or Player of the Year as those went to athletes from other schools. He might have been higher on the list it weren’t for a quicker than expected departure from the playoffs.

7. Chris Krich, University of La Verne football

The Leopards went 4-5, which was a repeat of the previous season. But it was a much better looking and more competitive 4-5. Let’s not forget how bad this program was when he took over three years ago. Numbers were down, interest was down. This should be the year the Leopards really turn the corner and make a significant impact.

6. Ben Cooper, Chaffey College men’s soccer

The Panthers went 16-5-2 overall, won the Foothill Conference and won three playoff games before falling to favored Golden West 3-1. The Panthers did it without a what you would call a “dominant” player. This is definitely a program on the rise.

5. Greg Kamansky, Cal Poly Pomona men’s basketball

Another one that is going to be on the list every year. The Broncos (28-3) won what is one of the toughest conferences in the country by a whopping four games and they advanced to the West Regional semifinal. Kamansky did it with two experienced players in Mitchel Anderson and Terrence Drisdom. After that, Kamansky had a bunch of unproven role players. Yet the beat goes on for the Broncos.

4. Frank Pericolosi, Pomona-Pitzer baseball

The Sagehens (29-16) finished second in the SCIAC to Cal Lutheran and were given at at-large berth in the NCAA Division III regional. We have come to expect good things from the Sagehens because they have always delivered. But this year’s team  exceeded expectations. Pericolosi lost three pitchers and a catcher for a good portion of the year with injuries. One of the pitchers also plays first so it was like losing two players. Let’s not forget the high academic standards which  can make it tough to contend. Bonus points for playing a strong schedule that included three games against No. 1 Linfield (Ore.)

3. Laurie Nevarez, University of Redlands softball

The Bulldogs lost their All-American and career home run leader Amanda Lievanos to a knee injury before the season started and they didn’t have an experienced pitcher after workhorse Kayla Uphold. Still the Bulldogs won a ninth straight SCIAC title and came within one game of playing for the regional final and their 36 wins equals a program record.

2. Kim Cherniss, Cal State San Bernardino volleyball

Yes, she could collect a Coach of the Year honor pretty much every year. But this year was one of her best jobs. Maybe the Coyotes didn’t make it to nationals like they had done the previous four seasons but they did make it to the West region final, despite having graduated seven seniors. So this year’s run came with a senior setter and a boatload of freshmen yet the still won the CCAA by three games. If someone else didn’t win this year, they may never win. An absolute travesty that a coach with a sub-.500 record got Coach of the Year honors this season in the CCAA

1. Jeff Klein, Chaffey College men’s basketball

The Panthers (27-7) had the best season in school history, making it all the way to the state title game before falling to Mt. SAC 102-88. Most impressive was an 87-85 win over previously unbeaten San Francisco in the state semifinal. The Panthers had a solid, united core of sophomores that were the foundation for that success. They played hard, they played together, played with poise and were not in awe of their surroundings no matter what the situation. That’s a reflection of the coach and his staff.

Jeff Klein

 

Top 10 athletes I’m going to miss

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The college season is about done. It’s always fun to go back and think about who did what to make it a memorable school year.

So I’m going to kick out a series of lists, just for amusement. Today it’s the top 10 athletes I’m going to miss covering – I’m talking seniors at four-year schools or sophomores finishing up at a local community college.

Got to start at 10 and work my way up . . . build the suspense. Hopefully those not making the cut won’t be offended. I truly enjoy what I do, every game I cover (that doesn’t go overtime) and every athlete I meet.

10. Annie Lydens, Pomona-Pitzer track/cross country

The last two years have been tough on her (injuries). But she was the subject of a feature her sophomore year. She has interned at the United Nations and her goal is to visit another different country for every year she has been alive. That tells you all you need to know. Nice to see great athletes with such a different perspective. Every interview with a Pomona-Pitzer athlete is an enlightening one.

9. Sarah Beeman, University or Redlands softball

A great player who finally got through a season injury-free and had impressive numbers to show for it. Bonus points for saving me from getting drowned by a celebratory water bucket a few years ago when the Bulldogs won the SCIAC Tournament. Coach Laurie Nevarez was the intended target.

8. Jordan Richard, Cal State Los Angeles basketball

So he doesn’t “play” for a local school. He qualifies as a local because he went to Los Osos and played at CS San Bernardino as a freshman, Riverside as a sophomore. And he played many a game against Cal State and Cal Poly. His game improved each year he ended up being the top shot blocker in the country this season. That’s a good way to go out.

7. Stacey Howard, San Bernardino Valley football

He made just some ridiculous catches this year for the Wolverines. Don’t know how opponents left him so open sometimes, especially on the halfback option. He was the subject for my season preview story and it’s always nice when those guys deliver. Almost makes it seem like I know what I’m doing. (Headed to University of Hawaii).

6. Luke Sweeney, Pomona-Pitzer football

Some times guys pile up lofty statistics against garbage teams or they just because they get a ton of carries but Sweeney is legit. He’s pretty small by running back standards and took a beating. Injuries really limited him last season but he still became the school’s all-time leading rusher. I have to wonder what numbers he would have put up with more talent around him.

5. Jordan Garcia, University of Redlands football

Not a big guy by any stretch but had a nose for the football and always seemed to come up with the big play on defense. Also the only athlete to ever email me and thank me for a story after the interview and before it was even published.

4. Camille Smith, Cal State San Bernardino volleyball

The latest in a line of great Coyote standouts and maybe the MOST interviewed player on the list because of the team’s high profile and her major role in her time there. She’s tough, real tough. And she has always been quite articulate, win or lose. Bonus points for always keeping us guessing what color her hair was going to be next.

3. Sango Niang, Chaffey College basketball

The reason he makes the list is because I can’t remember the last time I saw a player improve so much from one season to the next. Sango excelled in track growing up. That comes from his father being an Olympian. He barely played basketball in high school. He was good as a freshman, phenomenal the past season. He’s small and quick but absolutely fearless. (He’s headed to Division II Simon Fraser next year).

2. Mitchel Anderson, Cal Poly Pomona basketball

He won a national championship with the Broncos in 2010 as a freshman. That is indicative enough of his talent. He’s just a smooth, consistent player. He may not be flashy but by the end of the night he is going to have his 15 pts, 8 rebs, 5 assists and a couple of steals.

1. Kwame Alexander, Cal State San Bernardino basketball

This was an easy choice. Who doesn’t like rim-rattling dunks? Kwame had some of the most ferocious ones I have seen at any level. Go ahead, Google him and check out the dunks on You Tube. Definitely the most exciting player to come along in the CCAA in the last decade.

Kwame Alexander vs. Chico State

JC basketballers make decisions

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It has been an eventful week  as many of the area’s top community colleges players have made decisions on four-year schools.

I’m starting with Chaffey because the Panthers (27-7) were the state runner-up. Foothill Conference Player of the Year Justin Long (Rancho Cucamonga HS) is headed to Hawaii Pacific. It hasn’t been a winning program but Long (15.8 ppg, 106 3-pointers) should be able to make an immediate impact and should play a lot.

SG Ryan Nitz (Rancho Cucamonga HS) will attend Cal State Monterey Bay, so I’ll be seeing him when the Otters are in town to play Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino. Nitz (9.8 ppg) was solid all year but was less publicized than some of his teammates. But he had a great state tournament which improved his stock. Monterey, also a team that has struggled, but Nitz should be a good fit there. The teams shoots a lot of 3′s and he hits them. Have also heard good things about the Otters coaching staff.

Like the others, SG Kenny Morgan (Summit HS) is headed the Division II route. Morgan (11.4 ppg) will got to Adams State. That’s a program with a little more tradition than the others. Good for him too.

That makes four Panthers who have decided. Speedy point guard Sango Niang (Summit HS) was the first when he signed with Simon-Fraser later in February.

San Bernardino Valley had three players make up their minds. They’re all destined for the state of Idaho. Yep, Idaho.

Sophomore F Marcus Bradley and freshman PG Evann Hall are going to Idaho State while freshman F Paulin Mwape (Redlands East Valley) is headed to Idaho

 

Cal Poly loses coach to CCAA rival

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new harvey

After guiding Cal Poly Pomona to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001 this past season, Isabelle Harvey is leaving the Broncos staff to head the women’s program at CCAA rival Cal State Los Angeles.

It is a definite blow, especially this late in the school year. Athletic director Brian Swanson now begins the process of finding a replacement, possibly an interim coach if the search doesn’t move quickly. And they rarely do.

During Harvey’s seven years at CPP, the Broncos compiled marks of 59-55-17 overall while going 41-51-14 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play.

It won’t be unfamiliar territory for Harvey, who began her coaching career at Cal State L.A. as interim head coach in 2002 for the men’s and women’s soccer teams before holding the top assistant position for both programs in the 2003 and 2004 campaigns.

Harvey, a native of Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Canada, had an outstanding playing career, both at the collegiate level and internationally. She played at USC from 1996 through 2000 and is the only player in the program’s history to earn All-America honors all four seasons. She led the Trojans to the NCAA playoffs three times in those four years.

As a member of the Canadian National Team at the 1999 Women’s World Cup, Harvey started all three games for Canada and registered two assists. She currently ranks 13th in Canadian history with 44 international caps and most recently represented Canada at the 2004 Four Nations Tournament in China.

It will be interesting what happens when a coach at a new a school is playing against the one they left and the players they recruited. Awkward, no doubt. But coaches moving on is just part of the game.

 

 

All-CCAA Baseball team announced

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Jordan Whitman

2013 CCAA Baseball All-Conference Team

First Team
Name School Pos. Yr. Hometown
Cody Doyle Cal State L.A. C Jr. Covina, Calif.
James Wharton Cal State L.A. 1B Sr. Reseda, Calif.
Ryan Cooperstone Cal State L.A. 2B Sr. Chatsworth, Calif.
David Garcia Cal State Monterey Bay 3B Sr. Gilroy, Calif.
Jason Merjano Cal State Monterey Bay SS Sr. San Ramon, Calif.
David Castillo Cal State East Bay INF Sr. Pinole, Calif.
Mark Hurley Cal State Monterey Bay OF Jr. Hollister, Calif.
Scott Masik Cal State L.A. OF Sr. Santa Cruz, Calif.
Danny Susdorf UC San Diego OF Sr. Newhall, Calif.
Ivory Thomas Cal State Dominguez Hills OF Sr. Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Whitman Cal Poly Pomona OF Sr. Cypress, Calif.
Jeremy Weber Cal State L.A. DH Jr. Lancaster, Calif.
Troy Cruz UC San Diego UTL Fr. Chula Vista, Calif.
Will Anderson Cal State Monterey Bay SP Jr. Pleasanton, Calif.
Nick Baker Chico State SP Jr. La Quinta, Calif.
Harmen Sidhu Sonoma State SP Sr. Martinez, Calif.
Glenn Wallace Sonoma State SP Sr. Reno, Nev.
A.J. Quintero Cal State Monterey Bay RP Jr. Vacaville, Calif.
Second Team
Name School Pos. Yr. Hometown
Mark Lindsay San Francisco State C Sr. Upland, Calif.
Bo Walter Cal Poly Pomona 1B Jr. Lafayette, Calif.
Ronnie Fhurong Cal State Monterey Bay 2B Sr. Hollister, Calif.
Tyler Christian Cal State L.A. 3B Sr. San Jose, Calif.
Miguel Flores San Francisco State SS Sr. Union City, Calif.
Kyle Zozaya Cal State East Bay INF Sr. Hollister, Calif.
Craig Beevers Cal State Stanislaus OF Sr. Newman, Calif.
Grady Espinosa San Francisco State OF Jr. Yucaipa, Calif.
Blake Gibbs Chico State OF Sr. Bellevue, Wash.
Garrett Schwartz Sonoma State OF Jr. Salinas, Calif.
Cody Webber Chico State DH Sr. Fountain Valley, Calif.
Charlie Sharrer Cal State East Bay UTL Sr. Palmdale, Calif.
Sean Becker Cal State East Bay SP Jr. San Fernando, Calif.
Troy Neiman Chico State SP Sr. Castaic, Calif.
Jeff Owen Cal State Monterey Bay SP So. Clovis, Calif.
Jordan Sechler Cal State L.A. SP Sr. Santa Maria, Calif.
Cody Ponce  Cal Poly Pomona RP Fr. Upland, Calif.

 

HONORABLE MENTION: SP: Nolan Sheridan (Fr., San Francisco State), Ryan Goodbrand (Sr., UC San Diego), Kagen Hopkins (SR., Chico State), Matt Fontaine (Sr., CS East Bay) RP: Sean Martin (Sr., Chico State); C: Ben Manlove (Sr., Chico State) 1B: Richard Seigel (Sr., UC San Diego); 2B: Eren Miravalles (Jr., CS East Bay) 3B: Pierson Jeremiah (Sr., Chico State) SS: Dillon Moyer (Jr., UC San Diego) INF: Myles Dempsey (Sr., Chico State), Cody Slader (So., Chico State), Zac Chuvala (Sr., CS East Bay); OF: Brandon Alexander (Sr., CS East Bay), Steven Filippi (Sr., Sonoma State), Kevin Logan (Jr., CS Dominguez Hills), Austin Prott (Sr., Chico State) DH: Billy Hamilton (SR., CS San Bernardinoi); UT: Jason Padlo (Fr., Cal Poly Pomona).

Most Valuable Player: Glenn Wallace, Sonoma State
Most Valuable Player: James Wharton, Cal State L.A.
Freshman of the Year: Troy Cruz, UC San Diego
Co- Newcomer of the Year: Mark Hurley, Cal State Monterey Bay; Sean Becker, Cal State East Bay
Coach of the Year: Walt White, Cal State Monterey Bay

Taijeron faring well in Mets system

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Former Cal Poly Pomona standout Travis Taijeron has been named Florida State League Player of the Week. Taijeron, of the Ports St. Lucie Mets went 9-for-19 in six games with , six doubles, and a home run.

After tearing up the South Atlantic League for 64 games last season, Taijeron was promoted to St. Lucie in mid June. Though he struggled in the FSL in 2012, hitting .203 in 48 games, he seems to have taken the measure of the league in 2013. The 24-year-old outfielder has at least one extra-base hit in each of his last seven games and is reaching base at a .393 clip, which leads the Mets and ranks 11th in the league.

Taijeron was selected by the New York Mets in the 18th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal Poly Pomona where we was named California Collegiate Athletic Association Male Athlete of the Year..

CPP player earns weekly CCAA honor

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Cal Poly Pomona’s Chris Carlson has been named the Rawlings/California Collegiate Athletic Association Baseball Player of the Week for the week of Apr. 29-May 5.

The junior from Chino Hills guided the Broncos to a four-game series split with Cal State East Bay to wrap up the 2013 season and spoiling the Pioneers chances at their first CCAA post-season appearance.

Carlson compiled a weekend average of .692, hitting 9-for-13 with two runs scored, a double, a homerun, and two RBI.  He also walked twice in his 14 total plate appearances for an on-base percentage of .733.

Defensively, the starting outfielder was flawless with nine putouts and an assist on the weekend.

 

Rawlings/CCAA Baseball Player of the Week
Feb. 1 – 3: David Gacia (Cal State Monterey Bay);
Feb. 4 – 10: Cody Doyle (Cal State L.A.)
Feb. 11 – 17: Manny Acosta (Cal State L.A.)
Feb. 18 – Feb. 24: Kyle Zozaya (Cal State East Bay)
Feb. 25 – Mar. 3: Kevin Logan (Cal State Dominguez Hills)
Mar. 4 – 10: Jordan Whitman (Cal Poly Pomona)
Mar. 11 – 17: Garrett Schwartz (Sonoma State)
Mar. 18 – 24: Charlie Sharrer (Cal State East Bay)
Mar. 25 – 31: James Wharton (Cal State L.A.)
Apr. 1 – 7: Grady Espinosa (San Francisco State)
Apr. 8 – 14: Scott Masik (Cal State L.A.)
Apr. 15 – 21: Mark Hurley (Cal State Monterey Bay)
Apr. 22 – 28: Mark Hurley (Cal State Monterey Bay)
Apr. 29 – May 5:  Chris Carlson (Cal Poly Pomona)

Anderson to play in all-star game

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Senior guard Mitchel Anderson of Cal Poly Pomona has been chosen to participate in the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star game to be held at 4 p.m. Friday at Louisville, Ky. in conjunction with the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

The NCAA Division II quarterfinals are Thursday with the semifinals on Saturday at Freedom Hall. This year’s NCAA Division II championship game will be played at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Ga., at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 7.

Anderson finished with 1,433 career points and 180 steals through his four-year collegiate career, ranking third all-time for the program in both statistics.

Anderson is the school’s leader in three-pointers, knocking down 190 while at CPP. Earlier in March, Anderson picked up California Collegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player honors for both the regular season and tournament. He’s also picked up NABC and Daktronics All-West Region First Team honors for the 2012-13 campaign. Anderson is the only CCAA student-athlete to be featured in this year’s Division II All-Star Game.

It’s a shame that Cal State San Bernardino’s Kwame Alexander wasn’t picked. His high-flying dunks are quite crowd pleasing and his numbers warrant a selection. But only two players from each region are chosen. The other West representative is Jobi Wall of Seattle Pacific. Whoever was doing the selection wasn’t going to take two players from the same conference, especially when the regional final was between two teams from another.

 

 

Three players and a coach earn NABC Division II region honors

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The accolades continue to roll in for three locals players and a coach as National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II All-West Region honors were announced.

Senior Mitchel Anderson and junior Terrence Drisdom of Cal Poly Pomona as well as senior Kwame Alexander of Cal State San Bernardino all earned first-team honors while Broncos coach Greg Kamansky was named Coach of the Year.

It marks the third time that Kamansky earned West Region Coach of the Year selection with the previous honors coming in 2009 and 2010. This past season – his 13th at CPP – Kamansky raised his career totals to 270-110 for a winning percentage of .711.

Anderson, a Temecula native, finished with 1,433 points and 180 steals, ranking third all-time for the program in both statistics. Anderson is now the school’s leader in three-pointers, knocking down 190 while at CPP.

Earlier Anderson picked up California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Most Valuable Player honors for both the regular season and tournament.

Drisdom, of Corona, averaged 13 points per game to rank second on the team in scoring while proving to be CPP’s top free throw shooter at 82 percent.

The 2012-13 Broncos’ squad matched the program record for wins at 28, even with the 2010 national championship team.

Meanwhile Alexander became the first Cal State player to have at least 900 points, 500 rebounds and 60 blocks in his career. This season he led the CCAA in scoring (16.7) and rebounding (8.8). He also ranks among the top 10 in eight CSUSB career categories in his three-year career – points (No. 7-919), field goals (No. 6-336), field goal attempts (No. 10-608), field goal percentage (No. 3-.553), free throws (No. 5-246), free throw attempts (No. 4-397), rebounds (2nd-562) and blocks (1st-66).

The Coyotes finished 20-9 in 2012-13 and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons and made their 12th appearance in school history.

Chalk up another one for the NCAA!

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Sometimes you have to do something just to avoid the appearance of impropriety. The NCAA, which makes a lot of curious decisions, blew that one too.

I’m going back to the NCAA Division II West regional hosted, and not surprisingly won, by Western Washington on Tuesday night. The decision to let the school, located in Bellingham,  host both the men’s and women’s eight-team regionals was a mind-boggling one on a lot of counts and I have addressed that.

But something else was brought to my attention. Turns out one of the referees who worked the semifinal game between Western Washington and Cal State San Bernardino, not only is from Bellingham, but owns a popular family restaurant  adjacent to the campus which is frequented by the students.

Not only did he work that game, won by the Vikings 86-77, but he also worked the championship game in which Western defeated rival Seattle Pacific 62-58 for a berth in the Elite Eight.

How is that right?

No I wasn’t there. But I did watch the videocast of the Cal State game and there were some curious calls, many of which even the announcers, who were from Western Washington, questioned. There were two technical fouls on the Cal State bench. Fouls were 24-18 against Cal State and one Coyote fouled out despite playing seven whole minutes.

Was that the reason the Coyotes lost? Maybe but probably not. And I hate when a losing coach starts blaming the officiating – no matter what the sport. But why put yourself in the position to be questioned. All that had to be done is put the Bellingham resident official on the earlier semifinal between Cal Poly Pomona and Seattle Pacific and have one of those official work the latter game. Problem solved.

As far as the championship game, well there were enough officials on site he didn’t have to be one of the chosen three to work that game.

I’m sure that official worked several of that school’s game during the regular season. That’s fine. But this is the postseason where much more is at stake. The other schools in the eight-team field deserved a fair shake.