December 2008 Archives

It was confirmed late this morning that Pete Gonzales will be out as the Swordsmen's football coach as of Friday morning. At present, he is still the coach, but Friday he will react to the "resign or be terminated" ultimatum given him by principal Lori Barr. He has not indicated what his decision will be but it is well known that part of his program's philosophy is to "never quit, never give up."
No specific reasons for Barr's decision to oust Gonzalez have been given, other than the usual wanting the program to take a different direction. Neither athletic director Marc Hernandez nor Gonzalez would discuss the situation further, and Barr was not available for comment. Gonzalez posted a 21-16 record in three years as head coach. His teams won the Western Division title in 2007 and reached the semifinals in 2006.

2008 WDN girls volleyball Player of the Year: Karli Nelson, La Serna, junior, outside hitter
2008 WDN girls volleyball Coach of the Year: Shawn Hunter, Whittier Christian
First team
OH - Miranda Doing, La Mirada, senior
OH - Tessa Martin, La Habra, junior
MB - Melanie Rangel, La Mirada, senior
Set - Stephanie Palma, St. Paul, senior
Util - Kalcie Randazzo, La Serna, junior
Lib - Emily Atwood, Whittier Christian, junior
Second team
OH - Chanelle Puou, California, senior
OH - Marissa Sherb, Whittier Christian, senior
OH - Shannon Young, St. Paul, junior
MB - Vanessa Ascencio, Montebello, senior
Set - Stephanie Sinohui, Whittier Christian, junior
Util - Alexandra Ramos, El Rancho, sophomore
Lib - Jeanette Gonzalez, Whittier, junior

2008 WDN boys cross country Runner of the Year: Pedro De Alba, El Rancho, senior
2008 WDN boys cross country Coach of the Year: Victoria Flores, Montebello
First team
Noah Coppola, California , senior
Juan Gomez, Montebello, senior
Daniel Herrera, El Rancho, junior
Mitchell Moore, La Habra, senior
Elias Rodriguez, California, junior
Juan Rodriguez, El Rancho, sophomore
Second team
Brian Aleman, La Habra, senior
Andrew Garza, La Mirada, senior
Derek Holtz, Whittier Christian, junior
Jason Pang, Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary
Paul Mora, Whittier, senior
Jovani Rodriguez, El Rancho, senior
Jonathan Sermeno, Montebello, senior

2008 WDN girls cross country Runner of the Year: Christine Cooperstein, Whittier, junior
2008 WDN girls cross country Coach of the Year: Ralph Casas
First team
Sara Biddle, La Habra, freshman
Melissa Byrd, La Mirada, senior
Laura Garcia, St. Paul, senior
Kellian Hunt, Whittier Christian, freshman
Celinda Manzo, La Mirada, sophomore
Christine Verduzco, Montebello, senior
Second Team
Tiffany Dinh, Santa Fe, senior
Veronica Felix, Whittier, sophomore
Natalie Galvan, El Rancho, senior
Lauren McIntyre, La Mirada, jiunior
Kylie Navarrete, Schurr, junior
Laura Perez, California, senior
Paulina Tapia, La MIrada, junior

2008 WDN All-Area football teams

Player of the Year - Ronnie Hillman, La Habra, senior
Coach of the Year - Frank Mazzotta, La Habra
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB - Randall Nygren, La Habra, senior
RB - Aaron Turner, Santa Fe, senior
RB - Joshua Quezada, La Habra, junior
WR - Jeffrey Taylor, Cantwell SH, senior
WR - Anthony Ayala, El Rancho, junior
TE - Nathan Blaikie, California, senior
OL - Willie Mayoral, La Habra, senior
OL - Mike Saenz, La Serna, senior
OL - Nick McDermott, La Habra, senior
OL - Rafael Mendez, Whittier, senior
OL - Mark Gonzalez, Schurr, senior
AP - Cameron Oliver, Santa Fe, junior
PK - Eric Stern, California, senior

Defense
DL - Victor Rojas, California, senior
DL - Nikolai Crouch, Santa Fe, senior
DL - DL - Jake Peppard, La Habra, senior
LB - Michael Demery, St. Paul, senior
LB - Louie Lozano, La Serna, senior
LB - Adrian Lopez, Santa Fe, senior
LB - Chris Perez, Cantwell, senior
DB - David Arteaga, La Habra, senior
DB - Osagie Odiase, St. Paul, senior
DB - Luis Garcia, St. Paul, senior
DB - Adrian Mahstede, Santa Fe, senior
P - Adrian Montecinos, St. Paul, senior

SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB - Paul Lopez, St. Paul, junior
QB - Ben Burke, La Serna, senior
RB - Daniel Enriquez, Whittier, senior
RB - Marcus Galan, El Rancho, senior
WR - Jonathan Rodriguez, La Serna, senior
WR - Sean Zherdev, La Mirada, senior
OL - Kevin Casey, La Habra, sophomore
OL - Kyle Peko, La Habra, sophomore
OL - Efrain Riestra, Santa Fe, senior
OL - Eric Erales, La Mirada, senior
OL - Jousha Melendez, Schurr, sr.
AP - Matt Botello, Pioneer, senior
PK- Doug Soriano, El Rancho, senior

Defense
DL - Jacob Nails, Santa Fe, senior
DL - Anthony Sandoval, La Habra, junior
DL - Mario Obando, St. Paul, senior
DL - Mark Edwards, Whittier Christian, senior
LB - Ramon Pagano, La Habra, senior
LB - Joe Casey, La Habra, senior
LB - Gerardo Avila, California, senior
DB - David Acevedo, La Habra, senior
DB - Terris Jones, California, junior
DB - A.J. Hickey, Whittier, senior
DB - Kimbal Tillman, Cantwell, senior
P - Abraham Torres, La Serna, senior

Honorable mention
California - Gerardo Avila, LB, sr., Greg Perea, QB, sr., Matt Urquiza, RB, sr.,Mike Rodriguez, OL, sr., James Arriola, DL, jr.
Cantwell - Cesar Hernandez, QB, jr., Jordan Scanlon, OL, sr., Joseph Loara, RB, sr., Christian Espinoza, DB, soph.
El Rancho - Josh Perea, QB, sr.; Tate Harshberger, LB, jr.; Eric Zuniga, DL, sr.
La Habra - Chris Gonzales, WR, jr., Corey Spada, LB, sr., Dominic Sierra, DB, jr., Brandon Benedict, OL, sr., John Rae, PK, sr.,
La Mirada - Christian Perruzzi, WR, sr., Devon Tracy, RB, sr., Daniel Poncedeleon, QB, jr., John McNewy, TE/LB, sr., Charles Whitfield, TE/DL, sr., Roland Lujan, DL, jr.
La Serna - Kyle Gluck, RB, sr., Eric Vanden Dries, LB, sr., Andrew Velasco, OL, jr., Freddie Sanchez, DB, Sr., Carlos Moroyoqui,DL, sr.
Montebello - Steve Luna, TE, sr., Joseph Marron, RB, jr.. Jacob Sifuentes, DB, sr., Andrew Macias, OL, sr.
Pioneer - Michael Crosby, TE, sr., A.J. Perez, DE, soph., Steven Del Villar, QB, jr., Gavin Ramirez, WR, sr., Andrew Ortega, DL, sr.
Santa Fe - Jonathan Pinedo, RB, soph., Ray Pinedo, DL, sr., Andrew Jackson, DE, jr., Aaron Black, DB, sr., Alex Flores, QB, jr.
Schurr - Ricky Mendez, QB, sr., Edwin Molina, RB, sr., Max Ochoa, TE, sr., Angel Sanchez, WR/P, jr., Ropbert Duran, LB, sr., Mark Avila, DL, jr., Sean Abeyta, DL, sr.,
St. Paul - Chris Lopez, OL, sr., A.J. Gonzales, WR, soph., Stephen Carillo, OL, jr., Jason Corpus, LB, jr., Kevin Garcia, DB, sr.
Whittier - Damon Nixon, OL, jr., Guilermo Duran, DL, sr., Alex Gonzalez, RB, jr., Thaddeux Glenn, TE, jr.,
Whittier Christian - Stephen Anderson, QB, soph., Nick Camarillo, RB, sr., Daniel Genberg, DB, sr., Jordan Chaivra-Pearman, WR, sr.

2008 WDN All-Area Boys Water Polo

Player of the Year - Ely Bonilla, Montebello, goalkeeper, junior
Coach of the Year - Jeff Padgett, La Serna
First Team
Hole set - Tyler Plueger, La Serna, senior
Attacker - Erick Gonzalez, Montebello, junior
Attacker - Arturo Villalpando, Montebello, senior
Utility - Matt Valdes, La Serna, senior
Utility - Jonathan Ruiz, Montebello, junior
Utility - Jon Canizales, Whittier, senior

Second team
Attacker - Aaron Valdes, La Serna, sophomore
Driver - J.P. Aguirre, El Rancho, senior
Driver - Justin Calderon, El Rancho, senior
Driver - Raymond Torres, Montebello, junior
Attacker - Rafael Romero, Montebello, sophomore
2m def - Miguel Torres, Montebello, senior
Untility - Connor Uroff, California, senior

A quick look at area basketball in the confusion of all the tournaments
being played ...
:
La Habra (8-3) upset the Daily News No-1 ranked La Mirada, 74-71, in a
North Orange County tournament game today. La Habra's Jordan Sachs
scored 36 points, La Mirada's Derrick Williams got 35 in a duel between
the area's top two players.

La Habra led, 72-71, when Randall Nygren, fresh from quarterbacking
the Highlanders to the CIF-SS Southwest Division football championship,
scored a layup off an offensive rebound with three seconds to play to
ice the victory.

La Habra plays next against San Dimas in the first round of the
Orange Holiday Classic at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Chapman College.

La Mirada (8-3) does not play again until Dec. 27 in the KSA Tour
Tournament that runs through Dec. 30 in Orlando, Fla. The Matadores
leave Christmas Day. ...

St. Paul had its impressive, season-opening seven-game winning streak ended
by Morningside, 75-73, in the Friday's semifinals of the Cantwell Sacred
Heart boys tournament. St. Paul point guard Steven Saenz had 30 points
and continues to (arguably) be the area's best 3-point shooter. ...

La Serna took a 5-4 record off back-to-back losses into today's game
against Apple Valley in the West Covina Tournament. The Lancers have been
led by Jonathan Diaz (10.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Matt Bridge (8.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
and Steven Desowitz (8.6 ppg). ...

Whittier (6-3), La Serna and Pioneer (6-5) led Del Rio teams in games
reported through Wednesday. ...

Has anybody witnessed anything/anyone interesting among area teams during the early goings on of this young season?

Football for area schools, in terms of participation, is over except for the annual 605 all-star game and perhaps a smattering of individuals who might be invited to other all-star contests.
La Habra High School put a capper on it by bringing home the Southwest Division championship to go with the Southeast Division crown the Highlanders captured in 2007.
And they did it glorious fashion.
When the game was over, there was no doubt as to which was the better team. The teams played the way they've played all year and with the players they've played with all year.
There were no "what ifs" or "should-coulda-wouldas" left on the table.
And that's the way it should be. ...
All things considered, it was a good season.
It might have been even better had Pioneer not lost starting quarterback Ronnie Palacios, the Del Rio League's returning offensive MVP from 2007, to a back problem before the season started.

And if California had not had to play down the stretch with an injured quarterback and running back.

And if Santa Fe had a healthy Aaron Turner playing instead of standing relatively immobile on the sideline with a heavily-taped ankle when the Chiefs lost to Burbank in the first round of the playoffs.

And if La Serna had not been without at least two key players who had been disciplined and were missing in the second-round loss to Rowland.

And if Whittier running back Alex Gonzalez hadn't suffered an ankle injury (reportedly broken?) just as he was on the verge of a breakout season and set to couple with Daniel Enriquez to provide the Cardinals with the DRL's best running back tandem.

And if El Rancho hadn't suffered the same fate, losing half of it's ground game when Marcus Aldecoa went down with a leg injury leaving Marcus Galan to fend for himself (which he did most valiantly) for a good chunk of the season.

Youthful La Mirada finally settled on a quarterback just in time to win its way into the playoffs, and can't wait to get started for next season.

And neither, probably, can the rabid fans who have followed the area's teams this fall.

It's gone final -

LA HABRA 26, Tustin 14 in the CIF Southern Section Southwestern Divisional championship game.

Southwest Divisional Championship Game Updates live from Angels Stadium

La Habra strikes first with a 7-play, 49-yard drive that culminates in a Randall Nygren direct snap from 3 yards out.

Key play of the drive was a third and 13 from the Tustin 48 in which Nygren connected with running back Josh Quezada for a 23-yard gain. Two plays later Nygren hit Chris Gonzales with a gain of 20 to the 3.

La Habra 7, Tustin 0 @ 8:04

Click on the comments for further updates.

It's still early in the season for projecting potential for success, but La Habra's boys basketball program should draw a lot of attention from its Freeway League foes after an impressive, 59-48 victory over Santa Margarita Wednesday night.
Versatile Jordan Sachs, who sent up the first rocket with a 47-point effort in the season opener, scored 23 against Santa Margarita. Joshua Burresch added 13 points, including three 3-point baskets.
Coach Mark Stewart also cited the play of sophomore Marcus Wimberly and added, "They had those two 6-foot-7 guys (Brandon Blanchard, Jessee Hazely), but we had a lot of people step up."
Consider that the Highlanders were missing five players who are with the football team that is playing for a CIF-SS Southwest Division championship Saturday, including Randall Nygren and Jake Peppard, who figure to be starters in basketball.
The Highlanders hope to make it back-to-back wins over Division I-AA teams when they travel to play Mission Viejo Friday. ...

High school football fans interested in attending La Habra's Southwest Division championship game against Tustin Saturday at Anaheim Stadium can purchase tickets in room 12 at La Habra High School. tickets will be sold Friday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reserve seat tickets are $15, adult general admission tickets are $12 and students tickets are $5. ...

Former St. Paul football coach Marion Ancich's state career coaching record is in jeopardy. The Swordsmen's legendary mentor posted 344 victories to set the state mark for high school football coaches, but Concord De La Salle's Bob Ladoceur is just a win behind.
Ladoceur will tie the mark if his team defeats Pittsburg in tonight's North Coast Division I championship game. The Spartans also are in line for a berth in the state playoffs. ...

Santa Fe two-way standout football player Nikolai Crouch will be ready to join the Chiefs' wrestling team shortly after recovering from a lower back strain suffered in the first quarter of the team's first-round playoff game against Burbank. At first it was feared Crouch had fractured a vertebra, but x-rays were negative, according to a school spokesperson. ...

When La Habra defeated Trbuco Hills, 27-22, last week, the Highlanders
accomplished it despite a 200-yard effort by Mustangs RB Shane DeCillo. A
5-foot-9, 193-pound junior, he carried on 24 of their 27 rushing plays.

Trying to contain him may have been a good workout in preparation for
this week when the Highlanders meet Tustin in the CIF-SS, Southwest
Division championship game at 2 p.m. Saturday at Anaheim Stadium.
Tustin will challenge with an explosive double wing attack featuring
Anthony Wilkerson and Ameer Webb.

Wilkerson (jr., 6-0, 210) is the main threat, bigger and reportedly
faster than DeCillo. Wilkerson rushed for 170 yards in the 63-28 rout of
Anaheim Canyon in last Friday's semifinal, and now has nearly 2,100
yards and 31 touchdowns, averaging 9 yards a carry.

Webb (sr., 6-0, 175) also is a 1,000-yard rusher, totaling 1,095 yards
and averaging 8.5 yards per trip. He has 15 touchdowns.

The Tillers don't pass much. As team they have rushed for 4,881 yards
and 71 touchdowns. They've thrown only 49 times, completing 22 (45
percent) for 536 yards and four touchdowns. They've been intercepted
twice.

Quarterback Taylor Richardson (sr., 6-0, 190) is 20 for 41 for 516
yards and four TDs. He also has rushed 97 times for 598 yards, giving
the Tillers another legitimate weapon on the ground.

Tustin began the season with losses to La Palma Kennedy (31-28),
Foothill (21-6) and Orange Lutheran 10-0. They then ran off a six-game
win streak and have won nine of their last 10, including the last three
in a row.

They have outscored their opponents, 553-269, and as the No. 7 seed
in the Southwest Division, they have outscored their three playoff
opponents, 188-75, including victories over Magnolia (76-26) and Garden
Grove Pacifica (49-21).

Southwest Division semifinal tonight. La Habra coach Frank Mazzotta says size really does matter, and the visiting Mustangs' advantage in that category up front is a concern. The Highlanders have played bigger teams before. Talking to some of the players they appear to be genuinely unfazed by the size differential.They acknowledge it, but worried about it, doubtful.

The Highlanders seem to be well prepared to compete, but that's nothing new. It's not just an image for this game, but every game. Mazzotta says the team is healthy, no key players missing.

The stage is set. Should be a good one.
The pick: ... ... ... (no drum roll necessary) ... La Habra.

The area still has a football program alive in the CIF playoffs, but the winter sports - boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, girls water polo and wrestling - are starting and deserve some acknowledgment.

This doesn't mean football is ending on this blog, but there's room for everyone here. It's doubtful the other sports can/will match football's intensity, but the opportunity for posting thoughts and opinions clearly is encouraged.

La Habra's versatile Jordan Sachs opened the season with a 47-point performance in the Highlanders' first game. Has anyone seen anybody top that?

La Mirada's 6-8 center/forward Derrick Williams, who recently signed with USC, will be in action Friday night when the Matadores travel to play St. John Bosco. Game time 7.

The Forum is open. Have at it.