GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: Putting team first

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Maranatha High School senior Angie Gonzalez won the Olympic League individual title and then helped the Minutemen win the CIF-Southern Section Division IV team championship. (Keith Birmingham / Staff)

Player of the Year: Angie Gonzalez
School: Maranatha
Grade: Senior
Notable: Gonzalez enjoyed a successful senior season, capped when the Minutemen won the CIF-Southern Section Division IV team championship. She posted a time of 19 minutes, 35 seconds in the sweepstakes race at the Mt. SAC Invitational to help the Minutemen take first in the team competition. She finished 17th at the CIF-Southern Section Division IV finals in a time of 19:45. The senior ran a time of 19:51 at the Clovis Invitational in October to finish 18th. Gonzalez finished in 52nd place at the CIF-State Division IV championships in a time of 20:21. Gonzalez also earned the Olympic League individual championship. The senior put her teammates above any individual awards and was most satisfied when her team won the CIF-SS championship.
Quotable: “My mother is my biggest inspiration because she’s been my chauffeur for the past seven years and has always supported my passion for running.”

Coach of the Year: Kirk Nishiyama, Flintridge Sacred Heart

First Team
Dot Silverman, Flintridge Prep, Sophomore
Brittnie Munoz, Rosemead, Sophomore
Kaitlin Fueling, La Caada, Junior
Erin Hartwig, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Junior
Chloe Fata, South Pasadena, Senior

Second Team
Johanne Boulat, Arcadia, Senior
Jessica Lam, La Canada, Senior
Erika Polanco, La Salle, Sophomore
Kathryn Iwata, Flintridge Prep, Senior
Grace Tungate, Maranatha, Freshman

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BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: Benavides makes mark

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Alhambra High School senior Phillip Benavides set an Almont League record at the league finals meet and then became the first Moors runner to reach the CIF-State Meet. He also finished ninth in the CIF-Southern Section Finals at Mt. SAC. (Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer)

Player of the Year: Phillip Benavides
School: Alhambra
Grade: Senior
Notable: Benavides enjoyed great success during his senior season. He set the Almont League record during the league finals (15 minutes, 7 seconds), breaking the old mark of 15:12. He also reached the CIF-State championships, becoming the first Moors runner to do so. He suffered a bruised heel coming down the switchbacks midway during the sweepstakes race of the Mt. SAC Invitational and simply wanted to make it through the season. His goal was to break 15:10 at the CIF-Southern Section Finals at Mt. SAC and he finished ninth in 15:03. He won the Bosco Tech Invitational and finished third at the Staub/Barnes Invitational at Crescenta Valley Park. Benavides gained confidence in his potential at the Bell-Jeff Invitational at Griffith Park when he took second place in 14:13 behind Highland’s Jeremy Acosta.
Quotable: “I was happy because my worst race this year was better than my best race last year.”

Coach of the Year: Rick Carager, Pasadena Poly

First Team
Renaud Poizat, Arcadia, Junior
Kris Romero, Arcadia, Senior
Ryan Ernst, Arcadia, Senior
Connor Verreaux, Flintridge Prep, Junior
Will Zentmeyer, La Canada, Senior

Second Team
Christian Raether, San Marino, Senior
Andrew Yen, Maranatha, Senior
Paul Weitekamp, Flintridge Prep, Junior
Wesley DeVoll, Pasadena Poly, Sophomore
Jeffrey Hemphill, Pasadena Poly, Junior

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Above: You can purchase reprints of the page by visiting our website.

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BOYS WATER POLO: Tenacious defender

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Mike Scott, who helped lead the La Caada High School water polo team to the CIF-Southern Section Division III title, has been selected as the 2007 Star-News Player of the Year. The 2-meter defender was the team s sparkplug with big defensive stops and quick outlet passes. (Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer)

Player of the Year: Mike Scott
School: La Caada
Grade: Senior
Position: Two-meter defender
Notable: Scott filled the shoes of Devon Borisoff, who is at USC, and filled them with vigor. The senior was the anchor of the La Ca ada defense and helped the Spartans win the CIF-Southern Section Division III championship. He was named the Rio Hondo League’s Most Valuable Player and was selected to the Division III All-CIF team. Scott was pitted against the opponent’s top scorer and is, according to Spartans coach Larry Naeve, “one of the best 2-meter defenders in water polo.” As the season progressed, Scott became more vocal on the defensive end. His fire and enthusiasm was embraced by his teammates as the Spartans played one of the toughest schedules in the CIF-Southern Section. Scott scored a goal in the Division III semifinals against Ayala.
Quotable: “It was my senior season, so it was nice to have a strong finish.”

Coach of the Year: Janice Clark, Arcadia High School

First Team
Anders MacCarthy, South Pasadena, Senior
Taylor Roszkos, La Caada, Junior
Max Scott, La Caada, Senior
Spencer Borisoff, La Caada, Junior
Tommy Gilfillan, Pasadena Poly, Junior
Wesley Yao, Arcadia, Senior
Robbie Pusic, Arcadia, Senior

Second Team
Lucas Lis, South Pasadena, Senior
Robert Poynton, South Pasadena, Senior
Mitchell Fricke, Arcadia, Senior
Michael Langendoen, Arcadia, Junior
Peter Bohlen, Pasadena Poly, Senior
Austin Hough, Pasadena, Senior
Jack Wang, Temple City, Senior

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Above: Star-News player of the year, Mike Scott. Reprints of the page can be purchased by visiting our website.

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GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Orlandini sets the pace

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Above: Flintridge Sacred Heart setter Sam Orlandini was instrumental in leading the Tologs to the CIF-SS Division I-A championship match against Harvard-Westlake.

Player of the Year: Sam Orlandini
School: Flintridge Sacred Heart
Grade: Senior
Position: Setter
Notable: Orlandini helped the Tologs reach the CIF-Southern Section Division I-A championship match against Mission League rival Harvard-Westlake. The senior controlled her team’s offense and always found a way to get the ball to the open hitter. Orlandini had 1,194 assists this season, finishing with 4,263 in her career. Orlandini was named the Mission League’s Most Valuable Player and earned first-team All-CIF honors. She handed out a season-high 52 assists in a playoff victory over Notre Dame Academy. Orlandini will attend Cal State Northridge in the fall and will play on the Matadors’ volleyball team.
Quotable: “It’s amazing! We hadn’t been to the finals since 2002 and I was glad I could lead my team back to the finals.”

Coach of the Year: Shelli Orlandini, Flintridge Sacred Heart

First Team
OH: Katie Condon, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Sr.
OH: Susan Carlson, Mayfield, Jr.
OH: Stephanie Stillman, Arcadia, Sr.
OH: Teanna Robinson, Maranatha, Jr.
OH: Courtney McCutchan, La Caada, So.
LIBERO: Jenna Orlandini, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Jr.

Second Team
MB: Camile Coffey, Flintridge Sacred Heart, Fr.
OH: Tiffany Horton, Rio Hondo Prep, Jr.
OH: Katie Baumgarten, South Pasadena, Sr.
OH: Rachel Aragon, Mayfield, Sr.
OH: Tirah Le’au, Monrovia, Fr.
OH: Morgan Ma, San Gabriel, Sr.

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Above: Star-News player of the year, Sam Orlandini. Reprints of the page can be purchased by visiting our website.

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FOOTBALL: Crockom Star-News Player of the Year

A big-play performer
Crockom makes it happen

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During the 2007 season, Pasadena High School senior quarterback Tyron Crockom passed for 2,905 yards and 28 touchdowns, and also ran for 753 yards and six scores. He helped the Bulldogs upset No. 2 seed Chaffey in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs. (Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer)


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