HS SPORTS: Oaks Christian named D4 school of year

Oaks Christian is Cal-Hi Sports state Div. IV school of the year. Here is the complete release:

Long Beach Poly starts off another decade with State School of Year selection

The fabled school was best in the state for all-sports the first time in the
1910s. The Jackrabbits won their 31st and 32nd all-time CIF state titles this
school year.

Until the final weekend of the 2010-11 school year, it really wasn't that
great of a year for the athletic department at Long Beach Poly (Long Beach,
Calif.).

Sure, the Jackrabbits had more teams in the top 20 of the various POWERADE
FAB 50 national rankings than any other school in the nation, but before the
boys and girls track teams swept to state titles at the CIF championships on
June 3 at Buchanan High's Veterans Stadium in Clovis, there was a sense that
Long Beach Poly teams had disappointed in the clutch.

Once the track sweep was complete, the full measure of success of the Long
Beach Poly school year became easy to see. So despite strong all-sport
challenges from schools such as De La Salle of Concord (even though the
Spartans are boys' only), Torrey Pines of San Diego and Buchanan of Clovis,
it is the Jackrabbits who once again have been chosen as the Cal-Hi Sports
State School of the Year.

This is the 17th time that Long Beach Poly has been judged the top all-sports
school in California. The first was for 1913-14. That was followed by two
picks for the 1920s, three for the 1930s, two for the 1940s, one in the 1950s,
three in the 1960s, one in the 1980s and then three in the 2000s. Note: All of
those choices prior to the 1980s were based on retroactive research by Cal-Hi
Sports founder Nelson Tennis.

The girls track team, coached by Crystal Irving, not only won the CIF state
title but were No. 1 in the final POWERADE FAB 50 national rankings. The
Jackrabbits featured hurdler-triple jumper Melia Cox and 400-meter runner
Akawkaw Ndipagbor, who are both headed to USC.

The boys track team, coached by the legendary Don Norford, just missed being
No. 1 in the nation, falling in just behind St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.). It was a more dramatic win for the boys in the state meet,
too, as they needed to win the final event - the 4x400 relay - in order to
pull in front of Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.). Poly's boys were led by
400-meter champion Shaquille Howard and third-place 800-meter runner Myles
Andrews.

Poly's two CIF titles in track pushed the school's all-time total of CIF
state titles in all sports to 32, which is twice as many as any other school
in the state on the all-time list.

Earlier in the school year, Poly teams in girls volleyball, boys basketball
and girls basketball were all ranked in the top 10 in the nation but none
could get a CIF state crown.

The girls volleyball team was favored to win the CIF Division I title after
winning the Southern California championship, but was upset in the finals by
Palo Alto (Palo Alto, Calif.). The Jackrabbits still wound up 39-3 and were
No. 11 in the final POWERADE FAB 50.

In boys hoops, the Jackrabbits were No. 1 in the state for much of the season
and sat in that position heading into the CIF Division I Southern Regional
playoffs after they won the loaded CIF Southern Section Div. I title. In the
regional final, though, Poly was defeated by eventual D1 state champ Mater Dei
(Santa Ana, Calif.). Led by Mr. Basketball State Player of the Year Ryan
Anderson, the Jackrabbits still finished 31-2 and were No. 17 in the final
POWERADE FAB 50.

While the girls basketball team at Poly was never top-ranked in the state, the
Jackrabbits made their mark in December by posting a win over Mater Dei, which
was No. 1 in the nation at the time and eventually finished in that position
with its only loss of the season coming in that game. Poly's own playoff
drive for a possible fifth Div. I state title in six years was cut short in a
stunning upset against Santa Monica (Santa Monica, Calif.). Still, due to
having the win against Mater Dei, the Jackrabbits ended 25-3 and were No. 12
in the final POWERADE FAB 50.

A sixth team at Poly that also contributed to the State School of the Year
honor was in boys cross country. The Jackrabbits placed seventh in the
Division I state finals and just missed getting a top 50 national ranking.

With five teams placing from No. 1, No. 2, No. 11, No. 12 and No. 17 in those
final FAB 50s, Poly also is in the running to be this year's POWERADE FAB 50
All-Sports national champion. That honor is based on a point system so it can
be a different school that is chosen as the Cal-Hi Sports' State School of
the Year.

Whether it's a point system or a judgement call, it's just more proof that
there is no school in America that comes close to Long Beach Poly for all-time
all-sports success.

Cal-Hi Sports State Schools of the Year
Updated All-Time List

2010-11 - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
2009-10 - Junipero Serra (Gardena)
2008-09 - Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
2007-08 - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
2006-07 - Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
2005-06 - Buchanan (Clovis)
2004-05 - Clovis West (Fresno)
2003-04 - De La Salle (Concord)
2002-03 - Torrey Pines (San Diego)
2001-02 - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
2000-01 - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
1999-00 - De La Salle (Concord)
1998-99 - Clovis West (Fresno)
1997-98 - Santa Margarita (Rancho SM)
1996-97 - Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
1995-96 - De La Salle (Concord)
1994-95 - Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
1993-94 - Clovis West (Fresno)
1992-93 - Esperanza (Anaheim)
1991-92 - Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
1990-91 - Poway
1989-90 - Bakersfield
1988-89 - Corona del Mar (Newport Beach)
1987-88 - Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo)
1986-87 - Mission Viejo
1985-86 - Bellarmine (San Jose)
1984-85 - Bellarmine (San Jose)
1983-84 - Cordova (Rancho Cordova)
1982-83 - St. Francis (Mountain View)
1981-82 - Mission Viejo
1980-81 - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
1979-80 - Berkeley
1978-79 - Mt. Whitney (Visalia)
1977-78 - Andrew Hill (San Jose)
1976-77 - Pasadena
1975-76 - San Fernando
1974-75 - Clovis
1973-74 - Kearny (San Diego)
1972-73 - Monte Vista (Spring Valley)
1971-72 - Ygnacio Valley (Concord)
1970-71 - Lompoc
1969-70 - Blair (Pasadena)
1968-69 - Compton
1967-68 - Homestead (Cupertino)
1966-67 - El Rancho (Pico Rivera)
1965-66 - El Segundo
1964-65 - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
1963-64 - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
1962-63 - Santa Clara
1961-62 - McClymonds (Oakland)
1960-61 - Compton
1959-60 - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
1958-59 - Long Beach Poly (Long Beach)
1957-58 - Berkeley
1956-57 - Fresno
1955-56 - Jefferson (Los Angeles)
1954-55 - Centennial (Compton)
1953-54 - St. Ignatius (San Francisco)
1952-53 - Santa Monica
1951-52 - Compton
1950-51 - Compton
1949-50 - Jefferson (Los Angeles)

Note: All-time list extends back to 1890-91 in the Cal-Hi Sports State Record
Book and Almanac. All selections prior to 1980 made retroactively through
research by the late Nelson Tennis, founder of Cal-Hi Sports.

MORE CAL-HI SPORTS STATE SCHOOLS OF THE YEAR

For single gender sports, California's best for 2010-11 were De La Salle,
Torrey Pines

Girls Sports Only:
Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.)
It was close between the girls from State School of the Year Long Beach Poly
and Torrey Pines, but the Falcons' girls had ultra-strong showings in five
sports to Poly's three to snag the honors in this category. The Falcons'
golf team, led by Hee-Wook Choi, was the CIF state champion while the cross
country team, led by Alli Billmeyer, was sixth in the state. The track team
had a solid meet in Clovis to finish eighth while the soccer team finished
23-2-4 and was the Southern Regional Div. I champion while landing at No. 6 in
the ESPN RISE POWERADE FAB 50 final rankings. The Falcons also were 22-3 in
lacrosse to win a second-straight CIF San Diego Section championship. Also, in
addition to those five sports, the softball team had a 23-win season and made
it to the second round of the CIFSDS D1 playoffs. The volleyball team also had
a 20-win season after making it to the SDS D1 semifinals. Note: Torrey
Pines' boys also won a CIF state title in golf, finished ninth in the cross
country state meet and ranked 23rd in the FAB 50 in boys track.

Boys Sports Only:
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Although they've won it three times (1995-96, 1999-00, 2003-04), the
Spartans are at a disadvantage in the overall State School of the Year judging
because they're boys only. After beating out Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.)
this year, the boys only award is something De La Salle has now won for the
sixth time since its inception in 1984-85. Earlier boys sports honors are for
1990-91, 1995-96, 1999-00, 2003-04 and 2005-06. Although it wasn't a very
good year in track and field, Sparta excelled in virtually every other sport.
The highlight was a CIF Division I State Bowl Game title in football, the
school's third bowl game title in the five years of the modern era. The golf
team also added a fourth-place tie showing at the state championship to its
CIF North Coast Section title. In other state championship sports, DLS was the
Div. I state runner-up in boys basketball and was fourth in the state in
wrestling. In non-state championship sports, the 42-2 Spartans were the NCS
champions and No. 15 in the nation in volleyball. They also were NCS Div. I
champions in cross country and winter soccer with second-place showings in
baseball and lacrosse.

Division I:
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
The Jackrabbits also have been chosen as the overall State School of the Year
for the 17th time.

Division II:
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
For the seventh straight year, the Monarchs have taken the prize for CIF Div.
II enrollment level schools. The Aaron Gordon-led basketball team was the CIF
Div. II state champion, a first boys state title in school history. The team
also finished No. 5 in the state and No. 39 in the nation. The girls'
softball team won its 10th CCS Div. II championship and sixth in seven years.
The Monarchs' girls were No. 4 in the state and No. 16 in the nation. In
girls soccer, Mitty was the West Catholic Athletic League and CCS Div. II
champions. The baseball team was a CCS Div. I semifinalist and finished No. 15
in the final state rankings. The football team was only 6-4-1, but lost by
just 13-10 in the CCS Open Division playoffs to eventual state champion Palo
Alto. The girls basketball team also lost in the NorCal playoffs to an
eventual state champ. In that case, it was 67-64 in the D2 NorCal playoffs to
St. Mary's of Stockton.

Division III:
Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.)
The Cougars are the Div. III School of the Year for the second time since the
award's inception in 1996-97, winning previously for the 2004-05 school
year. This past year, the girls cross country team led the way. With junior
Carrie Verdon blowing away the field with a 21-second victory, Campolindo was
the Div. III state champion by an almost two-minute margin. The Cougars then
became the only school in the state to snag two girls state titles when they
followed up the cross country championship with a four-game victory over
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in the CIF Div. III state volleyball
championships. The baseball team did its part after winning a second straight
CIF North Coast Section baseball championship, as did the volleyball team with
a 30-win season and the NCS Div. II championship. The boys soccer team went
20-1-6 and was the NCS Div. II winter soccer champions. In basketball, the
girls team won 25 games before bowing out 58-54 to Sacramento in the Northern
Regional D3 semifinals.

Division IV:
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
The Lions collect their first state school of the year honor, which is
surprising considering how strong they've been in multiple sports since
opening a little more than 10 years ago. The trick for this honor wasn't
that Oaks Christian was deserving, but which division should the school be
placed. By enrollment and by basketball, Division IV works so Division IV it
is and no other school did better. The football team's dramatic win over
Westlake of Westlake Village in the CIFSS Northern Division championship got
things going. This was followed by high placings in both boys and girls hoops,
a CIF SoCal D3 title in girls soccer and then top 10 state rankings in both
baseball and softball. The softball team's 30-5 record also included a CIFSS
divisional crown.

Division V:
Poly (Pasadena, Calif.)
Led by the state's top scorer, Michelle Miller (33.0 ppg), the Panthers'
girls basketball team went 27-3 before a loss in the Southern Regional
quarterfinals. The boys team, meanwhile, finished 24-3 and made it to the
CIFSS Div. 5A semifinals. The baseball team, led by 6-foot-5, 220-pound senior
Hunter Merryman (.512 average, nine home runs, 42 RBIs), went 25-2-1 to win
the CIFSS Div. VI championship and was No. 2 in the state. In football, Poly
finished 9-4 before bowing out in the CIFSS Northeast Division semifinals. The
boys water polo team also went 22-4 and finished as the runner up in the CIFSS
Div. V playoffs. This is Pasadena Poly's first-ever State School of the Year
selection.

Special Mention School
Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.)
The Bears also should finish high in the POWERADE FAB 50 All-Sports Rankings.
Buchanan's huge spring, which was culminated with a No. 1 national finish in
baseball and a No. 2 finish in boys volleyball, accounted for a bulk of its
FAB 50 points. But the Bears also were nationally ranked in three other
sports. They were third in the CIF D1 finals in girls cross country, placed
fifth in the boys race and also made the finals in the CIF Southern California
Div. I boys soccer playoffs. Buchanan's boys track team also was No. 43 in
the final FAB 50 in that sport.

Special Mention School
Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.)
A controversial disqualification helped prevent the Cubs from winning the team
title at the CIF state track meet, but they came through two weeks later and
won a team title at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Loyola earlier won a CIF state
crown in D2 boys cross country, went 25-6 and won a CIFSS title in basketball
and was No. 9 in the nation in volleyball. Just like De La Salle, Loyola is
boys sports only and two years ago did win the boys sports only statewide
honor.

Special Mention School
Palo Alto (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Like State School of the Year Long Beach Poly, the Vikings snagged a boys and
girls state championship, albeit in different sports. The boys pulled off a
shocker after a 15-13 win in the quagmire at Carson over Corona Centennial in
the CIF Division I State Bowl Game gave the football team a perfect 14-0
season. Two weeks before the football victory, the girls volleyball team won a
thrilling five-game victory over Long Beach Poly to capture the CIF Division I
state championship while finishing with a 41-1 record. Besides the two state
titles, the baseball team won its first ever CIF Central Coast Section
baseball title with a rain-delayed 5-4 victory over San Benito (Hollister) in
the D1 title game. With the victory, Paly ended up No. 1 in its Cal-Hi Sports
divisional ranking (D2) for the first time ever in the over 100-year history
of the school. In basketball, the girls were CCS D1 champions before losing in
the NorCal D1 quarterfinals. The boys were CIF CCS D2 semifinalists before
losing to eventual state champion Archbishop Mitty of San Jose.

Special Mention School
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
A sweep of CIF Division I state championships in boys and girls basketball was
the highlight of the school year for the Monarchs. Head coach Kevin Kiernan
and Ms. Basketball USA winner Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis also helped the girls end
No. 1 in the nation. Mater Dei won a CIFSS title as well in boys water polo
and boys volleyball and picked up a fourth section crown in girls track. The
school was No. 3 in the final FAB 50 in volleyball and also went 24-5 with a
high state ranking in baseball.

Special Mention School
Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.)
While district rival Buchanan was much higher in the POWERADE FAB 50
All-Sports rankings, the Golden Eagles edged the Bears for the supremacy award
in the highly-regarded Tri-River Athletic Conference. Clovis West was
especially strong in the fall with CIF Central Section titles in football and
girls volleyball. The Golden Eagles also were seventh in team scoring at the
state wrestling meet and were No. 9 in the final FAB 50 national rankings for
girls track. The final count of section titles, in fact, showed Clovis West
with seven and Buchanan with six.

Special Mention School
Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.)
The State School of the Year for the 2009-10 campaign was followed up by
another more than solid showing for 2010-11. Although the Cavaliers didn't
win any CIF state titles this time, they were in a CIF state bowl game in
football and they were 27-6 in girls basketball. On the track, Serra was one
of just a handful of school nationally to be top 15 in both boys and girls
events. The boys were No. 11 in the final FAB 50 while the girls were No. 7.

Special Mention School
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.}
The Dons were basically second behind Campolindo for Div. III schools, which
means had they won and not lost to the Cougars in the D3 state final in girls
volleyball that the school of the year pick probably would have gone to them.
Cathedral Catholic also was No. 4 in the state in girls cross country, placed
fifth on the boys side and went 30-4 in baseball. The baseball team not only
won the section title, but was No. 2 in the state in final overall rankings.

Special Mention School
St. Margaret's (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
After gaining top honors for Division V last year, the Tartans were moved up
to Division IV for this year and were close to D4 winner Oaks Christian. The
highlight was the boys cross country team claiming the CIF Division IV state
title. The girls' harriers checked in with a seventh-place finish while the
girls' volleyball team made it to the regional semis. A 9-4 record in
football, a CIFSS title in girls tennis and a semifinal appearance in the CIF
SoCal D3 girls soccer playoffs were additional highlights.