Recently in Paul Rodriguez Category

The 47th annual Ken Hubbs Athlete of the Year award was given to San Gorgonio's Paul Rodriguez at the Elks Club in San Bernardino tonight. Rodriguez, a four-sport star in football, basketball, volleyball and track for the Spartans, is the second San G athlete to receive the award, joining 1986 winner Tony Kounas.

Rodriguez was especially gifted in football for San G, making the first-team all-Sun team as an offensive lineman this past season while receiving a full scholarship to San Diego State. Rodriguez will play for the Aztecs this fall.

"It's amazing to read some of the names of the guys who have won it and be among some of the athletes from other schools that you just hear about in the newspaper," Rodriguez said. "I played against (2010 winner) Derrick Malone last year and he's just a beast. You see guys like Ronnie Lott who made the NFL on the list and you want to be there right with them. I want to join them and add to the award."

The committee also recognized two female athletes for the first time in the award's 47-year history, honoring Redlands East Valley volleyball player Krista Vansant and Rialto basketball player Janae Sharpe. Perhaps inspired by the duo, the Hubbs committee also announced that it will be given out female school and overall winners annually started next year to go along with the annual male award.

"I think it's great that girls are going to get the same amount of recognition that guys are," Vansant said. "I feel fortunate to have helped bring that about a little bit along with Janae. I think having the two of us here really helped get this done and will help get more deserving girls recognized."

The individual school winners were also honored Monday. They were Kyle Didier (Aquinas), Charles Izydorek (Arrowhead Christian), Jordan Boothe (Arroyo Valley), Paul Topoleski (Big Bear), Alexander Cruz (Bloomington), Thomas Carter (Cajon), Steven Reneau (Carter), Devan Hussey (Colton), Bernard Ireland (Eisenhower), Isac Fonseca (Fontana), Shaun Bradley (Kaiser), Kendall Chambliss (Miller), Carlos Espinoza (Pacific), Nolan Brown (Redlands), Chris Mecate (Redlands East Valley), Enrique Lopez (Rialto), Dillon Pretzinger (Rim of the World), Choncey White (San Bernardino), Dorian Cason (Summit) and Jordan Morris (Yucaipa).

Just got off the phone with Kaiser coach Phil Zelaya, who said that three players will be signing National Letters of Intent to Division I schools tomorrow at the school at 9 a.m. Signing will be defensive back Desman Carter (Nevada), linebacker Dennis Taylor (Portland State) and defensive end Walter Earnest (UC Davis).

San Gorgonio also has announced the signing time for offensive lineman Paul Rodriguez, who will sign with San Diego State. Rodriguez will sign with the Aztecs at 8 a.m. tomorrow at San G in room C-34.

San Gorgonio offensive lineman/defensive lineman Paul Rodriguez verbally committed to San Diego State a couple of weeks ago according to San Gorgonio football coach Ron Gueringer. Rodriguez, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound senior, chose the Aztecs over offers from Washington State and Colorado State.

"He's the first of hopefully many kids that we send off to Division I colleges," Gueringer said. "I'm proud of him and what he did for this program. I know the San Diego State coaches came down a few weeks back to see him play and loved him. They had a great season and it's a great place for Paul to go."

Rodriguez starred on both offense and defense for the Spartans, who went 7-5 this season and finished second in the San Andreas League. San G advanced to the Central Division quarterfinals, where it was ousted by top-seeded Moreno Valley Rancho Verde. Gueringer thinks the Aztecs will use Rodriguez on the offensive line.

"That's where I would guess," Gueringer said. "He has a lot of potential with his frame to be a very good offensive lineman and I think he's an all-area guy at that position."

The first year as head coach at San Gorgonio didn't go swimmingly for Ron Gueringer. The former Corona Centennial head man was given a young team and changed a lot of the philosophies that were in place before, a combination that led to a lackluster 2-8 record. But Gueringer thinks the Spartans will be better off because of their struggles.

"Last year was tough," Gueringer said. "We had quite a few kids who were reluctant to change, which is something you'll find sometimes. But I've noticed a different attitude. Kids aren't nearly as reluctant and are buying in."

With the San Andreas League picking up another playoff spot with the inclusion of Carter and Rialto into the league, Gueringer sees a golden opportunity for the Spartans to sneak in and nab its third playoff spot in five years.

Ron Gueringer has seen quite a bit of success during his last six years as an assistant at Corona Centennial, helping the Huskies win two consecutive CIF-SS Inland Division championships and a large-school state championship in 2008. He now brings that winning aura to San Gorgonio High School, replacing Randy Stevens.

Gueringer, who was the head coach at Centennial, Moreno Valley Valley View and Encino Crespi from 1995-2002 before rejoining the Huskies as an assistant coach in 2003, is happy to be a head coach again.