You know how Christmas Eve goes, last minute shopping, presents to wrap, and family to get to this evening and tomorrow. But before I sneak out, thanks again to all of you who make this one of the best high school blogs anywhere. Almost all newspapers have high school blogs, but the comments and participation from our bloggers makes us unique, and has set the bar. We’re now approaching almost 200,000 hits a month, which are numbers that have climbed each year since the blog first began in April of 2006. I wish I could thank all of our bloggers personally, many of you have approached me at games, emailed, and it was a pleasure meeting and talking to you. I won’t try to name everyone, because I know I’d leave some out, so thanks all of you, and please, if you see me at an event, stop and say hi. I’d also like to send a special thanks to our correspondents John Honell, Scott French, Mike Baca, Casey Cranford, Ismael Reynoso, Ariel Carmona, Bruce Little, Rudy Ramos, Mike Munford, Casey Thompson, Ali Jawad, Jerry Luna, Henry Montemayor, Ross Kimsey, Miguel Arcieniega, John Sherrard, Nathan Cambridge, Nathan Hawkins, Royce Kirkland, Guillermo Tovar, Rick Matthauser, El Russell, Jason Lowder, James Moya, Elizabeth Botello and of course the Scouting Guru, James Escarcega. We could not attempt to cover every high school football game without them, and they do it for almost nothing because of their passion for high school sports. Thanks to all the coaches and players for being good sports. We know the blogs can get out of hand at times, but the exposure it brings to high school sports in the San Gabriel Valley is why we do it, and I will always have an open door policy if parents, players or coaches have concerns. That’s it for now, the 2008 Tribune All-Area Football teams will be launched sometime after midnight, maybe sooner. Again, be safe, enjoy your families, and thanks again for making me look like I know what I’m doing.

Player of the year: Brian Donohoe, Damien
School: Damien
Position: Utility
Year: Senior
Notable: Damien coach Andrew Gates called the senior one of the best two or three players he’s ever coached, a bold statement considering the Spartans have achieved one CIF-Southern Section title and three runner up finishes during Gates’ tenure at the school Donohoe was the key to Damien winning another Sierra League title and advancing to the Division III semifinals. He scored 151 goals and had a school-record 79 assists for the Spartans. He also was Sierra League MVP and earned first-team All-CIF-SS Division III honors

Coach of the year: Andrew Gates, Damien
Notable: Gates has turned the Spartans into an area power during his 11 years at the school. He guided Damien to A CIF-SS divisional title in 2002 and has led the Spartans to the finals on three other occasions. Damien also has ruled the Sierra League, securing the title for the past eight years under his watch.

First Team
Andrew Gallegos, Rowland, So.
Matthew Morales, Walnut, Sr.
Eric Osterberg, Damien, So.
David Purrington, Damien, Jr.
Alec Williams, Bonita, So.
Josh Yu, Walnut, Sr.

Second Team
Johnny Beal, Damien, So.
Steven Garcia, Walnut, Sr.
Dylan Rudy, Charter Oak, Sr.
Walter Shockley, Damien, Jr.
Tyler Watkins, Rowland, Sr.

By Steve Ramirez
Northview High School has had the top wrestling program in the area for much of the past decade, and any thought of that dominance diminishing was put to rest over the weekend. The Vikings, ranked No. 3 in CIF-Southern Section Division I to begin the season, exercised their might at the Brea Invitational this past Saturday. Northview, which won the team title with 254 points, advanced eight competitors to the finals, with seven bringing home individual titles.
To continue reading, click thread
Continue reading “Wrestling: Northview wins again” »

The Scouting Guru has been all over the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, and like always, he’s offered to share his thoughts, free of charge. Don’t hate, enjoy it for what it’s worth, which is one man’s opinion on the talent in the San Gabriel Valley. Today he offers his post-season high school football thoughts, and the latest in the football recruiting wars.

Well the season is finally over and with the publication of the All Area team slated for Thursday, all the awards have been passed out. So it’s time to clean out the recruiting notebook and impressions from the post-season. Great job by the Charter Oak coaches and players led by Lou Farrar and the rest of the staff. To be third in line for a possible state birth shows you that they were the best team in the SGV. Here is our top 5 at the end of the season.

Guru’s top five
1. Charter Oak
2. Bishop Amat
3. Diamond Ranch
4. South Hills
5. Rosemead

For much, much, more from the Guru, click the thread, he has plenty to discuss

Continue reading “Scouting Guru’s 2008 football review” »

After combing through scores and talking to a few coaches, I’ve come up with a new girls soccer top ten, which may or may not be a surprise. I don’t have records for all the teams, but this is what has been reported to Maxpreps.

What’s this: It got a little testy recently in a game between Bonita and Alta Loma, which ended in a 2-2 tie. The Bearcats are at least 3-2-2, but don’t have all their scores to include them in the top ten rankings.

1. Glendora (7-1-1) — The Tartans have been the most impressive so far, outscoring their opponents 17-3, which includes six straight shutouts and wins over JSerra, Claremont, Jarupa Valley and Diamond Ranch.
2. Bishop Amat (7-0-2) – What a huge surprise. I knew the Lancers had a group of talented freshman and that coach Ruben Gonzalez would eventually turn it around, but they own a 3-0 victory over Los Altos, and only have allowed five goals and have six shutouts on the young season.
3. St. Lucy’s (4-2-2) — Impressive wins over Katella, Rancho Cucamonga, and who can fault a loss to national power Upland, 5-2. The Regents also have beaten Northview, but lost a close game to Maranatha, a westside power, 2-1 in the Claremont tourney.
4. Los Altos (9-2) — Another huge surprise. After advancing to the championship of the La Mirada tournament, the Conquerors captured the Garey tournament title on Monday with a 2-0 victory over Magnolia behind a pair of goals from Malasia Avery.
5. Walnut (2-1) – Obviously they haven’t reported all their scores, but we know the Mustangs are among the area’s elite. Hint, hint, get up to speed over there in Mustang-land.
6. South Hills (6-3-2) — Our preseason No. 1 hasn’t lived up to it yet. They have impressive wins over Chino Hills, Don Lugo, but also a loss to San Dimas. They need to be more consistent to climb this list.
7. San Dimas (7-2-4) –– The Saints have been hit and miss but they’re scoring goals at a rapid pace, already with 43 in just 13 games. They’ve beaten teams they’re supposed to beat, but against St. Lucy’s in the Claremont tournament, they got beat 5-0.
8. Diamond Ranch (2-2-2) – Not sure if we have all the results, but they have a nice tie with Maranatha, a 2-0 loss to Glendora, but only have allowed five goals in the six games that have been reported.
9. Charter Oak (7-3-2) – Undefeated against area teams with wins over West Covina and Covina, but didn’t look good in season-opening 3-0 loss to Arcadia.
10. Baldwin Park (7-1-1) — The Braves have outscored their opponents 29-8, but their schedule has been friendly and their lone loss was a 3-2 setback against Rowland.

Girls Soccer standings
Del Rey League
Christian League
Miramonte League
Mission Valley League
Montview League
San Antonio League
Sierra League
Valle Vista League

San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire high school principals, athletic directors, coaches and other officials will meet in late January and early February to discuss re-leaguing scenarios, which begin a new four-year cycle beginning in the 2010-11 season. The main issues are competitive equity and geographical proximity, and from what I’m hearing there will be big changes across the board. For one, my alma mater, Edgewood, is expected to be a high school again by 2010, which will affect West Covina High, which could ask for relief and be moved into another league because of its smaller enrollment. Other schools like Wilson, Los Altos and Diamond Bar could ask for relief and be moved into different leagues. There is also discussion about a new league being created, and which teams might be moved into tougher leagues, with the possibility of Charter Oak being moved to the Sierra. There is also discussion of what to do with Damien. Should it be in a Catholic-school league, or will it remain in the Sierra. As one Orange County coach noted recently, “when we go into that meeting room, there really are no leagues.” When dates are officially set to begin the re-leaguing discussions, I will release them and we will have more as we get closer. For now, what changes do you think need to be made.