Tough call, especially for the guys. I think the best way is to have a tie. We should have BOTH Ruiz, from AMAT, for playing the toughest position in football @ QB, as well as him being able to play any position besides catcher for the CIF champs in baseball. He wasn’t the best QB in the valley, but played for the team in the limelight every week, but he WAS the best baseball player in not only the valley, but close to all of So.Cal. Also you MUST include McClain from Covina. A TWO TIME STATE CHAMP in track is a feat in itself. Those TWO should share the honor.

How is it even a question, you have a back to back state champion in two events. It has never been done by any athlete in the SGV, so how is it even close?

Living Legend,

unfortunately – two events isn’t “two-sports”

in any order Rio Ruiz, Matt Gelalich, K.C. Huth by far best athletes in sgv. valley. Congrats Rio on your Cif performance maybe now your critics can shut up.

@Joe Amat, you really didn’t just say that did you, the dude won state in both events. I mean come on, that is 4 state and CIF titles in two years. Not another person around here is even close to that many titles.

The dude lost once this season in the 100 and did not lose in the 200, hands down the best stats in any sport of anyone in this Valley. You are reaching for anyone else to even be in the question.

Living Legend,

That’s exactly what I said – because I have a tendency to actually read the article and what the award is based on.

Fred wrote: “…the special award we created two years ago, the boys and girls athlete of the year, which celebrates the multi-sport athlete.”

I base my comments on that. Players that excel in multiple sports. (ie: All-League, All-Valley, etc) and are great in at least one of them – as McClain clearly is.

I believe for the guy side it should be Pendleton just because he had the best season out of anyone else and for the girls side i have no clue who it should be its wide open Pendleton has the complete story

Josh Luevanos from Glendora

In soccer he led the team to a Baseline League Title and second round CIF while earning Baseline League MVP, 1st team all-area and 1st Team all CIF in Division 1.

In baseball Josh was the lead off batter for the Tartans and helped lead them to a Baseline League Title, CIF and was a part of the 2010 CIF championship team. He earned First Team all Baseline League for baseball also.

Amat, Upland and JW North at CO next Tuesday in passing league. Hope to see Joe and 73 there.

Joe Amat,
I guess when you read it you actually read into it more than you should.

“I base my comments on that. Players that excel in multiple sports.(ie: All-League, All-Valley, etc) and are great in at least one of them .

PLEASE direct me to where it says that?

“the special award we created two years ago, the boys and girls athlete of the year, which celebrates the multi-sport athlete.”
That is what I read. Is my computer NOT letting me see the extras qualifications that you see?

Track: No explanation needed
Football :Covina won their league undefeated and went into the playoffs. Does that not qualify him as a 2 sport athlete?

It’s interesting no one has come up with a FEMALE athlete. While she’s not a multi-sporter, you can’t ignore the accomplishments of Gretchen Jacques of Glendora in swimming. Multiple individual CIF championships as well as team this year. Look forward to seeing her in the Olympics.

74,

I was pretty clear in what I wrote. I put what Fred wrote in quotes
http://bit.ly/mGRdBg
and then my thoughts are not in quotes.

There are plenty of kids in the valley that are multi-sport athletes and should be “celebrated”. In fact somewhere here it would be great to even just list them. They are a dying breed. But awards are designed to celebrate those that do so at a *high* level. And if it’s a multi-sport award – they should achieve, individually, at a high level in both.

Now there is no higher level or greater accomplishment in any single sport than McClain’s. Without a doubt he is the Track POY and then some. However to achieve an award designed to honor the *multi-sport athlete* it should be one who *gains honors* in 2 or 3 sports.

The highest yearly honor in the Amat Hall of Fame is the *Pat Haden Award*. That goes to the Multi-Sport Student-Athlete that was at least All-League in one sport and started in another AND has a great GPA.

I think a valley award, encompassing 30+ schools should have an even higher standard of at Least All-League in one and All-CIF in another (like Josh Luevanos from Glendora). If you can throw in a League MVP or CIF Player of the Year that just adds to the accomplishments

No Amat spin – Ruiz was an All-Serra League QB (remember – the league that is #2 in the State, #1 in 08 & 09) and will be the CIF POY in the Division and possibly the State POY for the #2 (or higher) team in the State. 2 sport excellence

no spin,

Once again throw those stats out there and compare. A while back I checked out the stats on the other qb’s in that league and then saw why? Not even going to waste my time checking but believe there was one quarterback with better stats and he was MVP of the league, not sure on that. I know Fred doesnt want this to go neg. but isnt Rio the reason why Bishop Amat lost league and in the first round of the playoffs. Sorry but you guys over at Bishop Amat pump up this kid so much but when it comes down to producing real stats he is just a real good player not even close to the same league as McClain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KW7BB_f1G0

all-american enough said!

old timer,

By the number I’m not even sure if I would give him player of the year in baseball. Don’t know the stats on everyone else out their. I do know that Rio leads his team in errors at 3rd base. So he clearly isn’t the best defensive player on the team. He doesn’t even lead his team in batting average. I know he is going to get team MVP because he is Rio, but I would be taking a real hard look at that pitching staff. The bats didn’t win that championship, pitching did.

Their are many other players out in the SGV with much better numbers on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Couple pitchers out their that had great seasons.

did not see rio ruiz name on 2011 1st team all cif in football.
i did see matt gelhich and k.c. huth from bonitas name on there.both made 1st team all cif 2011 football.

Stats,
First let me tell you that you are wrong on two things. Rio is not the reason we lost league and in the first round in football just as he is not the reason we won in baseball .He may not have had the best stats on the ball team but the kid came thru many times in the clutch to be considered a top player in the valley. At AMAT it is all a team effort. We win as a team and we lose as a team . Also how do you know he is getting team MVP ? Seems more like Z should get it by his outstanding job on the hill this season , but we will see. Also get off of Rio’s back because I only see you knocking him and no others who have been mentioned on here . What is it, you just don’t like AMAT or Rio because you sure sound like you have issues with either one or both of them .

bohi,
Joe wrote all Serra league as QB and (possibly) CIF player of the year in baseball which he will definitely make all CIF in baseball .

Amat 73,

Sounds like you are agreeing with me?

You feel Z should get MVP of the team, maybe you should read my comment again. Thats exactly what I said, now lets see what happens. Does Rio get it because of the name or does the more desiring player get it because it is the right thing to do?

Well between you and lil joe I would have expected that comment from you way before him.

I have a question for you, you guys at Bishop Amat are big on winning and losing as a team then how does anyone at Bishop Amat win an individual award. Since Rio’s didn’t make those mistakes then he didn’t make first team, you can’t have it both ways.

Is there some special standard we have to apply to Bishop Amat when we are talking about them or what?

lil Joe,

STATS

Why is it a debate?

STATS

Whats wrong you don’t have any, Let me give you a few in baseball.

RR is ranked 154 on max prep in batting, that is second best on his own team. The only baseball stat that I am sure he leads his team is in errors. So we can conclude he had a decent baseball season.

RR passing stats were above average nothing great completed over 60 percent of his passes. Should note not really that high for a running team. We don’t want to talk about the last two games of last season, I know you don’t want to go their. Overall he had an average football season.

I am even going to give you one Nick Bueno from Monrovia. This kid is a two sport kid. He only batted .440 compared to Rio’s .455, but in football he won Monrovia a CIF championship. He did everything on the team and he showed up in the big games. One of the greatest individual performances, INDIVIDUAL.

Now I see GREAT INDIVIDUAL performances with McClain in track and good in football. I’m sorry but I didn’t see nothing great this year from Rio.

Please this is your shoot, throw us all those stats on how GREAT of a job Rio did to desire this award. So far all you Amat bloggers have been posting is lots of hot air.

Where are those STATS ………

Man and I thought we were in agreement that Rio is overrated by all those Bishop Amat bloggers. Well I would have to assume you agree that he isn’t deserving of “athlete of the year” award since you don’t even think he should be the team MVP, RIGHT?

By the way what happen to lil joe, he still hasn’t come up with those stats?

Stat boy… Legend in his own mind… and all the others,

it makes me chuckle when you get all flustered. Take a look *exactly* at what I wrote. My first comment was:

“If it’s a 2-sport guy it will be tough to put up better credentials than Rio who was All-Serra League as a QB and will be CIF Player of the Year (with possible State and other honors to follow) in baseball…Love to hear from everyone about candidates at their schools.”

I’m waiting (BTW – Bueno is a West SGV guy. and congrats to him for rolling thru those juggernaughts playoff opponents !:?)

Then I wrote:
“I think a valley award, encompassing 30+ schools should have an even higher standard of at Least All-League in one and All-CIF in another”

that’s my minimum standard. give me some kids that fit that. there are some others for sure..

In fact I ALSO wrote:
“… like Josh Luevanos from Glendora” followed by “There is NO doubt in anyone’s mind that McClain’s records and accomplishments in track are FAR more impressive than anything Rio has done to date this year in either sport.”

Boy, I’m really lobbying hard for Rio aren’t I?

So instead of bitching and moaning – get your panties out of their bunch and give us some ideas that fit a MULTI-sport criteria.

We’ll check back later

@Joe the Blow-hard: cause that is really all you do, I gave you the answer for your own criteria. You said multi-sport and I answered that. I also gave you video proof that McClain deserves to be the aoy for the simple fact not only did he win but he dominated in a way that no has ever dominated at the STATE level.

I am not taking anything away from Rio, great athlete but in this year of sports in the SGV only dominated his best sport the way that McClain did.

this stats character just doesnt know what he is talking about.another Amat ,Rio hater.Rio may not have the best stats,but if you where at many games you would know the level of competition he faced in both sports and how clutch he was in the baseball season,many of hits where game changers and winners.I would give it to Remontay

Stat boy… Legend in his own mind,

Sorry I didn’t get back sooner. Sounds like you were hanging on every word waiting for a response. Some have other (better) things to do.

Legend in his own mind – you don’t read so well do you? Maybe have someone read this to you… s l o w l y.
http://bit.ly/kH2MVh

Here are some stats for you and Stat Boy. ***FIVE carries, TWELVE receptions, ZERO inyerceptions, ZERO sacks, and NINE tackles***. McClain just didn’t achieve at a high level in his second sport, He was Covina’s SIXTH leading reciever, and their FIFTH best rusher, and TWENTY-FIRST on his own team in tackles.

Not only “not the MVP” but he was a barely a participant. Keeping in mind I’m the one that wrote “There is NO doubt in anyone’s mind that McClain’s records and accomplishments in track are FAR more impressive than anything Rio has done to date this year in either sport” …but what he did in his second sport is hardly worthy of a multi-sport honor like this.

So I’m still waitiing for you to “get your motor running” and come up with someone who has achieved at a high level in TWO sports. Instead of worrying about who SHOULDN’T get the award – tell me someone who should.

Oh… and I’m guessing that AFLAC All-American Classic is probably a “popularity contest” too? Here’s some video to keep you entertained in the meantime.Put it on a loop
http://youtu.be/8kWUNeqxB1E

stats,
Well I guess your taking my choice of Z as the teams MVP and running with it. My choice is Z for the simple fact that at the beginning of the season pitching was a major concern and this fine young man stepped up and proved to be the ace of the staff and Mr. Dependable . He was in my opinion the MVP and that is taking nothing from Rio as the most talented on our team . You forget that many of those big games Rio came in with his 90 mph plus pitching to put the game to bed not to mention key hits at the plate.In the final when he knocked that 2 run dinger it was the hammer Palm Dessert knew would fall but just didn’t know when. He started it off and the team kept the foot on the gas. How many coaches had to think about Rio’s place in the line up and pitched around him because of the threat he is at the plate.As far as errors hell every player makes errors he’s human . But just think he is so talented Nieto can move him just about anywhere as he did by putting him at 3b and he will shine so what an great advantage he gives a coach by that fact. He may or may not be the MVP of the team but I not anyone else but I feel Z was they key to OUR team . You could ask any coach in the SGV or anywhere else if they would love to have Rio on their team and you get a resounding HELL YES from all . My pick for AOY is Rio Ruiz no doubt. FYI , Rio was a part of the loses to Alemany and Tesoro just as he was part of the wins against the other teams but as the case in both he was not solely responsible for either wins or loses . As I told you we win and lose as a team . He was an all league pick in the Serra in football which is a hell of an accomplishment . You may have just shown your assinine thinking process by your line ” I talk so much trash about Rio because you guys talk him up like he is something that he isn’t “. WOW to use that bullcrap for the purpose of talking trash about Rio is a showing of your true stupidity .Do you honestly think all the publicity and placement on various teams and so forth is because of us talking up Rio. Now let me finish with this , I am not taking away anything from McClain because what he did on the running track is truely awesome but I don’t think he was a factor on the football field as to win the award for AOY. I’m not sure but I don’t think he was an all league selection in the VVL and not the top back on his team but maybe my buddy Colt74 can elaborate on that subject for us . BUT AGAIN THIS IS JUST MY OPINION before you get your chonies in a wad again as Big Joe mentioned to you earlier . You got your stats , maybe the ones you didn’t want to see but you got them .

Most underrated player in the valley, Matt Gelalich. He was a three time All-league defensive back and has been playing baseball since he was a freshmen. He was probably the most consistent player for both the football and baseball teams at Bonita. His brother Jeff is playing at UCLA and it’s believed by many that Matt is better than him.

@blow Hardder Joe: real weak take, come on guy you ate better then that. I’ll tell you why I’ll give you a little more time to
come stronger.

Your initial foray in this blog subjectwas ALSO an OPINION, not a FACT, no matter how you MEANT it.

I agree with this part, errors ARE part of the game. But, so many errors for an elite player? There ARE players in the area who have higher averages and better fielding percentages.

As I wrote, His stick/bat IS huge….but DH, really. Way to young and promising to be relegated to baseballs part-time gig dont you think? RR is a GREAT player who does have room for improvement.

SOME folks believe RR is the greatest player ever, already. When someone writes a contrarian view, all heck breaks loose.

As for AOY, Id choose Matt Gelalich, KC Huth, Remontay McClain and if RR got it, that would be fine.

Its amazing what I’m reading on this thread. Multi Amat bloggers state he isn’t that good of a fielder, he’s not even the team MVP. His batting is nothing special. This kid has been living off the hype from his freshmen year and really has been a disappointment since. Baseball is his sport and the numbers aren’t their. He doesn’t hit for power, batting average is second on his own team. Then you have an Amat blogger start up with his 90 MPH fastball. My question going into the season with no real pitching staff and not even using a kid that throws over 90 MPH? Someone is going to draft him, first round don’t this so, third or fourth as a project. He gets that ride to USC take it, he may need that education way sooner that the Amateur faithful think.

RIO RUIZ=AOY
plain and simple

Ruiz’s combined team record in 2010-11, 38-6, that playing a Pac-5 Division football schedule and in one of the toughest football league’s in the state, country, whatever you want to call it. Then doing the same in baseball, again, consider the competition compared to what other area teams compete against, Palm Desert twice, Torrance Twice, Esperanza twice, and a handful of others and winning one of the best tournaments in the country, the national classic, and finishing the job in the championship with a two-run homer. He performed at the highest level and delivered, and did with all the pressure of expectations…I’d like to see another kid in the valley walk in those hyped-up shoes and deliver like he did. Give the guys his props.

I’ve got to go back to Fred’s original statement, that the Athlete of the Year award goes to a “multi-sport athlete.” And it should. We should be talking about area athletes who excelled in more than one SPORT, not more than one event.

Give McClain the AOY he deserves for track & field, and give Jacques the AOY she deserves for swimming, but the overall Athlete of the Year should go to the boy and girl who showed their athleticism by excelling in more than one high school sport.

Fred has described this award as going to the best multi-sport athlete.

I have no say. It’s really Fred’s call, but I will give my two cents here …

What McClain and Jacques did was more impressive (to me) than what anybody else did simply because they dominated the entire state/Southern Section in their respective sports. If you have any doubt just how amazing what they’ve done is, ask yourself when was the last time you saw anybody go 8-for-8 for their career in CIF swimming championships or win back-to-back state championships in track. And when do you expect that to happen again?

BUT, Gretchen isn’t a multi-sport athlete. And Remontay did play football, but wasn’t a standout football player.

So, to me, that makes this pretty clear:

Rio Ruiz — Played QB and slugged at an extremely high level. Not many kids are good enough to do what he did at either position/sport, let alone both.

Matt Fregoso — Among state leaders in rushing and an outstanding wrestler. Factor in his size. Even more impressive.

Gelalich/Huth — Both excellent football player. Huth was All-Area LB and a great baseball player. Gelalich was also outstanding at football and easily the scariest baserunner in the area.

Beejay Lee — By far the area’s best all-purpose player in football. Also an accomplished track athlete who had some bad luck at the end of the season.

As for the girls … well … I don’t know. There doesn’t seem to be a Mel Gomez type out there, which shows just how special she was.

For boys, my two finalists are Ruiz and Fregoso.

Badley Ojala West Covina- He helped the bring the Bulldogs not one, but two CIF Championships in Football and Wrestling. And also contributed in qualifying the Bulldogs for CIF in Golf.
Football- Starting Tight End and back up middle linebacker (Behind Dupleasis).
Wrestling- Helped his team in winning the CIF Dual Tournament. Placed 1st @ League 2nd @ CIF 8th @Masters and qualified for the State Championships.
Golf- Helped contribute in qualifying his team in CIF for golf.

Mind you the kid is only a 10th grader, and walking around with two rings on his hand!
The kid is a definition of an ATHLETE.