ALL AREA GIRLS SWIMMING
Swimmer of the year
Catherine Sanchez, Glendora, Junior
Sanchez was the anchor on a Tartans team that won the Palomares league title and finished second at the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 swim finals.
Sanchez earned team MVP honors and was the Tartans’ highest point earner in the Division 2 finals by competing in four events.
Sanchez’s best performance came in the 100 butterfly, just missing out on a title by finishing second in 54.56. Earlier in the day, Sanchez had earned a third-place medal in the 200 freestyle with a quick race in 1:50.04.
Sanchez picked up two more medals in relays. She was part of Glendora’s second-place team in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:36.92, and on the Tartans’ third-place team in the 400 freestyle relay that finished in 3:31.43.
For her efforts, Sanchez has been selected the San Gabriel Valley Tribune girls swimmer of the year.
“She has always been dedicated, hard working and motivated, both in swim and academics,” Glendora coach Janet Mobley-Pollard said. “She has always been fast too, so it’s nice to see her hard working paying off.”
Sanchez’s big day the Division 2 finals was the result of a solid year all the way around, and for an individual sport, she made sacrifices that benefited the team.
“She’s a team player,” Mobley-Pollard said., “She was willing to swim wherever I needed her to score points for the team, even though some of those events weren’t necessarily her best events. She’s a leader.”

Coach of the year
Janet Mobley-Pollard, Glendora
The area’s winningest active swim coach led the Palomares league girls swimming champions to a second-place finish at the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 finals, earning Mobley-Pollard her fifth Tribune girls coach of the year award.
Mobley-Pollard was hoping to lead the Tartans to back-to-back championships having won the Division 2 title last year while also earning Division 2 and area coach of the year honors. But her teams always at or near the top and that was true in 2015.
Crean Lutheran won the Division 2 title with 319.50 points with Glendora in second with 296 points.
“I am very proud of these girls,” Mobley-Pollard said. “Their success this year in winning both of the Mt. SAC invitationals as well as another league championship was very exciting. A second place finish at CIF was nothing to be disappointed about. Coming within just 20- points behind Crean Lutheran was quite an accomplishment.”
Mobley-Pollard has been on an impressive run during her tenure. She’s been part of 16 league championships, two CIF titles (2011, 2012) and three runner-ups (2005, 2010, 2015).
Needless to say, expect more of the same from the Tartans’ team next season.
“We will have a strong team returning,” Mobley-Pollard said. “None of our (top) point earner will be graduating and the girls are more determined than ever to return next year to take on the challenge for a CIF title.

Continue reading “ALL AREA GIRLS SWIMMING: Glendora’s Catherine Sanchez and coach Janet Mobley-Pollard earn top awards” »

BOYS SWIMMING ALL-AREA
Swimmer of the year
Michael Wang, Rowland, Senior
Wang finished his senior year in style, setting a CIF-Southern Section Division 4 record in the 100 freestyle with a lighting time of 45.58 in the finals race. He nearly doubled, finishing second in the 200 freestyle in 1:40.77.
In the inaugural CIF-State championships in Clovis, Wang finished fifth in the 100 free, and has been named the San Gabriel Valley Tribune boys swimmer of the year
“Michael is an incredibly hard working athlete who has inspired his teammates and coaches,” Rowland coach Mike Cody said. “He is extremely coachable and focused on achieving his goals. Michael set some ambitious goals this season and achieved most of them.”
In 2014, Wang set the Division 4 meet record in the 50 free (20.95), so he will graduate with two records in the speed events.
Wang leaves with six Valle Vista league records on his resume.
In the league finals, Wang set league records in the 200 individual medley (1:53.1) and the 100 backstroke (51.96). He led off both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and got records in each (21.10 in the 50 and 45.73 in the 100).
Wang earned a full swimming scholarship to the University of Santa Barbara.
“Michael has the necessary skills and determination to excel at the next level both academically and athletically,” Cody said. “Michael will do very well competing for UC Santa Barbara and will have an immediate impact on their program.”

Coach of the year
Mike Cody, Rowland
The Rowland High School boys swimming team won the Valle Vista League title and finished fourth at the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 final to help Cody earn Tribune boys coach of the year honors, but the work needed to earn this accomplishment was a long process.
In his 10th year at Rowland, it was Cody’s first league title. The Raiders’ last league championship came when Cody was an assistant in 2003 helping the girls win the San Antonio League title.
“Earning coach of the year is a culminating accolade that I feel not only recognizes this years successful season, but also recognizes the incredible amount of hard work and hours our student-athletes have put into their training the last few years to achieve that success,” Cody said.
What helped turn things around was Rowland finally getting its own aquatics center.
“For me personally, this was a memorable and fun-filled season for our program with so many exciting accomplishments,” Cody said. “In addition, we were able to enjoy training and competing in our brand new aquatic center after spending several years without a pool. This was a bittersweet year for our program.”

Continue reading “ALL-AREA BOYS SWIMMING: Rowland’s Michael Wang and coach Mike Cody earn top honors” »

By Stephen Ramirez
steve.ramirez@langnews.com
@SteveRRamirez on Twitter
WALNUT — The talent gap in the Valley was razor thin this season, so it made sense the inaugural SGV Tribune Senior All-Star baseball game ended in a tie.
Chino Hills’ Justin Bardwell had a RBI single in the ninth as the SGV MVPs tied the SGV Stars at 4 at Mt. San Antonio College.
Bonita’s Danny Gelalich had two hits and West Covina’s Alex Carrillo had two RBIs for the Stars.
Pasadena’s Frank Garriola led off the ninth with a single. He advanced to second on a wild-pitch before Bardwell singled with two outs to tie the score.
Both teams where held scoreless in the 10th.
Garriola and Bardwell had two hits each for the MVPs.
The Stars, who had just one hit through the first four innings, led 4-2 after six innings. They rallied for a 3-2 lead in the fifth.
The Stars strung together four consecutive hits in the inning. South Hills’ Gabe Chavez and Gelalich, who will attend Brigham Young, had singles before a two-run double by Carrillo tied it at 2.
Bonita’s Justin Gomez followed with a RBI single to make it 3-2.
Charter Oak’s Oscar Osorio had a sacrifice fly in the sixth to make it 4-2.
The MVPs cut it to 4-3 in the seventh on singles by Arcadia’s Matt Jung and Damien’s Andrew Garcia and a sacrifice fly by San Dimas’ Logan Muratala.
The MVPs took a 2-0 lead in the first. Garriola had a lead-off single before Chino Hills’ Chris Ceballos and Damien’s Grant Woodward had RBI doubles.
Northview’s Manny Armendariz was solid on the mound, striking out four in two innings.
The Stars had a shot to extend their lead in the seventh. Carrillo walked and Bishop Amat’s Aaron McCann doubled with one out. But Armendariz finished the inning with back-to-back strike outs.
In the underclassmen game, the SGV Elites beat the SGV Bests, 8-1.
West Covina’s Andrew Sanchez had a two-run double to lead the Elites.
Bassett’s Frankie Villanueva had a triple and Bishop Amat’s Jayson Gonzalez had a RBI single for the Bests’ only run.

I’m asking this question, first, because there’s a lot of chatter and buzz over the most tradition-rich sports school in the San Gabriel Valley, and second, there has been some recent turnover with coaches at key positions. One of the questions I’m constantly getting whether on Twitter, on the blog or from parents when I’m covering games is the feeling that the focus on sports at the school isn’t what it once was. Now, football, that’s a different story. Coach Steve Hagerty’s 2015 team could be the best since Amat won it’s last championship in 1995, 20 years ago. But is Bishop Amat starting to take steps back everywhere else and why is that?

Rosters are set for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune Senior and Underclassmen game at Mt. SAC on Saturday, June 13 at Mt. San Antonio College. Underclassmen game is at 3 p.m., followed by the senior game at 7 p.m.

ALL-STAR PREVIEW: The area’s top senior baseball players will take to the field in the San Gabriel Valley one last time Saturday.\
They will be part of the Inaugural SGV Tribune All-Star Game, which will feature the best seniors in the East and West Valley at Mt. San Antonio College at 7 p.m. An underclassmen game is also slated at Mt. SAC for 3 p.m.
San Dimas pitcher Peter Lambert was selected to play in the game, but after getting drafted in the second round of Major League Baseball’s draft on Monday with the 44th overall pick by the Colorado Rockies, Lambert instead will be honored and throw out the first pitch instead of risking injury.

SGV SENIOR GAME
SGV MVPS
Coach: Mike Parisi Pasadena
Players
Matt Jung, Arcadia
Frankie Villanueva, Bassett
Konnor Zickefoose, Chino Hills
Chris Ceballos, Chino Hills
Justin Bardwell, Chino Hills
Bailey Falter, Chino Hills
Bryan Maag, Covina
Grant Woodward, Damien
Andrew Garcia, Damien
John Olson, Damien
Anthony Cuevas, Los Altos
Roberto Baldenero, Los Altos
Anthony Guardardo, Nogales
Chris Lopez, Nogales
David Barrera, Nogales
Zack Rojo, Northview
Manny Armendariz, Northview
Frank Garriola, Pasadena
Sumner Smith, Pasadena
Peter Lambert, San Dimas
Jonathan Longtin, San Dimas
Logan Muratala. San Dimas
Miles Glazier, San Marino
Michael Mora, Walnut

SGV STARS SQUAD
COACH – Chris Vogt, Ayala
PLAYERS
Eric Cha, Ayala
Tim Nelson, Ayala
Tyler Durna, Ayala
David Ramirez, Ayala
Aaron McCann, Bishop Amat
Nick Valdez, Bishop Amat
Sergio Robles, Bishop Amat
Justin Gomez, Bonita
Danny Gelalich, Bonita
Oscar Osorio, Charter Oak
Nick Hernandez, Charter Oak
Tyler Witt, Claremont
Noah Song, Claremont
Gerardo Ramirez, Diamond Bar
Nick Kaye, Glendora
Austin Isenhart. Glendora
RJ Romo, Glendora
Gabe Chavez, South Hills
Gavin Velasquez, South Hills
Alex Carrillo, West Covina

TRIBUNE UNDERCLASSMEN
SGV ELITE SQUAD
Coach: Charles Herrera-Green, Covina
PLAYERS
Matt Acosta, Ayala
Josh Bozoian, Ayala
AJ Woodall, Bonita
Nick Johnson, Bonita
Nick Peifer, Bonita
Brandon Bradshaw, Bonita
Patrick Henson, Charter Oak
Matt Gentry, Claremont
Cole Prentice, Claremont
Ray Benavidez, Covina
Griffin Herrera, Glendora
Hayden Pearce, Glendora
Noe Garcia, Los Altos
Jacob Amaya, Northview
Christian Moya, South Hills
Ryan Mauch, South Hills
Hayden Petrovick, South Hills
John Dearth, South Hills
Donavyn Curiel, West Covina
Andrew Sanchez, West Covina
Bryson Smith, San Marino

SGV BEST SQUAD
Coaches: Mike Regan/Coach Chip Chiappelli, San Dimas
PLAYERS
John Woo, Arcadia
Diego Berrera, Bishop Amat
Isaac Esqueda, Bishop Amat
Jayson Gonzalez, Bishop Amat
Elijah Greene, Chino Hills
Brett Borgogno, Chino Hills
Trevor Walker, Chino Hills
Nick Lodolo, Damien
Daniel Benedict, Damien
James Free, Damien
Keola Viloria, Diamond Bar
Ryan Garcia, La Salle
Jonathan Guardardo, Nogales
Dante Palacio, San Dimas
Tommy Acuna, San Dimas
Jesse Garcia, San Dimas
Jacob Castillo, San Dimas
Cody Dye, Walnut
Brennan McKenzie, Walnut
Sergio Alvarez, Walnut
Frankie Villanueva, Bassett

After a tough year in her only season on the job, Bishop Amat coach basketball coach Treana Allen isn’t returning. Bishop Amat struggled to one of its worst records in decades, finishing 7-19 and 0-8 in league.
Allen had replaced longtime coaching legend Richard Wiard, who won 466 games in his 19-year career, including five CIF championships, five Southern California Regional championships and two state championships.
For those wondering if the school will possibly reach out to Wiard to return, don’t bet it, not while the current administration is in charge.
Wiard will be at Duarte this season as an assistant to his son Scott Wiard, who was named the head coach.
Bishop Amat posted on the CIF-SS website that it is currently accepting applications for its next coach.

Who will be the next girls basketball coach at Bishop Amat? I would look at former Diamond Ranch coach Mike James. http://t.co/WwPGVzu7aW

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) June 11, 2015

Let's see if Bishop Amat can swing for the fences like Damien in finding its next girls basketball coach. http://t.co/WwPGVzu7aW

— Fred J. Robledo (@SGVNSports) June 11, 2015

On Day 2 of Major League Baseball’s draft, Nogales pitcher Anthony Guardardo was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the third round with the 89th overall pick. Guardardo is a 6-foot-1, 185 pound right-handed pitcher. Chino Hills high school pitcher Bailey Falter was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth round with the 144th pick. Former Bishop Amat righty and UCLA Bruin David Berg, who has made his submarine pitch famous, was selected in the sixth round by the Chicago Cubs with the 173rd pick. Former Bonita and Cal State Fullerton pitcher Justin Garza was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the eighth round with the 244th pick. Garza led Bonita to the 2012 Division 3 title. He likely would have been drafted earlier, but he had Tommy John surgery in May.
San Dimas pitcher Peter Lambert was drafted in Day 1 of the draft. He was taken in the second round by the Colorado Rockies with the 44th pick on Monday.

On Baseball’s Third day ...
* C Christian Kelly (Don Lugo HS/Cal Poly Pomona), 11th round (337) by Pirates
* RHP Ryan Halstead (Los Osos HS/Indiana), 21st (636) Giants
* 2B Jonathan McCray (San Bernardino Valley), 24th (729) Royals
* RHP Richard McWilliams (Cal Poly Pomona), 25th (742)
* OF Kyle Garlick (Chino Hills/Cal Poly Pomona, 28th (852) Dodgers
* INF Joe Chavez (Damien/UC Riverside), 30th (896) Marlins
* RHP Isaiah Carranza (Damien) 35th (1,038) Rangers
* RHP Chris Powell (Upland/Cal Poly Pomona), 39th (1,182) Dodgers