A Schurr Hire

As was reported last week, Montebello High School alumnus Ben Negrete was named head coach of the Schurr football program, much to the acclaim of several Spartans’ backers.

Here’s some info listed on Coach Negrete on the Claremont-McKenna Athletics website.

Ben has been with the Stags since 1998. This year he will coach the outside linebackers/safeties and help coordinate the defense. He has been coaching football for 27 years, on both the college and high school levels. He has coached two C.I.F. Championship squads at Schurr High School and Upland High School. Ben is a graduate of Montebello High School and Cal State Los Angeles. He teaches Social Studies and Health at Schurr High School in Montebello.

Here’s Roger Murray’s Story –

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_8071411

Now it’s your turn to place AD? If your school had an opening at the head coaching position, what would you be looking for? What would entice you to chose one coach over another? How important are factors like tradition and experience? Is it preferable to hire someone from within the system or from outside?

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Soccer Coming Down the Home Stretch

It’s coming down the home stretch for a few league titles, like the Girls Almont League and Del Rio League while the Suburban League was settled last Friday. The boys Suburban League title will likely be decided today while the Del Rio League title might be settled this week. Who’s going to pull out the big wins? Here’s the WDN latest rankings.


Caption: La Habra High’s Jonathan Prieto, left, and Sonora High’s Armando Cortez jump for a head shot Jan. 24, 2008. (SGVN/Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb/SWSPORTS).

Boys Soccer

1. El Rancho (12-4-3, 6-0-1)
Last Ranking: 1
League Standing: First in Del Rio
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

Whether its offense or defense, El Rancho is starting to pull away in the DRL race. The Dons outscored their two opponents last week by a margin of 9-3 and could clinch a league title by the end of the week.

2. La Habra (16-2-2, 4-1)
Last Ranking: 2
League Standing: Second in Freeway
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

It’s no secret the Highlanders are the area’s most talented team. However, they’re still taking halves off like they did last Thursday against Sonora, before blowing away their city rival by a score of 6-0. Should be a coast in league until Friday against Fullerton.

3. La Mirada (13-4-3, 8-0-1)
Last Ranking: 3
League Standing: Tied for First in the Suburban League
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

The Mats haven’t lost in nearly a month and can decide the Suburban League title on Wednesday afternoon at Bellflower. The Bucs forged a late tie in the last meeting. Who will take the title?

4. Schurr (7-4-1)
Last Ranking: 5
League Standing: Second in Almont
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

The Spartans have had back-to-back games canceled due to the rain. Their contest against Montebello, scheduled for today at 3:15 p.m., was moved to Wednesday.

5. Cal-Hi (10-2-6, 3-1-2)
Last Ranking: 4
League Standing: Second in Del Rio
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

Can’t understand the Condors. How do you tie with Whittier? A team fighting for a league title can’t have a silly result like a tie. The path to a DRL title in now out of their hands.

Still Alive in Playoff Hunt:
Santa Fe (6-5-2, 3-3-1); La Serna (6-9-2, 3-3-1); Whittier Christian (6-11-2, 3-1-1) and Montebello (10-6, 4-2).

Barely Breathing:
Pioneer 5-7-5, 1-4-1.

Girls Soccer


Caption: La Serna’s Jordan Dolbin (#6) leaps above Santa Fe’s Nayeli Meza (#7) to head the ball during their Girls Varsity Soccer Game at Santa Fe High School Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. La Serna beat Santa Fe 4-0. (SGVN/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger/Sports)

1. La Serna (18-3, 7-0)
Last Ranking: 1
League Standing: First in Del Rio
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

Survived another great effort from El Rancho and only have Cal-Hi standing in their way on Thursday. Lancers offense has been the class of the league and area.

2. Cal-Hi (13-6-2, 6-1)
Last Ranking: 3
League Standing: Second in Del Rio
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

Condors have been playing great and did play the Lancers to a 1-0 deficit last time before a second-half collapse, due in part, to the injury to Gloria Gonzalez. Can the Condors offense generate enough offense to compete? They host Pioneer today.

3. La Mirada (10-9-4, 4-2-1)
Last Ranking: 2
League Standing: Second in Suburban
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

We’ll give the Mats a break after suffering a tough 5-1 loss to Mayfair on Friday. La Mirada still sits comfortably in the driver’s seat for second place in the Suburban League and possibly a first-round home game in the playoffs.

4. Santa Fe (15-5-3, 4-3)
Last Ranking: 4
Standing in League: Third in Del Rio
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

Perhaps no one can attest to the growing strength of the Del Rio League than coach Fernie Fernandez. It had been quite some time before Santa Fe was last 3-3 in league. The Chiefs did rebound for a good 2-0 win over Whittier last Thursday.

5. Montebello (7-6-3, 3-1-1)
Last Ranking: NR
Standing in League: Second in Almont
CIF Ranking: Coming Soon

The Oilers have also had to deal with rain cancellations. Montebello has hung around in the Almont League and get back into the title race with a road win over league-leader Bell Gardens (12-3, 6-0) on Tuesday.

Still Alive in Playoff Hunt:
Pioneer 9-10, 2-5; Whittier Christian 8-9-1, 3-2-1.

Barely Breathing:
El Rancho 10-8-3, 2-5; La Habra 5-6-4, 1-3-1.

Agree or Disagree with the Rankings? Who’s going to survive?

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Ready for Round 2…

Caption: Santa Fe’s Regyna Garcia (#3) and La Serna’s Stacie Cervantes (#5) battle for the ball during their girls soccer game at La Serna High School on Tuesday, January 8. La Serna beat Santa Fe 2-0. Cervantes received a red card and Garcia received a yellow card on the play. (SGVN/Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger/Sports)

From 2-4, the WDN rankings have shuffled with La Mirada and Cal-Hi establishing themselves and El Rancho and Santa Fe having struggled. No movement up top as La Serna might just win out. But it’s too early to tell.

GIRLS SOCCER

1. La Serna (16-3, 5-0)
Last Ranking: 1
League Standing: First in Del Rio

If anyone is going to catch La Serna it will happen sooner rather than later. First, the Lancers travel to hostile Santa Fe before taking on El Rancho and Cal-Hi. So far La Serna has been the cream of the crop and a let up is unlikely.

2. La Mirada (10-6-1, 5-1)
Last Ranking: NR
League Standing: Second in Suburban

This senior-laden bunch is playing up to the form most expected earlier in the year. La Mirada will face an incredible challenge this week in the form of CIF-Southern Section, Division III No. 1-ranked Mayfair at home on Friday. Can the Mats survive?

3. California (11-6-2, 4-1)
Last Ranking: 5
League Standing: Second in Del Rio

The Condors appeared headed for a severe reality check after a 3-0 loss to La Serna on Monday. Then they silenced their critics (including this reporter) with impressive wins over Santa Fe (2-0) and El Rancho (1-0). Expect these birds of prey to go 6-1 in league before a brutal final three-game swing against the above three teams. The loss of Gloria Gonzalez is huge and may be tough to overcome.

4. Santa Fe (14-4-2, 3-2)
Last Ranking: 2
Standing in League: Third in Del Rio

It can’t be all defense for the Chiefs. Santa Fe is going to have to find a way to get some goals and fast. The defense kept them in the game against La Serna last time both teams played but the offense could only muster two shots. An upset of La Serna would thrust Santa Fe back into the Del Rio League race.

5. El Rancho (10-6-3, 2-3)
Last Ranking: 3
Standing in League: Fourth in Del Rio

The Dons are on the outside looking in. First it was a two-goal loss to La Serna and then even closer defeats to Santa Fe and Cal-Hi. Like Santa Fe, El Rancho presents a stifling defense that has trouble putting shots on goal. The Dons get La Serna on Thursday. Let’s see how they do.

On the Bubble:
Montebello (6-6-3, 2-1-1), La Habra (5-5-3, 1-3), Pioneer (8-8, 1-4).

Still Alive in League:
Whittier Christian (7-8-2, 2-1-1).

Agree with the rankings? Disagree?

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A tough week for some…

The WDN’s top two teams suffered disappointing home losses in league showdowns. However, some other squads are beginning to make their push, including the new (and possibly surprising) No. 1.

BOYS SOCCER

1. El Rancho (10-4-3 overall, 4-0-1 in league)
Last Ranking: 5
League Standing: First in Del Rio

First it was nagging injuries and then the Christmas break that was slowing down the Dons. Now El Rancho appears to be on a roll and might not be challenged again until Feb. 6 against Cal-Hi.

2. La Habra (15-2-2 overall, 3-1-1 in league)
Last Ranking: 1
League Standing: Second in Freeway

I know, I know. How can the Highlanders drop after losing to the No. 4-ranked team in the division? Well, La Habra already knew how Fullerton would play since they had met earlier and still were shutout.

3. La Mirada (10-4-3 overall, 5-0-1 in league)
Last Ranking: 4
League Standing: Tied for 1st in Suburban

The Mats were three minutes away from a win over fellow Suburban League-leader Bellflower before they allowed a tough goal. Despite the tie, La Mirada has a 6-game unbeaten streak going.

4. California (10-2-4 overall, 3-1-1 in league)
Last Ranking: 2
League Standing: Second in Del Rio

It was back-to-back freaky Fridays for the Condors, who followed up a surprising 2-2 tie against Pioneer, that easily could have been a loss, with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to El Rancho.

5. Schurr (6-4-1)
Last Ranking: 3
League Standing: N/A

On the Bubble:
Santa Fe (5-5-1, 2-3),

Still Alive in League:
Whittier Christian (4-11-2, 2-1-1), St. Paul (3-10-2, 2-2).

Agree with the rankings? Disagree?

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