Nado Natterings
A weekly column by David Axelson

Nado Natterings
by David Axelson, Chief Executive Officer
The Islander Sports Foundation

20 June 2007 Issue #24

Ready or not, here come the 8^th Annual Axey Awards. As always, we offer two disclaimers at the outset of this column. First, the awards that follow are totally subjective. Second, the awards for the best athletes by class are intentionally biased toward honoring multi-sport athletes.

Team of the Year – There was one CIF Championship claimed at Coronado High School during the 2006-07 season, so it is only right that The Boys Soccer Team wins this award. The squad won their Islander Invitational Tournament, won the Central League championship and won the CIF Division III title. Complete with talented individual players and strong senior leadership, the Boys Soccer Team played their way to an overall record of 25-3-2.

When You Start Your Day at 4:45 am, You Can Get a Lot Done Award – Senior Eric Clapper was a standout member of the CHS Boys Water Polo Team and earned All American recognition for his efforts. In addition Eric was the Co-Valedictorian of the Class of ’07, earned a grade point average in excess of 4.3, is an Eagle Scout, scored a 2150 (out of 2400) on his SAT exams and will attend Stanford next year. Clapper achieved all of this despite (or perhaps because of) having water polo practice at 4:45 am most days during his high school career.

Buy Stock in the UCLA Campus Bookstore Award – Morgan Ronimus committed to play collegiate water polo for UCLA early in her senior year at CHS. Virtually every time I have seen Morgan since then, she has been wearing an article of UCLA branded clothing including sweatshirts, sweatpants, or maybe even socks. Just imagine what her wardrobe will look like when she starts earning the free team gear next season. Go Bruins!

They’ll Be Missed Award – CHS is losing two long-time coaches in Robbin Adair and Sandy Dillon due to retirement. Adair coached Boys Tennis at CHS for 40 years and Girls Tennis for 33 seasons. He had a combined won-loss record of 1122-435 on the courts. In addition, Adair was the athletic director at CHS for a number of years and served as the JV Boys Basketball head coach for many seasons, compiling a record of 216-54.

Dillon coached basketball at CHS for the past 14 years and was 231-121. For a career, Dillon amassed more than 300 Boys Varsity Basketball coaching victories. Dillon also coached Baseball on the high school varsity level.

Robbin and Sandy will be missed both for their contributions to CHS sports and in the classroom.

Behind the Scenes MVP Award – CHS Trainer Connie Martinez is the unsung hero of the Islander athletic department. She helps keep Coronado athletes ready to compete both physically and mentally. Though small in stature, Martinez has on several occasions kept large football players off the field of play if she didn’t think they were 100 percent ready to compete. From keeping track of all sports equipment, to running the student training staff and teaching a sports medicine class, Martinez makes it look easy.

Family Dynasty Award – Two long-time Islander dynasties concluded their runs this season when their youngest family member graduated in 2007. Lee and Karen Pontes had sons Matt, Gene and JJ overlap for a total of 11 years. All three sons competed in three sports each, while providing leadership and athleticism to their sports.

Chuck and Theresa Marks provided daughters Aubrey and Amanda and son Chas to various CHS sports programs. It was a rare event CHS sporting event that didn’t find Chuck enjoying a bag of popcorn or have Theresa in attendance. On several occasions, the decision to make popcorn in the snack bar depended on whether or not Chuck was in attendance. Knowing both families, I’m convinced they’ll still regularly attend Islander games in future years.

Take One for the Team Award – Junior Alex Rowan made the difficult transition from outfield to catcher for the CHS Baseball Team, to bridge the proverbial ‘Blake gap’ between graduated Blake Spitzer and backstop heir-apparent Blake Malkemus. Rowan became a good receiver who was capable of stopping opposing base runners from stealing bases. His change of position helped the Islanders post a record of 23-11 for the season. Rowan will likely be able to return to his natural outfield post next year.

Spirit of the Game Award – Senior Patrick O’Brien isn’t the strongest or fastest athlete in the CHS Class of ’07, but he is definitely among the most dedicated. O’Brien was a four-year member of the Boys Lacrosse program and worked his way onto the field during the latter stages of the season, scoring two goals against University City. In that game his teammates worked to get him the ball and O’Brien responded. At the Boys Lacrosse banquet, Head Coach Alex Cade commended O’Brien for his work ethic and love of the game.

Boys Sport Coach of the Year – Soccer’s Brian Hiatt-Aleu brought a bunch of talented players and characters together and made them play as a team on their way to a CIF title. Hiatt-Aleu was able to ‘think outside the box’ for creative ways to motivate his team, including agreeing to get an Islander tattoo if his team won the Division III pennant.

Runner-Up was football’s Bud Mayfield, who had his junior-laden team gel a year ahead of schedule, posting a 9-3 record while reaching the Division IV quarter-final game. Next year with speedy senior running backs Ricardo Oberwager and Kyle Brown in the same backfield, the Islanders will be tough to handle.

Girls Sport Coach of the Year – Girls Lacrosse Head Coach Jessica Battle took her club to the CIF semi-finals this year before falling to the eventual CIF champs from La Costa Canyon. Battle will pause only briefly to re-load for next season as her team returns virtually intact for 2008.

Best New Coach Award – Girls Volleyball Coach Christina Lahr gets the nod. The team posted a 12-17 overall record while playing in the competitive Eastern League. The Islanders also defeated Marian Catholic in the CIF Playoffs, before falling to The Bishop’s School. Lahr joined the Coronado coaching staff from Our Lady of Peace.

Single Game Athletic Performance of the Year – No. 1 - Kyle Brown against Madison High School in football, Brown rushed for 260 yards on 28 carries and scored two running touchdowns and caught a 23-yard touchdown pass. He also blocked an extra point conversion attempt on special teams and intercepted a pass and returned the ball 68 yards on defense. He helped the Islanders earn a 33-13 victory over their arch rivals.

No. 1 A – Geoff Worley scored a total of seven goals in a little more than half a game and helped the Islanders dominate Grossmont 15-2. During an impressive offensive run, Worley scored six goals in a little more than five minutes of the contest.

Girls Freshman Athlete of the Year Award – The winner among a surprisingly deep field this year is Sallie Privett from cross country and track. Privett won the Central League title in cross country and then proceeded to capture Central League titles in the 800-meter run, as well as the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs.

Other strong contributions came from Coco O’Brien in cross country and lacrosse; Danielle Gillberg in volleyball and track; Kelly Ronimus in water polo and swimming and Giovanna Ascolani, who made the CIF playoffs in golf.

Boys Freshman Athlete of the Year Award – Peter Zeller is the odds-on favorite to be the starting goalie in Boys Lacrosse next season and received plenty of playing time this season for the Islanders. He’s the winner of this year’s Freshman Boy Athlete honors. Other freshman contributors included Alex Valle in golf; Tommy Schofer in water polo and swimming and Alex Johnson in water polo and swimming.

Sophomore Girls Athlete of the Year Award – A fine contributor in basketball and lacrosse, this year’s winner is Melissa Humphrey. Alex Adamson was a close second for her contributions in water polo and swimming.

Sophomore Boys Athlete of the Year Award – Category winner Mason Mills finished the football season as the Islanders starting quarterback and also played shortstop for the CHS baseball team. Other finalists for the award included two-sport athletes Keith Englehart (football and baseball), Jackson Hummeldorf (water polo and swimming), Jackson Cusick (soccer and lacrosse) and Krishna Samperio (tennis and basketball).

Junior Girls Athlete of the Year Award – Bria Phillips transferred to Coronado this year and promptly was a team leader in basketball and lacrosse. Phillips was the basketball MVP and earned All-American honors in lacrosse. Other contenders included Hannah Sebenaler in water polo and lacrosse; Christy Mebust in volleyball and softball; Rosie Harris in soccer and softball; Carly Hoshko in water polo and swimming and Greer Goebels in lacrosse. Although she only played one sport in 2006-07, Goebels earned All-American recognition in lacrosse this season.

Junior Boys Athlete of the Year Award – Kyle Brown had outstanding seasons in his two sports this year, football and track and field. Blessed with breakaway speed as a running back in football, Brown also employed his speed and strength to set school records in the 100-meter dash and in the triple jump in track and field.

The junior class is particularly talented and includes Kyle Pokorny in water polo and baseball; Stephen Conrad in football and baseball; Jacob Smith in water polo and swimming; Ben Enowitz in cross country and track; Alex Rowan in basketball and baseball and Tim Leary in football and baseball.

Senior Girls Athlete of the Year – There are many to choose from, but Sarah Player is the outright holder of CHS all-time track records in the 100 and 300 hurdles and the 100 and 200-meter dashes. In 2007 Player became the first CHS track athlete to qualify for the state meet in two events (300 hurdles and the high jump). Player also ran cross country and often scored points for the Islanders.

The other top senior girl athletes included: Kelsey Branch (basketball and lacrosse), Danielle Eckert (cheer, track and field), Katie Estrada (water polo and swimming), Molly Patrick (water polo and swimming), and Morgan Ronimus (water polo and swimming).

Senior Boys Athlete of the Year - A distinguished class is headed by Geoff Worley, who will play lacrosse at the University of Vermont starting next season. Worley was a genuine two-sport star, and was the starting point guard on the basketball squad and the focal point of the Islander offense in lacrosse. Worley was the Islander lacrosse leading scorer, but would hit an open teammate with a pass when they had a better scoring opportunity.

JJ Pontes had the latter part of his football season and the initial portion of his basketball season truncated due to a broken ankle. Pontes was a possession receiver at tight end for the football team, center on the basketball team and a standout long stick defender in lacrosse. In short he was a legitimate three-sport star when healthy.

Other senior contributors included: Eric Clapper (water polo and swimming); Jackson Crow-Mickle (water polo and swimming); Matt Ganyard (soccer); Nick Hamilton (soccer and lacrosse); Chas Marks (basketball and baseball); Lee Sebring (swimming); and Ben Thorne (football).