Nado Natterings
A weekly column by David Axelson

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

5 Sept 2007 Issue #34

Islander Cross Country Head Coach George Green provides an update on his squad’s activities last week and a preview of the coming season. “It's easy to tell in the early cross country meets which kids put in the miles over the summer.

Four members of the Islander squad tested their fitness against hundreds of other runners from schools throughout San Diego County at the annual Vaquero Invitational hosted by El Capitan High School in Lakeside. Races were divided by year in school (Frosh-Soph and Junior-Senior), as well as school size (large or small). CHS sophomore Sallie Privett dominated the small school Frosh/Soph race, winning by nearly a minute with a time of 9 minutes 28 seconds over the 1.65-mile girls' course. Fellow sophomore, Adie Davies, placed fourth in 10:37, only 11 seconds behind the second place finisher.

After all the other girls races were run, Sallie's time stood-up as the best of the day, a full four seconds faster than Patrick Henry's Emily Osga, who won the large school Junior/Senior race in 9:32. More than 300 girls competed in the various races.

Senior Ben Enowitz wanted to test his fitness against the more competitive large school runners and nearly took the whole thing, with a close second-place finish to San Pasqual's Kenneth Raedel in the large school Junior/Senior race. Ben's time over the 2.15-mile boys course was 10:48 which translates to a per-mile pace of 5:02. These two times stood up as the best of the meet after all boys races were run. Junior David Grimes had a good outing as well, with a sixth place finish in the small school Junior/Senior race. Nearly 400 boys competed overall. We plan to skip next week's invitational meets to prepare the entire team for the upcoming season. Our next outing will be the Mt. Carmel Invitational September 15.

Regarding the coming season, the girls’ team could be one of the best we've had in recent years. It takes a minimum of five fast runners to be competitive at the Division IV level. With Privett and Davies bolstered by returning sophomores Coco O'Brien and Selina Schmeck and three fast freshmen in Annie Lovering, Cassie Callahan and Sadie Gimber, we should be in good shape. Also returning from the 2005 squad is Allison Cabana. The total size of the girls' team will be on the small side at around 10 runners, but there's some talent there. The Lady Islanders are the defending Central League champs and it looks like we'll be contenders again in 2007.

The boys' team needs to have a couple of runners step up to defend its Central League championship (three titles in a row now). One of last season's top three competitors, Michael Davies, isn't running this year due to health-related issues. He may come back later in the season, but he won't be ready to compete. His departure leaves a big gap in the squad.

Our top three runners, Enowitz, Grimes and Turner Stanley are supported by the rest of last year's varsity squad who include Jose Tijerina, Kramer De Laurentis, Kevin Siefert, Cotter Stacy, and Ben Green. Runners who could move up are Cory Couture, Danny Luiken, Gabe Salvatierra, and Jordan Vance. However the boy's team has over 30 runners, mostly from the lacrosse squad who are using the sport as a means to get in shape. There may be several others who move up, but it's too early to tell at this point.”

Islander Football Victorious in Hawaii

One of the better-kept sports secrets recently, though not intentionally, was Coronado’s 21-0 varsity football victory over Kapa’a, High School last Friday night in Kauai, Hawaii. Reached by phone Monday while still in Hawaii, Asst. Head Coach Ed Shanholtz noted that the Islander defense was the dominant unit in the game. “Our defense was pretty stingy. They (the Warriors) barely crossed midfield.”

In fact Coronado’s first score was set up by a pass interception from Keith Englehart and his subsequent 25-yard return. Kyle Brown scored the game’s first touchdown on a pitch from quarterback Mason Mills. Brown would go on to accumulate 106 yards rushing in the game.

Coronado hit the scoreboard again with two seconds remaining in the first half on a 25-yard touchdown passing strike from Mills to tight end Blake Malkemus. Mills then passed for a two-point conversion to Stefan Massey to make the score 14-0 at halftime.

The game’s final tally came with less than a minute remaining in the contest, as Mills scored on a quarterback option play from the three-yard line.

Coronado was without the services of half of the Lightening Squared tailback combo of Brown and Ricardo Oberwager, as the latter was attending his sister’s wedding. “Curtis Perkins played blocking back while Kyle was at tailback,” said Shanholtz. “When Kyle took a break, Curtis played tailback and Ray San Giovanni played blocking back. Curtis had some nice runs and he played well on both offense and on defense at weak side linebacker.”

Other game defensive standouts, according to Shanholtz, included San Giovanni who doubled at middle linebacker, Charlie Moore who had a sack at defensive tackle and big play defensive back Keith Englehart.

The game was the first regular season contest for the Islanders, who have a bye this week before traveling to El Capitan for their first stateside contest Sept. 14, with the kick-off slated for 7 pm. Coronado plays their first home game of the season Friday, Sept. 21 when they host the highly-ranked Mission Bay Buccaneers at 7:30 pm.

Taufaasau Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser and Luau Friday, September 7th

In what has become an annual affair and a sign of the pending football season, the Adrian Taufaasau Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser and Luau will be held Friday, Sept. 7 from 5 to 8 pm. The event honors the former Coronado quarterback who was fatally injured during a game played at Costa Mesa High School in September 1996.

The event includes dinner and dancing to the beat of “Essence of Aloha,” a Polynesian Dance Group. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. The luau will be held in the Coronado High School Quad area. Proceeds from the luau will go to the Adrian Taufaasau Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Girls Golf Team Anticipates New Season

The good news with the CHS Girls Golf Team in 2007, according to Head Coach Hannah Cohan, is “I’m really impressed with the strong, athletic girls who are playing golf this year. There seems to be a lot of cohesiveness and team spirit.” The bad news, which really isn’t all that negative, is that the team is a little light on experience.

“Allie Icenhower, Mackenzie Coutts and Jackie Davis are the returning players, who figure to be in the mix for the six starting positions,” said Cohan. Other players include Andrea Davis, Clara Drayne and Caroline Westhart. Cohan will be assisted this season by Randy Coutts.

The Islanders will face their stiffest City Conference competition again this year from the Cathedral Catholic squad. The Clairemont Chieftains will also field a strong team. A total of 12 athletes comprise the team this year and the Islanders will play 14 matches.

Rob LeBuhn Takes Over CHS Girls Tennis Program

An interesting phenomenon has taken hold with the CHS Girls Tennis Team, coached for the first time in 34 years by someone other than Robbin Adair. New Jersey native Rob LeBuhn has taken the reins of the program. “I look forward to following in Coach Adair’s successful footsteps,” said the 43 year-old LeBuhn. “Adair is a super nice guy and he was very helpful in me landing the coaching position at Coronado. I have a lot of respect for him.” Adair coached the CHS boys’ teams for 40 seasons and the girls’ squads for 33, amassing a won-loss record of 1,122 and 435 (74 per cent), all at Coronado High School.

But back to LeBuhn, who has been playing tennis, “since I was a boy.” He played the sport at the collegiate level at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. “Larry Holmes (former heavyweight boxing champion of the world) is our claim to fame,” laughed LeBuhn.

Upon graduation, LeBuhn embarked on a business career, working in the insurance industry for Marsh & McLennan, Inc. in New York and then later the Aon insurance brokerage firm in Chicago and Denver. “I had a mid-life crisis about five years ago,” LeBuhn said. “I got my masters degree, and became a school teacher and a coach, although I’m not teaching out here. I’m a private coach working out of UCSD and Coronado.”

The program currently has 45 players participating, which is a big number for the sport at CHS. “We’ve had a very positive turnout,” said LeBuhn. “A lot of people want Coronado to be competitive in tennis again. The main portion of the turnout is definitely weighted toward younger kids,” said LeBuhn.

Four players including Jennifer Carney, Spencer Berman, Simmi Deo and Grace Lancaster are competing for Coronado’s three singles slots. The Islanders will host Granite Hills Sept. 6 in their first regular season game of the year. Coronado will once again compete in the tough Western League and will be in CIF Division III.

CMS Sports Sign-ups Slated for Sept. 11, 2007

Tuesday, Sept.11, sign-ups for the fall sports at Coronado Middle School will be held at Granzier Hall at the school. Starting time for athletic registration is 6:30 pm.

The fall sports offerings include girls’ volleyball, girls’ lacrosse and co-ed cross country. The fees are $110 per child, per sport played. All relevant registration forms can be found at www.IslanderSportsFoundation.com.