Nado Natterings Back to Islandersports
A weekly column by David Axelson

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

25 June 2008 Issue No. 25
9th Annual Axey Awards

Just when you thought you could take a week off from the Coronado High School sports scene, it’s time for the 9^th Annual Axey Awards. For now the ninth time, I offer two disclaimers to the reader at the outset of the column. First, the awards that follow are totally subjective. Second, the ‘Best Athletes by Class’ honorees are intentionally biased toward honoring multi-sport athletes.

Team of the Year

The CHS Baseball Team posted a 26-8 record, playing a non-conference schedule loaded with Division I and Division II squads. In addition, they were the Western League Co-Champions and the CIF Division IV champs. Winning those two titles in the same year is quite an achievement, especially considering that they beat out the 2008 CIF Division III champions from Cathedral Catholic in win the conference title. 

Honorable mentions go to the other four CIF championship teams from Coronado. The Boys Water Polo Team was 23-2; The Boys Soccer Team, which in consecutive years has won the CIF Division III and Division IV crowns and also won the Central League title again this season; The Girls Soccer Team defeated the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in Division IV to win their title, and The Girls Water Polo Team (21-7) dominated play in the San Diego Section.

Take One For The Team Award

Water Polo standout Alana Burgess was the Islanders playmaker this season. Midway through the season, she had her nose broken during a game. Several days later she had her nose re-set and played the remainder of the season with a protective facemask. Essentially the mask was target with ‘hit me here’ on it and several thoughtful opponents did just that. Burgess persevered and helped lead her team to the CIF title.

Coronado pitcher Bryan Crabb was sailing along into the fifth inning of the CIF Finals game against Christian when he took a line drive off of his left (landing) leg. Down for 4-5 minutes, Crabb rebounded and pitched the Islanders to victory. He wasn’t quite as dominating after the carom off the knee, but his performance was more than good enough to win.

They’ll Be Missed

Sandy Ferguson was the CHS director of athletics for 12 years and managed the department with good humor and an unflappable approach for the duration of his tenure. I’ve known Sandy for most of that time and have enjoyed working with him. Sandy retired at the conclusion of the school year. The five CIF titles earned by Coronado High School during the 2007-08 collectively are a fitting tribute to ‘Ferg.’ Look for a rusty Volkswagen bus at a golf course near you.

Marti Bonelli is hanging up her spikes as Islander Softball coach after a successful return to the program a couple of seasons ago. Marti understands the game and always conveyed her knowledge in a positive and upbeat manner to her players.

Family Dynasty Award

Halfway through the spring sports season, Your Natterer dubbed this “The Year of the Englehart.” And so it came to pass. Junior Keith Englehart (football and baseball); sophomore Kodie Englehart (football and lacrosse) and freshman Kayla Englehart (softball) all had outstanding seasons in their respective sports. Proud parents Ken and Kelley Englehart (picking up the trend here?) were often in attendance to watch their athletically gifted play. Congratulations to the entire group and let’s hope that in 2008-09 they are repeat winners of this award.

Extended Family Dynasty Award

Continuing the biblical theme of the column, Jeff and Lori Couture begat senior Cory Couture (Boys Lacrosse) and Kaitlyn Couture (Girls Soccer).  Brad and Kathy Couture begat junior Kyle Couture (Baseball) and Shelby Couture (Volleyball and Water Polo). The third child from the Brad and Kathy clan, Kyle Couture, pitches at USC after starring in the Islander baseball program.

Spirit of the Game Award

Senior Arrielle Luna has been a basketball standout during her high school career at CHS. She was the starting center on several very good Islander teams. After completing her senior season in basketball, she decided to play Junior Varsity Lacrosse and would up as the team’s starting goalie, competing in a sport and playing a position she had never attempted before. The reason was fairly simple – no one else on the JV had ever played goalie either.

Individual Play of the Year

There were many, but the one effort that stands out in my mind was a throw from right field made by Bryan Crabb in a game against La Costa Canyon. The Maverick runner on first base was off and running on a hit-and-run play, when the LCC hitter lined a sharp single to deep right which was fielded by Crabb, who then threw out the runner at third. In all honestly the seed Crabb unleashed reminded me of throws made by Roberto Clemente, the late Pittsburgh Pirate Hall of Famer. There are several current Major League players who couldn’t have made that throw.

Smartest Teams Award

The Boys Cross Country and Boys Track Teams or any other grouping that contained Ben Enowitz and Michael Davies. Enowitz, who will matriculate to Harvard in the fall, was the CHS Class of ’08 Valedictorian, while Davies (Stanford) was the Islander Salutatorian.

Best Sports-Related Athletic Move Award

Tim Leary, who is 6-feet, 6-inches tall, spinning two male ‘cheerleaders’ who had their legs wrapped around his neck in were swung in helicopter fashion at the Powder Puff Football Game, was a sight to see. 

Best European Import Award

Norbi Karoly, who hails from Cegled, Hungary, joined the CHS Boys Water Polo Team as a senior this season and was a major contributor to the squad’s success. He was also a member of the CHS Boys Swim Team in the spring.  As one female water polo player confided to me, “All the girls like Norbi.”

Game of the Year Award

Again, there are many to choose from, but the winner was football’s Ricardo Oberwager for his efforts against El Centro Southwest. On the first play of the game, Oberwager returned the kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. He also rushed 11 times for 93 yards, returned four punts for a total of 111 yards, played linebacker on defense and was the holder on the extra point attempts.

A close second place in this category goes to Girls Lacrosse All-American Greer Goebels, who scored seven goals in the CIF quarter-finals against Cathedral Catholic, leading the team to a 17-8 victory.

Suffocating Team Defense Award

In one two-game stretch in the Central League season, The Islander Girls Basketball Team yielded a total of 25 points for the week. Under the direction of Head Coach Toler Goodwin, the Islanders defeated Madison 60-14 and Clairemont 57-11. When Goodwin said, “Let’s get a stop on defense,” they did.

Best Sports Moments

For the first time since the 1998-99 school year, both the Islander Boys and Girls Water Polo Team defeated The Bishop’s School to win CIF Division II titles.

Long Distance Coaching Award

With 13:01 remaining in the CIF Division IV title game against Bishop’s, CHS Head Girls Soccer Coach Kiko Medina was ejected from the game without a prior warning and for no apparent reason. Medina ‘watched’ the balance of the game from the ticket booth area at Granite Hills High School. When I later asked him about the championship-winning goal, Medina said, “It sounded great to me.”

Best New Coach of the Year Award

First-year Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach Ken Caesar guided a collection of returning varsity players, JV players, and new additions to a very respectable record of 13-10 and a CIF Division IV playoff berth. The squad continued to improve throughout the season and held their own in Central League competition.

Boys Team Coach of the Year

The rare title double of Western League and CIF Division IV champs earned by the CHS Baseball Team earns Head Coach Sam Ceci the nod this year. Randy Burgess of Boys Water Polo and Brian Hiatt-Aleu from Boys Soccer, who both won CIF titles this year, were collectively a close second.

Girls Team Coach of the Year

Girls Water Polo’s Dave Throop and Girls Soccer’s Kiko Medina both took their teams to CIF titles and in the final analysis should share the award. Throop broke the Bishop’s championship jinx and has several stars returning for next year. Medina took a tough non-conference schedule and survived a very tough Western League schedule and had his team peak at the right time.

Freshman Girls Athlete of the Year Award

Sallie Privett is an accomplished track athlete, but surprisingly she had a shadow this year in the form of Islander freshman Annie Lovering, who was often the second runner across the finish line in Coronado track and cross country events this year. Others deserving mention include Shelby Couture (Volleyball and Water Polo), Kayla Englehart (Softball), Hannah Green (Water Polo and Swimming), and Olivia Nebo (Softball). Special Mention goes to Michaela Guerrero (Lacrosse), who may be the fastest female athlete in the school. Watching her sprint end-to-end on a lacrosse field is a rare treat.

Freshman Boys Athlete of the Year Award

Will Bartsch, a pole vaulter for the CHS Track and Field Team, earns the nod here. Bartsch was one of the best freshmen in his event in all of California. Curtis Nixon from Boys Lacrosse earns a mention for his fine freshman season on a very talented squad. Kyle Runyon who played varsity Boys Soccer and Boys Lacrosse as a freshman, is the early favorite to earn this award as a sophomore.

Sophomore Girls Athlete of the Year Award

The aforementioned Sallie Privett earns the nod here, due to Team MVP Awards in her sports of Cross Country and Track. Closing fast on Privett are a squad of talented sophomores including Coco O’Brien in Cross Country and Lacrosse, Kelly Ronimus in Water Polo and Swimming, Ashley Young in Water Polo and Swimming, Andrea Sassenrath in Tennis and Lacrosse, Danielle Gillberg in Volleyball and Track, and Brianna Feist in Softball.

Sophomore Boys Athlete of the Year Award

The winner is Rex Butler for his contributions in Water Polo and Swimming. Look for Butler to team with fellow sophomore sensation Alex Johnson in the pool next year.

Junior Girls Athlete of the Year Award

One of the few remaining three-sport standouts at CHS on the girls side is junior Melissa Humphrey. A standout in Volleyball, Basketball and an Academic All-American in Lacrosse, Humphrey is the leader of the talented junior class. Other outstanding athletes in the Class of ’09 include Sandy Shepherd in Soccer and Lacrosse; Mackenzie Coutts for Golf and Soccer; Andrea Davis in Golf and Soccer; Alex Adamson for her efforts in Water Polo and Swimming and Natalie Brooks in Tennis and Basketball.

Junior Boys Athlete of the Year Award

As with Humphrey in the Junior Girls classification, the Junior Boys have two legit three-sport stars in Justin Parsons (Water Polo, Basketball and Baseball) and Blake Malkemus (Football, Basketball and Baseball). Parsons and Malkemus are Nos. 1 and 1A, you pick the order.

In most classes, Mason Mills who is the starting quarterback in football and the starting shortstop on the Islander Baseball Team would win this award going away. Also a contender is Krishna Samperio (Basketball and Tennis).

Senior Girls Athlete of the Year Award

Another No. 1 and 1A designation in this category, with Hannah Sebenaler (Water Polo and Lacrosse) being No. 1, with 1A going to Bria Phillips (Basketball and Lacrosse). Sebenaler was Water Polo Player of the Year and had a great lacrosse season. Phillips was a basketball standout and also had an outstanding year in Lacrosse. In the mix for this award was Rosie Harris (Soccer and Softball), who led the Islander soccer squad’s defensive backfield and played center field in softball, and batted in the leadoff slot. Also having outstanding seasons were Christy Mebust (Volleyball) and Greer Goebels (Lacrosse).

Senior Boys Athlete of the Year Award

Several seniors are worthy of consideration, but the nod this year goes to Tim Leary (Football and Baseball). Leary was the Most Valuable Lineman in Football and the two-time Baseball MVP. Leary had a varsity career batting average of .420, which is outstanding. A close runner-up was Kyle Pokorny (Water Polo and Baseball), who had the distinction of being the starting goalie on the Water Polo title team and the starting second baseman on the Baseball championship squad.

Having great season years were Kyle Brown (Football and Track), Jacob Smith (Water Polo and Swimming), Sean Cook (Water Polo and Swimming), Cole McLean (Basketball and Lacrosse), Stephen Conrad (Football and Baseball), Nolan Woodhouse (Soccer and Volleyball), Dillon Hakes (Golf) and Ricardo Oberwager (Football).