Nado Natterings
A weekly column by David Axelson

24 June 2009 Issue #25

As promised in this space last week, here is the 10th Annual Axey Awards column. Purgatory should be defined as having to read 50 columns (alright skim through) that you have written, totaling more than 100,000 words.

As always there are two disclaimers to our readers at the outset of the awards column. First, the awards that follow are totally subjective. Second, the ‘Best Athletes by Class’ honorees are intentionally biased toward honoring multi-sport athletes.

Coronado High School Male Team of the Year - Boys Lacrosse (21-2), which won their first CIF title this year and completed the season ranked No. 24 in the nation in the 2009 Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse High School Power Rankings. For all high schools located west of the Mississippi River, they were ranked No. 2 behind No. 18 ranked Highland Park Texas.

CHS Female Team of the Year – Girls Water Polo (23-9), were the winners of the CIF Division II title, by virtue of their 12-11 overtime victory over The Bishop’s School. It marked the second straight CIF title for CHS. Playing each other three times during the season, the Islanders won twice, the Knights won once and the aggregate score of the three games was 30-29 in favor of Coronado. Plus, the Islanders won when it mattered.

Male Team Coach of the Year - Alex Cade of the Boys Lacrosse program. For a school with an enrollment of just over 1,000 students to win the CIF title against schools the size of Poway, La Costa Canyon and Torrey Pines says it all.

Brian Hiatt-Aleu earns an Honorable Mention for his role in getting the CHS Boys Soccer Team into the CIF playoffs, despite a seemingly continuous series of injuries to his players.

Female Team Coach of the Year - Dave Throop of Girls Water Polo. The Islanders competed against the best teams in the state of California, and seemingly improved on a weekly basis. In the middle of the season, Coronado defeated eventual CIF San Diego Section Division I champion Vista by six goals, so the Islanders can rightfully lay claim to being the best team in San Diego County.

Individual Play of the Year Award – There are four that come to mind and many more that Your Natterer wasn’t on hand to see. These were seen in person: No. 4 – In the CIF Division IV Boys Soccer Quarter-finals, Christian Herrera converted on a 32-yard, left-footed laser shot, which defeated Mission Bay in overtime. Nobody anticipated a shot from that distance and the Morse goalie hand no chance to react, much less deflect the shot. No. 3 – Keith Englehart making an incredibly acrobatic, jumping, twisting catch of a Mason Mills pass for a touchdown against Morse during the 2008 Homecoming game. No. 2 – Englehart again, this time in baseball against Cathedral Catholic. Playing center field, Englehart got a great jump on a deep fly ball to right center field, ran seemingly forever, and leaped away from the field, toward the wall  and made a backhand catch of a ball that would likely have won the game for the Dons. Simply an amazing play. No. 1 – With 1:45 remaining in the second overtime of the water polo finals against Bishop’s, Ashley Young scored on a back-hand sweep shot 25 feet away from the net. Her goal tied the game, and simultaneously deflated the Knights, allowing the Islanders to win the CIF title. Considering the game situation and the pressure on the shot, Young gets the nod.

Individual Game of the Year - There were a number of great performances turned in by Islander athletes in 2008-09, but the most memorable to me was the effort in goal by senior Justin Parsons in the CIF Division II Finals against Bishop’s. Although the Islanders lost, Parsons was credited with 16 saves, with several of the shot attempts coming from point blank range. Parsons won a boatload of post season awards in water polo and will continue his career at Cal Berkeley.

Team Game of the Year - Again several possibilities exist for this award, but the Girls Water Polo Team’s 12-11 overtime, come-from-behind victory over Bishop’s was probably the best. A close second would have been the dominating victory by Boys Lacrosse over La Costa Canyon in the CIF Finals by the score of 9-4.

Honorable mention goes to the Boys Basketball Team and their 58-51 loss to Oceanside in the finals of the Holiday Tournament, played in Coronado. It was just a really good game, played at a high level, between two competitive teams.

Best Game from an Opposing Athlete – The Islander Football Team fell to Madison in the game that determined the Central League champion. Madison’s tailback Robbie Rouse gained 269 yards from the line of scrimmage and scored three touchdowns. Frequently when he was seemingly cornered by a motivated Coronado defensive unit, Rouse was here, then just as quickly, he was gone. By all accounts a classy competitor, Rouse was fun to watch.

Spirit of the Game Award – Todd Kelleher completed a fine two-sport career at Coronado, playing football and baseball. A solid contributor in both sports, Kelleher had the prep football game of his life in the final outing of his career when he had eight tackles plus eight assisted tackles in the Islanders CIF playoff loss at Valley Center. Kelleher, played a number of positions well for the Islander Baseball Team, and leaves this summer to begin his academic career at the Air Force Academy.

Family Dynasty – Year II – The Engleharts complete their reign over this award this year, because senior Keith Englehart has graduated. Keith was an All-Section defensive back and receiver in football and the starting center fielder in baseball. Junior Kodie Englehart also played football and is a Lacrosse All-American. Sophomore Kayla Englehart is the starting shortstop and a pitcher on the Islander softball team. Clearly Kayla needs to add a sport or two to keep the title in the family.

He’ll Be Missed – Pete Thomas, 68, a physical education teacher in the Coronado Unified School District for 35 years, passed away in the fall of 2008. I got to know Pete and appreciate his encyclopedic knowledge of prep football from walking the sidelines with him and Coronado statistician Kyle Montague during the Islander football games. A true gentleman, who enjoyed being around and assisting kids, Pete was one of the good ones.

Hit of the Year – Delivered by wide receiver Blake Malkemus after Clairemont pass interception. Malkemus, who is roughly six-feet tall and weighs 180 pounds, laid a hit on the Chieftain defensive back that could be heard throughout the stadium.

The Second Time is Sweeter Award – There are two winners in this category. The first time the Islander Boys Basketball Team played Crawford on the road, Coronado lost by the score of 83-49. When the return Central League game was played at Coronado, the Islanders pulled a 43-point turnaround and won 57-48. The Islander Football Team pulled off a similar miracle against Santa Fe Christian. After losing to SFC 30-20 in mid season, Coronado took it to the Eagles 35-20 on the road in the CIF Playoffs and the game wasn’t that close.

Sports Year’s Lowest Point - Crawford High School’s football team forfeited their game at Coronado, not being able to field a team. At first the thought was, ‘gee that’s too bad, the Colts aren’t able to complete their season.’ No, they just opted not to play Coronado. The bigger mystery is how the CIF allowed the Colts to select which games they wanted to play and then finish their season.

Great Team Effort – The CHS Girls Cross Country Team finished No. 9 in Division IV at the state meet. A number of athletes put together fine efforts to earn a state ranking in a most demanding sport.

Notable Achievement – Although they lost in the CIF Division IV Finals to La Jolla, the Islander Girls Soccer Team won the always tough Western League regular season title. It is believed to be the first time Coronado accomplished the feat. 

Freshman Girl Athlete of the Year Award – As we noted at the outset of the column, multiple sport athletes are given the nod and no one is more ‘multi-sport’ than Cory De Marco. After playing freshman volleyball, De Marco was then the starting point guard on the Islander Girls basketball team and the back-up varsity goalie in soccer, at the same time. In the spring she added varsity lacrosse to her sports season. Honorable Mention goes to Nicole Davies in cross country and track; Kendall Hoshko in golf, water polo and swimming; Peri Curtis in basketball and lacrosse; and Katie Centeno in soccer and track.

Freshman Boy Athlete of the Year Award – A number of athletes had good years in a single sport, but the winner is Danny Hebert in basketball. Hebert was the varsity starter at the shooting guard position and had a fine season. The runner-up in this division is Sean Lee, who played No. 1 singles for the tennis team this spring. Other notable efforts came from Will Funk in cross country and lacrosse; Eitan Peled in water polo; Brian Turley in golf; and George Bailey in lacrosse.

Sophomore Girl Athlete of the Year Award – Several athletes are bunched at the top of this category, led by track and cross country athletes Sadie Gimber and Annie Lovering, with a close nod going to Gimber for Athlete of the Year. Gimber finished in fifth place in the CIF Division IV cross country finals, while Lovering placed second in the same event. Gimber won the Division II 400-meter run in track, which is quite an accomplishment for an underclassman. Lovering was a multi-event point earner on the track team. Others worthy of consideration in a deeply talented class include Kaitlyn Couture in soccer and lacrosse and Cassie Callahan in soccer and track.

Sophomore Boy Athlete of the Year Award – Several members of this class will be significant contributors to their respective teams next year. For 2008-09 the award goes to Kyle Runyon. Runyon helped spark the team in their late season playoff run. In lacrosse Runyon often played the role perfected by Wayne Gretzky in hockey, holding the ball (or puck depending) behind the opponent’s goal, looking for teammates cutting through the crease. A prolific scorer, opposing teams had to account for Runyon on the field at all times. Other athletes deserving a mention include Alex Bookout in football and lacrosse, Sergio Flores in soccer and lacrosse, and Curtis Nixon in lacrosse.

Junior Girl Athlete of the Year Award – Sallie Privett has won this award for each of the three years she has been eligible to win it and repeats again. This year Privett was the Division IV Cross Country champion and won Central League titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs. There is competition from her classmates and they may be closing the gap, including Ashley Young in water polo and swimming; Kelly Ronimus in water polo and swimming; Coco O’Brien in cross country and lacrosse, Lainey Mebust in volleyball and lacrosse, Briana Giorgione in volleyball and track and Brianna Feist in softball.

Junior Boy Athlete of the Year Award – Aquatics athletes dominate this category, with Rex Butler earning the nod again this year over worthy competitors and aquatics teammates Andrew Ireland and Alex Johnson. All three have won significant honors in their sports, with Butler seemingly having an aggregate bare advantage over the others. Honorable mention goes to Patrick Toomey in football, soccer and basketball; Chris Maskevich in basketball and volleyball; and Hunter Ralph in basketball and baseball. Senior Girls Athlete of the Year Award – Melissa Humphrey opted to take the winter sports season off her senior year, but the two-time lacrosse All American and setter in volleyball captures the Athlete of the Year Award again this year. Joining Humphrey in having great senior seasons were Andrea Davis in soccer and lacrosse; Alex Adamson in water polo and swimming; Kathryn Bailey in water polo and swimming; Kirsten Krock in tennis and lacrosse; Sandy Shepherd in soccer and lacrosse; and Mackenzie Coutts in golf and soccer.

Senior Boy Athlete of the Year Award – Two of the best three-sport athletes I have seen compete at Coronado are in this year’s senior class, Blake Malkemus and Justin Parsons. They share the Senior Boy Athlete of the Year Award. Malkemus played football, basketball and baseball, while Parsons earned his athletic letters in water polo, basketball and baseball.

Malkemus developed into probably the best possession pass receiver in Islander football history, catching 75 passes his senior year. To my knowledge, I don’t believe I saw Malkemus drop a pass his senior year. In basketball Malkemus, the team’s best on-ball defender, was assigned to the opposing team’s leading scorer. In baseball, after returning from early-season arm problems, Malkemus solidified the Islander defense at catcher, where he stopped the opposition’s running game cold.

Parsons was brilliant during the water polo season, earning national recognition as the Islander goalie. Hurt for much of the basketball season, Parsons finished the year strong, helped solidify the Islander front line and helped push Coronado into the playoffs. In baseball, Parsons was the team’s starting third baseman, and constituted one-third of the best pitching staff (with Bryan Crabb and Kyle Couture) in Islander history.

In most graduating classes, Mason Mills’ credentials as the starting quarterback in football and starting shortstop in baseball, would win this award. In fact, Mills was recognized by ‘The San Diego Union-Tribune’ as their Student Athlete of the Year. However, he is touched out this year by Parsons and Malkemus.

Other senior athletes worthy of mention, and there are several, include Keith Englehart in football and baseball; Bryan Crabb in football and baseball; Kyle Couture in football and baseball; Jon Little in football and lacrosse; John Mikesell in football and baseball; Christian Herrera in futbol and football; Sean O’Brien in cross country, basketball and lacrosse; and Jackson Hummeldorf in water polo and swimming; Paul Pedrotty in water polo and swimming; and Cotter Stacy in cross country and volleyball.

Notable single sport seasons were turned in by Jackson Cusick, Bobby Braun, and Jonny Poe in lacrosse and Peter Kittiyasawadi in soccer.

July 4th  15K Run, 5K Run/Walk Race Less Than Two Weeks Away

A reminder that the Independence Day 15K Run and 5K Run/Walk which is held at 7 am at Tidelands Park is less than two weeks away.  The proceeds from the race benefit the sports teams at Coronado High School, Coronado Middle School and the Islander Sports Foundation.

The run is the largest annual fundraiser for the ISF and the teams at CHS supply more than 200 volunteers to make the race run smoothly. Last year there were nearly 2,500 runners and walkers in the event

Race registration is $31 until event day and increases to $35 on the day of the event. Registration fees for both the 15K and the 5K event are the same. The event is sponsored by the Unified Port District of San Diego.

If you are interested in participating in either of the races, please register online at www.kathyloperevents.com or call 619-298-7400 for additional information.

Water Polo Alumni Games Set for Sunday, July 5th

Two of the popular features of Independence Day Weekend are the Annual Water Polo Alumni Games, which feature past stars from the program playing against next year’s varsity. This year, the two-time defending CIF Champion Girls Water Polo Team will play their game at 11 am and the CHS Boys Water Polo Team will play at noon.

The event will be played at the Brian Bent Memorial Aquatics Complex. There will also be an opportunity for children to splash around in the smaller, warmer instructional pool during this event. For additional information, please contact Coach Randy Burgess at rburgess@znet.com.