Our annual All-Carson Country lists for the team sports have been published, I'd like to recognize some of the spring sports season's standouts from the individual sports.
Given the number of high schools within the Carson Country area, space limits the chance to list all of the athletes I would like. But here are a few -- an honor roll, so to speak listing their accomplishments from golf, swimming and diving and track and field:
GOLF
Matt Kinsinger, sr., Galena: had a huge season highlighted by his state record 6-under par 66 round at Arrow Creek in April, followed by a 68 at Eagle Valley East the next week. He won the 36-hole regional tournament at Dayton Valley by 12 strokes (145) and took second at state (150) at Red Hawk. He is headed to UNLV.
Patrick Flynn, sr., Galena: talented athlete who played quarterback for the Grizzlies' Northern 4A Final Four football team, Flynn finished fifth in the regional (159) and 30th at state (159). He finished fifth in the conference regular season points.
Steve McQuirk, sr., Carson: was the lone Senator to qualify for state when he shot 162 under adverse weather conditions at the regional, only three shots out of the top five. He followed up with a 166 to finish 49th at state.
Morgan Goff , Galena: was sixth in the Northern 4A regular season points and 25th at the state tournament (76-82--158).
Steve Kafchinski, jr., Galena: finished fourth in the Northern 4A during the regular season.
J.T. Cockerill, fr., Carson: was 12th in the conference to lead the Senators during the regular season. Shot 1-over par 73 at Eagle Valley East on the first day of the Dick Stoddard Memorial Carson Invitational.
SWIMMING AND DIVING
Tara Theilemann, sr., Carson: University of Alabama signee and valuable performer for the Senators. She was a double gold medalist in the 100 (52.74) and 200 (1:52.83) freestyle at state and also won both events at the regional meet.
Lauren Costella, sr., Carson: Stanford-bound and headed to the World University Games in South Korea in August, Costella finished her prep career as a three-time state champion in the 500 freestyle. Costella is a two-time national champion and world ranked in the 1,500.
Mandee Busch, jr., Galena: helped the Grizzlies place second in the 200 freestyle relay and fourth in the 400 freestyle relay at state. She was sixth in the 50 freestyle (25.80) and eighth in the 100 freestyle (56.91).
Janelle Lasko, fr., Galena: placed eighth in the 100 backstroke (1:04.04) at state and was a member of the Grizzlies' medal-winning 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.
Jesse Bunch, so., Douglas: placed fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.09) and was a member of the Tigers' sixth-place 200 medley relay team at state.
Brent Server, sr., Carson: made giant strides since he took up diving three years ago and wound up second at state (382.80). He was a regional champ and fourth at state in 2002. Server carries a 3.8 grade average and is headed to Arizona State, where he plans to study chemical engineering.
Justin Barber, sr., Carson: Notre Dame signee who placed second in the 200 I.M. (1:55.60) for the third straight year and finished third in the 500 freestyle (4:44.35).
Michael Damonte, sr., Galena: school record holder who placed third in both the 50 (22.29) and 100 freestyle races at the state meet. He was the regional champ in the 50 free.
Scott Cronk, sr., Douglas: placed seventh in the 100 butterfly (57.26) and ninth in the 200 free (1:51.96) at state. Cronk and Sturgess were members of the Tigers' third-place 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.
Andrew Sturgess, jr., Douglas: was the other half of a 1-2 combo that led the Tigers to sixth as a team at state. He placed sixth in the 50 (22.64) and 100 (49.67) freestyle at state.
Jake Oxoby, jr., Carson: placed eighth at state in the 100 butterfly (58.61) and was a member of the Senators' fifth-place 400 relay team.
TRACK AND FIELD
George Pincock, sr., Carson: school record holder in the 100 (10.99), 200 (21.79) and 400 (49.02). He won the regional 200 (21.87, stadium record) and joined John Stewart, Tyler Smith and Matt Moore to win the 4x400 relay (3:24.79, stadium record). Pincock ran 48.85 in the 400 at the Great Southwest Classic on May 24 in New Mexico and is now headed to Colorado.
Randy Shumate, sr., Yerington: won the 3A state long jump title. He also won the regional title (21-5) and took third in the triple jump (42-1 3/4) behind teammate Wes Thomas (second, 42-6 1/4).
Stephen Pottey, jr., Galena: state champ in the 1,600 (4:20.53) and fourth in the 3,200 (9:52.41). He set school records of 4:16.04 in the 1,600 and 9:19.49 in the 3,200 at the Arcadia Invitational in Southern California.
Barrett Young, sr., Galena: Montana State signee who won state in the 300 intermediate hurdles who had season bests of 14.6 and 38.13. Played a key role in Galena's state team title in 2002.
Nate Meckley, sr., Galena: two-time state high jump champ with a p.r. of 6-8, and his next stop is Washington State. He was second at the regionals behind teammate Justin Houk.
Jordan Savage, so., Smith Valley: had the best pole vault mark in the state at any level with a 14-0 for a gold medal and 1A state meet record.
Shaylyn Tom, jr., Carson: third in the shot put and fourth in the discus at state. Her best performances came at the regionals, where she threw a p.r. 38-1 to win the shot put and 126-6 in the discus prelims.
Bridgette Galles, jr., Dayton: state 3A high jump champ (5-1), though her personal best is 5-4. She qualified for state in the 100 and 300 hurdles, triple jump and high jump.
Shanna Sparks, sr., Carson: Colorado signee who was third at state in the 3,200 (11:03.06) and eighth in the 1,600 after being knocked down twice in the race. A three-time state champ in track and cross country.
Joanna Hixon, sr., Galena: placed third at state in both the triple jump (36-5) and long jump (17-1-1/2). Has signed to play basketball at Montana State.
Melinda Young, Yerington: state champion in the pole vault at 10-0.
Dave Price is a sports writer for the Nevada Appeal
