Yesterday, the Nevada Appeal published its All-Sierra Nevada baseball and softball teams, recognizing players for their accomplishments in an area covered by this newspaper as well as the publications in the Tahoe-Carson Area Newspapers group.
Newspapers in the group include The Record-Courier in Gardnerville, the Lahontan Valley News in Fallon, the Sierra Sun in Truckee, the Tahoe Daily Tribune in South Lake Tahoe, the Lake Tahoe Bonanza in Incline Village and the Tahoe World in Tahoe City.
Today, I want to continue a tradition from the past with my own honor roll of athletes who compete in the spring individual sports: Swimming and diving, track and field, as well as boys golf. I'm sure a few names will be missing from such a large area, but here are just a few who had outstanding performances this season:
SWIMMING
Jamie Engan, Carson: The latest in a long line of blue chip swimmers at Carson, Engan won the 500 freestyle (4:57.80) and placed second in the 200 freestyle at the state meet in Reno. She will compete in the 1,500 freestyle at senior nationals later this summer.
Sam Forbes, Carson: An Australian exchange student from Melbourne), Forbes won the 100 butterfly (55.88) and placed second in the 200 I.M. at regionals. He placed fifth at state in the butterfly.
John Wandel, Carson: Placed fourth in the 100 backstroke and fifth in the 100 freestyle at state. He was second at regionals in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke and swam for 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams that placed second.
Kayla Mariani, Galena: The sophomore placed third in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 butterfly (1:00.24) at state. She won the 50 freestyle at regionals (25.29).
Trevor Schaff, Douglas: Was dominant on his way to winning the 100 backstroke (57.16) by more than one second at the regionals. He placed sixth at state.
Gillian Auble, Galena: The senior placed fifth in 500 freestyle (5:22.54) at state. She also placed third in the event at regionals.
Keegan Ferrari, Galena: Placed seventh in the 100 breaststroke 1:05.13) at state. Seeded No. 1 in 100 butterfly (57.24) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.06) coming into the regional meet.
Natalie Turner, South Tahoe: Placed fourth in the 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle at state. Her better times came at the regionals, where she placed second in the 100 (54.45) and third in the 500 (25.47).
Tim Powers, South Tahoe: The junior placed fifth at state in 100 butterfly (58.86) and helped South Tahoe's 200 freestyle relay team take fifth (1:38.62).
Justin White, Douglas: Placed third in the 100 freestyle at regionals (51.44).
Honorable mention: Matt Grunert, Carson (200 freestyle and three relays). He helped Carson finish second in the regional 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Janet Swensen, Galena (diving). Taylor Brockway, Douglas (500 freestyle). Barbara Perkins, Carson (500 freestyle). Andrew Cardinal, Carson (relays). Garrett Clayton, Carson (relays). Lauren Metcalf, Carson (500 freestyle). Mike Freeman, Douglas (relays). Jessica Goddard, Carson (relays). Hilary Schlager, Carson (relays). Nick Damonte, Galena (100 backstroke, 100 butterfly). Janelle Lasko, Galena (100 freestyle). Katie Wandel, Carson (50 freestyle).
GOLF
J.T. Cockerill, Carson: The junior was named Northern 4A Player of the Year after winning the regional tournament with a two-day 151 (76-75) under cold and windy conditions at Lakeridge. Finished eighth at the 4A state tournament at 154 (79-75).
Jason Kirby, Fallon: A key factor as the Greenwave went undefeated during the regular season, came from behind to win the regional tournament and then took fifth at state. Kirby was fifth at the regional tournament.
Scott Smith, Fallon: Capped a big season with his second-place finish at the state tournament at Red Hawk as he shot 149 (78-71) to finish one shot out of the lead and help Fallon finish fifth as a team. He tied for low medalist at Carson Invitational.
Brandon Dalton, Fernley: Came out hot at the 3A state tournament at Dayton Valley, shot 3-under par 69 to take the first-round lead, and went on to finish second on the leaderboard with a 153 total.
Brandon Goles, Dayton: Placed Fourth at 3A state tournament at 156 (77-79) to lead the Dust Devils to fourth-place as a team.
Ryan Hill, Galena: Captured second-place at the regional tournament with a 153 (76-77), two shots out of the lead and finished 11th at state at 156.
Charlie Lockwood, Fallon: The sophomore was ninth at regionals (158) to help the Greenwave win their first 4A team golf title (Fallon also won the Carson Invitational in April).
TRACK AND FIELD
Kayla Sanchez, Carson: Won three gold medals at state - 100, 200 and 300 low hurdles and ran for Carson's third-place 4x200 relay team. Her better day came one week before at the regionals when she set stadium and meet records in the 100 (11.92) and 300 hurdles (42.61). She is entered in the 300 hurdles at the prestigious Golden West Invitational all-star meet Sunday in Folsom, Calif.
Langley Iverson, Galena: State girls high jump champ at 5-4 and led Galena's 1-2-3 sweep of the event at regionals. She went 5-4 1/2 to place eighth at the Great Southwest Classic in Albuquerque, N.M., over the weekend.
Alyssa Abbott, Galena: Was a workhorse who helped Galena win the regional girls team title as she placed second in the 800 (2:18.45) and 1,600 (5:17.11), took third in the 3,200 (11:55.11) and ran for the Grizzlies' third-place 4x800 relay team. She placed second at state in the 800 (2:15.14).
Kylee Gleason, Smith Valley: The sophomore showed considerable range in winning four titles at state: Pole vault (11-0), 300 low hurdles (47.98) 200 (27.51) and 400 (1:00.97).
Alex McAlman, Carson: A double winner in the shot put and discus at the regional meet. She set a personal best of 39-10 3/4 to place seventh at the Great Southwest Classic. Her best discus mark of 125-4 came at the BYU Invitational.
Josh Mauga, Fallon: Set school record of 186-10 to win the discus gold medal and also placed second in the shot put at state. He's also the state heavyweight wrestling champion and has signed to play football at the University of Nevada.
Josh Heilman, Carson: The senior became the first Carson boy in recent memory to win a state title in the 100-meter dash and his 10.91 time run into a headwind in Las Vegas was the fastest in all four divisions. He was even better at regionals, winning the 100 (10.83) and 200 (22.11) and running on first-place 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.
Tilor Smith, Carson: Won the regional long jump with a season-best 22-2 1/2 and ran on two first-place sprint relay teams. Smith will join Heilman to run at Mt. San Antonio College next year.
Jordan Savidge, Smith Valley: Set all-time Nevada best in pole vault at 16-3 earlier this season, and at state, he won the pole vault (16-0), 100 (11.45), 200 (22.82) and the long jump (22-0). Senior teammate Sam Marshek finished second at state with a 15-0 mark that ranked No. 2 in the state overall.
Kevin May, Dayton: The senior won 3A state titles in shot put (49-11 1/4) and discus (152-4).
Dan Geib, jr., Galena: State 3,200 champion (9:34.24) and his 8:42.47 for 3,000 meters at Stanford earlier in the season equates to a 9:20 for 3,200.
Tony Fritsche, Galena: An injury derailed his hopes in the pole vault last year, but he came back to win regional and state titles this year, topped by a 14-9 effort at state.
Honorable mention: Easton Harris, Smith Valley (undefeated in the 110-meter high hurdles this season and ran 14.96 into a headwind at state. Also a state champ in 300 intermediates). Stephen Waicul, Carson (166-0 1/2 in the discus is one of the best marks in school history). Corey Vermillion, South Tahoe (won regionals in the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.97 and 300 intermediate hurdles in 39.48). Amanda Benson, Carson (400 and relays). Amber Whitworth, Carson (second at regionals, third at state in pole vault). Andrea Kirstead, Carson (hurdles). Brandon Hockenberry, Fallon (triple jump). Brooke Clemmensen, Bishop Manogue and Carson City (300 low hurdles). Matt Moore, Carson (110 and 300 hurdles, 4x400 relay). Nick Shannon, Galena (high jump). Addie Devine, Incline (3A state champion 3,200). Jessica Woods, Whittell (2A state long jump champion). Wily Sandridge Silver Stage (2A state champion Shot put and discus). Jimmy Seals, Bishop Manogue and Carson City (pole vault). Jeremy Gray, Carson (400 and relays). Rafe Tackes, Bishop Manogue and Carson City (4x800 relay). Kevin Carlson, Douglas (800). Sam Pincock, Carson (sprints). Seth Carter, Carson (hurdles and relays). Lydia and Lydia Mailander, Galena (jumps ... Julia placed second at state in the long jump at 17-3). Joey and Billy Mountjoy, Dayton, (400, 800, pole vault and relays). Katrina Kacirek, Whittell (triple jump)
n Contact Dave Price at dprice@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-1220.
