ATHLETICS: YEAR IN REVIEW 2010-2011

 

At the start of this email, I have included summaries of the team records, # of UT Scholar Athletes, college bound Student-Athletes, the Outstanding Performers (Awards), the team MVP’s, and coaches.  Toward the end of the email, I have listed the awards won by individual athletes (recognized at the Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony held last night on 6/8/2011).  Finally, at the end, I have listed the athletes from the past who were honored by the San Diego Section CIF on May 22 at the SDS CIF Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony!   Names like, Phil Mickelson, Junior Seau, Bill Walton, Greg Louganis, Adrian Gonzalez, Reggie Bush, and Marcus Allen were tossed around at this ceremony along with 5 Alumni from SDHS!!!  Please keep reading until the end....See below…

 

WHY ATHLETICS? 

Numerous research studies prove that Student-Athletes are more successful (on average) than students who choose not to participate in athletics.  One example is a statewide comprehensive study conducted over a 3 year period in North Carolina.  Here is a brief summary of the findings…

 

                             Student-Athletes              Non-Athletes

GPA                                2.86                     1.96

Absences (180days)    6.52                     12.57

Discipline Referrals       30.5%                  40.3%

Dropout Rate                0.7%                    8.98%

Graduation Rate            99.56%                94.66%

 

In these challenging times, it is imperative that we remember that our “Extra Curricular” (which should be labeled Co-Curricular) Activities teach life lessons sometimes absent from our standard classes.  Co-Curricular Activities such as Athletics emphasize discipline, teamwork, commitment, follow through, dedication, and sacrifice in a manner rarely met by standard classroom activities (not to mention the various physical, mental, and emotional benefits of being active and physically fit).  Athletics should be viewed as a partner in the educational process as our Coaches are often some of the most important resources for our Teachers when it comes to reaching our Students.  Together, our Teachers and Coaches are responsible for over 600 Student-Athletes at San Diego High.  The Student-Athletes and those who support them are deserving of much praise and recognition.  Last night, in the PAT, a Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony was held to recognize their achievements.   Many of the achievements and awards are summarized below…

 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED SUPPORT ATHLETICS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES!!! 

 

Recap of the 2010 - 2011 Athletic year:

(A “UT Scholar Athlete” includes only Juniors & Seniors who have 3.00 or better cumulative GPA.  This year, we had 156 UT Scholar Athletes)

 

FALL SPORTS:

 

 FOOTBALL                           [# of UT Scholar Athletes: 10]            Overall record; 6-4-1

 

 The Football Team made the CIF playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade!  Coach Keir’s second year reflected the incredible work that he and his staff have put in to reform the Football Program.

It looks like we will have at least 4 Division I Full-ride Scholarship players and possibly 10 total scholarships offered to our Football players this coming year!

 

UT:              Gjovan Hunter                 Eric Jones

                   Erick Judge                      Khari Kimbrough

                   Abraham Lopez               Issac Markow

                   Ricky Munoz                    Anthony Rosas

                   Jorge Saldana                  Deshaun Scott

                   Jameel Shelton

 

FB Graduating Seniors:

Eric Jones, TBD

Jose Nuno, Grossmont

Ricky Munoz, SDSU

Jehu Matthews, TBD

 

AWARDS:     Khari Kimbrough, 1st Team All League            Canek Bustillos, 1st Team All League

                   Deshaun Scott, 1st Team All League              Jose Nuno, 1st Team All League

                   Eric Judge, 2nd Team All League                    Eric Jones, 2nd Team All League

                   Jehu Matthews, 2nd Team All League

 

MVP: Khari Kimbrough/Canek Bustillos

 

FB COACHES:

Keir Kimbrough                Luther Courtney

Kevin Williams                  Richard Gomez                Tony Sanchez

Michael Fowler                 Ignacio Maldanado           Cavitt Fowler

David Hartman                 Monique Taylor                Walt Scranton

Arturo Ruiz

 

 

 

WOMEN’ S GOLF             [# of UT Scholar Athletes: 3]                Overall record; 12-6

 

The Girls Golf team finished 2nd place in league by only 13 strokes!

There were no seniors and the returners promise to compete for a League Championship!

Led by Elise Polk, the girls are ready for their first league title!

 

UT:              Elysa McClelland              Elise Polk               Quintasia Walker

 

AWARDS:     Elise Polk, 1st Team All League            

Elise Polk, SD Golf Academy High School Tournament Team

                   Sidney Tshering, SD Golf Academy High School Tournament Team

 

MVP: Elise Polk

 

COACHES:   Jeremy Martin

 

 

 

GIRL’S TENNIS                   [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  9]                      Overall record; 12-7

The Girls Tennis team was able complete their second season in a row with a winning record (first time in the last decade that this has happened)!  Congratulations to Coach Ambler and assistant Steve Hembera! 

The team is led by Juniors Kelley Boland and Jessica Tolentino. Freshman Izzy Walcher made huge contributions to the team’s success this year as well.

The team graduates 4 seniors, all of whom will attend college.

UT:              Christina Amara               Daniela Blair

                   Kelley Boland                   Kamala Buchanan

                   Kelsey Hoffman               Veronica Kwiatkowski

                   Maria Mendoza                Lauren Nelson

                   Jessica Tolentino

 

Tennis Graduating Seniors:

Daniela Blair, UC Davis

Veronica Kwiatkoski, UCLA

Kelsey Hoffman, San Francisco State

Christina Amara, Huntington University

 

 MVP: Jessica Tolentino

 

COACHES:             Deron Ambler        Steve Hembera

 

 

CROSS COUNTRY             [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  14]         Boys Overall record; 5-2

 Girls Overall record; 3-4

 Next year promises to be a strong year as the team only loses 1 Senior!  Coach Ramos greatly appreciates the Student-Athletes efforts and wishes them the best for a great future!

UT:              Azan Araiza                     Antonio Barboza

                   Michael Bradley                Chistropher Campos

                    Renee Coquereau            Jesus Elias Garcia

                   Pedro Flores                    Bryce Lewis          

                    Ann Molin                        Bruce Pazuengo    

                    Paige Uriarte                    Jesus Vazquez

                   Sarah Whitelock               Geoffrey Willis                                    

 

 Graduating Seniors:

Geoffery Willis, Macalester College in St. Paul, MN

 

AWARDS:     Geoffery Willis, 1st Team All League

                   Desiree Martinez, 2nd Team All League

 

 MVP: Geoffery Willis & Desiree Martinez

 

COACHES

Ed Ramos

 

 

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL :            [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  8]                      Overall record; 13 - 11

The team loses very few seniors and returns a great nucleus including the MVP, Amie Callaway!

 

UT:              Kaili Anderson                  Alexandria Brooks

                   Amie Callaway                 Rosie Kloh   

                   Khadijah Reed                 Mischeila Scherkeabach

                   Kimberly Silva

 

Graduating Seniors:

Rosie Kloh, Sacramento St.

Kimberly Silva, TBD

 

AWARDS:     Amie Callaway 2nd Team All League

 

 MVP:  Amie Callaway

 

COACHES    Irene Mello

Alfredo Rodriguez   Amanda Soria

 

 

 

CHEER:                                                                                                        

As always, the Cheerleaders did a fantastic job supporting our teams!  Other fans, coaches, and cheerleaders were impressed with our girls and wanted to know more about how we do what we do!  Nice job ladies!  Cheer started of the year by taking 2nd place in the Rock n Roll marathon spirit on the course competition.  In prior years, SDHS had never placed in this competition. We got numerous compliments from other schools and coaches, including Torrey Pines High School. Who will be meeting up with us this summer to learn some of our techniques.

Graduating Seniors,

Jessica Garcia, UC Santa Barbara

Rachael Schneide, Arizona State University

Danny Jackson, CSU Northridge

Shanice Twyne, CSU LA

Paige Braxton, Tennessee St.

 

MVP:  Jessica Garcia

 

COACHES    Trina Reeves

 Allison Paredes

 

 

WINTER SPORTS:

 

WRESTLING:                      [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  9]                   Overall record; 12-12

This season, the Wrestling squad was able to get the most wins in the last 8 years!  This young team returns around 15 wrestlers!

 

UT:              Gerardo Alfaro                 Christopher Campos DUAL

                   Ernesto Jimenez              Joseph Mar           

                   Jose Melgar                     Miguel Serrano

                   Logan Storm                  

 

Graduating Seniors:

Jose Delgado, San Jose St.

 

AWARDS:              Jose Delgado, Masters Qualifier at 215lbs

                             Michael Bradley, Masters Qualifier at 161lbs

 

MVP: Jose Delgado

 

COACHES    Carl Marquez         Sixto Cepeda         Jesus Jimenez

 

 

 

 

WOMENS SOCCER:         [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  10]                   Overall record; 6-11-5

The team had a tough season and suffered through a terrible string of injuries.  Despite injuries to their best players (including MVP Paige Uriarte, torn ACL), the team had a nice season.

 

UT:              Liset Godinez                  Brenda Ibanez

                   Eizabeth Perez                Bianca Regalado

                   Gaby Zavala de Rojas      Vanessa Santana

                   Pairge Uriarte DUAL

 

Graduating Seniors:

Gabriella Zavalla, Grand Canyon University

Vanessa Santana, University of the Pacific

 

AWARDS:     Paige Uriarte, 1st Team All League

                   Gabriella Zavalla, 1st Team All League

 

MVP: Paige Uriarte

 

COACHES

Steve Lincoln

Ray Rojas

 

 

MENS SOCCER:                 [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  8]                      Overall record; 10-10-3

 

The Boys Soccer Team made the CIF Playoffs and traveled to Calexico even though they were the higher seed.   After some” home cooking”, Calexico was able to come back and eliminate our team.  After a 2 year  hiatus, it was nice to see the Boys Soccer squad back in the playoffs and we hope to return again next year.  The team finished the season going undefeated in their final 4 games!  In addition, the JV Team was the JV League Champs!

 

UT:              Max Bergman                  Bereket Berihun

                   Osbaldo Cervantes          Pedro Flores DUAL         

                    Mickey Levin                    Bruno Mattoli

                   Jose Penaloza                 Luis Talavera

 

Graduating Seniors:        

Max Bergman, UC Davis

Bereket Berihun, SDSU

 

AWARDS:     Max Bergman, 1st Team All League, HSSA Winner for San Diego High!

Julio Hernandez, 2nd Team All League

 

MVP: Max Bergman

 

COACHES

Chris Tolles

 

 

 BOYS BASKETBALL:          [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  8]                      Overall record; 12-15

For the second year in a row the Boys Basketball Team, under Coach Ryan Irmer, have made the CIF Playoffs.  The team played a very difficult non-league schedule which allowed them to prepare for a 2nd place finish in the Eastern League.

 

UT:                        Chase Benton                  Chris Jones

                             Nicholas Meech                Eric Snyder  

                             Jariel White

 

Graduating Seniors:

Chase Benton, Iowa St

Chris Jones, Sacramento St.

Dalawn Moss, DeAnza Cove JC

Eric Snyder, Fresno St.

 

AWARDS:     Adam Lacey, 1st Team All League

                   Cleo Monroe, 2nd Team All League

                   Dalawn Moss, 2nd Team All League

 

MVP: Adam Lacey 

 

COACHES

Irmer Ryan

 

 

GIRLS BASKETBALL:         [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  7]                     Overall record; 27-7

 Undefeated in League! League Champions (3rd year in a row)!  Made the CIF Finals for the 2nd year in a row!  The gals played some of the best teams in the state, if not the nation and lost in the Southern California Regional Playoffs to a tough team from Troy.

 

UT:              Amie Callaway TRI                             Madison Douglass

                    Tatiana Ethridge                        Monique Greer

                   Selena Hardy                            Alexis Harris

                   Breauna Robinson

 

Graduating Seniors,

Monique Greer, SDSU

Breauna Robinson, Chico St.

Teauna Robinson, Chico St.

 

AWARDS: All kinds of awards for players!

Tia Dixon, 1st Team All CIF, Player of the Year Eastern League, 1st Team All League, Union Tribune Player of the Month, and 1st Team All State for Juniors!

Amie Callaway, 1st Team All League, 1st Team All DI CIF, 2nd Team All CIF, 1st Team Union Tribune All Academic Team!  HSSA Winner for San Diego High!

Alexis Harris, 1st Team All League

Jade Taylor, 2nd Team All League

Tatiana Ethridge, 2nd Team All League

 

MVP:  Amie Callaway

 

COACHES    Lonnie Jones                    Octavia Person                Veracruz Sanchez

 

 

SPRING SPORTS:

 

 MENS GOLF:                      [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  4]                                      Overall record; 7-9

This year’s team was Coach Martin’s largest and likely his best!  Unfortunately, the other teams also had stellar golfers this year as well.  2 Golfers qualified for City Conference Tournament, Arturo Lopez and Jared Zisser.   Arturo shot a personal best, 79 at the tournament and he will be attending City College on the Price Scholarship (free tuition and monetary stipend for up to 4 years).  Only 20 scholarships are given each year.

 

UT:              Clarence Reyes                         Luis Soto

                   Ted Swartzbaugh                      Jared Zisser

 

Graduating Seniors,

Arturo Lopez, City College

Jared Zisser, UC Merced

Kyle Morales, Northern Arizona

Clarence Reyes, USD

 

AWARDS:

                   Arturo Lopez, City Qualifier

                   Jared Zisser, City Qualifier         

 

MVP: Arturo Lopez

 

COACHES:

Jeremy Martin

Richard Gomez

 

 

 

 

MENS TENNIS:                  [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  3]                                      Overall record; 4-8

 

The Boys Tennis team showed great improvement this year as they went winless last year.  This group played hard for 1st year coach, Cavitt Fowler who helped to turn around a struggling program.  We look forward to further improvement in years to come.

          UT:              Mickey Levin DUAL                   Luke Osorio

                             Ulisses Vazquez

 

Graduating Seniors,

Mickey Levin, UC Santa Cruz

Jeronimo Monares, City College

Josh Ross, City College

 

AWARDS:     Santiago Pinon, City Qualifier

                   Jeronimo Monares, City Qualifier

                   Alex Blair, City Qualifier

                   Javier Jimenez, City Qualifier

                   Ulisses Vasquez, City Qualifier

 

MVP: Santiago Pinon         

 

COACHES

Cavitt Fowler

 

 

MENS VOLLEYBALL:        [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  8]                   Overall record; 9-8 (best since 06’)

Coach Mello had a great group of kids this year and was able to get the first winning record since 2006.  This group of guys only loses 1 senior and promises to have a great year next season.

 

UT:              Brandon Matticks                       Eduardo Mayoral

                   Samir Senner                            Juan Ugarte

                  

AWARDS:     Xavier Williams, 1st Team All League

                   Juan Ugarte, 2nd Team All League

 

MVP: Xavier Williams

 

COACHES

Irene Mello

 

 

 

 SOFTBALL:                           [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  3]                                      Overall record; 14-9

 

This team is still very young and loses only 2 seniors.  This is the best record for softball in many years and the most wins ever (14)!   The team narrowly missed being selected for the playoffs.

They return their MVP, Kaili Anderson, a 1st Team All League selection.

 

UT:              Kaili Anderson DUAL                 Kassandra Macias

 

 

Graduating Seniors,

                   Kassandra Macias, City College

 

AWARDS:     Kaili Anderson, 1st Team All League

                   Jacqueline Lopez, 2nd Team All League

 

MVP: Kaili Anderson

 

COACHES

Carl Marquez

Jeff Parrot

Darryl Kinishero

Monique Taylor

 

 

 BADMINTON:                    [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  17]        Overall record; 14-2

This is the best record ever for Coach Ambler and the San Diego High Badminton Team!  They recorded 6 shutouts and were 8-0 at home. The team had a phenomenal season.  Many players qualified & won trophies for the various tournaments and as a team they finished ranking #3 in the county!

 

UT:              Victor Ballares                           Breana Couch

                   Jonathon Crow                         Kareen Escobedo

                   Amber Feistel                            Bernee Francisco

                   Sherry Guia                     Anthony Lopez

                   Anthony Lucatero            Kevin Padua

                   Michael Perez                  Robert Renkin

                   Jiem Ronald-Ronas          Natalia Royal         

                   Hsin-Yu Sun                     Alan Tam

                    Kim Tran

 

Graduating Seniors,

Anthony Lopez, UCSD

Natalia Royal, UCSD

Kim Tran, UCSD

Bernee Francisco, UC Santa Barbara

Sherry Guia, SDSU

Bobby Renkin, Sacramento St.

Jonathon Crow, Calvin College

Kareen Escobedo, City College

Victor Ballares, City College

Anthony Lucatero, City & Mesa College

Amber Feistel, City College

Kevin Padua, City College

                  

AWARDS:

          (All were ranked City Qualifiers others qualified but weren't ranked)

 

          Anthony Lopez, CIF Qualifier,  #4 in singles 6 in doubles for CIF            Kareen Escobedo, CIF Qualifier, #4 in singles #4 in doubles for CIF

                                Natalia Royal, CIF Qualifier

                                Kim Tran, CIF Qualifier

                                Amber Feistel, CIF Qualifier

                                Kevin Padua, CIF Qualifier

                                Tony Lucatero, CIF Qualifier

                                 Bobby Renkin, CIF Qualifier

 

MVP: Anthony Lopez & Kareen Escobedo

 

COACHES

Deron ambler

 

 

 

 

 SWIM:                                  [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  13]             Overall record:

Girls 8-5

Boys 6-6-1

 

It was a tough search finding a coach but we landed rookie Head Coach, Art Gutierrez and his first year was a good one.  We had another large team and many of our kids qualified for League and CIF playoffs. 

 

UT:              Christina Amara DUAL              Azan Araiza DUAL                                        Lauren Brewer                            Kamala Buchanan DUAL

                    Jose Delgado DUAL                  Madison Douglass DUAL

                   Dyllan Malloy                             Maya Miller

                   Jose Morales                                      Kai Pederson         

                   Sara Price                                  Amy Soderlund

         

Graduating Seniors,

Christina Amara, Huntington University (Indiana)  DUAL

Sabrina Bianchi, Montana St.

Jose “Eddy” Delgado, San Jose St.  DUAL

Josh Fuller, Mesa JC

Gabrielle “Brie” Ivie, UC Irvine

Gabriella Jaramillo, Humboldt St.

Dyllan Malloy, Stanford University

Joe Mar, SDSU

Carmen Ruiz-Valdez, Grossmont JC

Amy Soderlund, University of Hawaii (Manoa)

Yunuen “Juno” Valdovinos, Santa Barbara JC

 

 

AWARDS:     Jose Delgado, CIF Qualifier

                   Bruno Mattioli, CIF Qualifier

                   Alexander Monta, CIF Qualifier

Dylan Malloy, CIF Qualifier

                   Francesca Suarez, CIF Qualifier

                   Gabbriela Jaramillo, CIF Qualifier

                   Amy Soderlund, CIF Qualifier

                   Gabrielle Ivie,  CIF Qualifier

 

MVP: Jose Delgado & Gabriela Jaramillo 

 

COACHES

Art Gutierrez 

 

 

 

 TRACK:                                 [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  25]           Overall Record: 1-9

 Keir’s 2nd year coaching track turned out to be a difficult one as a significant number of kids decided not to attend practices and meets and eventually were either quitters or were cut from the team.  As for those who continued and did not leave their teammates high and dry, they showed true class and many of them had successful seasons.

UT:              Lamberto Aguirre             Elioenai Alcaide                          Antonio Barboza DUAL

                   Max Bergman DUAL        Amie Callaway TRI                   Renee Coquereau DUAL

                   Shanique Davis                          Jesus Elias DUAL             Marco Garcia

                   Monique Greer  DUAL               Gjovan Hunter DUAL                       Eric Judge DUAL

                   Breanna Junious              Khari Kimbrough DUAL              Bryce Lewis DUAL

                   Natalie Mason                           Jahzziel Murillo                          Kalvin Payne

                   Bruce Pazuengo     DUAL          Deshaun Scott       DUAL           Luis Talavera DUAL

                   Jesus Vazquez       DUAL          Katie Whitelock                         Sarah Whitelock DUAL

 

Graduating Seniors,                  

Breanna Junious, Cal State San Marcos

Max Bergman, UC Davis DUAL

 

AWARDS:     Eric Judge, 200m Eastern League Champ & CIF Qualifier

                   Amie Callaway, Discus & Shot Put Eastern League Champ & CIF Qualifier

                   Breanna Junious, 110m & 300m Eastern League Champ & CIF Qualifier

                   Jeyla Spencer, 110m & 300m CIF Qualifier

 

MVP: Eric Judge & Amie Callaway          

 

COACHES    Keir Kimbrough                         Luther Courtney              Ed Ramos      

Roland Morris                  Patricio Flatts                  Michael Williams               Tameka Estrella

 

 

 

 BASEBALL:                           [# of UT Scholar Athletes:  1]                                      Overall record; 15-14

 

The Baseball Team was one win away from repeating as the Central League Champs!  The team also narrowly missed a playoff birth.  It was another great season nonetheless and the team is looking forward to next year while losing only 2 seniors.

UT:              Raymond Jones

 

Graduating Seniors,

Tyler Martinez, TBA

Carlos Ceniceros, City College

 

AWARDS:     Raymond Jones,  1st Team All League

Tyler Martinez, 1st Team All League

Tyler Martinez, Central League Pitcher of the Year

David Reich, 1st Team All League

                   Carlos Ceniceros, 2nd Team All League

                   Nino Mills, 2nd Team All League

 

MVP:  Raymond Jones

 

COACHES

Sean Tucker

 

 

 

Here are the standout Award Winners for the year in Athletics:

 

4 X 6 Plaques

 

Fall Standout Student-Athlete

 Boys:  Khari Kimbrough, Football 3.55   

1st Team All League Football

Team Captain

 MVP     (Junior)

 

 Girls:  Elise Polk, Golf 4.14

1st Team All League

 MVP        (Also a Junior)

 

 

Winter Standout Student-Athlete

Girls:  Gabriella Zavala, Soccer 3.95 

1st Team All League

Full Ride Scholarship to Grand Canyon University

 

 

Boys:  Jose Delgado, Wrestling 3.10

Wrestling: MVP, Masters Qualifier @ 215lbs

Swim:  MVP, CIF Qualifier

 Headed to San Jose St.

 

Winter Standout Athlete:

 

Girls: Basketball, Tia Dixon 2.77

1st Team All League

Player of the Year Eastern League

1st Team All CIF

Union Tribune Athlete of the Month

All State Junior Team Division I 

(Junior)

 

 

 Spring Standout Student-Athlete:

 

Girls: Breanna Junious, Track 3.18

1st Team All League for the 110m & 300m Hurdles

League Champ in the 110 & 300m Hurdles

CIF Qualifier in the 110 & 300m Hurdles

Attending San Marcos St.

 

 Boys:  Eric Judge, Track 3.13

1st Team All League for the 200m Dash

League Champ in the 200m Dash

CIF Qualifier in the 200m Dash

MVP

 (Junior)

 

 

 

 

 8 X 10 Plaques

Male Student-Athlete of the Year:

 

Max Bergman, Soccer 4.29

SOCCER:

1st Team All League

Team Captain, MVP

UC Davis  (Soccer Scholarship)

TRACK:

Varsity Runner, 400m and 4 x 4 relays

 

 

Female Student-Athlete of the Year:  &

3 Sport Athlete of the Year:     

 

Amie Callaway, Volleyball, Basketball, & Track, 3.79

 VOLLEYBALL:

2nd Team All League

MVP

 

BASKETBALL:

1st Team All League

1st Team All DI CIF

1st Team Union Tribune All Academic Team

2nd Team All CIF

HSSA Award Winner

 

TRACK: (Throws & Relays)

1st Team All League Shot Put

1st Team All League Discus

League Champ Shot Put

League Champ Discus

CIF Qualifier in Discus & Shot Put

(Another Junior) 

 

SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETES HONORED IN THE CIF HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY!  SEE BELOW…

On Sunday, May 22nd, the San Diego CIF Section inducted some of the most famous San Diego county high school athletes of all time.  One aspect of the induction ceremony featured the San Diego CIF’s 50 for 50…the 50 greatest athletes over the first 50 years of the San Diego section of CIF.  San Diego High School was fortunate enough to have 3 Student-Athletes honored in the 50 for 50… Charde Houston, Meb Keflezighi, and Oscar Foster (read more about them below).  A second aspect of the ceremony featured San Diego CIF’s Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.  2 San Diego High School Student-Athletes were recognized into the Hall of the Fame, Charlie Powell and Ezell Singleton!  Please keep reading below to learn more about some of San Diego High School’s storied athletes!

 

Charlie Powell

Powell was Southern California’s High School Player of the Year in 1950, although he played only 6 ½ games because of one season ending injury that delayed joining the basketball team. Powell played end and fullback at San Diego for three seasons. He also starred in basketball, baseball and track & field. He held the school shot put record of 57-9 ¼ for more than 30 years. Powell played pro baseball in the St. Louis Browns’ minor league system after graduating in 1951, but switched to football a year later. He signed as a defensive lineman with the San Francisco 49ers and, at age 19, was the youngest player in NFL history. He harassed Detroit QB Bobby Layne into several sacks in Powell’s first NFL game. Powell played pro football into the ‘60s, part of the time with the AFL’s Oakland Raiders, with time out for a boxing career. In 1963, Powell fought Muhammed Ali (then known as Cassius Clay)! 

 

Ezell Singleton

Singleton had a 21-2 record as a starting quarterback at San Diego High and was one of the few Duane Maley-coached players to attain varsity status as a sophomore. Singleton threw for 28 touchdowns as a senior in 1958, completing 62 percent of his passes for more than 1,700 yards. The Cavers were a run-oriented team. Singleton averaged about 16 passes a game. He also started at guard for two seasons in basketball and was a three-year starter in baseball. San Diego High won league championships in every sport in which he played, a total of eight titles out of a possible nine. Singleton went on to start at tailback in UCLA’s single-wing offense and played in the 1962 Rose Bowl.

 

Oscar Foster

San Diego – Basketball – 1960s

Foster was the section Player of the Year in 1967 on a Cavers team that defeated Mount Miguel 54-53 for the Class 2A championship.  His 6-foot-7 frame made him one of the tallest players on the floor.  Combine that with the ball-handling skills of a point guard and the outside shot of a shooting guard and he was nearly impossible to defend.  He totaled 1,766 career points, which was then a section record.

 

Charde Houston

San Diego – Basketball – 2000s

Houston was a two-time section Player of the Year who led the Cavers to a Division I title – with a 61-56 win over Mt. Carmel in 2004.  She is the section’s career scoring leader (3,837 points), with three of the top five single-season scoring performances.  She set a single-game section record as a sophomore with 67 points against Morse, then beat it as a junior with 71 points against Castle Park.

 

Meb Keflezighi

San Diego – Track/Cross Country – 1990s

He dominated the distances for the Cavers, winning section titles in the 1600 in 1993 and both the 1600 and 3200 in 1994.  Meb pulled off the rare double with state titles in both events in ’94.  He won three straight cross country titles from 1991-93, including a state championship his senior year when he finished second in the Footlocker National Cross Country Championships that year.

 

Thanks for reading this novel!  We hope to see you at the games/matches/events, next year!!!  We anticipate the most Athletic Scholarships ever next year!  Next year should be nothing short of phenomenal!!!

Go CAVERS!!!

Ty Guzik

Athletic Director