As we near the end of another year it’s only fitting that we look back and pay tribute to some of the best moments in local sports.
Although there were too many stories to list, we’ve tried to capture some of the best moments from the first half of 2017 in words and pictures.
We’d also like to take time to thank the many contributors that help make our sports pages a true product of the community each week. Your continuing help and support are greatly appreciated.
The following is part one of a two part series.
(1) Flying Tigers soar – Senior all-leaguer Dominic Tripodi (#11) was introduced before a preseason basketball game for Analy last winter. The 2016-17 season will go down as one of the best in the program’s history under veteran coach Brett Page, with the Tigers posting an SCL championship mark of 12-0. Analy advanced to the CIF Nor Cal State tourney before wrapping up the season in March with an overall record of 25-7. Other team leaders included seniors Aidan Toner-Rodgers, Jordan Armstrong, Jack Newman, Spencer Vogel, Joe Chanin-Meiers , Shaviv Hoffman, Grant Schwall and Connor Waldo, juniors Zach Binsfeld and Luke Bertling and sophomore Quinn Vermuelen. Photo Greg Clementi
(2) King of the mat – Analy junior wrestler Trevor Bagan completed an historic season at the CIF State Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield in March. Bagan captured league and NCS titles in the 115-pound weight class to become the first Analy state qualifier since 2006. Under the veteran coaching family of father Jim Stevens and brothers Jimmy and Ryan Stevens, the Tigers also featured NCS qualifiers Preston Bagan, Jimmy Carreras and girl’s senior state qualifier Kim Juarez-Rico. Photo Michael Lucid
(3) League champs – El Molino senior wrestlers Thomas Mitchell (seated) and Travis Adams enjoyed a light moment during the 2016-17 season on their way to winning individual league titles. Under the watchful eye of head coach Ron Wright the Lions boasted senior NCS qualifiers Mitchell, Adams and Sire Clark, and sophomore Wyatt Ayers. Other team standouts were freshmen Deddy Coshnear, Nate Wheeler and junior Angelica Schmeichel. Photo provided
(4) Play at third – El Molino third-baseman Curtis Lewis fielded a throw as Analy base-runner Keaton Bates slid in safely in a varsity baseball clash in Forestville in April. Both teams had a successful 2017 campaign under Analy and El Mo coaches Jeff Ogston and Justin Lewis. The Tigers ran the SCL table to capture the pennant at 2-0 (24-5 overall) with standouts that included seniors Bates, Andy Noonan, Todd Noonan, Jack Newman, Jordan Parks, Drew Valez, Mason Snodgrass and Evan Peelen, and juniors Carson Pforsich and Jeff Pearson. The Lions (10-13) were led by seniors Jake Peter and Garret Crane, juniors Lewis, Wesley Hamner, TJ Schooley, Bradley Swinney and Justin Schaap, and sophomores Sam Wilson-Mietz, Jordan Hamner and Wyatt Stringfellow. Photo Greg Clementi
(5) Solid season – The Analy Lady Tigers basketball squad gathered during a timeout in the SCL playoff tournament in February. Under veteran coach Earl Pasamonte, the Tigers logged a second place league mark of 10-2 to land a spot in the NCS Division 3 playoffs before finishing the season at 19-10. Team leaders included seniors Bailey Hunter, Sophie McFadin, Kayla Cullen, Bella Niedermair and Maddie Strom, juniors Alexis Dibene, Lauren Lehmann, Claire Brown, Julie Ambrose and Lauren Murnin and sophomores Isabel Housman, Aleah Armstrong and Sierra Atkins. Photo provided
(6) Historic season – The El Molino boys track team captured its first league track title since 2004 under head coach Ryan Hopkins, completing an unbeaten SCL campaign in May. Team leaders included junior Jack Fricker (4 individual titles), senior distance specialist Brian Schulz and junior thrower Sire Clark. Top athletes of the girls were hurdles double winner Aubrianna Tait and middle distance star Ava Peterson. Analy also enjoyed a strong season, boasting individual SCL titlists Ross Simmons and Kim Juarez-Rico. Photo provided
(7) Play ball – Little Leaguers ran the bases at Laguna Park on April 1 as part of Opening Day festivities, marking the historic 60th season of the Sebastopol Little League. The SLL paid tribute to the inaugural 1957 season, with 12 original players running the bases, followed by the traditional introduction of teams, Little League pledge and National Anthem. This year’s league included some 350 players ranging in age from 4-16, filling out 35 teams in six different divisions. Regular season games ran through mid June, followed by the Tournament of Champions and finishing up with District-35 All Star tournaments in July. Photo Joe Kauwe
(8) Softball Champions – The Analy Tigers celebrated after clinching the 2017 SCL title in May. Under longtime head coach Nick Houtz, the Tigers posted an 11-1 league mark to finish one game up on Petaluma, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCS playoffs before ending the season with a 16-1-1 record. Standouts included seniors Peyton Bratton, Gema Gonzalez, Emily Dreyer, Payton Cords and Kahealani Lua, juniors Claire Nelson, Nicole Mearns and Gianna Bianchi and sophomores Carson Rasmussen, Makayla Kraemer, Emma Castleberry and Samantha Caughie. Photo provided
(9) Splashing to victory – Analy’s Sophie Boisseau powered for the wall to win the 100 Butterfly title at the SCL Swimming Championships in May. Boisseau, a double winner, was joined by Analy double-winners Marie Alameida, Jack Murphy and the girls 200 medley relay team of Boisseau, Alameida, Royer and Moussa. The Analy boys 200 medley relay team of Murphy, Josiah Miller, Enzio Schoffer, Miles Miller also won a league title. Capturing individual championships for El Molino were Ben Ziegler and Mariah Wong. Photo provided
(10) Bedlam in Forestville – The Lions celebrated moments after clinching the Marin County Athletic League boys volleyball championship in April. Under veteran pioneer coach Bob Geissinger, the Lions’ potent line-up featured senior MVP Jordan Kerkvliet, sophomore outside hitter Mac Osman, senior setter Alex Sanchez, junior middle-blocker Brandon Oxsen, senior outside hitter Levon Eral, sophomore outside hitter Jacob Sani and defenders Eduardo Rodriguez and Klint Olsen. Photo Greg Clementi
