The year 2016 will long be remembered for outstanding individual and team achievements by Windsor athletes in what amounted to an historic year in local sports. This week, we’ll take a look back at many of the highlights over the past 12 months. Although there were far too many stories to list, here are some of the year’s best.
(1) Championship season – Windsor High School senior basketballer Gabe Knight drove on a Montgomery defender in a January meeting at Montgomery. The Jaguars, under head coach Travis Taylor, finished up one of their best seasons in school history with a North Bay League title and a berth in the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs in March before ending the season with a 25-4 record. The team also included senior veterans Brent Tucker, Parker Canady, Chaise Noles and Curtis Johnson. (Guy Foster)
(2) Solid campaign – Varsity hoops standout Cecillia Smith pushed the ball up-court in a regular season outing against Santa Rosa in February. Led by veteran coach Jeff Paul and second-year players Hannah May, Gabby Giddings, Sabrina Simili and Mattie Murphy, Windsor finished up an injury plagued 2015/16 season with a 9-18 record in missing out on the NCS playoffs, but fueling the team with added motivation for the returning players the following season (Greg Clementi)
(3) State medalists – The six-time North Bay League champion WHS wrestling team, led by NCS champions and state medalists (from left) seniors Anthony Spallino (8th), Dominic DuCharme (3rd) and Beau Colombini (6th), enjoyed one of its best seasons history. The Jags won their fourth North Coast Section Duals crown before taking third overall at the NCS Championships. Under the guidance of head coach Rich Carnation, Windsor sent a record five athletes to the CIF State meet in Bakersfield, including David Perez and Joe Valdes. (photo provided)
(4) Fireballer – Jaguar’s senior pitcher Sam Penning delivered a pitch in an April North Bay League outing at Casa Grande. Behind head coach Corey Sunday, Windsor finished up a strong 2016 campaign with an overall record of 11-13, just missing out on an NCS playoff berth. In addition to team MVP Penning, the Jags also included standouts Hunter Disidoro, Mat Silva, Tanner Kane, Patrick Tappin and, Joey Pignataro, Kobe Roman and Max Brown. (Greg Clementi)
(5) Front runners – Jaguar’s relay runner Maddie Call (front) took the baton from teammate Alyssa Stewart at the rain-soaked Windsor Relays in April during a highly competitive track and field season. Under coaches Doug Hastings and Larry Arterberry, the Jags qualified 16 athletes to the NCS meet, including double NBL champion Call, Giselle Saleby, Stewart, Kelsie Granneman, Ian McTaggart, Filberto Zuniga, Scott McLaughlin, Raven Davis and Anthony Spallino. (Michael Lucid)
(6) Competitive season – The WHS lacrosse team made its first ever North Bay League playoff tournament appearance in May in just its second season under coaches Ross Albertson, Stuart Gentry, Brett Sack and Thamen Mason in a strong 7-11 campaign. The Jaguars featured standouts Casey Horton, Jessie Valario, Olin Piotter, David Escarcega, Bas Osborn and Christian Albertson. (photo provided).
(7) Test of will – Runners negotiated the run segment through a crowded Keiser park at the 27th Ironman Vineman Triathlon on July 30. The race, which included athletes representing 28 countries and 48 states, began at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville and finished with a 26.2-mile marathon run ending at Windsor High School. The event would prove to be the last, as Ironman announced later in the year its planned move to Santa Rosa. (Greg Clementi)
(8) Cinderella Season – Windsor goalie Briana Davis went high for a save in the NCS title match with Montgomery in November. The Lady Jaguar’s varsity soccer team defied the odds in a remarkable 13-10-2 campaign, advancing all the way to the North Coast Section Division 1 playoff finals before falling 3-0 to the nationally Vikings. The road to the title match was fraught with peril, with Windsor needing to win its final three league matches to qualify for the playoffs, then notching NCS overtime wins over Santa Rosa, Maria Carrillo and Ukiah. The team was led by coach Mark Archambault and featured standouts Katie Bianchi, Madi Baer, Taylor Brogden, Maddie Call and sisters Emily and Megan Williman. (Greg Clementi)
(9) NBL Champs – The Lady Jaguars celebrated a championship North Bay League campaign in November, forging a first-ever four-way tie with Maria Carrillo, Cardinal Newman and Montgomery with identical 11-3 records. Behind veteran coach Rich Schwarz, the Jags scored wins over El Cerrito and Montgomery before falling to eventual champion Campolindo in the NCS playoffs, qualifying the team for a trip to the CIF State Nor Cal Tournament to finish the season at 19-7. Windsor was led by setter Bridget Aikawa, outside hitter Allison Post, middle hitter Brittany Johnson, libero Kylie Benjamin and defenders Celina Sylvester, Kaitlyn Alger and Nikki Young. (Guy Foster)
(10) Pay dirt – Windsor running back Jackson Baughman dove over the pylon to score a touchdown during a tremendous fall football campaign. After completing the North Bay League at 4-3, Windsor posted North Coast Section playoff wins over Santa Rosa and Granada. The Jags’ remarkable run ended in the NCS title game against Campolindo, falling to the Cougars 40-20. The team was led by quarterback Kobe Roman, running backs Baughman and David Escarcega, receivers Jordan Diaz, Patrick Tappin, Zack Rackham and Jorgen Sarganis, and defenders Bas Osborn, Jarrod Mulholland, Justin Fagaata and Brett Stibi. (Vera Roman)
