The graduating class of student/athletes of 2018 from Analy and El Molino high schools will be remembered for their many accomplishments, both on the field and in the classroom.
The athletes selected in this issue were among the shining stars and all had one thing in common–they represented their school and teams with tremendous talent, dedication and sportsmanship.
Although there were too many seniors to list, we congratulate the athletes for their accomplishments and pay tribute with words and pictures. The following is the second of a two-part series. Last week’s edition focused on female athletes
(1) Athleticism – El Molino’s Jack Fricker was the quintessential all-around athlete in an impressive multi-year career in football and track, rising to become a leader in each sport. Fricker was a gifted receiver on the gridiron, posing a scoring threat every time he touched the ball. He was even better on the high school track, where he won multiple individual league titles and led the Lions to back-to-back Sonoma County League championships.
(2) Speed – Analy’s Bennett Simpson was among the top athletes of his graduating class, earning multiple varsity letters in football and track. The leading running back on a pair of SCL champion football teams, Simpson was a workhorse in the backfield. He was nearly as successful as a sprinter on the track, winning individual titles in the 100 and 200-meter events.
(3) Skill – El Mo’s Ryan Pamatmat enjoyed a distinguished athletic career on Lion’s soccer and golf teams, emerging as a leader in each sport. A talented soccer player, Pamatmat was a respected and effective team member. He was among the top golfers on the Sonoma County League circuit, landing a spot in the North Coast Section Qualifying Tournament.
(4) Versatility – Analy’s Brenden Medina had few peers as a multi-sport athlete in football, basketball and baseball flashing his athleticism in each season. Medina turned in a great senior year as his team’s starting quarterback, leading the Tigers to the SCL title. He was also a key member of the Flying Tiger basketball squad and a spent his spring as a reliable starting pitcher on the baseball diamond.
(5) Talent – El Molino’s Avery Ransome will be remembered a great natural athlete who excelled in multiple varsity seasons in football and track, helping both programs reach lofty goals. A versatile footballer who could play any position, Ransome used speed and hand-eye coordination to help the Lions to the NCS playoffs. He was nearly as successful in track & field, where he starred as a sprinter, discus and shot put specialist.
(6) Skill – Analy’s Oliver Ziemer did nothing to diminish a great family soccer legacy in a great run for the Tigers, rising to become a key player on strong playoff-bound teams. Along the way, Ziemer emerged as a go-to player on offense, leading the team in nearly every offensive category.
(7) Production – El Mo’s Wes Hamner was at the core of Lion’s baseball success during a stellar multi-year career in Forestville, combining great consistency with tremendous production. A good infield glove man, Hamner was a terror with a bat in his hands, finishing among the team leaders in hitting for three varsity seasons in leading the Lions to the NCS playoffs each year.
(8) Tenacity – Analy’s Jacob Ponzo was as productive as they come in multiple seasons on the varsity football field, excelling on the offensive side of the ball. The team’s leading receiver, Ponzo put together a great senior campaign that included 41 receptions for 992 yards and 14 touchdowns, team bests in each category.
(9) Strength – Analy wrestler Trevor Bagan will simply be remembered as one of the very best to wear a Tiger’s uniform following an historic four-year career, rewriting the record book along the way. Among the program’s most decorated athletes, Bagan won multiple league and NCS titles while becoming the team’s first ever two-time state qualifier.
(10) Leadership – El Molino’s Curtis Lewis never met a sport he didn’t like in a strong multi-year career in football, basketball and baseball. On the gridiron, Lewis excelled on both sides of the ball. He was equally good as a power forward in hoops but did some of his best work as a solid-hitting infielder and pitcher on the diamond.
(11) Determination – Analy’s Tony Siri was one of the top multi-sport athletes in his class, emerging as a talented football, basketball and baseball player. A sure-handed receiver and defensive back on the gridiron, Siri helped the Tigers to a couple of SCL titles. He earned a varsity letter as a guard on the basketball court and spent his spring seasons swinging a hot bat on the baseball diamond.
(12) Heart – Analy’s Carson Pforsich was an inspiration to his graduating class not just for his play in a stellar, multi-year career in football and baseball, but for the adversity that he struggled to overcame off the field. A team captain, receiver and defensive back on the gridiron, Pforsich helped the Tigers to a pair of SCL championships while playing a key role on Analy’s 2017 pennant-winning baseball squad. Tragedy struck last fall when he suffered a severe spinal injury in a diving accident to sideline him for the rest of his senior year.
