Megan Goethals
Photo courtesy of GetShotByBob.com
Two of the premier high school events in the country were held over the weekend.
The Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in San Diego, Calif., produced the most exciting results when Megan Goethals (Rochester, Mich.) overcame a 15-meter deficit with about 800 meters left to nip Chelsey Sveinsson (Greenhill, Addison, Texas) in a spectacular finish. Both girls were timed in 17:07 over the rainy, 5000-meter course.
“She’s been a rock star in school today,” Rochester coach Larry Adams said of the University of Washington recruit.
Lukas Verzbicas dominated the boys race, winning in 15:08. The Carl Sandburg (Orland Park, Ill.) star is the first sophomore to win the Foot Locker boys crown and he did it by a whopping 15 seconds over the runner-up.
* At the same time, the nation’s premier wrestling event – the Ironman – was held in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. No. 1-ranked Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) captured its ninth team championship with 196 ½ points. Its individual champions were Evan Silver (112), Chris Villalonga (140) and Mike Evans (189).
The nation’s consensus No. 1-ranked wrestler, Logan Stieber (Monroeville, Ohio), earned MVP honors by winning all five matches at 125 pounds. The Ohio State University-bound standout has lost just one match during his high school career.
Malcolm Jones, Oak Christian
Jose L. Marin
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.) senior running back/linebacker Malcolm Jones has been named Gatorade National Football Player of the Year. His award was presented to him by former winner Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins. The 6-1, 220-pounder has a 3.46 GPA and has made a commitment to UCLA.
* Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) senior Jordan Hicks (6-2, 220) has won the second-annual Butkus Award, signifying him as the nation’s premier linebacker. The award was presented to him by Hall of Famer Dick Butkus.
* Mr. Football awards have gone to Duncan Byrnes senior running back Marcus Lattimore in South Carolina and West Lafayette senior quarterback Daniel Wodicka in Indiana. Lattimore, one of the nation’s top recruits, finished his brilliant career with 7,003 yards and 87 touchdowns.
* Lancaster Catholic senior quarterback Kyle Smith completed just one touchdown pass during a 23-21 victory over Philadelphia West Catholic, but it set a Pennsylvania state record with 50 this season and propelled his team into this week’s Class AA state championship game against Greensburg Central Catholic.
* Cayuga senior running back Traylon Shead continues to climb not only in the Texas charts but also nationally. Last week he ran for 218 yards and four touchdowns during a 41-19 victory over Ganado, pushing his career total to a spectacular 10,147. Cayuga plays No. 1-ranked Albany (15-0) Saturday for the Class A state title.
* Mission Bay (San Diego, Calif.) senior quarterback Dillon Baxter broke the San Diego Section single-season rushing record with a 384-yard performance during a 48-17 Division IV championship victory over Valley Center. Baxter, who finished with 2,974 yards, also tied the record with seven touchdowns.
* Tri-Cities Prep (Pasco, Wash.) senior quarterback Will Hoppes (6-1, 190) set 8-man national records this year for most career yards (13,251), career passing yards (10,537), career completions (593), career touchdown passes (142), single-game passing yards (639) and single-game total offense (756).
* In Oregon, Eugene Sheldon (14-0) outlasted Portland Jesuit, 50-43, in a Class 6A state championship game. Senior running back Keanon Lowe (5-10, 175) – a University of Washington recruit - carried 40 times for 310 yards and six touchdowns for Jesuit. The Sheldon juggernaut finished its season with a large-school state-record 720 points.
Vetter wins No. 800
Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) basketball coach Stu Vetter achieved his 800th victory with a 74-25 rout of Liberty.
* Notching their 500th coaching victories last week were Bob Rozanski (Serra Catholic, McKeesport, Pa.), Joe Lynch (Strongsville, Ohio) and Willie Gibson (Santaluces, Lantana, Fla.).
* Joe Otis (Valparaiso, Ind.) and Chris Renner (Ballard, Louisville, Ky.) picked up their 300th victories.
* USA Basketball has named James McAdoo, a 6-8 junior from Norfolk Christian (Va.), as its Male Athlete of the Year. At age 16, he is the youngest player to receive the award in its 30-year history.
* Palmetto (Miami, Fla.) senior Tim Hardaway Jr., a 6-5 guard, scored 42 points during losses to Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest (93-66) and Sagemont (72-65).
* In Alabama, Hueytown snapped a 44-game losing streak with a 50-44 victory over Chelsea.
* Rose Hill Christian (Ashland, Ky.) has been banned from state-tourney participation in 2010 and 2011 for recruiting violations. It also has been fined $6,000 for violating six state bylaws. Its most famous player is O.J. Mayo, who as an eighth grader led his team to the state quarterfinals.
Three players reach 1,000
On the same night in the Nashville, Tenn., area, Kelli Cowan (East Literature), Chelsea Nappier (Lighthouse Christian) and Sarah Collins (Creek Wood) all scored the 1,000th point of their basketball careers.
* In Minnesota, Moose Lake-Willow River posted a rare basketball shutout, beating Wrenshall, 65-0.
*Green Hope (Cary, N.C.) sophomore Kristen Gaffney had 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 steals during a 77-36 rout of Panther Creek. It marked the fourth consecutive triple-double for the 6-foot-1 standout, who is averaging 27.2 points.
* Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) is a team to watch with five outstanding freshmen making up the starting lineup.
Potpourri
* Glastonbury (Conn.) senior goalie Adam LaPlaca has been named High School Scholar Athlete of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. LaPlaca, who has a 4.55 GPA, plans to attend the University of Notre Dame.
* Penn (Mishawaka, Ind.) junior Sarah Hildebrandt proved that girls can hold their own against boys in high school wrestling by recording two pins and two decisions to win the 103-pound class at the Jim Nicholson Invitational in Elkhart.
* No. 4 seed Denis Kudla (Arlington, Va.) defeated No. 3 seed Marton Fucsovics (Hungary), 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, to win the boys-18 singles championship during the prestigious Eddie Herr Tennis Tournament in Bradenton, Fla.
