Almaden Resident
Sports
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Charging Charger: Leland's Adam Ondi was named the Most Valuable Player in the Santa Teresa Division after leading the Chargers to the division championship. Ondi ran for 1,318 for Leland this fall.
Chargers, Mustangs cap year by winning all-league honors
By Kevin Sparrer
The only feeling better for a coach than knowing one of his players is the best in the league, is knowing that two of them are.
Leland girls water polo coach Eric Rise is enjoying that feeling this year because two of his players were so good that the league decided they should both be Most Valuable Players.
Seniors Christy Stibbe and Elena Santamaria were named co-MVPs in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League for their outstanding skills in water polo.
Along with the MVPs, Rise can also boast about the Sophomore of the Year award with Leland's Kylie Sarpa taking the honor. Rise himself was selected as the Coach of the Year in the division.
Leland also did well with the number of players that were named to the all-league teams. Seniors Courtney Monsees, Allison Mossing and Andrea Hennerman were all awarded first team all-league spots. Sophomorers Sarpa and Courtney Gold were named second team all leaguers for the Chargers.
Football star Adam Ondi, volleyball standout Chaulet Scala and boys water polo sensation Raymond LaRochelle were also MVP award winners for the Chargers this fall.
Ondi was named the MVP in the Santa Teresa Division as a running back after rolling up 1,318 yards and scoring 140 points this season for the division champion Chargers.
Senior Lance Gemette received the Most Outstanding Offensive Player award as a running back and junior Kevin Krail was awarded the Most Outstanding Defensive Back award.
Coach Jason Tenner was named Coach of the Year in the division.
Leland has a long list of players that received first team all-league honors, including seniors Daniel Schroeder, David Yates and Roland Li as offensive linemen, Jon Erickson as a tight end and Anthony Sunseri and Joe Peera as defensive linemen.
Sophomore Amir Tadros was named to the all-league second team in the offensive line, juniors Jeff Sommer and Michael Ledeit as linebackers and junior R.J. Singer as a defensive end.
In girls volleyball, Scala was the team leader and was named the MVP in the Mt. Hamilton Division for her effort. Her coach Chris Hansen was selected as the division's Coach of the Year.
Seniors Grace Chang and Joyce Chang both were named to the first team all-league squad, while juniors Vicki Chang and Debbie Gillick were second team all-leaguers.
LaRochelle received the MVP award in the Mt. Hamilton Division for his performance in the pool for the Leland boys water polo squad.
Matt Eisenberg was awarded the Junior of the Year award and senior Max Dobruskin and junior Eric Hsu received first team all-league honors. Juniors Marcus Gortner and Sean Kagan were second team all-leaguers.
Seniors Sara Adams and A.J. Huffman won all-league first team spots for the Chargers in field hockey, while seniors Megan Stiller and Jenna Ryan were second team picks.
Pioneer also had its fair share of the award winners this season.
In football, senior Steven Lopes was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the BVAL as a linebacker.
Senior Jesse Herrera won all-league first team defensive honors as a linebacker, and junior Shane Murray and seniors Chris Brookmeyer and Jason Wetzel were named to the all-league first team on offense. Murray was a running back, while Brookmeyer was a lineman and Wetzel was a tight end.
Senior defensive back Kyle Burchfiel was named to the all-league second team for defense and junior running back Marquee Heffner received second team all-league honors on offense.
In girls volleyball, senior Heidi Isaacson earned the Senior of the Year award in the West Valley Division of the BVAL.
Senior Carolyn Kanzaki was named first team all-league and junior Heather Goodman was named to the second team.
Elyssa Samson was named the Junior of the Year for the Mustangs in girls water polo this year in the Mt. Hamilton Division. Seniors Katrina Musco and Taylor Feezor were named to the all-league first team and senior Megan Peterson was on the second team.
Pioneer's Brian Lopoccolo was named the Sophomore of the Year in the Mt. Hamilton Division for boys water polo.
Senior Kirk Kaubish won an all-league first team award, while seniors Sean Urenda and Jason Burke were second team all-league selections.
