Photograph by Jeff Kearns
Tough Loss: Willow Glen senior Kailen Yoipini (right) goes up for the block in last week's loss to Bellarmine.
Grelli qualifies in two events for CCS
Willow Glen track team rolls at WVAL finals
By Dick Sparrer
The field was tougher last week than it was the week before. And it figures to be tougher this week than it was last week.
But that's just the name of the game for track and field athletes as they work their way to the Central Coast Section (CCS) championships set for May 24 at San José City College.
Track and field athletes have been battling through league qualifiers, hoping to stay in contention for the CCS finals. And those athletes who have qualified in league competition will face one more test this weekend--the CCS trials on May 18 at the San José City College oval.
Athletes in the Blossom Valley Athletic League (BVAL) fought their way through qualifiers last week, and only the cream of the crop remains as competitors gear up for CCS action.
The BVAL athletes competed in division finals early in the week, with the top finishers advancing to the BVAL championship meet last Saturday at Mt. Pleasant.
Willow Glen and Presentation both came out of the Saturday meet with a solid crop of qualifiers who will now compete at the CCS trials.
Sophomore Melissa Grelli placed in two events, and soph Mandy Williams and Nichole Kim will each represent Presentation at CCS, and Ngoan Phan, Michelle Castaneda and Lucy Lynn are Willow Glen trackers who have qualified for the section meet.
Grelli finished first in the 1,600 meters in 5:02.40 and she added a win in the 3,200 in 11:19 to qualify for the CCS trials in two events.
Williams finished third in the 800 in 2:21.9, and Kim was fourth in the triple jump at 34-2.
For Willow Glen, Phan finished second in the boys 3,200 in 10:07.0, with Castaneda fourth in the girls 100 hurdles in 16.48 and Lynn fourth in the girls high jump at 4-10.
Earlier in the week, the Rams had sprinted past the field in the West Valley Division finals. The Willow Glen boys ran up 108.5 points to finish first overall, with Branham second at 91, and the WG girls rolled up 201.5 to more than double the point total of runner-up Santa Teresa (89).
Castaneda and Christina Diaz were each double winners for the Rams in the division finals.
Castaneda took the 100 hurdles in 17.04, with teammate Erica Preiman third in 18.24. Castaneda was also first in the 300 hurdles in 51.25, with Preiman third in 59.72.
Diaz romped to win the 1,600 meters in 5:21.04 and took the 3,200 in 12:11. Janelle Zetterquist was third in the 1,600 in 5:45.55, and Kelsey Seibert was second in the 3,200 in 13:01.
Lynn was first in the high jump at 4-10, with Castaneda third at 4-6, and Preiman won the triple jump at 30-10, with Diana Eap fourth at 27-6.
Zetterquist picked up a second in the 800 in 2:31.65, with Eleni Mastorakos fourth in 2:33.15, and Brooke Cook was second in the shot put at 31-3.5, with Alejandra Montelongo third at 29-4. Montelongo was also third in the discus at 81-2.
Sequeena Holmes raced to a third in the 200 in 27.82. Edna Sison was third in the 100 in 13.75 and fourth in the 200 in 28.56.
In boys action, Phan won the 3,200 in 10:17.9, with Gilbert Rosales fourth in 10:38.85. Phan was also second in the 1,600 in 4:44.27, with Juan Delara third in 4:45.48.
John Neal came through with a second in the 110 high hurdles in 15.71, with Mike Bedolla fourth in 16.74, and Nate Oxsen was second in the discus at 128-10.
Luis Varela was third in the 800 in 2:11.20, with Alex Green fourth in 2:11.72, and Augustino Liguigan was third in the 400 in 52.91.
Rams fall to Bells
A sensational boys volleyball season came to an abrupt end last week when Willow Glen lost a five-game heartbreaker to mighty Bellarmine.
The Rams lost a tough 16-18, 15-12, 12-15, 15-11, 15-8 nod to the Bells to bring an end to the 2002 season. Willow Glen posted a solid 22-12 record in the recently completed campaign.
Seniors playing their final match for the Rams included Jesse Cruz, Zach Loya, Mark Sarinana, Evan Ball, Kailen Yoippini, Rudy Cervantes and Nick Husted.
Top returners for the 2003 season for the Rams figure to be junior outside hitters Frank Sarinana and Adrian Morales.
Kyle Smith, Jairo Arreola, Rich Salas and Craig Baker were other members of the Willow Glen team coached by Jef Wind and Eric Stachnick.
Season enders
The season came to an end last week for the Willow Glen baseball team when the Rams lost 15-3 in the final game of the year in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League (BVAL).
Junior infielder Thomas Ochoa singled and doubled to lead a six-hit effort for the Rams in the loss. Sophomore Justin Jeffrey added a double.
The Rams wrapped up the year with a 3-13 record in the division and a 6-18 mark overall.
In girls softball play, Willow Glen dropped a 4-1 decision to Pioneer in the final game of the year in the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL.
Freshman hurler Rachel Siehl tossed a six-hitter but was tagged with the loss in the game.
Presentation dropped a 3-0 nod to Mitty to end the 2002 season. The Panthers were 5-9 in the Mt. Hamilton Division. Nicole Rousseve tossed a six-hitter in the loss.
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
