Willow Glen Resident

Sports

Rams ready for return trip to state meet

By Kevin Sparrer

It's been four years in the making, and now for the fourth time senior Mohamed Abdalla will head to the state finals in Woodward Park in Fresno, this time hoping to lead the Willow Glen cross country team to a state championship.

Abdalla won the Division III boys state title last year by six seconds and returns to defend his title, joined by a talented cast of teammates. He has hopes of extending the season and leading his team into the Footlocker Western Regional cross country championships, but first things first.

"Abdalla had geared his training this year more toward Footlocker West. He wants to qualify for the finals," said Willow Glen cross country coach Victor Santamaria. "He is not so much concentrated on state as he is the week after, though he would love to defend his title and is looking to do so."

Behind Abdalla, who is the only senior on the team, is junior Nohe Lema.

"Lema really stepped up this year and took the place of Marcos Corona from our 2006 squad. Lema is another runner that could finish in the top 10 at state," said Santamaria.

Along with Lema is another junior, Valentino Julien. "Julien has been running really well for us," said Santamaria.

Junior Nati Wolde has been strong in the fourth spot this year. Wolde is also one of the only returning runners for Willow Glen who took part in the state meet last year as a sophomore and hopes to better his finish at 67th. Santamaria said, "Wolde is our fourth man right now. He was sick at the Central Coast Section finals and should be running right with Valentino."

The only freshman on the team, Donald Plazola, will be running in the five spot for the Rams. "He has great talent," said Santamaria. "He has the potential to make a big surprise and impact at the state level."

Junior John Ladd and sophomore Christian Vargas will also be running for the Rams in the state meet.

"This is Ladd's first year, and he did great at the league finals and was sick at the CCS finals, so the potential is there for a better finish," said Santamaria.

Vargas was another participant in last year's state meet, running in the sixth spot for the Rams.

"The thing that makes our team unique is we have the best depth since I've been coaching," said Santamaria. "We have always had a strong one-two, and it was a nice surprise to see Lema step up, but four of the seven guys are first-year varsity runners who have improved a lot, which is a credit to their talent and hard work over the past couple of years. It is definitely a realistic goal to get into the top four at state and that would be great for us.

"The team is also pretty young overall, which is exciting for next year."

Panthers will run

Also heading to the state meet will be the girls from Presentation after finishing second in Division II. Leading the way for the Panthers will be senior Michelle Callaway, who took sixth in the division at CCS in 18:32.

Behind her will be senior Tracy Vargo (11th, 18:43), junior Rebekah Phillips (17th, 19:07), junior Shannon McCarthy (20th, 19:23) and freshman Gina D'Arpino (23rd, 19:35).

Rounding out the team for the Panthers are sophomore Rachel Phillips and senior Nicole Zanardi.

Barnetts at state

Though Leland's girls cross country team is not continuing on to the state meet, the Chargers will have a pair of representatives. Both junior Stephanie Barnett and her sophomore sister Claudia Barnett will be running at the state level.

For S. Barnett, this marks her second appearance in two years and she hopes to better her 13th place finish in Division II in 2006.