Prep spotlight: A leader has emerged for perennial East Bay girls water polo contender
WASHINGTON-FREMONT: ELLSWORTH STANDS OUT AS LEADER
Ava Ellsworth scored six goals in Washington-Fremont’s recent girls water polo match against Newark Memorial, but her contribution to the team went beyond the scoresheet in the Huskies’ 21-4 victory.
The senior’s voice boomed across the pool, directing teammates such as Allison Miranda, Cecelia Doeshot and Giola Duenas into advantageous positions as the Fremont program cruised to its eighth victory of the season.
“She’s a very vocal leader and she’s a great player,” coach Scott Harvey said. “She finds a way to motivate the girls. She sees things that I see, but I don’t have to communicate it because she gets it right away and can relay that message to the rest of the team ”
The Huskies are well on their way to a 10th consecutive winning season, but Ellsworth aspires for even more.
“I hope that we go undefeated in and win the league,” the prolific scorer said. “That would be awesome because we’ve done that for the past two years now.”
Of course, winning the Mission Valley Athletic League won’t be easy. Doing that would require victories against traditionally strong programs such as Moreau Catholic and James Logan.
“We’re looking forward to the Logan game, because that’s our senior night,” Ellsworth said. – Joseph Dycus
FLAG FOOTBALL: FREEDOM COACH LEARNING WITH PLAYERS
Kevin Hartwig has been in the game for a long time at Freedom High. Helping running backs Joe Mixon and Ronnie Rivers make it to the NFL, it’s safe to say Hartwig knows what he’s doing when his players are in helmets and pads.
But even in Year 2 of coaching flag football, the longtime head coach is learning the game at the same pace as his players.
“There’s just so much,” Hartwig said. “The rules change and I’m just trying to figure out the best way to be successful because it’s a lot different than 11-man football.”
But the work looks like it’s paying off.
Freedom has already surpassed its win total from last season, starting the year 7-0. The Falcons have lost their last three, but are much more competitive than they were last season. Led by senior quarterback Delaney Zimmer, the Falcons passing attack has sliced and diced opposing defenses.
Seniors Brooklyn Pierce and Kamille Fababier are speedsters in Freedom’s offense, giving Zimmer plenty of options when she drops back.
The explosiveness of this team has made coaching fun for Hartwig. Freedom is never afraid to take a shot downfield or try trick plays to get in the end zone.
“All of our girls are athletic,” Hartwig said. “Every one of our girls contributes for us on both sides of the ball. That’s what I like so much about this.” – Nathan Canilao
BOYS BASKETBALL: EAST BAY STAR COMMITS TO UC DAVIS
Jalen Stokes will be staying in Northern California.
The 6-foot-5 forward committed to UC Davis on Monday, he announced in a Twitter/X post.
Stokes earned All-Bay Area News Group and East Bay Athletic League first-team honors at Dublin last season after averaging 19.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 49% from the field.
In a surprising move, Stokes transferred to rival and reigning North Coast Section Division I champions Dougherty Valley for his senior season before the start of the school year.
Stokes will join a UC Davis program that won 20 games and finished third in the Big West last season. – Nathan Canilao
BOYS WATER POLO: EVERGREEN’S THREE CAPTAINS
Evergreen Valley coach Warren Butler has seen a lot of great South Bay water polo in his time, as the 70-year-old James Lick graduate was once a standout player at San Jose State almost a half-century ago.
All these years later, he’s still having a blast coaching the game he loves, and is leading perhaps the most talented group he’s had in his five years at Evergreen Valley.
“I am sincerely proud of the way that they communicate with each other and have great team chemistry,” Butler said. “That team chemistry makes a big difference.”
It starts with goalkeeper Owen Thomas, who has 97 saves this season.
“He’s the rock that you can count on to play good defense,” Butler said. “You need a leader that can orchestrate a team defense, and he does that.”
Offensively, the Cougars are paced by senior Justin Campbell, who has 31 goals for the 10-1 team.
“He’s one of the most skilled water polo players in the area,” the coach said.
And last but certainly not least is stalwart Jaiden Ton, who has seven assists but makes his biggest impact as a defender.
“He’s a good communicator, and above all else, sets a great example for the younger players,” Butler remarked. – Joseph Dycus
BASKETBALL: SAN FRANCISCO STAR PICKS TEXAS A&M
Arguably the best player in the Bay Area is headed for the SEC. Four-star Archbishop Riordan wing Jasir Rencher has committed to Texas A&M. The all-Bay Area News Group selection helped lead the Crusaders to a WCAL crown and an appearance in the NorCal Open Division title game.
“Thank you to all the coaches that have believed in me and been a part of my journey,” Rencher wrote on social media. “Can’t thank you guys enough for making my dreams into a reality. Much love. With that being said for the next 4 years I will follow my basketball dreams at Texas A&M University.”
The 6-foot-6 forward also had offers from LSU, Washington, UNLV, Oklahoma and other Division I schools.
“Jasir has been a joy to coach over the past four years,” Riordan coach Joey Curtin told this news organization. “He’s been a key reason for why our program has elevated to one of the best in the state. We are all so proud of him and it will be a pleasure to watch him play in the SEC.” – Joseph Dycus
FLAG FOOTBALL: PITTSBURG QUARTERBACK’S MIRACULOUS THROW
Pittsburg quarterback Alani Lopez had one of the best throws of the year and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Down nine points late in the second half to Freedom on Wednesday, Pittsburg stormed all the way back and had the ball down one with a minute left. Lopez did her best Patrick Mahomes impression, scrambling to her left and making an off-platform throw to the right corner of the end zone that was caught for a score by receiver Jurnee Cox.
The touchdown would eventually become the go-ahead score that won the game for Pittsburg at home. Despite the great play, head coach Paul LaCasse was on edge watching Lopez make that throw.
“I told her great play, but don’t ever do that again,” LaCasse said with a smile. “As a coach, I’m not going to coach that, but they had to dig deep and do whatever play works.”
Pittsburg (9-3) has won its last five games. – Nathan Canilao
LACROSSE: MENLO SCHOOL COACHES INDUCTED INTO HALL
Menlo School lacrosse coaches Blake and Cort Kim — twin brothers — have been inducted into the USA Lacrosse — NorCal Chapter Hall of Fame. Blake has coached at Menlo School for eight years, with Cort on staff for six of those seasons.
Both brothers were collegiate All-Americans at Albany, and later played for the Korean national team in the 2002 World Lacrosse Championship. Blake Kim was named a US Lacrosse Regional High School Head Coach of the Year as Sacred Heart Prep’s coach in 2011. – Joseph Dycus
BOYS LACROSSE: OAKLAND ATHLETIC LEAGUE JOINS THE PARTY
The Oakland Athletic League approved boys lacrosse as a sanctioned spring sport last week, with Oakland Tech and Oakland High becoming the section’s first two programs.
”This approval represents a significant step toward inclusive and accessible athletic opportunities for all students in Oakland public schools,” section commissioner Franky Navarro said in a statement.
The Oakland Lacrosse Club spearheaded the effort, and the organization will gift startup equipment to each school and hold clinics and other activities to facilitate the sport’s growth in the city.
“Youth participating in the OAL spring season will have access to the OLC’s year-round programming which includes expanded lacrosse instruction, leadership development, academic counseling, mentoring and wellness education,” OLC executive director Kevin Kelley wrote in a statement. – Joseph Dycus