Foothills Sentry - July 2022

Foothills Sentry Page 14 July 2022 CO M M U NIT Y SP O R T S If you water, save water. Every drop counts Learn more at eocwd.com 26 th Handball Challenge held The annual Knox/Barrera Handball Challenge, with players from Villa Park, El Modena, Or- ange and Richland High Schools in singles and doubles competi- tion, was held at the Villa Park High campus, June 3. It was the 26th annual compe- tition, a testament to the perse- verance of Johnny Johnson, the now-retired OUSD coach, who single-handedly created, and has continued to spearhead, this chal- lenge. The competition motto, “Building Bridges is our Goal” is exemplified by his continued reach and mentoring of middle schoolers through high school. Johnson began teaching hand- ball to boys in the Orange Uni- fied middle schools, as a way to provide an athletic outlet. The game requires little equipment – a ball and a wall – and no pricey uniforms or long practices. He has seen many young men grow up playing handball. Some of the players this year, now seniors heading off to college, have been with Johnson since their middle school days. Andrew Reyes and Robert Hernandez, graduating this year, have been playing under Johnson’s tutelage since middle school. Isaac Vasquez, heading to Santiago Community College, has been a player since his fresh- man year. The first Challenges were sponsored by Fred Barrera and Jo Knox; sponsorships have changed through the years, with this year’s contest being sponsored by Ro- tary Club of Villa Park. The con- test rotates between schools each year. There are no fees to enter the competition, or fancy trophies or medals. Lunch and drinks are provided, and the winners are happy with sweatshirts and the satisfaction of winning. Watching the play, it is clearly more about the sport and the ca- maraderie than the win. The game is fast, requires hand-eye coordi- nation, strategy and physically. Players quietly referee them- selves, determining if a ball is out of bounds or legal. Losers readily move to another court, and a new game commences. ElMo mountain bikers earn 2nd place finish The ElMo mountain bike club, back row from left, coach Jeff McLeary, Owen McLeary, Connor Poylio, Claire Timmermans, Kenny Suther- land, Brayden Lemp, Dylan DeBoer, Ian Lader, coach Todd Lounsbury, head coach Donny Ambrose; front row from left, coach Mary Huth, Camille Taperez, Danny Morones, Andrew Mysse, Ben Thom, Martin Thom, coach Diego Morones, Jacob Garcia, Cooper Nagele, Brendan Lemp, Coach Bow Lemp, coach Corene Lemp. Team captain Andrew Mysee completes at the SoCal finals. The El Modena High School mountain bike club placed second in the SoCal League thanks to one second place and our third place finishes by individual riders at the series final at Lake Cachuma. The SoCal League is part of the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) and is com- prised of teams ranging from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. The competition takes place with five races held at venues with moun- tain bike cross-country trails. Riders do not have to attend El Modena to be part of the club. NICA allows registered high school clubs to include middle and other high school athletes, as long as they live in the Orange Unified School District. Riders can also compete as indepen- dents. Although the season is over, student riders practice year round at Santiago Oaks and Irvine Re- gional Parks, and compete in non- NICA races. The ElMo club was established in 2017 by then-students Emma Timmermans and Landon Jacobs. New riders are always welcome. For information about register- ing, racing or coaching, visit so- caldirt.org. Sydney Somerndike, Villa Park HS Crestview League All-League softball Canyon High School (4-2, 23-6) placed four players on the Crestview All-League Team: Kylee Magee, Most Valuable Player. First Team were Carson Cooper (10), Bella Fraser (12) and Paloma Saenz (10). Second Team selections were Kendall Nevin (10), and Jessalyn Gal- legos (11). Villa Park (4-2, 24-5) named Sydney Somerndike (14-1) Player of the Year and shared Most Valu- able Player honors with Canyon’s Magee. First Team selections were Brianne Kang, Bethany Spurr, Claire Duckworth, Tiana Pool and Kalia Espere. The Sec- ond Team selection was Jordyn Lawhon. North Hills All-League softball El Modena (5-1, 9-20), co- champions of the North Hills League, placed two players on the First Team: Katlyn Simpson and Kaitlyn Galasso. Second Team players were Bella Gonzalez and Sara Pinedo. Co-Pitcher of the Year was Sam Stevenson. 2022 All-CIF Southern Section softball teams The following were selected by the CIF-SS Softball Coaches’ Committee. In Division 1, Player of the Year, Sydney Somerndike from Villa Park High (12), Pitch- er; and Kiana Estrada from Or- ange Lutheran High (12). In Divi- sion 3, Player of the Year Kylee Magee from Canyon High (12). Left to right are the doubles finalists Dylan Rodriguez, Roberto Her - nandez, Andrew Reyes, Jerry Herrera with Coach Johnson. Partners Hernandez and Reyes took the doubles championship for the year. Left to right are Isaac Vasquez, Roberto Hernandez and Andrew Reyes. Vasquez won over Reyes to take the 26th annual singles championship; all 3 Villa Park High seniors are longtime players under Coach J.