VPS basketball earns top honors
Photo submitted
Villanova Prep head coach Eugene Ayala (right) addresses his crew during a timeout. Ayala was named the Frontier League coach of the year this season.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
This winter the Villanova Preparatory School boys’ basketball program was transformed under the guidance of first-year head coach Eugene Ayala. The Wildcats managed to win a league title for the first time in 16 seasons.
“It was all about the players buying in to what we were doing. They worked extremely hard. We got after it six days a week, we were in the weight room and we ran five miles a day and it paid off with a league title,” said Ayala.
Five VPS soccer players earn all-league honors
Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts
Villanova Prep junior Kate Anderson takes a corner kick in a game this winter. Anderson earned second team All-Frontier League honors.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News reporter
Despite not registering a win on the pitch this season, the Villanova Preparatory School soccer programs saw some great individual performances. As a result, five VPS soccer players earned all-league honors.
Rangers looking for first baseball victory
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Nordhoff’s Brayden Rogers makes solid contact in a game last spring. Rogers and the Rangers are hoping to get in the win column March 15 when they welcome Bishop Diego to town.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Nordhoff High School baseball team is still looking for its first win of the season after getting off to a 0-4 start. The Rangers opened the 2019 season a close 6-5 loss to the Carpinteria Warriors and then they fell to Malibu (8-6), Fillmore (7-3) and Santa Paula (6-2).
Ojai Valley Wrestling Club starts spring training
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
The Ojai Valley Wrestling Club has started its spring training schedule at Nordhoff High School; and all interested athletes are encouraged to take part. Practice sessions are offered Tuesday and Thursday evenings with the Tuesday sessions open to anyone of any age. The Thursday practices are for high school wrestlers only. For more information on the Ojai Valley Wrestling Club and its offerings, contact head coach Paul Clementi at 340-9563.
NHS basketball players earn All-League honors
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Nordhoff senior Wyatt Simms goes up for a lay-in against Valley Christian in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Nordhoff High School boys’ basketball team got hot late in the season and managed to win two playoff games, giving Ranger fans hope for a bright future. First-year head coach Scott Hannah led the Rangers to a 10-17 record overall and they went 5-5 in Citrus Coast League play, which was good enough for third place and a playoff berth.
In the postseason, the Rangers defeated Valley Christian and Westmark before falling to runner-up Oakwood. Thanks to their late season run, seven Nordhoff players earned postseason honors. Making the All-Citrus Coast League first team were junior Chase Plott and senior Wyatt Simms.
Boyd producing for Baylor Bears
Photo courtesy of Baylor University Athletics
The Baylor University baseball team is off to a solid 9-2 start this season. Former Nordhoff High School star Luke Boyd, who is in his second year with the Bears, has been a solid performer on the mound through the team’s first 11 games. In five appearances, Boyd has pitched eight innings, giving up three hits while striking out 14 batters. The Bears will be playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers March 8 through 10, with the March 10 game being televised on Fox Sports.
Ojai Valley School’s Mendoza pitches no-hitter in Spud victory
Photo by Avery Colborn
The Ojai Valley School Spuds routed Newbury Park Adventists Academy last week, 7-0. Pictured are: Coach John Wickenhaeuser (back row from left), Nicolas Cilia, Tyler Davis, Derek Mendoza, Aaron Wolf, Niklas Wekerle, Eli Miller, Brody Muller, Nolan Colborn, Joshua Hsu, Coach Doug Colborn, Adrian Ortiz, Coach Jeff Mendoza; Claire Alexander (front row from left), Daniel Dunlap, Soham Kondle, Elliot Oechsner, Ryan Farrell and Erik Hatley.
Avery Colborn, Ojai Valley News correspondent
The Ojai Valley School baseball team officially opened its season Feb. 26 with a 7-0 win over Newbury Park Adventist Academy.
Ruiz honored by Rotary Club of Ojai
Photo submitted
The Rotary Club of Ojai recently named Leslie Ruiz Physical Education Project Student of the Month. Ruiz, a sixth-grader at Mira Monte Elementary School, was honored by Rotary members and given a $300 check for her efforts. Ruiz is a standout volleyball player and hopes to become a medical doctor later in life. Mira Monte physical education teacher Emily Heath nominated Ruiz for the award.
Villanova nets win over Nordhoff
Ojai Valley New photo by Holly Roberts
Villanova Prep’s singles player Charlie Quest serves up a ball in a recent match.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Villanova Preparatory School and Nordhoff High School faced off Feb. 28 in a boys’ tennis match. When the dust settled, the two teams tied 9-9 in sets, but Villanova Prep managed to score the win, 70-66, on games, according to NHS head coach Todd Dickey.
VPS baseball starts 3-1
Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts
The Villanova Preparatory School baseball team is off to a 3-1 start this spring. The Wildcats started their season with wins over The Ojai Valley School (4-2), Valley Christian Academy (9-8) and Newbury Park Adventist (9-3). Villanova’s first loss of the season came Feb. 26 at the hands of the Cate Rams. Above, senior catcher Marcus Braun makes a play at the plate against Valley Christian Academy. Next up for the Wildcats will be a March 4 game at Carpinteria, before returning home March 8 when they will host The Ojai Valley School in a rematch. Both games are slated to get underway at 3 p.m.
The Thacher School soccer team ends season as CIF-SS runner-up
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Thacher’s Jake Mitchell (right) admires his handiwork as he finds the top corner of the goal against San Dimas is the CIF-Southern Section Division 7 finals.
The Thacher boys’ soccer team faced the San Dimas Saints in San Dimas for the Division 7 playoffs Feb. 23. While Thacher ultimately lost to San Dimas, the 5-4 game came down to the wire with two Ojai residents scoring in the last four minutes of the game. Senior Max Golbere scored at the 76-minute mark; and junior Jake Mitchell scored the third of his three goals in the final minute.
Nordhoff softball seeing success on and off the field
Photo submitted
The Nordhoff High School softball team recently spent time working at the Ojai Valley Family Shelter in an effort to give back to the Ojai Valley community.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
Nordhoff High School head softball coach Don Rodarte and his team have been active community members; and recently they have been doing good work on the softball field.
Outlaws advance to ORD finals
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Sef Kelmendi (right) looks to dribble past the strong defense played by Alex Frankenfield of the Blue Devils in recent Ojai Recreation Department action. Kelmendi helped his Outlaws get past the Blue Devils, 20-9. The Outlaws will face the Sixers for the ORD 3rd/4th grade championship March 2 at 12:30 p.m.
NHS tennis opens season with win
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Nordhoff High School boys’ tennis team opened its season Feb. 26 with a home match against Channel Islands High School; and the Rangers came away with a 14-4 team victory.
Highlighting the day for the Rangers were Shawn Rothermell, Elias Simon and Tony Syverson, who swept their singles sets. In doubles action, Nordhoff was led by Dakota Martin and Arthur Becker, who swept their doubles sets.