Recognizing individual standouts

This week, the Nevada Appeal is publishing its annual All-Carson Country fall sports selections, a look at athletes representing the six high schools in team sports within our circulation area. And, keeping with tradition, I like to take time to recognize athletes who participate in the individual sports as well.

I like to call it an honor roll of athletes who were standouts from the tennis, girls golf and cross country season in both the Northern 4A and 3A divisions.

GOLF

Luxchmi Gill, sr., Galena: Gill won her fourth straight Northern 4A individual championship - she shot 141 for two rounds at the Golf Club at Fernley - and helped the Grizzlies to their sixth straight regional team title. Gill and Galena both finished second at the 4A state tournament. Gill has signed to play at the University of Nevada.

Liz Rankl, sr., Carson: A two-sport athlete (she is a softball shortstop) who finished as the Sierra League's No. 1 player during the regular season and then shot 167 to earn her third trip to the state golf tournament. She tied for seventh at state. An academic all-state student.

Michelle Bick, sr., Galena: Capped an impressive four-year prep career as she tied for seventh at state. She was third at the regional tournament two years in a row to earn first-team all-region honors.

Kalli Mannos, sr., Galena: Finished fourth at the regional tournament and shot 94 at state. She has been first-team all-region the last two years.

GIRLS TENNIS

Julianne Burgarello, jr., Galena: Won her third Northern 4A girls singles and championship, then won her second 4A state title in three years (she took third in 2003). She only dropped five games total while beating three straight opponents at state.

Melissa Oglesby, sr., Douglas: Came into regionals as the Sierra League's No. 2 seed, only to lose a three-set match in the first-round. She lost in the 2003 regional quarterfinals - 7-6 on a 10-8 tie-breaker in the third game - and reached the finals as a sophomore in 2002.

Amber Whitworth-Greta Schnauser, Carson: The Sierra League's No. 5 seed coming into the regional tournament, they advanced to the quarterfinals.

BOYS TENNIS

Wes Reimer-Chris Schwartz, Galena: Finished as regional boys doubles champion and state runner-up. Reimer, a junior, and Schwartz a sophomore, earned first-team all-region honors. Galena defeated Reno 32-13 to win the regional team title.

Josh Sorich-Gage Grobben, Douglas: The Sierra League's No. 1 seed reached the regional tournament semifinals. They lost to Reimer and Schwartz in the semifinals, then their bid to reach state fell short in a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 loss in a two-hour third-place match.

Josh Caron-Tyler Lewis, Carson: Came out of the Sierra League season as the No. 2 seed then advanced to the regional tournament quarterfinals before losing to a Bishop Manogue team that qualified for state.

CROSS COUNTRY

Daniel Geib, jr., Galena: His big season ended with second-place finishes at the regional and state meets (his 5K time at state was 16:29.) He also placed second in the Division II race at the Stanford Invitational in September.

Michael Van Antwerp, jr., Galena: Came on strong late in the season to place seventh at the regional meet and fourth at state. He ran 16:12 to finish 19th at the Junior Olympic nationals this past Saturday in Schaumburg, Ill. An academic all-state student.

Christy Works, fr., Carson: Ran to a breakthrough victory at the Carson Invitational, then placed seventh at the regional meet (20:47) and 22th at state.

Annie Brinson, jr., Carson: A three-year veteran of the Carson program, Brinson was 11th at the regional and 15th at state. She ran 19:10 for 5K at the Junior Olympic Pacific Association championships last month at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Alyssa Abbott, jr., Galena: Placed second at the regional meet with a strong 20:08 effort at Rancho San Rafael Park then took 10th at state. An academic all-state student.

Patty Capistrant, sr., Carson: Highlighted her four-year career at Carson with a 14th-place effort at the regional meet, good enough to send her to state for the first time. An academic all-state student.

Jose Barajas, sr., Dayton: The vastly improved Barajas placed fourth at the Northern 3A regionals and third at the 3A state meet, a few strides ahead of teammate Nathan Kato. The Dust Devils finished second as a team at both the regional and state meets.

Contact Dave Price at dprice@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-1220.