Recognizing individual athletes

Now that our annual All-Carson Country lists for the team sports have been published, I'd like to recognize some of the spring sports season's standouts from the individual sports.

Given the number of high schools within the Carson Country area, space limits the chance to list all of the athletes I would like, but here is an honor roll of athletes from golf, swimming and diving and track and field:

GOLF

Dan Wittlinger, so., Galena: Shot 1-under par 71 on a frigid day at Wolf Run to earn medalist honors at the Northern 4A Regional and then finished as the state runner-up. He shot 151 for 36 holes at the state tournament, one shot out of the lead.

Tim Hohl, sr., Carson: A four-year veteran for Carson, Hohl tied for fifth at the Northern 4A Regional Tournament and earned his second state tournament trip. He shot 155 at the regional and finished 22nd at state with a 161.

Trent Hennessy-York, sr., Douglas: A four-year veteran, served as team co-captain and shot his way to the state tournament with a 159, including an opening-round 76 at the Northern 4A tournament. He shot 169 at state.

Eddie Shope, sr., Douglas: The other half of the Tigers' senior leadership tandem, Shope was team co-captain and finished 15th at the regional tournament with a 165.

Steve Kafchinski, sr., Galena: He had a solid career at Galena (it's his third straight on this honor roll). He shot 161 at the regional to help the Grizzlies win their second straight team title and third in four years, then shot 161 at state.

J.T. Cockerill, so., Carson: Finished 11th at the Northern 4A tournament, one spot and two strokes away from qualifying for state. A sophomore who has been named on this list twice now.

Matt Leestma, jr., Fernley: Placed second at the 3A state tournament in Mesquite by shooting 160 (81-79). His 79 was the low score on the final day. Leestma was also a top-10 finisher at state in 2003.

Kevin Goles, fr., Dayton: Shot 160 to finish seventh at the 3A state tournament, but was tied for the lead at 79 after the opening round. Shot 75 at Eagle Valley East in the first round of Carson's Dick Stoddard Memorial.

TRACK AND FIELD

Boys

Stephen Pottey, sr., Galena: The Cal-Berkeley signee was impressive in winning his second 4A state 1,600 title with a 4:17.19 clocking, then came back the next day to win the 800 (1:55.79) and place third in the 3,200 just 50 minutes later. His 4:12.98 at Stanford in April was ranked No. 1 in the nation among preps for one mile.

Matt Moore, jr., Carson: Ran a season best time of 39.56 in the 300 intermediate hurdles at the regional trials and placed second in the finals. He anchored Carson's 4x400 relay team that won gold in a regional record time of 3:23.71.

Stephen Waicul, jr., Carson: Broke through to win the regional discus title and then placed fifth at state. He registered a lifetime best 156-10 1/2 throw in the regional trials.

Tilor Smith, jr., Carson: Ranked No. 1 statewide in the long jump at midseason after his 22-2 at the Carson Invitational on April 24. Placed fourth at the state meet in the long jump and ran for Carson's 4x400 relay team.

Hunter Mulhall, sr., Galena: Was a key factor in Galena's drive to a regional team title and second-place at state. Mulhall placed third in the long jump at state at 21-5, just one-half inch away from winning, plus he was a state qualifier in both hurdles.

Nick Shannon, so., Galena: Soared to a state championship in the high jump at 6-6.

Josh Heilman, jr., Carson: Seemed to come from nowhere to place sixth in both the 100 and 200 at state. He ran a lifetime best 11.23 in the 100 and he qualified for state in the 200 with a personal best 22.87.

Mark Lemos, sr., Yerington: Placed second in the discus at the Northern 3A Regionals then came back a week later to win gold at state. His best throw of 148-1 was good enough to win at the Lowry Invitational on May 8.

Jordan Savidge, jr., Smith Valley: Savidge was one of Nevada's top athletes at any level with his best of 15-7 in the pole vault and 22-0 in the long jump. He won state 1A titles in the 100 (11.28), 200 (22.46), long jump and pole vault.

Girls

Shay Tom, sr., Carson: Emerged as 4A state champion in the shot with a personal record throw of 39-7 1/2 and also placed second in the discus (133-8). She placed at state in both events each of the last three years.

Bridgette Galles, sr., Dayton: Was a 3A state champion in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump. She holds school records in the high jump (5-6), 100 hurdles (16.13) and 300 hurdles (48.31).

Mandy Dickman, sr., Galena: Placed second at state in the pole vault. Won regional with a personal record 10-6. Also ran the 4x100 and 4x200 relays.

Alyssa Abbott, so., Galena: Placed fourth at state in the 800 and ran for Galena's second-place 4x400 relay team. Her best 800 time of 2:18.75 was good for second-place at regionals.

Alex McAlman, fr., Carson: Improved all season in the discus and threw a personal best 113-0 to place third at regionals. She placed sixth at state.

Kylee Gleason, fr., Smith Valley: An athlete to watch out for in the future, having won the pole vault with a meet record 9-7, to go with gold medals in the 800 (2:25.9) and 400 (1:01.8) and second-place in the 1,600.

SWIMMING & DIVING

Boys

Andrew Sturgess, sr., Douglas: Even though he broke away from a year-round training program and ran cross country in the fall, Sturgess ended his senior season as a school record holder in the sprints - 22.16 at state in the 50 freestyle and 47.87 at regionals in the 100 freestyle. He placed third at state in both events and anchored the Tigers' state runner-up 200 freestyle relay team. An Eagle Scout, Sturgess hopes to swim in college.

Kiel Costella, sr., Carson: He placed second at regional in 500 freestyle (4:55.35) and took fifth at state. He was a member of Carson's state qualifying 400 relay team. Costella is headed to Villanova, where he will join older brother, Sean.

Jake Oxoby, sr., Carson: State qualifier in the 100 butterfly as he clocked a 57.57, then placed eighth at state. Oxoby was a member of Carson's state qualifying 400 relay team.

John Wandel, fr., Carson: Placed third at regional in the 200 freestyle (1:51.74) and fourth in 100 free (48.78), less than four-tenths of a second away from qualifying for state.

Trevor Schaff, jr., Douglas: Helped the Tigers finish third as a team at state as he placed seventh in the 100 butterfly and swam leadoff for the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. At regionals, he placed second in the 100 butterfly (56.89).

Jonathan Garvey, so., Galena: Placed third in 100 breaststroke (1:02.46) and third in the 200 IM (2:00.17) at regional to qualify for state. Placed fifth in the breaststroke at state.

Steve Owens, so., Douglas: Emerged as a force in the North during his first season as a competitive diver, highlighted by his gold medal performance at the Northern 4A Regional (337.45 points). He placed sixth at state.

Girls

Jamie Engan, so., Carson: Placed second at state in the 500 freestyle (4:56.21), fourth in the 200 I.M. and was part of Carson's second-place 200 freestyle relay team in Las Vegas.

Trisha Wesner, sr., Galena: Placed second at the Northern 4A Regional in Minden (385.40) then went to state and placed sixth. Placed eighth and was all-state academically in 2003.

Lauren Metcalf, so., Carson: State qualifier in the 500 freestyle with a third-place effort of 5:16.35 and then went on to place seventh at state.

Rebekah Niehoff, fr., Carson: Placed fourth in the regional 500 freestyle (5:20.71) and sixth in the 200 free (2:02.20). She also swam for Carson's silver medal-winning 200 freestyle relay team.

Hilary Schlagel, so., Carson: Placed fourth in the 100 breaststroke and missed qualifying for state by one-half second. Likewise, she swam the 200 freestyle relay.

Mandee Busch, sr., Galena: Placed sixth at state in the 50 freestyle and swam for Galena's regional and state championship 200 freestyle relay team.

Dave Price can be reached at 881-1220 or at dprice@nevadaappeal.com