The Best of San Carlos Sports in 2011

What were the most memorable accomplishments of the teams and athletes at Carlmont and Sequoia High Schools in 2011? We’re glad you asked.

Here is a look at the area’s top difference makers of the past year – seven Carlmont teams and three Cherokee athletes:

1. Carlmont Baseball: A seismic postseason victory means the Scots’ 2011 campaign won’t soon be forgotten. After not winning a Central Coast Section playoff game for 16 years, Carlmont pulled off a stunner by downing No. 1 seed and star-studded St. Francis 4-3 in a Division I opener. The Scots, who finished 19-9, became the first No. 16 seed in 12 years to win a Division I game. Stalwart seniors Daniel Madigan and Colton Hicks led Carlmont to a share of second place in the Peninsula Athletic League’s top-tier Bay Division, and were joined by freshman infielder Kyle Barret in earning All-PAL Bay first-team honors.

2. Carlmont Boys Cross Country: The Scots extended their regional dominance, streaking to their sixth CCS Division I team title in the last seven years in runaway fashion. Jeffrey Stalun, who finished just shy of winning the PAL individual championship, led Carlmont with a fourth-place showing at CCS in 15 minutes, 29 seconds. Teammates Ryan Dimick (seventh), Mark Vingralek (ninth), Beau Armstrong (11th) and Reese Dickson (12th) were all within 16 seconds of Stalun. Then the Scots went on to finish an impressive 10th in Division I at the California Interscholastic Federation state meet.

3. Carlmont Girls Cross Country: For the first time since 2004, a Carlmont runner did not win the CCS Division I individual crown. But the Scots’ formidable depth remained, enabling the program to claim the section championship and match the boys team’s streak of winning six of the last seven Division I titles. Sarah Schreck placed second in 18 minutes, 8 seconds and was joined in the top 10 by Mei-Lin Okino (sixth) and Corin Soleberg (ninth). At the state championships, Schreck finished 25th in the Division I race.

4. Carlmont Football: The second-year of Jason Selli’s second coaching tenure will be remembered for the program’s first league championship in 20 years. Shaking off their 0-4 start, the Scots won five of their final six games and finished in a three-way tie atop the PAL’s lower-tier Lake Division with El Camino and Capuchino at 4-1. Unfortunately for Carlmont, El Camino won the tiebreaker to advance to CCS, denying the Scots of their first postseason berth since 1991. The Scots capped their year with a thrilling 20-14 win over Sequoia to retake possession of the Terremere Trophy. Joe Lasala was named the PAL Lake’s Defensive Back of the Year, and Sky Regan was tabbed the Special Teams Player of the Year. Linemen Chris May and Giovanni Tenorio and linebacker Mark Concilla landed All-PAL Lake first-team honors.

5. Carlmont Boys Basketball: Propelled by senior James Testa, the Scots went 7-3 to forge a co-championship in the PAL’s mid-tier Ocean Division with Jefferson and Mills. That marked the third year in a row that Carlmont won a league title. The high-scoring Testa was selected as the PAL Ocean’s MVP. Robyn Todd and Brian Wyatt also received all-league recognition for the Scots, who finished 16-9 overall.

6. Carlmont Boys Swimming: Jason Wong and Vladmir Khrolov sparked the Scots to a third-place showing at the PAL Bay Division championships. Wong won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:00.67, and Khrolov secured the 50 freestyle title (22.37). Those swimmers joined with Ivan Garin and Jordan Tang to break the PAL Bay finals record in the 200 medley relay in 1:40.51.

7. Carlmont Track and Field: The Scots went 6-1 in PAL Ocean Division dual meets to share the championship with Westmoor. Thomas Yeh was Carlmont’s brightest star at the PAL finals, winning the pole vault by clearing 12 feet, 6 inches, as well as taking second in the long jump (20-9¾). He also teamed with Theo Yeh, Shane Callan and Brian Wyatt to win the 4x400-meter relay (44.67). On the girls side, Corin Soleberg finished second in the 800 (2:24.55) and the 3,200 (11:44.78), and she took third in the 1,600 (5:18.32). Monique Lam was third in the pole vault (8-6).

Sequoia Three Pack

Josh Lauese – Sequoia Football: The senior’s impact as a two-way starter may be best captured by his earning the PAL Ocean Division’s Utility Player of the Year honors despite playing for a Cherokee team that finished tied for last in the league at 1-4. The 6-foot, 210-pound Lauese was a punishing running back that totaled 14 touchdowns while averaging 7.86 yards per carry and a fearsome defender as a fleet and hard-hitting linebacker.

Gabriel Ortiz – Sequoia Boys Track and Field: Ortiz capped a breakout junior year by placing fourth in the CCS finals in the 200 at 22.23 seconds. Two weeks earlier, he won the PAL championship in the 200 (22.77) and took second in the 100 (11.50), two-hundredths of a second out of first place.

Mikayla Wilkes – Sequoia Girls Volleyball: The junior outside hitter earned PAL Ocean Division co-MVP honors, leading the Cherokees to a 10-4 league record.