POMERADO NEWSPAPER GROUP
ATHLETE OF WEEK
SPORTS
THURSDAY, December 15, 2011 PAGE A17
Continued from PAGE A16
said McKirdy, who wrestled three years at Rancho Bernardo before transferring to Del Norte this season. “Ever since I watched the state championships as a freshman and went as a sophomore and junior to wrestle, I have wanted to win a state championship.” McKirdy, who is currently wrestling at the 132-pound weight class but will likely wrestle 126 as the season moves along, is ranked No. 6 in the state. He has inched closer to medaling at the
state championships each season. His sophomore year he was in the top 24 and last season he finished in the top 12. He hopes this season will be the year he finally breaks through. “It is a ver y impor tant goal,” McKirdy said of winning a state title. “If I am not a state champion this year, it is not going to be devastating to me, but it is one of those things that when I step off the mat on March 3 or 4, I want to make sure I did everything possible to
GIRLS SOCCER Continued from PAGE A16
net. First-year coach Sidebottom has been with the program as the junior varsity coach for the last eight years. He hopes his talented midfielders will keep possession of the ball and counter attack to create more goal-scoring opportunities.
Del Norte
be a state champion.” McKir dy is cer tainly wrestling like a state champion early on in the season. The all-time record holder for pins in a career (65) at Rancho Bernardo is 6-0 this season with five pins and one major decision. Last week he captured the La Costa Canyon Classic championship in the 132-pound weight class. He went 4-0 in the tournament, including a 15-7 victory over Mission Hills’ Jordan King in the championship match.
He pinned his other three opponents — two of the pins coming in the first period. He was named the middleweight MVP of the tournament. For his efforts, McKirdy is the Toyota of Poway Athlete of the Week. “He is extremely technical on the mat and he just has a desire to compete,” Del Norte coach Dave Tomaino said. “He constantly challenges himself. We have been working on him being more physical on the mat
and he did a good job of that last weekend.” McKirdy is hoping to continue his wrestling career in college. He is currently looking at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bucknell University and San Francisco State. McKirdy said San Francisco State has already offered a
scholarship. “A Division I college would be ideal,” McKirdy said. “I just want to get a higher education. I am just opening up my (options) to see what has the best engineering and business finance (programs) for me.”
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Taste of the town.
ԎԎ COACH: Gary Rossi, 3rd year ԎԎ 2011 RECORD: 10-8-5 ԎԎ KEY PLAYERS: MF, Kyra Carusa, Soph.; F, Hope Donovan, Sr.; GK, Cassandra Manneh, Soph.; F, Roisin Andrews, Jr.; MF, Bree Bolelli, Soph; D, Bri Boretto, Sr.; F/MF, Rachel Gearhart, Sop.; MF, Katie Boyle, Sr.; GK, Emily Cypel, Jr. ԎԎ OUTLOOK: The Nighthawks have lofty expectations this year. Del Norte returns all but two starters and expects to compete for the Valley League title with Canyon Crest Academy, San Dieguito Academy and Valley Center. Del Norte has three returning Valley League first teamers in Carusa, Donovan and Manneh. Carusa is a co-captain along with Donovan. Donovan is expected to be the Nighthawks’ leading scorer. Last year, the Nighthawks got their first postseason win in program history, defeating Preuss 1-0 in the first round of the CIF SDS Division IV playoffs. Del Norte then fell in the quarterfinals to La Jolla Country Day. Del Norte expects to challenge for a section title this season.
BOYS SOCCER Continued from PAGE A16
the gaping holes left at midfield. He is hoping Arcangelia can step up, but beyond him Treker said he is unsure who will be playing in the midfield. One thing Treker does know is that everyone will be gunning for the Broncos this year. “I am expecting everyone to be geared up and to have RB circled on their schedule,” he said. “We are going to need to be ready for every game.”
Del Norte
ԎԎ COACH: David O’Rielly, 2nd year ԎԎ 2011 RECORD: 0-18-1 ԎԎ KEY PLAYERS: D, Marco Sanchez, Soph.; F, Pedro Godomar, Soph.; MF, Trevor Renken, Jr.; GK, Alex Groesbeck, Jr. ԎԎ OUTLOOK: Del Norte managed a 0-0 tie against Santa Fe Christian in the opening game of the season last year, but the Nighthawks dropped 18 straight after that. It really didn’t come as too much surprise since the Nighthawks had no juniors or seniors on the team last year. This year the team will have no seniors, even though the school will be graduating its first senior class. “Last year, we obviously were young and it was a tough year,” O’Rielly said. “Our goal this year is to be competitive in every game. Our main thing is basically we want to setup for the next year when we have seniors.” Del Norte scored only six goals and allowed 109 last year. The main scoring threats this season will be Godomar and Renken. O’Rielly added that he hopes a few freshmen will be able to step up and contribute.
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