CATCHING UP: SECOND QTR

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By Michael Cruz

• Last week started off with the professional New Zealand Rugby players holding sessions for the National Team, High Schools, and Middle Schools. New Zealand plays the best rugby in the world. The opportunity for players at each level to learn from professionals is valuable. The middle schools will learn the fundamentals early so bad habits will not develop. The high schools will get early season preparation for the third quarter. The clinic will also help the national team improve in international play.

New Zealand pro rugby players (Left-right) Mark Raddish, Tim Nanai-Williams, Paul Stennmetz, Liaki Moli. (GSPN photo)

• The Academy Cougars were able to rally from 10 points down at home and win over the Southern Dolphins in OT 51-46. The Cougars record stands at 6-0 after defeating JFK. Alina “ICE” Bonto went 32-12-6 in the win and is trying to stake her claim for Player of the Year. The Southern Dolphins rebounded quickly taking out Okkodo and JFK by an average of 14 points. April Talledo had a great performance going 21-4-4. The Cougars or Dolphins appear to be the favorites to win the championship. Notre Dame’s Destiny Castro performed well in scoring 41 points versus JFK.

Cougars’ Gemilie Ilao shoots for two points with this short jumper. (photo by Jesse Castro)

• The Sanchez Boys and Girls Wrestling teams look poised to repeat as champions. As of the last GSPN update, both teams are undefeated. The Girls team has the depth and skill compared to most competition. The same can be said for the boy’s team. GW was competitive against Sharks in losing 45-33. Sanchez senior Jonah Whitt should go undefeated this season. I’m interested seeing him continue his wrestling career in college.

Jonah Whitt (SS) takes the back of (GW) Clyde Abuan and turns him over for the pin to win the match. (photo by Joey Blas)

• The baseball title appears to up for grabs this year. The defending champion Sanchez Sharks can repeat again with all-island returnees Daniel Cruz and Shawn Dumanal. Father Duenas will be in the mix, Notre Dame is playing well, JFK is improved this year, runner-up GW is always dangerous and Southern High will be a factor come playoff time.

• St John’s looks to repeat despite the graduations of MVP Reed Meyer and current collegiate soccer player TJ Atalig. St John’s won 3-1 over FD. Southern went to 2-1 with a win over GW. JFK is undefeated at 3-0.

• Former Malesso Resident, Jared Tajalle finished his first season with The Allen Eagles JV1 team. He contributed as a backup slot receiver and backup qb. The sophomore scored two touchdowns on QB runs in Allen’s last two games. The JV1 finished 6-3 and is one level below the varsity program. The Allen Eagles are the defending Texas 5A Division I Football Champions and ranked in the top 5 nationally.

• Former Guam High Panther Matthew Eaton’s season came to an end with Pascagoula at home to Brookhaven 28-20. Eaton had five catches for 89 yards in his final high school game. Matthew Eaton has offers from Navy, Youngstown State, Appalachian State, and Louisiana Monroe. He finishes the season with 49 catches for 834 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. Here is Matthew’s last game.

• http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1263410/

• Former Guam High Panther Chance Horvath will continue to the next round of the playoffs. The Tumwater senior’s team

• Former Guam High Panther Chance Horvath’s season will continue to the next playoff round. The Tumwater Thunderbirds advance to the 2A quarterfinals with a 52-22 win over Sehome. They will play White River on November 22.

• Congratulations goes out to Guam High Football Seniors Tegan Brown, LJ Aguon, and Juwan Jacobs for making first team as follows in bold:

• Stars and Stripes Pacific All-Far East football team

  QB—David Hernandez, American School in Japan; Lorden Aguon, Guam High; Dustin Wilson, Nile C. Kinnick.

  RB—Justin Sego, Kadena; Jarrett Mitchell, Kubasaki; Dre Paylor, Kinnick; Ryan Murphy, ASIJ; Sean Robinson, Robert D. Edgren; J.J. Henderson, Yokota; Hiroshi Beale, Zama American; Caleb Page, Daegu.

  WR—Brandon Rogers, ASIJ; Ke’Ondre Davis, Yokota.

  PK—Jakob Weicht, Kadena.

  KR—Tyrone Bacalso, Edgren.

  OL—Spencer Ringwood, Josh Dixon, Ed Pond, ASIJ; Josiah Allen, Kane Wilton, Kubasaki; Steven Robinet, Daegu.

  TE—Kareem Key, Kubasaki.

  DL—Preston Harris, Kadena; Will Steele, Daegu; Sho Green, Kubasaki; Tyler Shilton, Kinnick.

  LB—John Stoll, Seoul American; Tyshon Butler, Kubasaki; D.J. Padilla, Kadena; Tegan Brown, Guam High.

  DB—Ansel Marsh, ASIJ; Raymond Bestor, Zama; Juwan Jacobs, Guam High.

• TJ Atalig (St. John’s 13) redshirted as freshman with the Bowling Green Soccer team. The Falcons finished with a record of 6-7-6.

• Micah Paulino (FD 09) redshirt junior played seven games and scored one goal this season. The Purple Eagles finished with a record of 5-12-1.

• Former FD Friar Jordan Gregory contributed as a true freshman with Eastern New Mexico. He played thirteen games, started one game, and scored two goals. The Greyhounds finished with a record 9-5-4.

• Michael Sakazaki (FD 13) played his first college basketball game for Chaminade versus Saint Martin’s. He will be suited up when Chaminade plays #25 Baylor on ESPN at the Maui Invitational.

• I also wanted to acknowledge my personal MVPs for the 1st quarter sports

• Football – Daniel Cruz – Sanchez – Mr. October rose to the occasion with four games to remember. Daniel rushed for three touchdowns in the first win 39-7 over GW. Next, Cruz rushed for 242 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns against FD. Cruz was denied more yards when Southern forfeited their playoff game. He next contributed valuable rushes and return in helping shut out the Okkodo Bulldogs. Cruz’s final performance was the championship game versus GW. His 11 yard td run and backbreaking 90 yard kickoff td was the icing on the cake for Sanchez. Hopefully, we can see this two sport athlete play for a college somewhere off island.

• Boys Cross Country – John Aquino IV – JFK – Aquino capped his high school cross country career with another individual IIAGG title. He also won an invitational against other schools from off island. Would have been nice to him run in the Footlocker Western Region Invitational on December 7 in Walnut, California.

• Girls Cross Country – Emma Martin – Guam High- Martin won the IIAGG title and placed #18 with a time of 23:14 at the Far East Competition.

• Girls Golf – Harvest Christian  – Nalathai Vongjalorn – Won the IIAGG golf title and is considered already the best female golfer on Guam.

• Boys Golf – Harvest Christian – Devin Hua – Won the IIAGG golf title on a clutch putt to edge out a charge from a close field.

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