Sports Briefs: spring athletic seasons wrap up

DOWNEY – The Warren High School boys’ track team has seen its season come to an end. Benjamin Gonzalez and Andres Barragan barely missed qualifying for the state meet last weekend at Cerritos College. The top six runners qualified for the state meet or anyone running under the at-large mark of 9:08.64 qualified.

Gonzalez ran a 9:12.74 and missed qualifying while Barragan finished in a time of 9:08.67. Barragan missed qualifying for the state meet by .03. Both runners were disappointed for not qualifying. However, they will both be back next fall and will resume cross country.

Heading into next season, Warren will have a potent 1-2 combination. Junior Jonathan Rodriguez, sophomore Matthew Sanchez, and sophomore Bryan Pluma will provide the Bears with the 3-4-5 scoring threats. All three runners can run sub 10 minute times. Warren went 1-6 in the 3200 at league finals.

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The Warren High School baseball team has seen its season come to an end after a C.I.F. Division 3 quarterfinal home loss to Palm Desert 7-4 last Friday.

The Bears finished their season with an overall record of 29-5 and a S.G.V.L. record of 7-3. The Bears were the number 2 league entry in the playoffs from the San Gabriel Valley League.

Warren defeated Rancho Alamitos at home 6-0 in the first round and defeated Diamond Bar on the road 4-1 in the second round before falling to Palm Desert 7-4. Coach Pearson is proud of his team’s effort this year. Pearson, his staff and players will regroup and get ready for next season.

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The 2014 spring sports season has come to a close. San Gabriel Valley League spring sports were dominated by Downey and Warren High Schools. There were nine S.G.V.L. titles up for grabs. Warren took seven titles and Downey claimed the other two.

Downey baseball and boys’ swim were 2014 league champions. The Viking baseball team finished their season with an overall record of 20-9 and were 9-1 in league play. Downey lost to Quartz Hill in the second round of the C.I.F. Division 3 playoffs. The Downey boys’ swim team was 13-0 in competition en route to their third straight league title and won 7/11 events at league finals.

Warren boys’ golf, softball, girls’ swim, boys’ tennis, boys’ and girls’ track and boys’ volleyball were all San Gabriel Valley League champions as well. Warren boys’ golf won the league title for the second year in a row. Warren golfers took 2nd, 3rd and 4th places, respectively, in individual league finals.

Warren softball finished their season with an overall record of 22-6 and a S.G.V.L. record of 9-1. The Bears were co-champs with Gahr but earned the number one league seed after defeating Gahr in the second round of league play. Girls’ swim were league champions as well. The Lady Bears won 10/11 events at league finals en route to their fifth straight swim title.

Warren boys’ tennis won the S.G.V.L. title. The Bears were led by Sam Kang. Kang competed in the C.I.F. Individual Tennis Championships at Whittier Narrows Tennis Center in Pico Rivera.

Boys’ and girls’ track also claimed league titles. Ben Gonzalez and Andres Barragan narrowly missed qualifying for the state meet after competing in Master’s competition this past weekend at Cerritos College. Warren boys’ volleyball claimed the S.G.V.L. title but were defeated in the second round of the C.I.F Division 3 playoffs at home in five sets by Rio Mesa.

It has been a very successful spring sports season for both Downey and Warren High Schools. Scholarship signings will be featured next week.

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The Warren High School girls’ basketball team will begin their summer basketball camps June 23. Bear Skills Camp will be June 23-27. The ages of this camp are 14-18 and will last from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $125 and you may register at the door. The camps will be held in the Warren High School gymnasium.

The philosophy of the Warren basketball camp is to have fun in a positive learning environment while fine-tuning skills to prepare young athletes to play high school basketball. This camp is for serious players only. This camp is also for returners and for any girl wishing to be part of Warren High School basketball. Any incoming freshmen are welcomed.

The skills camps will concentrate on shooting, dribbling, passing, perimeter moves, post moves and screening offensive plays. Individual instruction from high school coaches and specific guest skills trainer Coach Leflore (aka Coach Z) will be featured. If players are selected to play on the summer team, they will receive a game schedule and summer packet. There will be a summer fee of $175. The first summer league game is Monday, June 23rd and players will be given a reversible shirt and shorts. There will be weekly practices and games during the month of July.

Little Bears Camp will be July 7-11. Ages will be 8-13 and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost will be $100 and you can register at the door. This camp is for those who would like to learn the basic fundamentals of basketball and have fun in a positive learning environment. The basic fundamentals of team play, shooting, passing, dribbling, proper footwork and defense will be taught.

Fundamentals first will focus on ball handling skills, stationary and moving. Offensive skills will cover shot ready, proper footwork, off the pass, off the bounce and guard/post moves. Rebounding will focus on technique and positioning while defense will cover stance, both on the ball and off the ball. Passing will  be covered as well.

Camp participants will have an opportunity to join Club Elevate. Club Elevate will help the student-athlete continue to develop fundamentals to reach the next level. Coach Palmer and her staff hope to see you in the Warren High School gym this summer.

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The Downey High School wrestling program will begin its summer workout schedule Monday, June 23, for both new wrestlers and returners.

The purpose of the Viking summer program is to introduce and execute a lifting, running and wrestling program tailored to new wrestlers and current returners for high school wrestling success.

Practices will last from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for returners with summer leagues on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Wrestlers will attend “New Breed” wrestling camp July 23-26 from 1-8 p.m. This camp will cost $20. Transportation for this camp must be provided by parents/guardians and will take place at John Glenn High School in Norwalk.

New wrestlers will practice from 2-4 p.m. New wrestlers will not attend any summer leagues until the week of July 15. New wrestlers  need to get their own rides to and from summer league scrimmages. More information prior to summer scrimmages will be provided at a later date.

New wrestlers will also be invited to attend the “New Breed” wrestling camp July 23-26 from 1-8 p.m. at John Glenn High School.

Coach Soto and his staff invite you to become a Downey wrestler. Downey wrestlers are “punctual and prepared, positive and accept coaching, supportive, a student of the discipline, a positive member of society, carry their weight and make up for it when they don’t and never give up or quit.” Coach Soto and his coaches hope to see you on the mat this summer.

 

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Published: June 5, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 08

Jennifer DeKay