High schools are back in action after a week-long lull, occasioned by the spring break—though parochial schools still have the Easter Week hiatus to look forward to, March 29-April 4. We plan more local spring sports coverage in coming weeks.
But first a shout-out to the local preps who made it onto the NCS-Redwood coach’s All League picks for their winter sports performances. Basketball coach Cassidy Jourdan described the selection process for the top players in the North Bay League divisions, both Redwood and Oak.
“What’s impactful about these selections is that they are decided on by all of the peer head coaches in the girls league. Each girl is talked about; some advocated for stat by stat, others in a speech-like cadence. These girls selected are getting head nods from all these other coaches. It’s a special recognition.”
That list is capped by Ava Wickersham, who though only a sophomore ranked as all-league co-defensive player of the year for her work with the girls basketball team.
Meanwhile, big sister Amelia Wickersham was named to the league’s first team, while Claire Berry and Meher Dhiman, both seniors, made the honorable mention list.
“Ava was a big presence defensively with her rebounding. She also brought that same effect to the boards offensively as well. She finds her way to the ball, running and tracking all over the gym for it,” Jourdan said. “Amelia’s performance in that championship game showed why she was selected for first-team all-league. When she shoots the ball, far more often than not that ball is going in.”
The selection process holds true for the other winter sports teams, all selected by the coaches in the league.
Boys basketball first all-league team included sophomore Teague Jasper, while Vincent Loupy and Ethan Overdorf made the honorable mention list.
In boys soccer, Xavier Garcia and Edwin Lopez were named first-team defenders, with Silvestre Castro and Mason Radelfinger on the second team.
The girls soccer list included first-teamers June Nelson and Olivia Saini, with June Sullivan and Vanessa Castro on the second team.
Five girls with the Healdsburg wrestling team made the list, including 10th grader Cecile Michener (110) on the first team and junior Serena Dimas (120) on the second team. Three received honorable mentions: Jocelyn Ramirez (105), Daysia Savage Godoy (130) and freshman Neva Ramos (235).
Only two wrestlers made the boys wrestling list, with Antonio Givens (285) on the second team and Milo Timmsen-Miller (215) receiving an honorable mention.
