College Champion:
Wes Harris (TBD/El Toro)
Runner Up:
Mike Bowlin (Saddleback JC)
The 2nd year of the College division provided the first ever back to back champion in Wes Harris. The 2010 All-OrangeCounty kicker did not disappoint as he kicked his way to the college division head to head championship after claiming the varsity division last year. Wesley Feer (27-30), of Chino Hills was poised to repeat as college division champion, but was knocked off by Harris in the semi final. In the other semi final, two strong legged kickers met up in Mike Bowlin (Saddleback JC) and Aaron Godwin (Arkansas Pine Bluff). Godwin, who flew down from San Jose, was one of the more consistent kickers of the day by connecting on 28-30 attempts, but was knocked off in sudden death by Bowlin. Bowlin needed a 60 yarder to advance to the final where he could not keep pace with Harris, who was a perfect 18-18 in the elimination round.
The 4 bracket winners included Harris, Bowlin, Godwin and Lucas Vandeman (OCC). Eric Cejudo (Whittier), Richie Hogan (Central Michigan) and Nick Diaz (UtahState) also made it to the Quarterfinals before being knocked out of the competition. Cejudo had a solid day connecting on 20-24 attempts before being narrowly beaten by Bowlin.
Friendly Fire: The Wildcard round featured longtime friends Hogan and Matt Burke, with the elder Hogan moving on with the win!
Bowlin likes OT: Both Wes Feer and Aaron Godwin were poised to knock off Bowlin in their matches, but were forced to extra kicks to decide the winner. Both times a 60 yarder was needed to advance…….
Unluckiest Kicker of the Competition: Nick Diaz connected on all 6 of his quarterfinal attempts, but so did his opponent Harris, who was able to win in sudden death kicks.
Consistency is Key: Kickers who connected on 6 of 6 in at least one round:
Wes Harris (TBD) x 4
Aaron Godwin (ArkansasPine Bluff) x 3
Mike Bowlin (Saddleback) x 2
Wesley Feer (TBD) x 2
Eric Cejudo (Whittier)
Nick Diaz (Utah St)
Varsity Champion:
Andrew Freidman (Loyola)
Runner Up:
Brett Beighton (Los Alamitos)
The Varsity ChampionAndrew Freidman (Loyola) left few doubts that he was on a mission to win the title. After winning all three of his opening rounds, he was a top seed going into the elimination rounds. He then proceeded to connect on 24-24 FG’s, going 6 for 6 in ever match to beat Jon Stafford (REV), Zack Schottenfeld (Tesoro) in the quarters, Dakota Reistad (La Quinta) in the Semi’s and Brett Beighton (Los Al)in the final to claim the title. If you never miss….. you can’t lose!
Beighton (Los Al), who always competes well was hoping to give his mom a nice Mother’s day present by winning the title, came up just short, but not before knocking off Nick Campbell (Soth Torrance), Jonathan Kim (Bishop Montgomery) in the quarters and Marshel Gleason (Canyon) in the semi final.
Dakota Reistad (La Quinta) managed to get to the semifinal last year as well before losing to the eventual champion as he did this year. Very consistent!
Bracket winners included Freidman, Beighton, Alex Boy (Lakewood), Brett Parker (Mater Dei), Stafford, and Michale Tulchin (Palos Verdes).
The wind seemed to be a major factor throughout the competition, providing a good mental test in each match. Just like with the College Division, any one of the se kickers could win this division provided they kick to their potential. You will be hearing about many of these guys in the Fall as they help guide their schools to the CIF playoffs.
Unluckiest Kicker of the Competition:Dakota Reistad, who made the trek out from Palm Springs looked as if this was his year. However connecting on 6 of 6 was not enough to beat Freidman in the semis as the sudden death kick did not go his way.
Some Impressive Sophomores:There were several sophomores in the competition who already have Varsity experience. Nathan Nellesen (Last Year’s JV Champ), Matt Barr (Yorba Linda), Michael Tulchin (Palos Verdes), Brett Parker (Mater Dei), Jonathan Kim (Bishop Montgomery), Zack Schottenfeld (Tesoro). Look for these guys to be the guys to beat in next year’s head to head competition.
Big Leg: This competition is all about consistency, but if we had an award for biggest leg, it would go to……. Alex Boy (2012), Zack Schottenfeld (2013), Alex Ury (2014) the lone Freshman in the event!
One to Watch:Andrew Freidman impressed throughout the competition on his way to the title. He will be one to watch this Fall. If he continues to work hard on his technique, he could be a great one!
Consistency is Key: Kickers who connected on 6 of 6 in at least one round:
Andrew Freidman (Loyola) x 4
Dakota Reistad (La Quinta) x 3
Marshel Gleason (Canyon) x 2
Alex Boy (Lakewood)
Brett Beighton (Los Al)
Ryan Steska (Capo Valley)
Adam Williams (Brea Olinda)
Zack Schottenfeld (Tesoro)
Jon Stafford (REV)
Now, the question is...... Freidman be able to defend his title in 2012?
JV Champion:
Jess Dages (Cypress)
Runner Up:
Griff Amies (NewportHarbor)
The JV Division was by far the most impressive group of the day. The consistency and distance of these Freshman and Sophomores was mind boggling. Jesse Dages (Cypress) brought his “A” game and outlasted a very strong field that included some of the best competitors we have ever coached. Dages connected on astonishing 32-36 FG’s throughout the competition, making it nearly impossible to be beaten. In the end, he outlasted all comers, including last year’s youth champ Zach Olson in the Semi’s and the always consistent Griff Amies (NewportHarbor) in the Final.
Amies, who connected on 38-42 attempts throughout the competition has never made less than 90% in any of the 4 competitions he has participated in. He knocked off some of the best young talent in the area in Blake Gonzalez (JSerra), Reid Budrovich (St John Bosco) in the quarters, and Eric Big Boy Voss (Calvary Murrietta) in the semi’s before reaching the final.
Bracket winners included Dages, Voss, Budrovich and Logan Netter (Heritage)
Bring out the Southpaw…. Er foot: We saw three fantastic lefties (Olson, Amies, Budrovich) demonstrate remarkable consistency throughout the competition. Combined, they were 76/91 on the day.
Rising Stars:Keep an eye out for these young guys…..
Aaron Ball (El Toro) – Consistently hit the best ball all day.
Blake Gonzalez (JSerra) – Once he found his stroke, he was hard to beat.
Chase Weaver (Tesoro) – This guy has a bright future ahead of him.
Brotherly Love: The Netters (Jordan and Logan) brought their best stuff on Sunday. These guys are competitors…… now if we could just tell them apart?
They can’t be Freshman: Brennan Guinet (Beckman) and Eric Voss (Calvary Murrieta) sure don’t look like Freshman and don’t kick like them either. These two are easily over 6 feet tall and pushing 200 lbs, were ripping the cover off the ball all day. Apparently, 60 yards is not out of range for some freshman…..
That is a LOOOOOOONG Drive: Joseph Morones has been making the long trek form Bakersfield every Sunday for the past two months and the training showed off as he connected on 6 for 6 in a preliminary round and advanced to the quarterfinal.
Consistency is Key: Kickers who connected on 6 of 6 in at least one round:
Jesse Dages (Cypress) x 3
Griff Amies (Newport Harbor) x 4
Zach Olson (Mission Viejo)
Eric Voss (Calvary Murrieta)
Jordan Netter (Heritage)
Reid Budrovich (St John Bosco)
Brennan Guinet (Beckman)
Blake Gonzalez (JSerra)
Joseph Morones (Independence)
This year's JV Division was some of the best young talent we have seen in the past 8 years. Many of these young men will develop into the top kickers in Southern California.
Go earn that Varsity Spot this Spring and Summer.....
Congratulations on the tremendous performances and be ready for the Varsity Division in 2012!
YouthChampion:
Charlie Beall (St Margaret’s)
Runner Up:
Jack O’Brien (Mater Dei)
Every year, it seems the youth group gets better…. And this year was no exception. Charlie Beall (St. Margaret’s) didn’t give any of the other up and coming young kickers a chance on Sunday as he did something we didn’t know was possible. A perfect 36 for 36, if you count tie breakers he was 40-40. That is amazing! I don’t care how old you are and how far the kicks are, 40 in a row under that kind of pressure is sensational.
It took that kind a performance to win this division as Jason Lind (El Dorado) connect on 5 FG’s in the quarterfinal, Justin Matlin (Tesoro) connect on 5 FG’s in the Semifinal and Jack O’brien (Mater Dei) connected on all 6 of his FG’s in the Final. The Final came down to extra kicks and Charlie was able to knock through a 45 yarder to claim the title.
Moving onto the quarterfinals were Connor Garrett (TBD), Jason Lind (El Dorado), Braden Simpson (El Toro) and Jacob Norys (King).
8th Grade Sensations:Every year we have a great group of young kickers who will move onto high school in the Fall:
Charlie Beall (St. Margaret’s)
Jack O’Brien (Mater Dei)
Justin Matlin (Tesoro)
Jason Lind(El Dorado)
Zach Munoz (TBD)
Jacob Norys (King)
There will be some extremely happy coaches in the Fall......
Well done fellas...... Be ready to move up to the big time next year!
7th Grade Studs: Look out for these guys:
Luke Van Ginkel (Upland)
Connor Garrett (TBD)
Braden Simpson (El Toro)
Consistency is Key: Kickers who connected on 6 of 6 in at least one round:
Charlie Beall (St. Margaret’s) x 6
Jack O’Brien (Mater Dei) x 3
Justin Matlin (Tesoro) x 3
Luke Van Ginkel (Upland) x 3
Jason Lind (El Dorado) x 2
Zach Munoz (TBD)