Voting is now closed. Thank you to all who participated. More than 5,000 votes were cast. Results will be revealed in Friday’s edition of the Gilroy Dispatch.
With the 2011-12 school year winding down, there’s no better time to acknowledge the standout senior athletes. This year, you, the reader, have the opportunity to vote for who you think should be named the Gilroy Dispatch’s top boy and girl Senior Athletes of the Year from Gilroy High and Christopher High. Votes will be tallied and taken into consideration to determine male and female winners (one each from both schools) who will be featured in the paper as the Senior Athletes of the Year. Runners-up will also receive kudos in the paper.
Spread the word to friends and family and get them to cast their votes. The more the merrier.
After going through my notes and discussions with athletic directors at both schools, the following prepsters are the nominees. Read about them and their senior season credentials and cast your vote.
Top boys:
Bryant Cid – Christopher High: Football and baseball…named the Monterey Bay League’s Most Outstanding Defensive Back…league-high nine interceptions…added 86 tackles from his safety position…on offense caught 45 balls for 880 yards and 11 touchdowns…selected to the Charlie Wedemeyer Silicon Valley Youth Classic All-Star football game…for CCS playoff baseball team had 36 hits, including 11 multi-hit outings, in 28 games…team leader in home runs (four) and RBIs (27).
Willie Fox – Gilroy High: wrestling…won a section title and state championship – going undefeated at both tournaments – for the Mustangs this season…posted a 52-1 overall match record…headed to the United States Naval Academy…No. 1-ranked 145-pounder in the state…won seven tournaments this season.
Dillon Babb – Christopher High: football, basketball and lacrosse…first-team all-league in football…team-high 12 sacks…104 tackles from defensive end…was named the Most Valuable Defensive Lineman in the MBL…selected to the Charlie Wedemeyer Silicon Valley Youth Classic All-Star football game…All-Mission Trail Athletic League second team in lacrosse….starter on the basketball team…averaged a double-double…played in the Steinbeck Classic Senior Basketball All-Star game.
Jourdan Soares – Gilroy High: football and track…Tri-County Athletic League Most Valuable Player in football…led the league in all receiving categories, including receptions (76), yards (1,477) and touchdowns (15)…yardage total is the eighth most in the state…6-foot-2 senior locked up his third consecutive first-team all-league bid…selected to the Charlie Wedemeyer Silicon Valley Youth Classic All-Star football game…CCS finals qualifier in the 100 and 200 dash…school record holder in the 200.
Brandon Pickens – Christopher High: football, baseball…quarterback threw for 2,794 yards and 31 TDs…All-TCAL first team in both sports…everyday second baseman…fourth on the team with 24 hits.
Jonathan Diaz De Leon – Gilroy High: soccer…played forward and defense and earned a third straight All-TCAL first-team nod, co-Offensive Player of the Year and co-Most Valuable Player in 2011-12 season…netted a career-high 19 goals…team captain.
Stevie White – Christopher High: football and wrestling…All-MBL second team as offensive lineman…Central Coast Section qualifier in wrestling, finishing fourth.
Top girls:
Monique Barragan – Gilroy High: soccer…named TCAL Senior MVP and first-team selection…team captain for league champion Mustangs…had five goals despite being the starting sweeper.
Haylee Peterson – Christopher High: Field hockey, basketball and track…starter on league champion CHS hoops team and voted Honorable Mention…All-MBL second team in field hockey…CCS semifinals qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles and as a member of the 4×100 relay team.
Casey Lester – Gilroy High: softball…All-TCAL first team selection…headed to La Salle on a softball scholarship…so far for the Mustangs this season has a .471 batting average, including a team high 32 hits out of the lead-off spot.
Aly Olvera – Christopher High: softball…Recorded 14 wins and 136 strikeouts as pitcher for MBL co-champion Cougars…led the team with 28 hits…voted MBL Player of the Year and All-MBL first team…headed to Vanguard University.
Michelle Shields – Gilroy High: water polo, swimming…member of the league champion 200-yard medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams…league champion in the 100 freestyle…CCS individual qualifier in the 50 and 100 free…scored 69 goals for a rebuilding GHS water polo team…earned All-TCAL first team.
Mariah Martinez – Christopher High: field hockey and softball…Honorable Mention recipient in field hockey…caught all 27 games for the Cougars softball team this season…selected to All-MBL first team.
Savannah Silacci – Gilroy High: cross country, track…placed a team-best 14th at the CCS cross country meet at Crystal Springs Uplands in a personal best 19 minutes, 24 seconds on that course…an 800-meter specialist in track this season.
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