State championship nets 40 free pizzas
Olive Peirce Middle School’s Performing Arts Center was the setting for Ramona High School’s track and field teams’ post-season banquet.
Because Tyler Jordan—who won the boys high jump championship at the CIF San Diego Section meet in May and at the state meet this month—was named Papa John’s Athlete of the Week, Papa John’s Pizza donated 40 pizzas for the banquet.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Ramona head coach Steve Albanese.
The banquet began with a dinner and slide show.
Jordan had a private coach, Steve Roberts, as well as Albanese, who works with high jumpers and distance runners as well as is head coach. Roberts presented Jordan with an award for his dedication to high jumping.
Awards presented at the banquet also included boys and girls Most Valuable Player (MVP). Senior Ryan Morgan, who won the open 400-meter run and was on Ramona’s winning 4x400 relay team at the CIF section meet, was the boys track MVP. Senior Chelsey Cortez, who had the top Division II time in the 3,200-meter run at the CIF finals, was the girls track MVP.
Jordan was the boys field MVP, and senior thrower Kayla Lawler was the girls field MVP.
The boys Most Improved award went to sophomore distance runner Dylan Blankenbaker. The girls Most Improved award was presented to sophomore sprinter Caitlin Choy.
The boys 110 Percent Effort Award recipient was senior distance runner Travis Houry, while the girls 110 Percent Effort Award was taken home by freshman hurdler Carlee Roberts.
The Bulldog of the Year Award for representing the Ramona team in character and in the classroom as well as competitively went to senior boys discus thrower Logan Peterson and to senior girls sprinter and horizontal jumper Erika Stinchcomb.
Trophies were also presented to the team captains. Jordan was team captain for the high jumpers, Jared Engler and Ashley Duck were pole vaulting captains, Greg Harrington and Becca Hickle captained the horizontal jumpers, Cortez and Connor Jensen were distance captains, Peterson and Lawler captained the throwers, Quincy Watts and Kelly Helman were the captains for the hurdlers, and Morgan, Seth Drake and Stinchcomb were sprints captains.
Ramona’s boys won the CIF San Diego Section Division II championship. Jordan, Morgan and the boys 4x400 relay teams earned event championships at the section meet.
The CIF championship plaque was shown at the banquet, and event champions were recognized during the banquet.
The banquet also saw the presentation of varsity letters, and participation certificates were handed out to the junior varsity athletes.
“It was a really fun year, and I just thank God for blessing me with such a good community and a great group of kids to be able to coach,” said Albanese, who completed his first year as Ramona’s track and field coach. “I’m looking forward to next year.”