Mazzola named MVP of Bulldog girls cross country team

By Joe Naiman

The post-season banquet for Ramona High School’s girls cross country team Dec. 11 at Olive Peirce Middle School included the selection of junior Anna Mazzola as the team’s Most Valuable Player.

“Came out strong and she basically led the team time-wise and kept getting stronger,” said coach Kim Toth. “She came out very strong and was in front of all the races.”

Mazzola had Ramona’s top time in all four of the Bulldogs’ league dual meets (including one tri-meet),and in Ramona’s three invitationals, and she won the race in the Bulldogs’ first two dual meets.

“I was very impressed with what she did this year,” Toth said.

Mazzola placed second among the team’s runners in the Valley League meet and was Ramona’s sixth finisher at the CIF meet.

“She pushed herself a little too much at the end,” Toth said.

The Bulldog Award was given to freshman Ciara Lucas.

“She has a natural talent for running and a good work ethic,” said Toth.

Lucas was Ramona’s top finisher in the league and CIF meets.

“She worked hard enough to put herself in that position,” Toth said.

Due to her award, which could have gone to any runner, Lucas didn’t receive the Rookie of the Year award, which was shared by freshmen Delaney Toth and Perla Cruz.

“They came out definitely not the fastest but came out for all the practices, worked very hard,” Kim Toth said.

Injuries that kept two other runners out of Ramona’s first dual meet led Kim Toth to place Delaney Toth and Cruz in the varsity race, where they finished sixth and seventh among Ramona runners.

“They continued to climb the ladder,” Kim Toth said.

The freshmen finished fourth and fifth among Ramona competitors at the CIF meet.

The 110 Percent Award went to sophomore Arianna Ruland.

“She just strives to do the best she can at everything,” Toth said. “Just an extremely hard worker.”

The Captains’ Awards were bestowed upon captain Rachel Brown and co-captain Cassidy Blankenbaker.

The only junior varsity award presented at the banquet was the Most Improved award which was given to Angelina Gray.

“She just continued to work harder,” Toth said. “She knows how to race herself now.”

The awards banquet also included dinner and a slideshow, and nine varsity letters were presented.