Bulldog sports in review: Football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, golf, tennis
By Bill Tamburrino
The year 2011 was not kind to Ramona High School in Palomar League action. Several teams did well in non-league play and in CIF playoffs, and several individuals had good years.
Wrestling
Steve Koch’s Bulldog wrestlers had the most successful season of all winter sports in 2011. The Dawgs finished second in the Palomar League, second in the CIF and second in the Masters. Ten wrestlers advanced to the Masters Meet, and six medaled.
Josh Allen, Devin Rhodes, Spaso Ilich, Connor Koch, Marshal Thrasher and Brodie Chenowth earned CIF honors, and Rhodes, Ilich, Thrasher, Koch and Chenowth advanced to the State Meet in Bakersfield.
The Dawgs took up where they left off in December as they are 2-0 in dual meets and are doing well in tourneys. Rhodes is one of the top-ranked wrestlers in San Diego and the state.
Boys Basketball
The winter sports started January halfway through their 2011 schedule. Ken Scheib’s bulldog basketball team entered 2011 with an 8-6 record and won two of his first three games in the new year to enter Palomar League action with a 10-7 record. The Dawgs went 0-10 in league action and did not receive a playoff berth and ended the season with a 10-17 record.
David Reichner replaced Scheib and will enter 2012 with a 5-7 record.
Girls Basketball
Erin O’Connor’s Lady Bulldog cagers entered 2011 with a 10-6 record and won their first three games of the New Year. The Lady Dawgs went 1-9 in the Palomar League to finish the year with a 14-15 record. Junior Kim Whelehon received All Palomar and CIF honors.
The Lady Dawgs will enter 2012 with a 9-5 record in pre-league play.
Boys Golf
Spring sports did much better than the winter sports in 2011. Jerry Patenaude’s golf team finished second in the Palomar League to the CIF and state champion Torrey Pines. They finished league action with an 8-2 record, the best of any team in league action. Christian Rajcic, Joe Fortunato and Ryan Graf earned all Palomar League honors.
Softball
Coach Antoinette Rodriguez’ varsity softball team had a late season rally and advanced to the CIF championship game for the first time in school history and brought home the CIF plaque for second place.
The Lady Bulldogs posted a 17-15 record and went 4-6 in the Palomar League. They beat El Capitan, University City and Cathedral Catholic in the playoffs before losing a re-match to University in the championship game.
Senior Shortstop Lexi Slater was honored as first team All Palomar League, All North County and All CIF despite battling mid season injuries. She accepted a Division I scholarship to play at Iowa State University.
Baseball
Dean Welch’s varsity baseball team posted a 19-14 record and went 7-8 in Palomar league play. The Dawgs advanced to the fourth round in the CIF playoffs. They beat Canyon Crest Academy, Monte Vista and Cathedral Catholic before losing to Monte Vista in a re-match.
Tennis
Doug Failla’s tennis team posted a 9-9 record and went 3-7 in the Palomar League. They advanced to the CIF playoffs and beat El Capitan high school and lost to Cathedral Catholic in the second round.
Girls Golf
The fall sports season started the 2011-12 school year. Coach John Rathbun’s girls golf team had a stellar season. The girls posted a 6-8 record overall. In league play the girls faced the best competition of any league in the state. Torrey Pines won the league, CIF, region and state titles for the second year in a row.
Ramona went 2-8 in the Palomar League. Ally Harvey advanced to the CIF playoffs. Kia Turner will continue her education at Harvard next fall.
Girls Tennis
The girls tennis team posted a 4-11 record and went 0-8 in the tough Palomar League. The Lady Dawgs advanced to the CIF playoffs, beat Olympian and lost to Serra in the second round.
Football
Coach Damon Baldwin’s Bulldog football team went 1-9 in regular season play and 0-4 in the Valley League. Ramona advanced to the playoffs and lost to Lincoln High School in the opening round.
Kwayde Miller earned all Palomar, North County and CIF honors. Kirk Kaliszewski earned All Palomar and North County Honors.
The Bulldog football team will stay in the Palomar League for the next two seasons while the rest of the Bulldog and Lady Bulldog athletic teams will compete in the Valley League in the 2012-13 school year.