Bulldogs recognized at track and field banquet

By Joe Naiman

More than 170 Ramona High School track and field athletes, coaches, parents, and other supporters gathered at the Olive Peirce Middle School performing arts center for the Bulldogs’ post-season banquet.

“I was pleased. There were a lot of people there,” said Sherri Edwards, who is the head coach for both boys and girls track and field teams.

Edwards and her assistant coaches spoke about all of Ramona’s athletes during the banquet while also handing out certificates of participation as well as various special awards. The coaches also recognized the county’s all-academic recipients.

One of the Most Valuable Runner awards went to senior boys distance runner Forrest Riley, who led the boys track athletes in accumulating team points and also mentored the younger runners.

“He was like a little assistant coach,” Edwards said.

The other Most Valuable Runner was freshman Holly Stallman, who won league championships in the girls 100-meter and 200-meter dash events while setting school records in both.

“For a freshmen to get that is pretty impressive,” Edwards said. “She has so much potential.”

One girl and one boy also each received Most Valuable Thrower awards; Karah Banegas and Daniel vanTol are both juniors.

“She always scored in the shot and discus,” Edwards said of Banegas.

Last year vanTol threw the shot put but not the discus.

“He improved a lot in the discus and a lot of times got points in both the shot and discus for us,” Edwards said.

The Most Valuable Jumper was junior Callie Guasti, who won the girls high jump at the league meet and also frequently placed in the long jump and triple jump.

“It was nice having somebody I could count on in all three of those events,” Edwards said.

The Most Valuable Vaulter award was taken home by junior Courtney Jackson. She not only won the girls pole vault at the league meet and set the school record in that event, but also qualified for the state meet after placing second among Division I girls and third overall at the CIF section meet.

“She’s a hard worker. She not only was one of the last ones at practice every day, but she also goes and works out down the hill,” Edwards said. “Her hard work definitely paid off.”

Sophomore hurdler Wyatt Scott was given Most Improved recognition.

“He improved two or three seconds in the 110 and three or four seconds in the 300,” Edwards said. “I really think that when all is said and done he’s going to break the school record in the 300 hurdles.”

Senior distance runner Tristan Stidham received the Bulldog of the Year award.

“He was somebody who never missed practice, worked really hard,” Edwards said. “Good leader by example.”

Senior runner and jumper Colton Wood took home the 110 Percent Award.

“He was always out there,” Edwards said. “He was just a kid who would do anything to help.”

Four-year varsity awards were given to hurdlers Dustin Hager and Carlee Roberts. Seven seniors received Track Captain award trophies: Roberts and Hager, hurdles; Riley, distance; Wood, sprints; Paul Mehaffie, throws; Darrel Millen, pole vault; and Ryan Spees, jumps.