DOWNEY – The Warren High School boys’ cross country team returned from Placerville Camp this week. The Bears left Aug. 3 and returned yesterday. Warren’s 17 most talented runners trained in altitude, distance and heat for close to three weeks in preparation for the start of the cross country season.

The first week of camp was spent training in Placerville, the second week was in Tahoe and the last four days were spent back in Placerville. The last day of camp in Placerville featured the traditional 2.1 mile race where Warren coaches determine where the runners fall in the history of Placerville campers who have ran the same course. Head coach Ramon Miranda and assistant coach Eddie Rodriguez will now put together a varsity lineup.

Warren is currently ranked second in the C.I.F. Southern Section and third in the State behind Great Oak and Madera South, respectively. The Bears are also ranked 13th nationally. Last season, the Bears were ranked as high as third in the nation.

Warren senior and top runner Benjamin Gonzalez is currently looking to attend Cal Berkeley, UCLA or Stanford. Senior Andres Barragan is currently looking to attend CSULB or UCLA. Senior Jonathan Rodriguez is currently looking to attend Pepperdine, UCLA or Azusa Pacific University. Warren seniors Freddy Menendez and Ricky Beltran continue to work hard as do juniors Matthew Sanchez and Christopher Estrada. Junior Bryan Pluma will look to make an impact as well.

The cross country season will be here shortly and the Warren Bears have been putting in the miles to get ready. Coach Miranda, his staff and runners are looking forward to the start of the cross country season and competing for the California state title. The Bears were C.I.F. Division I champions in 2013.

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The 2014 fall sports seasons are just around the corner. Downey and Warren are looking to continue their dominance in San Gabriel Valley League competition.

Fall sports include boys’ and girls’ cross country, football, girls’ golf, girls’ tennis, girls’ volleyball and boys’ water polo.

Warren was the 2013 S.G.V.L. champion for both boys’ and girls’ cross country. The Warren boys’ cross country team won the 2013 C.I.F. Division I championship and are looking to improve upon that this year by winning the state title.

Downey shared a three-way S.G.V.L. championship in football in 2013 with Dominguez and Paramount, respectively. All three teams finished league play with 4-1 records. Downey was the top league entry in the C.I.F. Southeast Division playoffs after winning the coin toss. Downey won the Southeast Division title in 2012.

Warren won the 2013 S.G.V.L. title in girls’ tennis and Downey won the 2013 S.G.V.L. title in girls’ volleyball. Downey schools combined to win 5/7 fall San Gabriel Valley League sports titles.

Downey and Warren have also dominated winter and spring sports. In fact, the only three teams outside of Downey or Warren to win an outright league title in San Gabriel Valley League play in 2013-14 were the Cerritos’ boys’ water polo team, the La Serna girls’ golf team and Lynwood’s girls’ basketball team.

The 2014-15 athletic teams at Downey and Warren look to do even better this year with many standout student-athletes returning to his/her respective sports.

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The San Gabriel Valley League football season begins next Friday.

Downey, Dominguez and Paramount have each held a share of the league title in recent years. Oddly, Downey has beaten Dominguez but has lost to Paramount. Dominguez has beaten Paramount but has lost to Downey. Paramount has beaten Downey but has lost to Dominguez.

Downey lost in the first round of the C.I.F. Southeast Division playoffs in 2013 after winning the Southeast Division title in 2012. This year looks to be another dog fight with other S.G.V.L. teams looking to compete for a playoff spot.

Lynwood has changed to a spread offense. The Knights have been running a “wing-t” of recent years but have switched to the spread offense under first year head coach Kendrick Knox. Senior quarterback Darryl Robinson is excited for the change and looks to distribute the ball to several Knight playmakers. Lynwood hopes to compete for a playoff spot.

The Dominguez Dons look to upgrade their team this year also. The Dons rushed for close to 5,000 yards last season on offense and their defense only allowed more than ten points in a game three times. However, head coach Keith Donerson knows his team is capable of performing better. Senior running back Joshua Ford looks to lead the Dons to a league title and playoff run this season.

The Paramount Pirates are looking for big things from freshman cornerback back Eric Fuller Jr. Fuller Jr. will also be an offensive threat with the ball in his hands. Paramount defensive coordinator Michael Fletcher said, “he’s electric.” Fellow Pirate teammate and safety Donzale Roddie kept it simple by saying, “he can help us win ballgames.”

The S.G.V.L. looks to be highly competitive once again this year. Coaches, players and fans are anxiously waiting for Friday nights.

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The high school prep football season will get underway later today for St. John Bosco as the Braves traveled to Honolulu for their season opener against St. Louis High School.

Downey High School will host a scrimmage against Orange Lutheran later today at 5 p.m. The Vikings will begin their season next Friday, Aug. 29, against Millikan and will host Vista Murrieta the following week.

Warren High School will start the Raul Lara era Friday, Sept. 5, at St. Paul High School in Whittier.

The Downey Calvary Chapel Grizzlies will open their season next Saturday, Aug. 30, at Santa Rosa Academy at 4 p.m.

The Grizzlies are under the direction of new head coach Jeff Welch. DCC is looking to improve upon their 2-6 finish from last season.

 

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Published: Aug. 21, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 19