El Cajon, CA
Overcast, mist
Overcast, mist:
55.4 °F
 
 

Articles by Phillip Brents

CIF playoffs get under way for East County teams

As the regular season schedule dwindles to a close, it’s time to crown league champions in a variety of high school spring sports and start preparing for the San Diego Section playoffs.

Baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls track and field, boys volleyball, boys and girls swimming, girls gymnastics, boys golf and boys tennis are all spring sports.

By: 
East County athletes grab top marks at Mustang relay

As the 2017 high school track and field season begins to wind down, top marks by student-athletes are starting to go up.

Steele Canyon High School’s Wyatt Holmes and Hannah Hodge each set personal records in the pole vault event at last weekend’s 14th annual Phair Co./Mustang Relays at Otay Ranch High School. 

Holmes, a senior, cleared 12 feet, 6 inches to win the Blue Division boys flight while Hodge, a junior, cleared 8 feet, 6 inches to win the Blue Division girls flight.

By: 
No medals, but memories of a lifetime for East County wrestlers at state meet

It can be an intimidating stage with 7,000 people watching every move you make on the wrestling mat at the annual California state championship tournament.

But it can also be a rewarding stage for those in the spotlight who persevere through the adversity to come home with a coveted medal.

A total of seven East County mat men qualified for the 45th annual state tournament, held March 3-4 in Bakersfield. Though none managed to earn a spot on the awards platform, it was a journey most of them will likely not forget.

By: 
The Big Show: Seven East County mat men qualify for state wrestling tournament

Seven East County wrestlers have qualified to compete in this weekend’s state championship tournament in Bakersfield, and in record-setting fashion.

Three mat men representing Steele Canyon High School, two wrestlers from Helix Charter High School and one each from Mount Miguel and West Hills high schools will be vying for spots on the awards podium at Rabobank Arena this weekend.

The state tournament starts Friday, March 3, and wraps up Saturday, March 4.

By: 
Patriots end start-up season with loss in Kiwanis Cup playoffs

The CIF-Metro Conference Kiwanis Cup roller hockey playoffs faced off Feb. 22 and, much to the delight of Patrick Henry High School’s first-year program, the Patriots were included in the 12-team draw.

Patrick Henry received the No. 9 seed and met eighth-seeded Otay Ranch in the first round.   

The game, played at Castle Park High School’s outdoor rink, was expected to be close after the teams played to a 6-6 tie in January’s Pam Wiser Classic tournament, and a month later, the rematch lived up to its billing.

By: 
East County mat men load up for Masters state-qualifying tournament

East County high school wrestling programs made a significant impact at this year’s San Diego Section divisional championship tournaments with a staggering 62 qualifiers (including alternates) for this weekend’s San Diego Masters state qualifying tournament.

By: 
Patriot Act: first year Patrick Henry roller hockey team showing growth

Patrick Henry High School’s fledgling roller hockey team has certainly experienced its ups and downs in its inaugural season. The team carried a 0-5 North County League record into the New Year, which quickly became 0-8 following the opening two weeks of the 2017 calendar year.

By: 
East County mat men set their goals as season speeds to a finish

As the 2016-17 high school wrestling season officially enters its second half, the goal is as clear as ever for San Diego Section wrestlers: the state championship meet is the ultimate ticket.

It’s not any easy ride.

The top four place-winners at the section’s Masters state qualifying tournament, scheduled Feb. 24-25 at Olympian High School, will advance to the state tournament March 3-4 in Bakersfield.

By: 
Helix grad Smith looking to lead Chiefs to the Super Bowl

The 2016-17 NFL playoffs have kicked off and the initial 12-team field has been reduced to eight teams – four teams in each of the NFC and AFC playoff brackets – following last weekend’s wild card round.

Two divisional playoff games will be played on Saturday, Jan. 14, and two more on Sunday, Jan. 15, to further reduce the field to four teams.

By: 
Santana High School student earns Dr Pepper Most Inspirational Award

Santana High School senior football player Devan Henselmeier received the 2016 Dr Pepper Most Inspirational Player Award during the recent National Funding Holiday Bowl. Henselmeier was presented with a $2,000 scholarship on the field during the college bowl game Dec. 27 at Qualcomm Stadium.

He was selected from a pool of San Diego county student-athletes to receive the award. The presentation took place during the first half of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers’ 17-12 upset win over the Washington State Cougars.

By: