The Breitbard Athletic Association, through the auspices of the San Diego Hall of Champions, recently named its 53rd annual All-CIF San Diego Section winter sports teams for the 2012-13 season, as announced by Steve Brand, the hall’s awards coordinator, on March 12.
The Breitbard Athletic Association, through the auspices of the San Diego Hall of Champions, recently named its 53rd annual All-CIF San Diego Section winter sports teams for the 2012-13 season, as announced by Steve Brand, the hall’s awards coordinator, on March 12.
A total of 12 athletes from the Grossmont Conference or surrounding private schools were honored with either first or second team berths among the six sponsored sports.
A media panel of sports writers and broadcasters from throughout San Diego and Imperial counties chose them.
The sport which did the best was boys basketball, featuring a first-team berth for Andre Nikkita of El Cajon Valley High.
Nikkita, a transfer guard from San Diego High, was the second-leading scorer in the Grossmont Valley League at 28 points per game. His single-game effort of 51 points ranks second on the Braves ledger to Kemmy Burgess, who went on to play professionally abroad.
A pair of East County products were voted to the second team in Izzy Wagner of Mount Miguel and T.J. Lead of Foothills Christian.
Wagner, who led the nation in scoring through the first month of the season, finished his campaign average 33.4 points per outing, the best in the section. He was aided by outstanding foul shooting, hitting at a clip of more than 86 percent.
Leaf is the younger brother of current U.C. Irvine standout Troy Leaf, who was the Hall of Champions all-division player of the year in 2009-10 after leading the Knights to four consecutive Division V section championships.
The current Leaf is a rare freshman selection by the media panel, after he also fueled Foothills Christian to the title game by averaging 22.7 points, plus leading the region in shooting from the floor and second in rebounding.
Girls basketball was again strongly represented, as Skylar Wlliams led Granite Hills to its first-ever CIF crown, taking the Division I title in a romp over Rancho Buena Vista.
Williams received a first-team berth while Emily Cole of West Hills was tabbed to the second team. Cole will play on scholarship for Cal State Northridge next season.
In wrestling, the honorees are determined by the finalists at the Masters meet. Thus, Mount Miguel senior Miracle Tausaga, winner of the 222-pound title and a state qualifier, gained a first-team berth. Among his highlights this season, Tausaga was named most outstanding heavyweight at the Robert Jenkins Memorial Tournament.
In girls soccer, Steele Canyon placed three players on the SDHOC’s team. Included were first team honoree Kiana Quarles, while Kailynn Janis and Jessica Warner made the second team.
Also on the first team is Katherine Day of Christian who set a SDCIF record with 61 goals this season, leading the Patriots to the Division V crown.
Boys soccer faced a down season with just a pair of seniors, Nick Vilett of Granite Hills and Valhalla’s Andrew Ogilvy, gaining second team berths.
Finally, in girls water polo, beach area schools again dominated the selections as the Grossmont Conference was shut out.
The lone athletes from inland ties were second-team honorees and included Sierra Stillwater, a senior from Patrick Henry High, and Ramona senior Tiffany Larson.
