Page 9 - Mid Valley Times 6-11-20 E-edition

Thursday, June 11, 2020
Agina named Apaches' Male Athlete of the Year
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
Sanger High's Kosi Agina was a three-time defending CMAC Champion in the triple-jump and was prepared to defend his 2019 title in the long jump.
As a key component to the Apache's football program, Kosi Agina scored the third most rushing touchdowns in Sanger High history.
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
This year’s Male Ath- lete of the Year for Sanger High came as no surprise as Kosi Agina was recent- ly named the school’s top male athlete.
The standout ath- lete was instrumental in the success of both the Apaches’ football and track program. As part of the Apaches’ dy- namic triple-option of- fense, Agina represented a threat every time he stepped onto the football field. He could often be seen breaking free for a long run at Tom Flores Stadium and was a key part of Sanger’s success in football over the past few years.
His prowess on the field earned him three varsity football letters and he was named to the 2nd Team All CMAC team his junior year and to the 1st Team All CMAC his senior year. As a rusher
for the Apaches, Agina finished his prep career with the third most rush- ing touchdowns in school history.
This fall, Agina will be following another Apache product as he joins for- mer Sanger High stand- out Jalen Cropper as a Fresno State Bulldog, where he will be playing defense.
But Agina’s greatest accomplishments may have come in track and field. He was a two-time medalist in the triple jump at the CIF State track and field champi- onships, earning a 6th place finish in 2018 and finishing third in 2019. He was the defending CMAC champion in the long jump and the three- time defending champion in the triple jump.
This year, he also re- ceived Sanger High’s dis- tinguished B’nai B’rith Award.
According to his for- mer high school football
coach Jorge Pena, guys like Agina don’t come around very often.
“He has tremendous work ethic,” Pena said. “He has incredible integ- rity and character and he’s just a great all around young man. I’m so proud of him.”
In addition to receiv- ing all the accolades in athletics, Agina also fin- ished near the top of his
class. He graduated with a grade point average above 4.0 and is recog- nized as a Scholar Athlete.
Agina was recognized via a virtual award cer- emony on June 3. Receiv- ing the school’s award for Female Athlete of the Year was Lady Apaches’ softball standout Katelyn Estep. See her story in next week’s edition of the Times.
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
Hall, Tiger named Immanuel High's Athletes of the Year
George M. Villagrana / Mid Valley Times
Dinuba High standout wrestler Noah Cortez was recently named the school's Co-Male Athlete of the Year.
Cal-Poly bound Cortez adds another award
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Carissa Hall and Matt Tiger, two multi-sports stars for four years at Immanuel High, were an- nounced as the school’s Female and Male Athletes of the Year for 2019-2020 during the school’s gradu- ation ceremony on June 3 at County Line Stadium.
Hall was a standout in track and field and volley- ball for the Eagles, and her exploits in the long jump and triple jump earned
Carissa Hall
her a scholarship at Lee University, an NCAA Divi- sion II school in Cleveland, Tenn. Tiger, meanwhile, was a football standout for three years on the IHS var- sity team and also played baseball. His success on the gridiron earned him a scholarship to attend NCAA Division III school Greenville University in Illinois.
Josh Franco, the school’s director of athlet- ics and IHS baseball coach, said that candidates for the award are voted on by their peers and the finalists
were selected by adminis- tration. In addition to their success in athletics, the winners bring pride to the community.
Hall finished fifth in the Central Section cham- pionships in both the long jump and triple as a junior in 2019. She had the top marks in the section (16 feet, 8 inches in the long jump and 37-9 in the triple jump) this spring before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandem- ic.
Hall also was a key contributor during three seasons on the varsity vol- leyball team, helping the Eagles reach the Division 4 section finals in 2018 and the Division 3 semifi- nals in 2019 as an outside hitter and middle blocker. She also played two years of varsity soccer, and was active in FFA and sports medicine (she plans to major in biology and pre- physical therapy).
Tiger was the top of- fensive threat in 2019 for the Eagles, who in a non- affiliation season posted a 9-3 record and reached the Division 5 quarterfi- nals (highlighted by a win over fellow city school Reedley High). Switch- ing from quarterback as a sophomore and junior to running back, Tiger rushed for 1,859 yards and 16 touchdowns. He rushed for 200 yards in three dif- ferent games, capped by a 271-yard outburst against McFarland High.
Tiger also starred de- fensively as a linebacker during his three-year var-
sity career. During his time as a quarterback, he passed for about 1,000 yards with 11 touchdowns while rush- ing for more than 600 yards and 15 TDs. During his varsity baseball career, he hit .308 as a junior with 28 hits and 14 runs batted in and in three seasons he posted 4-1 record as a pitcher.
At the graduation cer- emony, the school also recognized its Blue-White Excellence Award winners in athletics — Hall, Joshua Cabaluna and Mackenzie Coats. Qualifications for
the award were athletic success including league, team and section awards; a grade point average of 3.0 or higher; and having shown and practices spiri- tual growth and maturity within a team, campus and community.
Cabaluna competed in soccer and cross coun- try for the Eagles, earn- ing first team all-Central Sequoia League honors in soccer as a senior. Coats was a veteran standout for Immanuel’s volleyball team and also earned all- league recognition.
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
Noah Cortez added an- other accolade to his col- lection of awards as the DHS senior was named Co- Male Athlete of the Year.
Cortez had a stellar wrestling career for the Emperors program under the watchful eye of coach Michael Wright. Cortez was the team’s Most Valuable Player, placed 6th overall in the 152-pound division at the California Interscholas- tic Federation champion- ships and was the Division 1 Valley Champion.
Cortez holds the school records for most two- point near falls in a season with 37 and career near falls with 99. He is first in takedowns with 120, most career technical falls and major decisions with 15. He exits the program with most wins in a season with 46 and most team points in a season with 256.5.
Cortez will be joining the Cal Poly program after signing a letter of intent
last November.
Mustangs coach Jon Sio-
redes said he is excited for Noah to join the program.
“He has the ability and potential to make an imme- diate impact,” stated Siore- des. “We recruit based on character and work ethic and Noah will bring a high level of both to SLO this fall. We cannot wait to get him on campus and get to work.”
Cortez also excelled in baseball as a four-year varsity player under coach Brent Morelli.
“He was one of the most clutch performers at the plate and behind the plate because he was such a great competitor,” said Morelli.
Cortez played in four games for the Emperors before the season came to a halt due to the pandem- ic. Last year, he played 13 games while batting .317 with 13 hits and drove in eight runs. His sophomore year, he averaged .309 with 25 hits and 20 RBI’s while scoring 14 runs.
Kirk Kawagoe / Photo Contributed
Matt Tiger broke free for a big gain against Central Val- ley Christian in 2019. The three-year varsity start rushed for 1,859 yards and 16 touchdowns to help lead the Ea- gles to a 9-3 record last season. He was selected as the school's Male Athlete of the Year for 2019-2020.