Page 13 - Mid Valley Times 5-7-20 E-edition

Sanger High's Hall of Fame inductees
MVT Staff Report
The banquet for this year's induction cere- mony into Sanger High's Hall of Fame, originally scheduled for May 2, has been postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To honor them, Mid Valley Times will be running profiles of this year's in- ductees over the coming weeks.
Diana Macias Copeland
The “first female su- perstar” of track coach Dave Dodson’s 50-year career was Diana Macias Copeland. Along with playing volleyball and basketball all four years, she was Sanger’s premier track athlete of that time. As a sophomore she quali-
fied to the State track meet in the 100 yard dash and on the 440 yard relay team,
Diana Macias which fin- Copeland ished fourth
at the State meet in a Sanger record time that still stands today. She still holds the school record in the 200-meter dash and won four individ- ual West Yosemite League championship titles her senior year, setting league records in all four events. She was named Sanger High Female Athlete of the Year in 1977 and went on to successfully com- pete at Fresno City Col-
lege.
Pat Henry
Pat Henry will be in- ducted with this class as a community contributor. Sanger High athletics has a long history of commu- nity help, beginning with the construction of the Sanger football stadium in 1954/55 by the Sanger
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Immanuel's Williams prepares for next level
Eagles' two-sport athlete draws interest from several college football programs
Lions Club and many local farm- ers who dug the area out and built the berm seat- ing we still use today.
But for sheer breadth of work and benefit to multiple programs, Pat Henry’s “Get on Track and Light It Up” project of 1991/1992 stands alone. Over that year the first Sanger High all weather track, reconfigured to 400 meters, the Dayton Field berm seating, and all of the lights at Tom Flores Stadium, the Varsity soft- ball diamond, the Dodson Field track area, and Day- ton Field were installed. Without his efforts Sanger residents would not have enjoyed the benefits of these facilities over these past 30 years.
Look for more Sanger High Hall of Fame In- ductee profiles in next week's Sports edition of the Mid Valley Times
Kirk Kawagoe / Photos Contributed
Immanuel High’s Winston Williams scored one of his four receiving touchdowns in 2019 on a 31-yard reception against Chowchilla High.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Winston Williams has been a key part of Immanuel High School’s basketball success the past two years, which in- cluded a trip to the CIF Division 4 state finals in 2019. But it’s his prowess on the football field that is beginning to draw the attention of colleges and tipping the scales of his athletics future at the next level.
Just fives months after helping lead Immanuel High’s football team to a 9-3 record and a berth in the section play- offs, the 6-foot-4, 220 pound junior has caught the eye of four-year schools in- cluding Fresno State, UC Davis, East- ern Washington and Wyoming. It’s also resulted in him getting his first scholar- ship offer, from Mountain West school San Jose State.
“[Schools] text me on Twitter, they see my highlight reels and then they gave me a call,” Williams said of the re- cent interest. “They’ve been talking to me and showing interest.”
Williams starred on both sides of the ball for the Eagles, collecting 27 recep- tions for 339 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for two more scores playing tight end, H-back and wide receiver. De- fensively, he lined up as an outside line- backer and defensive end and collected 43 tackles, five quarterback sacks and nine pass deflections. He also forced two fumbles and in one game blocked a pair of punts.
“I’ve got more opportunities going into [football],” Williams said. “Playing tight end, outside linebacker and defen- sive end. That’s what most people have been talking to me about.”
Immanuel football coach Drew Hal- stead said the attention Williams has re- ceived from Division 1 schools is well- deserved.
“Winston is hard-working and intel- ligent, and has the ability to play mul- tiple positions on both sides of the ball,” he said. “He is very coachable, which allows him to be a threat all over the field.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the halt to prep sports in March, Williams joined the track team for the first time with plans of running the 200 and 400 meter events as part of working on his speed. For now, he tries to stay in condition with solo workouts with a handful of teammates at the Immanuel Sports Complex.
“Most days I’m out here running on
the track, mostly working on my speed,” he said. “Doing the [stadium] stairs or going and running the little slope on the hill. I’m working on endurance and get- ting speed, that first quick step.”
Williams also had been planning to at- tend spring and summer football camps to increase his exposure in recruiting. While that appears derailed, he hopes that there may be some opportunity dur- ing the summer.
Williams, a Hanford native, said foot- ball has been a part of his life and is his best chance at getting to the next level. But it’s basketball where he’s become a big part of the Eagles’ program and suc- cess.
“I really love basketball. that was the first sports I started playing,” he said. “I realize now that with football, I’ve got more opportunities and I’m more built for that kind of sport.”
Williams has been a key contribu- tor to Immanuel’s success, starting as a sophomore in 2018-19 and averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds for a 26-9 Ea- gles’ squad that won the Central Sequoia League championship and then rolled to the Division 4 championship game be- fore falling to Ribet Academy.
This past year, the Eagles’ streak of six consecutive section championships was snapped during an 18-11 season, but Williams was a powerful inside force. He averaged 22.8 points, 12 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
“Winston is an incredible athlete and it’s been a lot of fun watching him grow and develop over the last three years,” said Chris Woods, IHS basketball coach. “He plays with such high energy on both ends of the court; he makes an impact all game long.”
Williams and fellow junior Shawn Rodgers have played together since their freshman year, and despite the frustrating finish as juniors they look to come back strong for the Eagles in 2021.
Williams said he hasn’t settled on an eventual major for college, and contin- ues his online studies [he carries a 3.03 grade point average] as the Immanuel campus remains closed to on-campus instruction and school officials continue to monitor the situation.
“ I’m not going to be set on one thing because I know things change and plans change,” he said. “These next two years are going to be important. I want to keep the GPA up so I can go wherever I want to go if I get offered.”
Immanuel High’s Winston Williams has drawn re- cruiting interest from Fresno State, Eastern Wash- ington and Wyoming along with offers from Cal Po- ly and San Jose State for his football abilities. The junior was a two-way standout on the Eagles’ 9-3 team, and also has starred two years in basketball.
Pat Henry
Former Immanuel star Person joins sunbirds, familiar faces
Contributed
The Fresno Pacific men’s bas- ketball program and head coach C.J. Haydock announced on May 4 the signing of former Immanu- el High star Darrin Person Jr. to the roster for the 2020-2021 cam- paign.
A 6’7 wing, Person comes to FPU after completing his sopho- more season at NCAA Division-I Cal State Bakersfield.
“Darrin is a game-changing caliber player, and he will impact our team offensively, defensively, and with his rebounding prow- ess,” Haydock said. “He comes from an incredible family, he’s deeply motivated, selfless, and immensely talented. He’s as ac- complished and talented a player as Fresno has produced in recent history.”
Person is one of the most sto- ried players in Central Valley
Mid Valley Times file photo
Darrin Person Jr. dunked during an Immanuel High game in 2017. Person is transferring from Cal State Bakersfield to Fresno Pacif- ic University and will play for the Sunbirds in 2020-2021.
history, finishing his prep career with averages of 20 points and 10 rebounds per game while leading
Immanuel High School to a histor- ic four straight section champion- ships. He wrapped up his career with 2,305 points, good enough for sixth all-time in Central Section history while adding 1,341 boards (5th all-time).
During his time with the Eagles Person played under Haydock and current FPU assistant coach Nate McClurg. Person was an All-State selection in each of his four years, and he closed out his high school career by being named the 2017 Fresno Bee High School Player of the Year and garnering the Divi- sion 4 Most Valuable Player award the same season.
“I believe everyone that is a part of this program is invested in the culture and will do whatever it takes to win, from staff all the way down to the players,” Person said. “I chose FPU because I want to do something that has never been do- ne before and make history here.”
Person continues FPU’s well established pattern of recruiting local players, and becomes the eighth Central Valley native on the roster for the 2020-2021 season.
“We continue to provide a platform for our community,” Haydock said. “We are deeply in- vested in excellence for our city, and Darrin’s belief in that vision and his desire to represent Fresno with work, character, selflessness, and his talent is another affirma- tion of the roots we have laid in our Valley.”
The 2020-2021 Sunbirds will open their season at home, in a Conference Crossover featuring St. Martin’s and Montana State Billings. The Blue and Orange re- turn two 1,000 point career scor- ers in Adrian Antunez and Aamon- dae Coleman, as well as the bulk of their 2019-2020 roster. Person joins prior class of 2020 signees Maurice Holmes and DJ Searcy.