Foothill High senior and varsity football defensive back Jordan Johnson was named to the All-NorCal First Team, with defensive lineman Stash McGuinness earning Second Team All-NorCal honors.
The 5-foot-10-inch Johnson was the leader of a secondary than allowed under 100 passing yards a game during the regular season. He had eight interceptions and 50 tackles as he helped the Falcons to a 12-1 season and a spot in the NCS 4A final.
Johnson was named the most valuable player of the East Bay Athletic League and earned first-team All-Metro honors on defense by the San Francisco Chronicle.
DL McGuinness, a 6-foot, 230-pound defensive tackle, was a top player for one of the better defenses in the area. He was named second-team All-Metro by the Chronicle after recording 73 tackles and leading the EBAL with 14 sacks. He led a defense that allowed just 80 yards rushing per game during the regular season and held eight of its opponents to single digits.
Wipfli wins wrestling championship
Foothill senior Tommy Wipfli started the second day of last weekend’s regional wrestling tournament with three wins from Friday under his belt. He wrestled Dennis Elliot of La Costa Canyon getting the first take down early and controlling the match all three rounds with a final score of 7-2.
He saw Johnny Rios of Madeira next which proved to be a much tougher match. Again, Wipfli scored an early take down in the first round which ended up being very important, as it was the only one scored the entire match. The only other point during the match was an escape by Wipfli in the second round. Going into the third round leading 3-0, Wipfli was able to keep the lead by riding out his opponent the entire period. This win sealed his place into the Championship Finals.
The ceremony prior to the finals was amazing. The entire gym was in darkness and with a laser light show above everyone, as the Championship finalist wrestlers came out of a tunnel surrounded with fog blowing out across the gym floor. Wipfli went up against Garrett Drucker of Edison in a match that was tough from the start. In the second round, with Wipfli down 10-4, he reversed his opponent and quickly put him on his back getting three near fall. The crowd went wild with this sudden change in events and began what turned out to be Wipfli’s run for the title. By the end of the third round, Tommy had scored another reversal, a two near fall and a three near fall ending the match with a winning score of 17-12 and the Championship title.
Lady Dons lose nail-biter to Monte Vista 57-50
Amador keeps lead through half-time
The Amador Valley Lady Dons got off to a strong start in their game against the Monte Vista Mustangs last Friday with high scorer Mikayla Lyles sinking two buckets for four of her 11 points before Monte Vista got a bucket. The Mustangs drew even at six about half way into the fist period as the teams continued on, basket for basket.
Laura Heisser managed to put Amador ahead as she racked up three of her nine points when she made the bucket and one after a Monte Vista foul. After one period of play Amador was ahead 17 to 15.
In the second period Amanda Nespor got the scoring going by making two of her eight points. Amador stretched the lead to 6, but Monte Vista whittled away to knock the lead to 2. At the half Amador led 28 to 26.
Amador came out strong in the third period and managed to stretch the lead to 6 (32 to 26) after Quinn Thompson dropped in two of her 10 points just a minute in. Monte Vista kept working on the lead and brought the score even at 34 as the period was coming to a close. Monte Vista’s momentum carried them to a 3rd period lead Amador 35 to Monte Vista 39.
The Monte Vista momentum continued on until Monte Vista racked up a 9-point lead. With only 4:28 left to play, Amador was trailing 38 to 47. Thompson drained a couple of 3’s and Laura Heisser put back one of her three rebounds to bring the score to 46-49. More baskets left the two opponents still three points apart with 23 seconds left. Amador had a chance to tie the game, but Lyles’ three did not go. Heisser could not get her shot off cleanly. Amador had to foul to control the clock and Monte Vista was able to add four more points.
Final score: Monte Vista, 57; Amador, 50.
