Saturday, January 25, 2020

2019 NorCal Cross Country Awards

Now that the 2019 XC season is fully complete, here are my awards for this past cross country season.
2011 Award Winners
2012 Award Winners
2013 Award Winners
2014 Award Winners
2015 Award Winners
2016 Award Winners
2017 Award Winners
2018 Award Winners (Must have fallen asleep at the wheel here...:D)
Feel free to share your comments below.

Most Valuable Runner (boys)-Matt Strangio Jesuit (SJS)
Most Valuable Runner (girls)- Alexandra Klos Vista del Lago (SJS)

Most Impressive Performance (boys)-Matt Strangio Jesuit (SJS) at NXN
Most Impressive Performance (girls)-Alexandra Klos Vista del Lago (SJS) at Clovis Invitational

Most Impressive Performance (boys' team)-Bellarmine (CCS) at WCAL Final breaking Crystal Springs team time record
Most Impressive Performance (girls' team)-St. Frances, Mt. View (CCS) at CA State Meet

Rising Star (boys)-Patrick Curulla De La Salle (NCS)
Rising Star (girls)-Harper McClain St. Helena (NCS)

Most Inspirational (boys)-Open to suggestions
Most Inspirational (girls)-Open to suggestions

Most Improved Runner (boys)-Jace Williams Merced (SJS)
Most Improved Runner (girls)-Kirsten Chan Dougherty Valley (NCS)

Lifetime Achievement Award (boys)-Christopher Middleton-Pearson Dublin (NCS)
Lifetime Achievement Award (girls)-Gianna Mendoza Presentation (CCS)

Buster Posey (rookie of the year)-Alexander Lodewick Campolindo (NCS)
Buster Posey (rookie of the year)-Lauren Soobrian Los Altos (CCS)

Best Robin to Batman (best supporting actor)-Colin Peattie and Nolan Topper Bellarmine (CCS)
Best Robin to Batman (best supporting actress)-Cate Joaquin and Isabella Fauria St. Francis, Sac (SJS)

Best Three Amigos-Colton Swinth, Rory Smail, Pierce Kapustka Maria Carrillo (NCS)
Best Three Amigas-St. Francis Mt. View girls (CCS)

Boys Coach of the Year (Directing)-Patrick McCrystle Bellarmine (CCS)
Girls Coach of the Year (Directing)-Jorge Chen Menlo (CCS)
Coach of the Year-Chuck Woolridge Campolindo (NCS)

Any other awards?

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Coach Woolridge, Campolindo high school wins TWO state championships. I call CCS bias!

Albert Caruana said...

I coached in NCS from 1996 to 2008. I loved my time there and honestly, I am probably more familiar with more NCS coaches than any other section.

That said, Chuck did a great job and having two state XC team titles is awesome. The reason I picked Patrick is that he had the best boys' team for the majority of the season and unfortunately illness derailed their team at the end of the season. As for the girls, I think the St. Francis, Mt. View, Menlo and Campolindo coaches are all worthy contenders. I chose Jorge Chen because some of his girls improved mightily from the previous season and they finished 2nd at state without their #1 runner. I am not sure what other teams could have done the same.

Anonymous said...

I think Jeff Gardiner from Lick Wilmerding also merits consideration for girls coach of the year. The Tigers won their 2nd D5 state championship in a row without having any dominant top runners. None of the Lick girls finished in the top 10 either year. The Lick victories are a testament to superior pack running and outstanding coaching.

Albert Caruana said...

Another good nomination for girls' coach of the year.

Anonymous said...

It is the end of a decade. So, for their consistent excellence year after year- Coaches of the Decade- Chuck Woolrich and Andy Lindquist


A thought about last season (Biggest Upset Award?)

With an injured front runner who was perhaps 20-30 seconds off his potential, Chuck and Andy led their boys team to the first Division III Boys State Championship in NCS history. These guys figured out a way to beat a star-studded and very well coached Maria Carrillo squad and internet favorites Aqoura Hills. This achievement deserves recognition.




Anonymous said...

To name anyone other than Chuck (and Andy) coach of the year, especially since Campolindo won TWO state titles at the same time while Menlo and Atherton won none, is ludicrous.

And I'm not even a Chuck's Army fan.

Anonymous said...

I think you all have to remember the strength of the division as well as the yearly progression of all the athletes within the program. The success of a coach and program is more than just winning state titles. No one is saying that Campolindo wasn't deserving, but let's refrain from saying that those who did win, didn't deserve it.

Albert Caruana said...

Great point. Like I said, there were many coaches who did a great job this past season and not winning a state championship does not rule someone out from winning a coach of the year honor. Lastly, this is very subjective and I made my two choices and I understand that not everybody will agree with the two coaches I selected. The same goes for all the other awards.

Anonymous said...

There have been some great points on this thread but when it comes to depth and being able to win without a frontrunner... Campolindo girls would have won state without their #1, just a testament to their outstanding depth. Yes, the strength of each division can be different but there still is something to going out there and dominating. It's not all about winning, but the level of sustained excellence of Campolindo over the past decade is pretty incredible and it should be celebrated. Just my two cents.

Anonymous said...

Get to know coaches like Patrick and Jorge before you begin posting here. Albert is a great coach too who is a CCS and NCS Honor Coach winner and did not win a State Championship and potentially could've been Coach of the Year as well. Side note for people who actually follow this sport closely: Bellarmine had at least 2 runners very ill thus they didn't race at their section but obviously raced at State. Menlo School should be a Division V school since they have less than 600 cbed, if that was the case Menlo would have won State by a large margin on the girls side. Just my two cents as well.

Anonymous said...

You win two state championships in the same year your coach of the year. End of thread!

Albert Caruana said...

I like the passion this award has created. I have a solution.

Elmo said...

How about giving all coaches a pat on the back and a thank you for taking on a lousy paying job ;-)
Or maybe, give all coaches a ribbon?

Anonymous said...

The Campolindo boys deserve an award for the best pack running at State by a NorCal team. They had five guys under 16:00 with only a 19 second spread. No other boys team from Northern California performed better at State as a group.

Anonymous said...

I love all the Campolindo fans on this thread!

Anonymous said...

"No other boys team from Northern California performed better at State as a group" Maria Carrillo boys might disagree

Anonymous said...

Yeah illness and injuries. Two signs of overtraining, or poor coaching.

Anonymous said...

Does coach boys and girls team matter in the decision ?
Mayabe separate awards?

Albert Caruana said...

I have always had a separate boys and girls award so that a couple of coaches can be acknowledged. I added an overall coach based on the comments above and we had a coach who was able to win two state team titles.

I think we can move forward and start looking ahead to track and field now?

Anonymous said...

Yes, please. The question is: will Maria Carrillo break the NCS boys' 4 x 1600 record this year? With how studly their top 3 are it's definitely possible.

Anonymous said...

Can someone link to the NCS track records please, including the 4x1600s and odd relays? Thanks!

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