Skate Park benefit May 31

Local skateboarders celebrate the news that a longtime skate park supporter has contacted Skate Ojai to issue a $50,000 match challenge to the community. Every donation will now be doubled, helping to reach the $350,000 goal; $227,000 has already been raised, leaving $123,000 needed by June 30 in order to build the new 10,000-square-foot concrete skate park. Check out the web site at ojaiskatepark.com for updates and payment options or mail or take donations to Ojai Community Bank, 402 W. Ojai Ave. For more information, call 646-3774.

Skate Ojai and the City of Ojai Recreation Department presents a Skate for the Green benefit event May 31 from noon to 4 p.m. celebrating skateboarding, the environment and Ojai youth.
There will be skateboarding demonstrations, a raffle, local food and vendors, plus instructors on hand to give tips to those with boards and helmets.
A skate contest with prizes will take place for a suggested $2 donation. The first 100 contest participants will receive goodie bags. Disc jockey Skitz and KFYV Live 105.5 FM will broadcast the event.
After the skate event, the movie “United by Fate” will be shown at the Chaparral Auditorium from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The video is a series of short films by Globe that features Mark Appleyard, Shane Cross, Jake Duncombe, David Gonzalez, Chris Haslam, Greg Lutzka, Rodney Mullen and Matt Mumford. Tickets cost $5 for kids and $10 for adults.
Mullen, a professional freestyle skateboarder, will be at the May 31 event to sign autographs and lend his support to helping to raise the $123,000 needed by June 30 in order to build the new 10,000 square-foot concrete skate park.
For more information, contact Dale Sumersille at 646-1872, Sunday Rylander at 766-1366 or go to ojaiskatepark.com.

Ojai Valley School wins track league title

Ojai Valley School junior John Kao, center, springs out of the blocks in the 100-meter dash. Kao would go on to win the event in 11.8 seconds, helping his team win the Condor League championship.

By Fred Alvarez

The boys’ track team at Ojai Valley School ran away with the Condor League championship last week, bringing home the league title for the first time in the 40 years OVS has participated in that sport.
Junior standouts John Kao and Parker Colborn helped lead the way, as each brought home three first-place medals. Kao took first in the high jump and 100-meter run, and anchored the winning 4x100-meter relay team. Colborn ran on the winning 4x100-meter and 4x1600-meter relay teams, and took first in the 400-meter run in a time of 52.7 seconds.
Overall, the boys’ squad racked up 78 points at the meet, which involved four other Condor League schools. The meet was held at Thacher School.
“The kids ran with a lot of heart,” said OVS co-track coach Gary Dinkins, who has helped pilot the squad for nearly 35 years.
“We have a lot of talent in a small group this year,” he added. “It’s great for them to see what they can do through a total team effort.”
Other notable performers included sophomore Jesse Holguin, who took second in the high jump and third in the 200- meter run. He also ran on both winning relay teams.
Sophomore Robert Lee took second in the 3200-meter run while junior Ronald Richard took fourth in the 1600-meter run. Sophomore Paul Graham earned fifth in the shot put, fourth in the high jump and was one of the fastest members of the winning 4x1600-meter relay team.

Four earn CIF BB honors

Awards go to Thacher’s Thomas, Villanova’s Hoffman, Kolbeck, Reilley

By Mike Miller

Thacher’s Chris Thomas can now add All-CIF honors to his already lengthy list of athletic accomplishments while at Thacher. Thomas was recently named to the First Team All-Division V team after a stellar senior campaign. Thomas led the team in scoring and was a major contributor to the recent success of the Thacher basketball team.
Thomas is best known for his vicious hits on the football field and he will be taking his talents to Pitzer College in Claremont. According to Thacher basketball coach Jason Carney, Thomas will try his hand at playing both football and basketball for the Sagehens.
On the girls’ side, the Villanova Wildcats were rewarded for their incredible season by having two players named to the First Team All-Division VAA and one player earned Second Team honors. Senior Hannah Hoffman closed out her career with First Team honors. Also earning First Team honors was freshman Hannah Kolbeck. Kolbeck was one of only two freshmen in Division VAA to earn All-CIF accolades. Senior Kaitlin Reilley was named to the second team. The Wildcats won the Frontier League title, going a perfect 10-0 in league play in the process.

Rutherford returns to Ventura Raceway Saturday

Troy Rutherford celebrates a win last season with daughters Skylar, left, and Logan.

By Sondra Murphy

Ojai sprint car racer Troy Rutherford is heading back to Ventura Raceway this weekend. Rutherford’s return for the 2008 racing season has been delayed by a serious kidney condition, but his doctor has given him the green flag back to the track. “I feel 100 percent. It’s going to be a great weekend,” said Rutherford.
Last season, Rutherford won the last seven of eight sprint series races at the raceway, giving his fans and crew something to cheer for. Winning is obviously a thrill for Rutherford, but he said it is the speed that keeps him competing. “I’ve been doing it since I was 11 and it’s become an addiction, I guess,” said Rutherford. “Everyone tells me I should be playing golf, but I tell them the carts don’t go fast enough.”
He started racing go-carts out in Oxnard when he had just reached double digits. He was already helping his stepfather, Frank Sheltren, work on cars for Rick Taylor, who is the father of fellow racer, Greg Taylor. “I used to go help work on Rick’s TQ Sprints with my dad,” said Rutherford. “It seems like it was just yesterday.”
Rutherford began racing International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) Sprint Cars in 1996 and lists Rick Taylor as an early inspiration in the sport, but credits Sheltren for his success. “My old man said, ‘If you’re going to do it, do it right,’” said Rutherford. “He’s been part of my crew ever since. He’s been the one who’s pushed me along the whole time. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”
There are many other supporters of Rutherford’s efforts. Clive Burton serves as his crew chief, while Garrett Leib and Dale Munzel round out the crew. Sheltren oversees everything. “He’s the boss,” said Rutherford of his dad. “He makes sure everything goes right.”
Munzel’s company, L & H Consulting, is Rutherford’s only sponsor. “Anything that needs to be done, he does it,” said Rutherford.
The rest of Rutherford’s family helps out, as well. Wife Leslie, and daughters Logan, 5, and Skylar, 2, regularly lend assistance. “I couldn’t do it without the support of my wife,” said Rutherford. “It takes the whole family and a group of friends willing to work together and sacrifice their own time. Even my girls come down and help. Logan helps put tools away and Skylar gets filthy helping to clean up. They’re actually mad that I haven’t been racing.”
Rutherford’s parents, Cheryl and Frank, brother Rob and sister Keri Escalante all live in Ojai and support him in his racing, as well. “I have two dads, luckily,” said Rutherford, whose day job is outside sales for Frank’s Rooter & Pumping Service.
He says that he spends about 40 hours a week on racing efforts. “It’s a second job,” Rutherford said. “It’s nothing you’re going to get rich off, but it gives me the possibility to run and have fun.”
The cost of the sport can be daunting and Rutherford would like to attract more sponsors. He estimated the basic car alone cost about $48,000 and says that winning helps cover the expenses. “I have to win every week to make it out the next week,” he said. “I was lucky enough to have Mike Sala let us use a closed trailer,” said Rutherford. “It works perfectly for local trips.”
Being out of the driver’s seat has been hard for Rutherford. “It’s been very difficult, but it gives you a different perspective on life,” he said. “Racing is not everything, but it’s something that I love to do and if I can do it, I’m going to do it.” Rutherford is ready to get back on the track and start winning races again. “There’s nothing like winning. It makes the work we’ve done all week long worth while.”

NHS boys’ tennis holds strong

At 8-1, Nordhoff boys’ tennis team boosted by Slifkin brothers, Thorpe, veterans Ceiders, De Cordova

By Mike Miller

Nordhoff tennis coach Todd Dickey agrees with the saying, “Two is better than one,” especially when it comes to the Slifkin brothers. Adam and Josh Slifkin have led the Rangers to an overall record of 8-1 and 7-1 in Tri-Valley League play. Adam has been perfect on the season, going 24-0 in singles’ play and 3-0 in doubles. Josh is also undefeated on the season, with an 8-0 singles record and is 3-0 in doubles as well. Dickey said, “Adam has been solid all year and very consistent and Josh is very mature and he brings great leadership to our program.”
The Slifkin brothers are not the only show in town for the Rangers. Junior Chris Thorpe leads the team with 25 wins, with only one defeat. According to Dickey, Thorpe is a big hitter that uses a huge serve and powerful forehands to intimidate his opponents. In doubles, NHS has seen great play from the combination of junior Sam Ceiders and senior Mike Finley. Ceiders and Finley have gone 12-4 on the season. Dickey said, “They are both (Ceiders and Finley) veterans of our program and they have become very strong leaders.” Dickey also mentioned the doubles’ play of freshman Jacob De Cordova. He said, “Jacob has really been a pillar of confidence in doubles and he has a great team attitude.”
The NHS tennis program recently got a morale boost when new courts were installed a couple of months ago. “I have to say thank you to the school district, The Weil Tennis Academy and to ‘The Ojai’ for their support. The community came together to rebuild the courts and it has made a huge difference for our program,” added Dickey.
The Rangers have some huge matches coming up. They will travel across town tomorrow to take on Thacher at 3:45 p.m. Thacher is currently the second-ranked team in Division V. On April 2, the Rangers will host the top-ranked Division V team in Cate at 3 p.m. and then Oaks Christian will come to town the following day to play in a match that is likely to decide the Tri-Valley League title. Check the OVN for results of these matches as the Rangers look to become league champions.

NHS softball takes down Lions, 4-3

By Mike Miller

Nordhoff softball coach Don Rodarte will be sporting a new look this week. After beating the Oaks Christian Lions, 4-3, Rodarte made good on a promise to his team to shave his head. The thrilling 4-3 win over their rivals improved the team’s record to 3-6 overall and 1-2 in Tri-Valley League play.
The loss at the hands of the Lady Rangers is the first-ever Tri-Valley League defeat for Oaks Christian, according to Rodarte. He said, “After the game I told my girls that showing maturity to win games comes through game experience, whether that experience is good or bad. The important thing is to remember those experiences and learn from them.”
The game was a thriller that came down to the very last out before a winner was decided. Samantha Perez got the Rangers going with a shot to right field that got over the head of the Lions’ outfielder for a two-run home run, giving NHS the 2-1 lead. Oaks Christian battled back to take the lead in the fifth, but then McKenna Myers broke out of an early season slump with a hit that could not have come at a better time for the Rangers. Myers belted a shot to center field for an RBI double, scoring Hanna Riley. Riley, who had taken a line drive off her knee to start the game, earned the respect of her coach. He said, “It was loud and painful, however, she kept her composure and picked up the ball and threw out the batter. Hanna sucked it up and played tough the rest of the game.”
The Lady Rangers would take the lead for good when Ashley Pulido hit a solo home run. Pulido also pitched for the Rangers and kept the game close down the stretch. The drama was thick in the seventh and final inning, when an overthrow back to Pulido was picked up by Myers, who threw out the Oaks Christian runner at home. Rodarte recounted the play, “The runner took advantage of the situation and ran home, but the heads-up play and hustle of Myers and Pulido got her out on a close play.”
Kelsey Endo sealed the win by ending the drama and making the final out of the game for the Lady Rangers. The Rangers will return to action on March 29 when they face Channel Islands at 11 a.m. They will play Oaks Christian again on April 17 at Oaks Christian.

Farrar hopes to rebuild Buena

By Mike Miller

After 21 years of leading the Nordhoff Rangers football program, head coach Cliff Farrar announced last week that he is leaving to take the head coaching job at Buena High School in Ventura. Farrar’s announcement comes after a season in which the Rangers reached the CIF finals before losing to Oaks Christian. In his 21 seasons, Farrar went 150-98-2, with nine league titles, reached the CIF finals four times and the CIF semifinals four times and had a 25-15 record in CIF play-off games.
Farrar will take over a program that he feels is on the verge of great things. When asked what attracted him to Buena, he said, “I am ready for a new challenge and I think that Buena is a good fit. I have always enjoyed rebuilding teams. When I was a kid, I was always the one on the playground that would organize games and set up teams. Putting together a team and seeing it become successful is what keeps me going.” Farrar will take former player and long-time assistant coach Mike Rodriguez with him to Buena. “Mike is a big part of what I do and we are both excited for a new challenge. I can hear the excitement in his voice and we are anxious to get going,” noted Farrar.
Coaching football will not be Farrar’s only duty at Buena, he will also be teaching part-time, just as he did last year at NHS. His biggest task will be rebuilding a program that has only won nine games in the last four seasons. Farrar admits that leaving behind a program that he resurrected will not be easy. “When I came to Ojai, I wanted to establish a program that people wanted to be a part of. I wanted all of the 9- and 10-year-old boys that were looking through the fence to want to become Rangers some day. I think that we accomplished that here. I am so proud of this program and this community for all that we have been able to accomplish. It has been weird driving by the school knowing that I won’t be coaching the Rangers anymore. Everyone backed this program, from the players and parents to the band and cheerleaders. It just seemed like there was something for everyone, and that made it special.”
When asked about his most memorable moment as football coach, Farrar paused. “I don’t know if I can name just one, there were just so many. That 1991 team will always hold a special spot in my heart, though. They were the first team that truly bought into what we were trying to do. In 1990, we finished in last place in our league, but then in 1991 we won league. The 1994 team was also real special for me because both of my sons (Brian and Russell) were on that team. Kids enjoyed playing Ranger football and that has been important to me over the years,” he said.
Farrar’s parting comments to his Nordhoff family, past and present were, “I just want to say a big thank-you to all of my former players. Not many programs can say that they went to the play-offs for 16 of 17 seasons and that is due to that hard work and dedication of those players. I can’t tell you how many times people approached me after the season to say that they were surprised that we finished as well as we did and that is a testament to those kids and their effort. To the community, thank you for your support over the years. I have enjoyed it a lot. They backed us all of the time. And finally to my family, they gave me the time to do what I love. My wife, Roxanne, has been our biggest fan and she has just been great.”
Farrar added that six members of last year’s coaching staff have indicated that they would like to remain with the football program. “They are doing a nice job and will keep the kids motivated and make sure that they are ready to go next year,” said Farrar.

Lady Rangers honored

Tri-Valley League basketball awards go to players, junior varsity coach

By Mike Miller

Despite a season that saw Nordhoff’s Lady Rangers basketball team miss the CIF play-offs for the first time in years, the team was recently honored by the Tri-Valley League when three of its players were named to the All-League team.
Sophomore Carmen Cotsis earned honorable mention honors for her guard play. Cotsis scored a season-high 19 points in a game against Bishop Diego. She averaged six points a contest along with 2.4 assists. Junior Nicole Bergmann, who battled through an injury most of the season, was named to the second team All-League. Bergmann serves as the Rangers’ best defender and long range shooter. She averaged 6.3 points per game this season.
Top honors went to the much- improved Hanna Riley. Riley was named first team All-League despite starting the season on the junior varsity team. She has earned the praises not only of the basketball coaches for her improvement, but head softball coach Don Rodarte also notes her inspired play on the softball field.
Junior varsity coach Gary Tuttle was also honored for his coaching ability. He was named Girls’ Junior Varsity Coach of the Year by the Ventura County Basketball Coaches Association. According to head coach Ted Cotti, Tuttle is the first NHS girls’ basketball coach to earn that honor. Tuttle led the junior varsity team to an impressive 18-1 finish.
Team award winners were:
Coaches’ Award:
Nicole Bergmann
Coaches’ Award:
McKenna Myers
Coaches’ Award:
Tanya McQueen
Most Improved:
Hanna Riley
Most Valuable Teammate:
Carmen Cotsis
Rookie of the Year:
Autumn Brobisky

Villanova BB players make All-League teams

10-0 Lady Wildcats’ hoopsters get Frontier League honors

By Mike Miller

The dust is still settling after Villanova’s girls’ basketball team excited the Ojai Valley by winning 16 consecutive games and going deep into the CIF play-offs. Head coach Sarah Angell announced earlier this week that more than half of the team was honored by the Frontier League as members of the All-League teams.
Both junior Morgan Henry-Ehritt and freshman Madison Harwell were honorable mention winners for their gritty play during the season.
Comprising the second team All-League were senior Maryrose Vigorita and sophomore Rebecca Parziale. A pair of seniors that VPS will certainly miss next year in Hannah Hoffman and Kaitlin Reilley earned first team All-Frontier League honors.
The top honor for the Lady Wildcats went to freshman Hannah Kolbeck, who was named Co-Most Valuable Player of the Frontier League in her inaugural season. While the team will need to replace its three seniors who established a tradition of winning, Angell has to like what the future holds for the Wildcats because of their young, yet accomplished, underclassmen.
VPS went a perfect 10-0 in Frontier League play before falling to Whittier Christian in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division VAA play-offs.
Whittier Christian would go on to be crowned CIF champions. All-CIF honors will be announced later this month. Check the OVN for updates as winter accolades continue to pour in.

Heralds end ‘Cats’ run in BB semifinals

By Mike Miller

The Lady Wildcats of Villanova saw their amazing run of 16 consecutive victories come to an end last Saturday when they fell to Whittier Christian in the CIF-SS semifinals, 48-30. The loss was the second this season to Whittier Christian, who also defeated VPS back in December, 46-20. With the win, Whittier Christian will play Maranatha in the Division VAA title game next week.
In their semifinal matchup, Villanova struggled to score points and after falling behind 27-14 at halftime, their 13-point deficit proved to be too much to overcome. The Heralds were led by Jacqueline Joseph (13 points) and Kristen Schafer (12 points) and neither player missed a shot from the field in game. Both Joseph and Schafer went six for six and the Heralds shot better than 47 percent from the floor to overtake the Lady Wildcats.
“Whittier Christian was a good team, but we definitely were not outmatched,” said head coach Sarah Angell. “We just couldn't make a shot to save our lives. We shot 17 percent from the field and 37 percent from the free throw line (we shot a total of 32 free throws).
“We didn't allow Whittier Christian to score for about five minutes in the third quarter, but we weren't able to take advantage of our great defense because we couldn't seem to put the ball in the basket,” said Angell. “In a big game like Saturday's, we just couldn't afford to shoot so bad as a team.”
Villanova was led by senior Katilin Reilley, who continued her stellar play with 12 points. With the loss, VPS will bid farewell to the trio of Reilley, Maryrose Vigorita and Hannah Hoffman. The three seniors established a winning tradition at Villanova by winning an incredible four consecutive league titles.
VPS fans have a lot to look forward to in the future as well. Angell and staff will welcome back several key players, including Rebecca Parziale, who was greatly missed this season after suffering a season-ending injury.
Current freshman Hannah Kolbeck will be looking to improve over the summer and, after a terrific freshman campaign, Kolbeck could become one of the most dominant players in the county.
“Despite the loss, I am really proud of how the girls played and what they accomplished as a team,” said Angell. “They never gave up and played hard until the buzzer sounded at the end of the game.”

Villanova bound for semifinals

‘Nova’s Hannah Hoffman, right, celebrates victory with teammates Gabrielle Root and Maryrose Vigorita. The 19-7 Wildcats will head to La Habra Saturday to face the 22-7 Whittier Christian Heralds.

By Mike Miller
If you are a fan of fast-paced basketball, you would have loved the CIF quarterfinal game that showcased Villanova (19-7) and Rosamond (23-4) last Wednesday night. Villanova battled back from a 12-point first-half deficit to beat a well coached and well-prepared Rosamond team, 74-63.
The game was much closer than the final score would show. The Lady Wildcats were slow out of the gate and fell behind 15-9 in the first quarter. Had it not been for the early play of Katilin Reilley, VPS would have been in serious trouble in the first half. Reilley scored six of the nine first-quarter points for the Wildcats and it was not until 6:42 to go in the second quarter when someone other than Reilley made a shot from the field. Enter freshman Hannah Kolbeck. Kolbeck went on a roll, scoring a game-high 27 points and nabbed 17 rebounds in the winning effort, solidifying herself as one of the area’s best young players to keep an eye on.
After trailing 36-29 at the half, head coach Sarah Angell and her staff made some adjustments and her crew executed perfectly in the third quarter. The Lady Wildcats erased their seven-point deficit and took a three-point lead into the final frame thanks to the fact that they outscored the Roadrunners 20-10 in the quarter. Senior Hannah Hoffman joined Reilley and Kolbeck in the scoring column by adding 24 points of her own, including several clutch free throws.
The Roadrunners were determined to go home with the victory and they made a couple of fourth-quarter runs at VPS that had the student body on the edge of their seats. After Rosamond’s Amanda Smith banked home a three-pointer, the VPS lead was cut to three. From there, the trio of Reilley, Kolbeck and Hoffman salted the game away with put backs, free throws and open looks as a result of crisp passes from their teammates.
Rosamond was led by Smith and her 20 points. Smith did get her fourth foul early in the third period, which contributed to the 20-10 run by VPS. Arianna Pelayo also played well, scoring 19 points, but she simply could not contain Kolbeck on the block.
After the game, Angell said, “What won that game for them was heart. It was all heart. To be down almost 10 points at halftime, and then to win by more than 10 points against this team shows heart.” When asked if the furious pace in the first half worried her, she added, “No. Our subs were just as capable as theirs. I knew if necessary, we could count on them. This was a total team effort.”
Next up for Wildcats is a familiar opponent in Whittier Christian (22-7). The two teams matched up back in December, with Whittier Christian winning, 46-20. Villanova is amuch different team now, having won 16 consecutive games and they appear to be getting stronger as the play-offs wear on.
The semifinal game will be played tomorrow. Visit ojaivalleynews.com for the location and time of the game as well as updates on the game as soon as they become available.

VPS Heating Up

The Lady Wildcats hosted Rosamond tonight in a CIF quarterfinal match up and overcame a 12 point first half deficit to win 74-63. Freshman Hannah Kolbeck led Villanova with 27 points and Hannah Hoffman added 24. See Friday's OVN for the full story and quotes from VPS head coach Sarah Angell.

‘Nova advances in finals

Wildcats girls’ hoops beat Kern Valley, 42-30

By Mike Miller
After earning a first-round bye, the Lady Wildcats of Villanova (18-7, 10-0) got their first taste of play-off basketball last Saturday when they played host to the Kern Valley Broncs (17-7, 6-4) and came away with a 42-30 win.
Despite being a low-scoring affair, the game was exciting and was closer than the final score would show. VPS set the tone early in the game with their defense and did not allow the Broncs to get many good looks at the basket. Freshman Hannah Kolbeck paced the Lady Wildcats early with seven first-half points, and she controlled the inside game for VPS.
After the first quarter, VPS had a 10-4 lead and they were able to stretch that to 23-13 at halftime thanks in large part to the play of Kaitilin Reilley and Maryrose Vigorita, who along with Kolbeck scored all but two of the Wildcats’ first half points.
The Broncs, who play in the High Desert League, came out in the second half behind the shooting of guard Lupita Anzaldo and proved that they would be worthy opponents. Late in the third quarter, Kern Valley cut the VPS lead to seven points and appeared to be on the verge of making a run at the Wildcats.
Those hopes were dashed when freshman Madison Harwell hit two big second half shots and grabbed a few key rebounds to slam the door on Kern Valley’s momentum.
Kolbeck led the Wildcats in scoring with 12 points, followed by Reilley, who scored 10. Anzaldo led all scorers with 16 points in a losing effort.
With the win, the Lady Wildcats have advanced to the quarterfinals tonight against Rosamond at 7:30 p.m. The Roadrunners come to town with a 23-3, 10-0 record and they are riding a 14-game win streak, just one shy of the Lady Wildcat’s 15-game streak.
The winner will take on the winner of the La Reina vs. Whittier Christian game in the semifinals on Saturday. Check ojaivalleynews.com for tonight’s play-offs updates.

Toads win thriller, 47-46

Final-seconds' three-pointer by Chris Thomas against Newbury Park Adventist advances Thacher in basketball play-offs

By Mike Miller
Thacher head coach Jason Carney called his team’s second-round play-off win against Newbury Park Adventist, “One of the most exciting sporting events that I have ever been around.” The Toads extended their play-off run last Friday night with an epic win on a deep three-point basket by senior Chris Thomas with only 15 seconds left in the game, giving Thacher the 47-46 win.
The Toads were down, but not out, late in the game. Trailing by 11 points with less than five minutes to play in the game, Thacher got down to business as they chipped away at the 11-point deficit. They were led by Thomas, who scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Due to an injury and illness, Josh Jackson was asked to step up and he delivered in a big way with nine points and nine rebounds.
Jackson gave the Toads valuable minutes down the stretch and gave his team a one-point lead with 58 seconds to play. Newbury Park Adventist scored again, giving them the 46-44 lead. Carney said, “We called time with 30 seconds left and set up a play for Trevor (Currie); they double-teamed him and he calmly hit Chris (Thomas) for the game winner.”
“Our kids showed so much heart down the stretch and gutted out an enormous victory. Unbelievable,” added Carney.
With the win, the Toads earned another shot at the Rosamond Roadrunners. Rosamond bounced Thacher out of the play-offs last season with a 47-26 win in the semifinals. Rosamond comes into this matchup as the No. 1 seed this year and they have an impressive 22-5 record on the season.
Carney said, “They have everyone back except for one guy and they have once again earned the No. 1 seed. It will be an extremely tall order for us, but the guys are thrilled to have the opportunity to play a team of this caliber and will be up for the challenge.”
The game was played last night at Rosamond.

Thacher Boys Win First Round Contest

Chris Thomas and Austin Krause both scored 14 points as the Toads kicked off their 2008 play-off run in style by beating the California Military Institute, 56-41. Thacher used a 24-2 run in the first half to take a 31-15 lead into half time and they never looked back from there. See Friday's edition of the OVN for details and stats from tonight's big win for the Toads.

Tip Off Time Changed In Thacher Game

The Thacher boys' basketball team will tip off at 6:30pm tonight against the California Military Institute rather than the standard CIF play-off time of 7:30pm. The game will be played at Thacher.

Ojai Valley Basketball Teams Headed To Post Season

Three local teams have earned the right to extend their seasons in hopes of winning a CIF-SS title. The Thacher boys' team will play first. They will host the California Military Academy on Wed., Feb. 13. The Thacher girls' squad will also host their first round play-off game when they welcome Victor Valley Christian on Thurs., Feb. 14.

The Villanova Lady Wildcats earned a bye in the first round due to their number four seed. VPS will play the winner of Kern Valley and Newbury Park Adventist. Villanova will host the second round game on Sat., Feb. 16. All games are slated to start at 7:30pm unless agreed upon by the two schools. See Wednesday's OVN for more information on these match-ups.

Villanova girls’ hoops win league title

43-38 win over Carpinteria earns ‘Cats’ basketball play-off berth

By Mike Miller
One statement can sum up the seniors on the Villanova girls’ basketball team; they are winners. With their 43-38 win at Carpinteria last Tuesday night, the Lady Wildcats were crowned Frontier League champions. This latest title is the fourth for the trio of Maryrose Vigorita, Kaitlin Reilley and Hannah Hoffman, in their four years as varsity players.
With the win against Carpinteria, the Lady Wildcats have stretched their winning streak to an impressive 12 games. VPS played La Reina last night as they attempted to go undefeated in Frontier League play. With the Wildcats being on such a torrid streak, you can bet that not many teams will be happy to see them in their CIF play-off bracket when the post season tips off next week.
The current seniors are sporting some impressive credentials. Vigorita has averaged 6.1 points per game, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals a game in league play. Off the court she is a member of the California Scholarship Federation, was awarded the Coach’s Award and Wildcat Award in tennis this year, and received All-League Honorable Mention honors last year in basketball. She has earned a GPA of 3.7 while at Villanova and plans to pursue a career in early childhood development. She has already been accepted to Cal Lutheran, Whittier College, and San Francisco State.
Hoffman has also been solid in league play for head coach Sarah Angell. She has averaged 7.4 points, five rebounds and four assists per contest. Hoffman received an All-League Honorable Mention honors in volleyball this year and was a member of the All Academic Team. Last year in basketball, she received First Team All-League honors in basketball and was named to the Second Team All-CIF. Hoffman has earned a GPA of 4.1 while at Villanova. She plans to pursue a career in communications and has already been accepted to University of San Francisco, San Francisco State, and St. Mary’s College.
Reilley has been the anchor for the Lady Wildcats this year, averaging 11.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per Frontier League contest. She has earned First Team All-League honors in volleyball, track and basketball and was selected to First Team All-CIF last year in basketball. Reilly plans to pursue a career in psychology and has already been accepted to San Francisco State but her top choices include Santa Clara University and St. Mary’s College.
Check the OVN web site next week for updates and to see who the Wildcats will play in the first round of the play-offs along with a complete breakdown of their play-off game.

VPS Girls Earn Frontier League Title

With their narrow win over Carpinteria last night, the Lady Wildcats earned the title of league champions as they improved their overall record to 16-7 and 9-0 in league. VPS will look to go undefeated in league play tomorrow night when they travel to La Reina to play their regular season finale. This league title is the fourth in the last four years for Villanova's senior class. See Friday's OVN for a run-down of the three seniors.

Thacher Beats 'Nova By 19 Points

It was cold and wet outside this evening, but inside the Thacher gym things were heating up between Thacher and Villanova as the two school’s boys’ basketball teams faced off. Thacher used a 19-6 third quarter burst to defeat the Wildcats, 59-40. The Toads led by three going into halftime, but they used their inside dominance and defense to break the game open. Chris Thomas led the Toads with 12 points and Todd Robie scored eight points for the Wildcats, but he did most of his damage on the defense end of the court. See Wednesday’s OVN for more details of Thacher’s big win.

Nordhoff Falls To Carpinteria, 39-36

The Nordhoff Rangers boys' basketball team gave the favored Carpinteria Warriors all they could handle tonight in their Tri-Valley League opener. The Rangers battled back from a double-digit deficit and had an opportunity to tie the game twice on three point attempts by Nick Colburn and Jonathan Bower with only seconds to play, but both shots came up just short. NHS was led by junior Matt Smith and his eight points. Garrett Graham hit two huge three point buckets to help close the gap late in the game. The Rangers did a great job on Carpinteria's Jacob Ranger, holding him to only 11 points. Ranger had been averaging over 26 points per contest. See Wednesday's OVN for more stats and quotes from head coach Mike Probyn.

Oaks Christian Crushes Rangers, 52-7

The Nordhoff Rangers were beaten 52-7 Friday night in the Northwest Division CIF Final game played in Newbury Park. Read what Coach Farrar and some players had to say in Wednesday's Ojai Valley News.

Rangers Advance To CIF Finals

By Mike Miller
The Nordhoff Rangers continued their epic season Saturday night with a 35-21 victory over the St. Bernard Vikings in the CIF Northwest Division semi-final game. With the win, the Rangers have earned the right to take on their Tri-Valley League rivals, Oaks Christian next Friday night for the CIF championship. The Rangers were led by Damian Kaiser (three touchdowns) and Chris Gibson (two touchdowns) and their defense. The defense was able to force two early turnovers and the offense turned both into points which allowed NHS to jump out to a 21-0 first-half lead. See Wednesday's OVN for details on the Rangers incredible win and quotes from coach Farrar on his team's performance.

NHS To Host Semi Final Game

The Ojai Valley will play host to the CIF-SS Northwest Division semi-final game as Nordhoff faces off against St. Bernard of the Del Ray League next Saturday night. The winner of the NHS versus St. Bernard games will face the winner of the Oak Park versus Oaks Christian match up on Dec. 7. Get out and support the Rangers next weekend as they look to advance to the finals.

Nordhoff Advances Again After Another OT Battle

Damian Kaiser was once again the hero for the Rangers in tonight's 42-41 victory. The Rangers played the Centennial Apaches in what turned out to be an epic double overtime victory for NHS. After a back and forth regulation period, the two teams continued to battle in OT until Cliff Farrar and his crew decided to go for the win. With the Rangers' season in his hands, Kaiser took the ball from Garrett Graham as he attempted to score the winning two point conversion, but the Centennial defense stuffed him short of the goal line. See Wednesday's OVN to see the exciting details of what Kaiser did to win the game and extend the Rangers' season.

Early indications are that Morro Bay was defeated by St. Bernard which would mean that Nordhoff would host the semi-final game next Saturday. Final play-off match ups will be posted when they are final.

Rangers Win OT Thriller

The Nordhoff Rangers lived on the edge all night long, but lived to see another day as they beat the Nipomo Titans in a thrilling 23-20 play-off game. The Rangers were leading the game 20-13 until the Titans tied the score when they scored with only 27 seconds to play. David Brown kicked the game winning 37 yard field goal in overtime. See Wednesday's OVN for the full story and quotes from star running back/linebacker Damian Kaiser and head coach Cliff Farrar. Also see who NHS will play in next week's play-off match up.

Rangers Draw Nipomo In First Round

The Nordhoff Rangers (6-3-1, 4-1) are the top seed in the Tri-Valley League which means that they earned the right to play a number three seed in the first round of the CIF-SS play-offs. They will face the Nipomo Titons (5-5, 4-3) of the Los Padres League. The game will be held at Nordhoff on Friday night.

Thacher Loses Close Play-off Contest

The Thacher Toads traveled to Catalina Island to play Avalon in the first round of the CIF-SS play-offs this afternoon, but lost 38-36. Avalon outscored Thacher 21-16 in the second half which was the difference in the game. See Wednesday's OVN for more details and stats on this game.

Rangers Are Tri-Valley League Champions!

The Nordhoff Rangers beat Grace Brethren 31-6 on the road tonight to claim the top spot in the Tri-Valley League. Damian Kaiser led the way with two touchdowns and the defense played well, holding the Lancers to only one score on the night. This is the Rangers' first league title since the 2003 season. The Rangers will host a play-off game next week. Stay tuned to the OVN Sports Blog to see who the Rangers' first round opponent will be.

Thacher Wins, 'Nova Falls In Close Game

Saturday was a big day in the Ojai Valley for high school football fans and both Thacher and Villanova were in action at home. The Thacher Toads hosted the Dunn Earwigs and the home team strolled to an easy 75-46 win. The Toads were able to get some of their freshmen and reserves some well deserved playing time in their victory.

Villanova was also in action tonight as they hosted the Malibu Sharks. The Wildcats had a chance to win the game with less that 30 seconds to play, but the Sharks forced a turnover to preserve the victory. See Wednesday's OVN for more details on both games.

Nordhoff Hammered

The Oaks Christian Lions came to town tonight and ran all over the Rangers in a key Tri-Valley League match up, 42-6. Chris Potter scored four touchdowns and Malcolm Jones added two for Oaks Christian. The lone highlight for the Rangers was a four yard score by running back Damian Kaiser. The Rangers are now 3-1 in league play and must win next week at Grace Brethren if they want a share of the Tri-Valley League title. See Wednesday's OVN for more on tonight's game.

Thacher Wins Easily

When the Thacher Toads needed a win, they were able to rise to the occasion as they rolled over Laguna Blanca 47-15 this afternoon. Thacher got a major boost from quarterback Griffin Tripplett, who scored five touchdowns on the ground. With the win, the Toads are virtually guaranteed of a spot in the playoffs. See Wednesday's OVN for stats and quotes from today's game.

WOW!!!

The Nordhoff Rangers pulled off a huge Tri-Valley League upset tonight by defeating the Oak Park Eagles 24-21. The Rangers jumped out to an early 21-0 lead and then held on for dear life as the Eagles attempted a comeback. Chris Gibson scored all three touchdowns for the Rangers and David Brown kicked a 47-yard field goal. Check the OVN on Wednesday for stats, quotes and league standings. The Rangers host Oaks Christian next week.

Toads Stopped By Rams

On a perfect afternoon for football, the Thacher Toads traveled to take on the Cate Rams in a huge Condor League match up. Despite playing their best football of the season and a huge game by quarterback Griffin Triplett, the Toads lost 49-39. Triplett was stellar on the day, throwing for a touchdown and running for three more. See Wednesday's OVN for the whole story and quotes from coach Hooper.

Rangers Win Homecoming On Last Second FG

Nordhoff Ranger fans were treated to a wild Tri-Valley League contest tonight as the Rangers beat the upset minded Carpinteria Warriors on a last second David Brown field goal, 32-29. Garrett Graham threw for three touchdowns on the night and Damian Kaiser rushed for a score late in the game. With the win, the Rangers improve to 4-2-1, 2-0. See Wednesday's OVN for stats and quote from Coach Farrar, Graham and Mireles.