Canyon Country “Monster”
August, 2010 - Issue #70 
Don’t be fooled by the thin frame, the braces-filled smile complete with dimples, or her quiet demeanor. When you are looking at 10-year-old Madison Martinez, you are looking at a BMX world champion. And while she’s on the track, that’s Monster Madison to you.
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Valencia Swimmer makes a Splash
July, 2010 - Issue #69
Even if Micaela Velasquez didn’t own a Foothill League record - which she does - or swim a time that gave her All-American consideration - which she did - she would still have loads of swimming success to her name.
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West Ranch’s Chris Caldwell Embodies Tenacity
May, 2010 - Issue #67
When West Ranch infielder Chris Caldwell fell to the ground after a swing of his bat, no one needed a doctor to know it was bad.
“When I went to swing, my cleat got caught in the dirt and my [right] kneecap dislocated,” recalled Caldwell, remembering the game against Golden Valley in April last year. “I felt it bend inward. It was nasty.”
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Canyon’s Tennis Star
May, 2010 - Issue #67
Canyon’s Jason Ferlianto can’t choose just one, so don’t ask.
The junior loves tennis and already has a Foothill League singles title to his name.
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Golden Valley Boys Basketball Climbs to the Top
April, 2010 - Issue #66
Start with Chris Printz, who had never been a head coach before taking helm of the Golden Valley boys basketball team in 2004.
Sprinkle in the fact that Golden Valley was a new school and starting its sports programs from scratch, and then add in a dash of transfer players from all over the Santa Clarita Valley.
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400 Winning Games and Counting
March, 2010 - Issue #65
Greg Herrick has a good thing going. He knows it. He loves it.
Earlier this season the College of the Canyons women’s basketball coach won his 400th game with the Cougars. Nine times along the way he’s won Western State Conference Championships. Eight times his teams have produced the highest scoring in California.
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Slam Dunk
February, 2010 - Issue #64
Anyone who thinks boys basketball players need to leave the Santa Clarita Valley to get noticed by college programs needs to swing by Lonnie Jackson’s house and take a look inside his family’s mailbox sometime, or listen to his ringing phone and watch as he does his best to keep up with all his e-mails.
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YouTube Video Propels Santa Clarita Christian Player to Division I School
November, 2009 - Issue #61
A four-and-a-half minute highlight video, posted on YouTube, of Santa Clarita Christian School senior football player Collin Keoshian was intended for the eyes of friends and family. Think of it as a “Hey Grandma, look at what I’ve been doing in school” video. It turned out to be so much more.
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SCV Football Preview
October, 2009 - Issue #60
In the past five years, four schools have won Foothill League football titles. That’s how competitive things have become.
“It’s to the point where an injury or two could be the difference between finishing fourth or winning the championship,” says Canyon coach Chris Varner. “Teams are that close.”
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Looking Back at the 2008-2009 Foothill League Season
August, 2009 - Issue #58
At this time last year, the Saugus High football team had never finished on top, Golden Valley’s boys basketball team had never finished anywhere but the bottom and Saugus’ girls cross country team was barely even a mega dynasty with just two straight state titles. Things have changed.
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Destiny Leads to Dynasty
July, 2009 - Issue #57
Despite the yearly graduations of star players, despite a bull’s-eye on its back, despite playing in a sports-crazy valley, the Valencia High softball team pulled off an incredible feat this spring. The Vikings won a share of a ninth consecutive league championship.
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Nation has taken a Shine to Valencia’s Baseball Star
June, 2009 - Issue #56
If somebody had told the 10-year-old version of Valencia High sophomore Christian Lopes that he’d end up spending his days the way he does now, he wouldn’t have just called them crazy. He probably would have broken down into a full-blown tantrum.
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Will Hart Softball's Chemistry and Talent Lead to a Title?
May, 2009 - Issue #55
Before they wrote their names in cursive on UCLA and Oklahoma softball scholarships, before they became an All-California catcher/pitcher combo, even before they were old enough for slumber parties, Hart High’s Destiny Rodino and Jessica Shults were just a pair of Padres.
Seniors now at Hart, they’ve been teammates since their parents first bought them gloves.
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Valencia Volleyball's New Crew
April, 2009 - Issue #54
It would be borderline irresponsible to not kick things off with a warning.
For the sake of their sanity, volleyball coaches, players, parents and well wishers from Saugus, West Ranch, Hart, Canyon and Golden Valley high schools might want to go ahead and skip over this page. Chances are they will not be happy with Valencia High head boys volleyball coach Mark Knudsen’s take on this year’s Vikings squad.
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Golden Valley Basketball
March, 2009 - Issue #53
There’s something brewing in the gymnasium at Golden Valley High School in the foothills rimming the southeastern edge of the Santa Clarita Valley.
It is a caldron of backdoor cuts, pick-and-roll layups and tomahawk slam dunks. Its fire is fueled by a raucous student body, fist-pumping parents wearing jerseys bearing the school’s snarling mascot and, more importantly, a level of team chemistry never before witnessed at the fledgling campus.
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Competition brings them Closer
February, 2009 - Issue #52
Audrey Drake stood near the looping hills behind College of the Canyons one promising day five years ago.
She walked up to her son Greg and jokingly encouraged him, “Your sister got first place. You get it now.”
Greg’s sister Aly had just won the Rio Norte Junior High cross country race - giving her the coveted title, “Fastest Girl in School.”
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The New Era in Boys Basketball
January, 2009 - Issue #51
The valley’s best player - he’s gone. The valley’s best playmaker - he’s gone. The Foothill League’s Most Valuable Player - he’s gone, too. Even the league’s longest-serving coach is gone. That begs the question - what’s left? Actually, better days.
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Where are they Now?
December, 2008 - Issue #50
The last five years have likely been the most eventful in Santa Clarita Valley’s prep sports history. It’s hard to argue with the fact that there have been three state and two national champions. Each of the six Foothill League high schools can stake its claim to a unique accomplishment - whether it is individual or as a team.
Some of the people responsible for these achievements have moved on from high school and have started anew. These are their stories.
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Medal-winning Olympian
November, 2008 - Issue #49
Steve Day had to apologize. The sounds in the background were overriding his voice as he spoke about his son Mike. So in a polite manner, in between the rumble of wheels on dirt and wind whooshing by, he said, “I’m sorry.”
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The Foothill League’s Football Round Up
October, 2008 - Issue #48
Prior to this decade, it was a two-team show in Santa Clarita Valley high school football, with Hart and Canyon battling for valley supremacy. In the ‘90s, Hart put a stranglehold on the rest of the valley.
But this decade has been unique.Three different schools have won Foothill League titles - Hart, Canyon and Valencia.
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Settling the Score
September, 2008 - Issue #47
David Franklin, senior
West Ranch High School
Last year, West Ranch surprised everyone with a 19-9 record, going 6-4 in the Foothill in the process and taking fourth overall. Guard David Franklin was a big reason. The 6-foot senior is one of the Wildcats’ most consistent scorers. Leave him along on the perimeter and he’ll drop the three-pointer.
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Local Runners Chase Beijing
August, 2008 - Issue #46
If track and field weren’t so cruel, this would be a happier article. I would be able to tell you that two or perhaps all three of the Santa Clarita Valley runners vying for a spot of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team are on their way to Beijing.
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Hitting their Marks
July, 2008 - Issue #45
The Throwers
After Daniel Swarbrick’s first two turns at the shot put during last month’s CIF-Southern Section Division I track and field finals, the weight of the metal ball he was there to throw must have seemed light - at least by comparison.
After fouling in both attempts, the pressure on the Saugus junior to register a legal throw was much, much heavier.
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To Enjoy the Ball Game, Beware what you wear
June, 2008 - Issue #44
As soon as I hung up the phone, my mind began to wrestle with a dilemma: What should I wear?
In light of world events, the question seemed somewhat silly. But the debate over what to wear, it turns out, was a debate over which my personal security hung.
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Valencia Boys Volleyball is the Nation’s Number-one Ranked Team
June, 2008 - Issue #44
In the realm of Santa Clarita Valley boys volleyball, the Valencia Vikings are the definition of a dynasty. They have won eight consecutive Foothill League championships, compiling 73 straight league wins in the process.
And they are only getting better.
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Q&A with Your Personal Golf Tech
June, 2008 - Issue #44
Q: I can’t stop slicing the ball. What can I do to avoid this?
A: Slicing the ball can be caused by a variety of body motions and by several different transgressions occurring in your hands and arms. Mostly, it is the result of beginning the downswing while turning the upper body towards the ball before you begin to rotate your hips.
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A Day on the Greens
June, 2008 - Issue #44
Tournament Players Club Valencia
Valencia 288-1995 www.tpcatvalencia.com
The course: TPC Valencia reflects the vision and distinction associated with the TPC Network of courses. Designed by PGA Tour Design Services under consultation from two-time Major Champion Mark O’Meara, the TPC Valencia offers 18 holes of challenging, breathtaking play.
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Canyon Softball’s Nicole Johnson
May, 2008 - Issue #43
Nicole Johnson’s most exciting moment on a softball field occurred in Colorado three years ago. She was playing in the championship game for her summer travel team, the Krushers, against a team that had beaten them the day before.
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