By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
KIM POSSIBLE: Manteca junior won school’s first individual SJS tennis title in 38 years
Freeman, Ilardi, Wild round out top area athletes of the fall
All-Area Fall
Manteca’s Katie Kim swats a backhand shot during the Valley Oak League Singles Tournament final against Katherine Juarez of Central Catholic. - photo by Wayne Thallander

Her coach called her a “legend.”

And Katie Kim still has another year to go at Manteca High.

The junior standout made a run to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II singles title that was both surprising and historic. The Manteca Bulletin All-Area Girls Tennis Player of the Year became the first athlete from her school — and city — to claim an individual Section crown in 38 years.

MHS alums Ranata Scholl (1982) and Lynn Henderson (1983) won the SJS Division II singles championships in back-to-back years. Katie Gaynor, a former teammate of current head coach Mary Ann Tolbert, took second in 1987.

Heading into this year’s Section tourney at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in Roseville, Kim went undefeated in Valley Oak League play and rolled to her first singles tournament championship.

Seeded third for the SJS Tournament, she coasted past Mountain Houses Subha Patel (6-3, 6-1) and Vanden’s Maya Khanna (6-2, 6-2) on the first day. Kim started Day 2 on top of her game, dominating the opening set 6-1 in the semifinals before second-seeded Libby Griggs of Rio Americano withdrew.

Getting past Clarissa Sutami from Vista del Lago would not be as easy. Kim came back to edge the No. 1 seed, 3-6, 7-5, 10-8.

Kim has already achieved much in her high school career in just two years. As a freshman, she made it to the SJS doubles final with Sahiba Kaur and the tandem finished as runner-up. Manteca also captured the SJS Division III team title.

 

All-Area girls tennis team: Harvir Hotti, Weston Ranch; Emma Ngo, Manteca; Ella Nykanen, Weston Ranch; Godwina Ogbeide, Lathrop; Tanya Sharma, Sierra.

 

GIRLS GOLFER OF THE YEAR

All-Area Fall
Gabbi Ilardi watches her approach shot during Ripon’s Valley Foothill League North Division dual match against visiting Escalon. - photo by Wayne Thallander

Gabbi Ilardi, Ripon junior

She is now a two-time Manteca Bulletin All-Area Girls Golfer of the Year.

Ilardi led the Indians to another Valley Foothill League North Division title and their second SJS Division V championship in program history. She also racked up more individual achievements along the way.

Ilardi scored 1-under 71 and 5-over 77 in the VFL North mid-year and year-end tournaments, earning MVP honors for a second time. She then repeated as the SJS Division V individual champ, carding an even 72 at Yolo Fliers Club.

The season ended for Ripon at the SJS Masters Championships at The Reserve at Spanos Park. Illardi came up short of her goal of qualifying for the NorCal tourney but had a four-stroke improvement from her previous Masters appearance.

 

All-Area girls golf team: Brittney Barrington, East Union; Abigail Bautista, Lathrop; Zoe Bremer, Ripon; Mikaella Manto, Sierra; Katie Martin, Ripon; Ashley Trinidad, East Union.

 

All-Area Fall
East Union’s Cooper Freeman stays ahead of the pack early in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III final held No. 13 at Willow Hill Reservoir in Folsom. - photo by Wayne Thallander
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Cooper Freeman, East Union senior

The season did not go as expected for the Lancers, who endured an early coaching change and injuries. Expectations were high with many of their top runners returning from the 2019 SJS Division III championship team.

Freeman was one who performed beyond expectations, however. He established himself as East Union’s top runner early in the season and continued to improve from there, pacing his way to the individual VOL title.

He went on to take third in the SJS Division III Finals and was the lone male runner from the area to qualify for the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships. In the state meet at Fresno’s Woodward Park, he nearly broke the school record in 15 minutes, 40.45 seconds and placed 16th. The record of 15:37 was set by 1997 D-III state champ Justin Willingham.

Other season highlights for Freeman include runner-up finishes in the Clovis West Golden Eagle Invitational and Tom Laythe Invitational and a third in the Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational. 

 

All-Area boys cross country team: Omar Alsaidi, Ripon, So.; Evan Cooper, East Union, Jr.; Maury Ortiz, East Union, Sr.; Johnny Sandoval, East Union, Sr.

 

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR

All-Area Fall
Ripon junior Annie Wild competes in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV final on Nov. 13 - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL

Annie Wild, Ripon junior

Ripon was unable to repeat as SJS Division IV champion but could very well be back in the mix next year with all of its top runners coming back.

Leading the way is Wild, the Trans-Valley League champion. She took first in all three league meets and punched her return ticket to state with a sixth-place finish in the SJS Division IV final. Wild nearly improved her Section time at Willow Hill Reservoir in Folsom by 2 minutes, clocking a 19:53.0.

She also topped her previous best time at the state course in Fresno, finishing in 19:13.8 for 39th place.

Wild also took 14th against large-school competition in the Del Oro Invitational. She had top-10 finishes in the Lagoon Valley Classic (eighth), Frogtown XC Invitational (fifth), Thunder XC Classic at Lake Yosemite (fourth), Kim Duyst Twilight Invitational (seventh) and Flat Sac Invitational (fifth).

 

All-Area girls cross country team: Sienna Jones, Manteca, So.; Malia Locarnini, Ripon, Fr.; Linda Medrano, East Union, So.; Jenna Skavdahl, Ripon, So.