Volleyball player Ben Stuerman going to Simpson, while wrestler Santino Alvaro picks Southern Oregon Two senior student-athletes from Santa Ynez High School are make plans for the next level. Joined by their families, teammates, and friends, volleyball player Ben Stuerman and wrestler Santino Alvaro made their intentions known during a signing ceremony on the SYHS campus May 6. Both are headed for similar destinations: […]
Volleyball player Ben Stuerman going to Simpson, while wrestler Santino Alvaro picks Southern Oregon
Two senior student-athletes from Santa Ynez High School are make plans for the next level.
Joined by their families, teammates, and friends, volleyball player Ben Stuerman and wrestler Santino Alvaro made their intentions known during a signing ceremony on the SYHS campus May 6. Both are headed for similar destinations: smaller NAIA schools on the West Coast.
Stuerman, team co-captain of the Pirates’ boys volleyball team that just won the CIF Central Section Division II championship, is going to Simpson University in Redding, California.
Stuerman, who also played water polo at SYHS, said he got on Simpson’s radar thanks to a couple of former teammates on Flight Academy, his club volleyball team.
“A couple of guys, my very best friends, were up there and said the coach was asking about me constantly,” he said. “I met with the coach (Steven Brasher), and he was really great. Plus, it’s a Christian school and I’m very religious, so that was awesome, and it seemed to good to be true.”
However, it was a visit to the Simpson campus that clinched it for Stuerman.
“I went up and had an amazing tour, and an amazing practice with the team,” he said. “The teammates were awesome, and the area was just really pretty. After that everything just kind of fell into place I had no doubt after the visit that I would be going there.”
Simpson is an NAIA school that competes in the California Pacific Conference with four other in-state college programs. The Red Hawks finished 7-17 overall this season, although they were .500 (4-4) within the CalPac. Stuerman said he plans to study kinesiology at the school and aspires to be a firefighter after graduation.
Alvaro, meanwhile, is coming off a high-school wrestling career that saw him win back-to-back CIF Central Section titles, having won the 126-pound championship this past February. He will continue wrestling at Southern Oregon a public university in Ashland, Oregon.
Alvaro had been hearing about SOU for awhile from a personal connection.
“My sister’s boyfriend went to school there, and she was always telling me how nice it was, and she took me for a visit,” Alvaro said. “It was really nice, and there were a lot of things to do outside of school. It’s real outdoorsy there, and I really liked that.”
The interest in Southern Oregon, as it turns out, was mutual.
“I had contacted a number of schools about joining their program,” Alvaro said. “And Southern Oregon was the one school that got back to me very quickly and showed a lot of interest.”
Alvaro said as far as a major and field of study, he is still undeclared and plans to take general requirement classes his first year while he decides.
The wrestler will be joining an SOU program that finished ninth in the NAIA Championships, it’s best finish in eight years. The Raiders had a 19-3 overall record in duals, including a 12-1 mark in the Cascade Collegiate Conference and a first-place finish in the conference championships.
Before Alvaro and Stuerman signed their letters of intent, they both took the time to thank their respective parents for their part in helping them along in this journey.
The parents of both were pleased with the schools that their sons selected.
“It’s great to see him reach this point — he’s been working toward this since he was 8 and started wrestling,” said Rudy Alvaro, Santino’s father. “We took him up to Southern Oregon and he like it right away; he’s gotten to know those guys up there and I think he’ll do well.”
With Santino ready to leave in a few months for SOU, the Alvaros are expecting more excursions up north.
“We’ll be taking trips, a lot of trips,” said his mother Isabella. “Me might even be looking at houses when we’re up there.”
For Stuerman’s parents, Shawn and Krista Sue, the process was made easier once Ben took a look at Simpson.
“It was a blast, but we just wondering what kind of school would be best for him, but once we went to Simpson we all knew that would be the best for him,” Shawn said.
“I actually went to school at Westmont [in Santa Barbara] years ago and was hoping he’d go there, too,” Shawn said laughing, “but they didn’t have a volleyball team, so that was out. However, we’re all very happy with Simpson.”
Santa Ynez High wrestler Santino Alvaro poses with his parents, Rudy and Isabella, during his signing ceremony at SYHS on May 6. Ben will be going to Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVSSanta Ynez High volleyball player Ben Stuerman is joined by his parents, Krista Sue and Shawn, during his signing ceremony at SYHS on May 6. Ben will be going to Simpson University in Redding, California. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS
Good Sports: Valley students team up with Fresno State athletics for second annual Camp of Champions
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Hundreds of valley students are splashing into summer. For the second year in a row, Fresno State Basketball analyst Marc Q. Jones has used his bulldog connections to host the Camp of Champions. a month-long program created for students from Golden Plains and Washington Unified Districts to team up with Fresno […]
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Hundreds of valley students are splashing into summer.
For the second year in a row, Fresno State Basketball analyst Marc Q. Jones has used his bulldog connections to host the Camp of Champions.
a month-long program created for students from Golden Plains and Washington Unified Districts to team up with Fresno State Athletes.
“Nothing that we can offer will top swimming with our kids, because they want access to the pool they want to learn how to swim,” Golden Plains Unified superintendent Felipe Piedra said.
One of the host sites, the Fresno State aquatics center.
“The mission is to serve a bunch of kids that wouldn’t otherwise have access to a pool facility,” Fresno State head water polo coach Natalie Benson said.
Benson and her bulldogs have also teamed up with the Water Safety Council of Fresno County to educate students in and around the pool.
“Might as well enjoy it in a safe environment,” chairman Mark Simonian said.
With the majority of students coming from rural communities with little to no access to public pools, some are learning to swim for the first time ever.
“So when they do decide to go out on a family outing, out to the lake we want to make sure they’re not a statistic,” Piedra said.
and who better to help than Fresno State water polo.
“Teach them how to be safe around water, how to respect the water, and make sure they know the consequences of not knowing how to swim,” Water Dogs’ junior defender Susanna Martinez.
“1-on-1 work with the kids. deep dive into some of the fears that they’re having,” Water Dogs’ assistant coach Cecilia Leonard said.
Outside of the pool, students are also getting a first-time feel for life on a college campus.
“Making our kids feel like they belong like this is their second home,” Piedra said.
“It starts boosting their confidence to say ‘Hey mom and dad, I want to go to college,” Sitalic Luna with the Washington Unified School District said.
With the Water Dogs’ keeping safety top of mind, they’re also hoping to gain some new fans along the way.
“You are nothing without the people around you. We all want to have a fun, happy, safe summer but we all know it gets hot here so we want to stay safe,” coach Benson said.
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Cathedral Catholic duo leads All-CIF beach volleyball team
2025 All-CIF San Diego Section beach volleyball team Pair of the Year: Lauren Hanson and Jojo Wilson, Cathedral Catholic Hanson, a junior, and Wilson, a sophomore, helped the Dons to the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship, beating archrival Torrey Pines in the finals. Cathedral Catholic finished 17-0. Wilson is verbally committed to Long […]
2025 All-CIF San Diego Section beach volleyball team
Pair of the Year: Lauren Hanson and Jojo Wilson, Cathedral Catholic
Hanson, a junior, and Wilson, a sophomore, helped the Dons to the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship, beating archrival Torrey Pines in the finals. Cathedral Catholic finished 17-0. Wilson is verbally committed to Long Beach State.
Coach of the Year: Huy Nguyen, San Marcos
First team
Name, School, Year
Lauren Hanson, Cathedral Catholic, Jr.
Jojo Wilson, Cathedral Catholic, So.
Holly Cassidy, Torrey Pines, Sr.
Kelly Randolph, Torrey Pines, So.
Ruby Partain, Carlsbad, Jr.
Havani Embry, Carlsbad, Jr.
Aurora Fernandez, Point Loma, So.
Caroline Tadder, Point Loma, Jr.
Kristen White, Scripps Ranch, Jr.
Riley McDonald, Scripps Ranch, So.
Second team
Name, School, Year
Maya Evens, Cathedral Catholic, Sr.
Mae Kordas, Cathedral Catholic, Sr.
Aubrie Dingman, Torrey Pines, So.
Parker Herrin, Torrey Pines, So.
Elyse Taschner, Scripps Ranch, Jr.
Emma Garrett, La Jolla, Jr.
Madisyn Parady, La Costa Canyon, Sr.
Kenidee Wax, Eastlake, So.
Kylie Osborne, San Marcos, Sr.
Alexis Schwartz, San Marcos, Sr.
Note: Team based on vote of Coaches Advisory Committee.
MINNEAPOLIS – University of Minnesota Associate Head Coach Peter Miller was named the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year, the USTFCCCA announced on Friday. Miller coached Kostas Zaltos to a Big Ten and NCAA hammer throw title at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. For Miller, the regional honor is the eighth of his career in his […]
MINNEAPOLIS – University of Minnesota Associate Head Coach Peter Miller was named the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year, the USTFCCCA announced on Friday. Miller coached Kostas Zaltos to a Big Ten and NCAA hammer throw title at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
For Miller, the regional honor is the eighth of his career in his 12th season at the ‘U’. Miller has cemented himself as the premier throws coach in the region, and also nationally, as the former Gopher thrower has coached at least one All-American in a throwing event on either the men’s or women’s side in all 12 seasons as a coach at Minnesota. The 2025 men’s hammer throw season goes down as a historic one with Angelos Mantzouranis’ NCAA silver medal pairing with Zaltos’ NCAA championship. The 1-2 finish in the men’s hammer throw made Minnesota the first team to do so since 2011 (Virginia Tech) at the NCAA Championships. With Miller’s coaching the duo of Zaltos and Mantzouranis finished the season first and second in nine of the 10 meets they competed in together. Miller’s coaching on the men’s side was not limited to Zaltos and Mantzouranis with the Golden Gopher men’s hammer throw group setting a new USTFCCCA ‘Event Squad’ record in the event as the first quartet (Zaltos, Mantzouranis, Schafer, Tzamtzis) to average over 70-meters (70.79m | 232-3).
For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on X, Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.
HOUSTON – Jim VanHootegem, a three-time USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year and Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year selection, has joined the University of Houston Track & Field program as an assistant coach, Director of Track & Field Will Blackburn announced Friday. “This is the realization of a long-held aspiration to […]
HOUSTON – Jim VanHootegem, a three-time USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year and Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year selection, has joined the University of Houston Track & Field program as an assistant coach, Director of Track & Field Will Blackburn announced Friday.
“This is the realization of a long-held aspiration to be a part of Houston Track and Field,” VanHootegem said. “I want to thank Eddie Nuñez, Lauren DuBois, Will Blackburn and Carl Lewis for this opportunity. I can’t wait to continue the great Cougar tradition of developing individual student-athletes to the highest levels and contending for team championships. So much of my coaching has been based upon what I’ve learned from legendary coach Tom Tellez, and it’s an amazing honor to follow in his coaching footsteps.”
VanHootegem (pronounced van-OTT-eh-ghem) will coach the horizontal jumps after spending two seasons at South Plains College. During his time with the Texans, he was named the 2025 USTFCCCA Indoor Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year and helped guide the team to three team NJCAA National Championships, including seven individual National Championship titles.
“We just got even better as an overall program with Jim’s addition,” said Blackburn. “He brings years of experience as both a head coach and assistant, having led the program to win team National Championships titles at the NCAA and NJCAA levels. Our program is built on representing the University of Houston at the highest level in the Big 12, NCAA Championships and on the international level. Jim understands the rich history of Houston Track &Field, and we are excited to have him join the program.”
In his career, VanHootegem has helped guide his programs to 15 National Team Championship titles and 27 conference team titles. Additionally, VanHootegem produced 138 All-American honors as an event coach and 63 honorees as a head coach.
His coaching accolades include the 2016 Big 12 Conference Women’s Outdoor Head Coach of the Year, three USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year, three USTFCCCA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year honors and five Big East Conference Coaching Staff of the Year recognitions.
VanHootegem brings a wealth of Big 12 experience as he served as the head coach at Oklahoma for six seasons from 2013-19. He guided 83 Sooners to NCAA Championship berths, 62 collected All-America accolades and 28 won individual or relay Big 12 titles. Additionally, 65 student-athletes earned All-Academic honors from the USTFCCCA.
From 2004-2013, VanHootegem served as an assistant coach at Texas A&M where the Aggies won seven NCAA team titles, 22 individual NCAA Champions and 14 conference crowns. VanHootegem was named the 2009 Men’s National Assistant Coach of the Year and a 2012 Mondo Regional Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.
VanHootegem was an assistant coach at Miami from 2001-04, where he won five conference titles and was a member of the Big East Coaching Staff of the Year on five separate occasions.
As a student-athlete at North Central College, VanHootegem helped lead his squad to a pair of NCAA Division III national championships and two third-place finishes. He is a seven-time All-American and was named the team’s most valuable athlete and a team captain.
A native of Kewanee, Ill., VanHootegem earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from North Central College. He is currently a USTFCCCA Academy instructor for the jumps curriculum. Van Hootegem is a certified strength and conditioning coach by the USTFCCCA Academy and is Level II certified in the USA Track & Field Coaching Education Program.
VanHootegem is married to the former Carmen Melendez, and they have three children, Tori, Quin and Olivia. The VanHootegems also have two granddaughters, Eden and Hazel.
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Marquette wins water polo district championships | Sports
The Marquette Mustangs earned a 14-7 win over Kirkwood in Walker Natatorium at Kirkwood High School to win the water polo championship. (Photo provided) Photo provided The Marquette Mustangs are the Missouri Water Polo district champions again. The Mustangs earned a 14-7 win over Kirkwood in Walker Natatorium at Kirkwood High School. Marquette finished 24-1. […]
The Marquette Mustangs earned a 14-7 win over Kirkwood in Walker Natatorium at Kirkwood High School to win the water polo championship. (Photo provided)
Photo provided
The Marquette Mustangs are the Missouri Water Polo district champions again.
The Mustangs earned a 14-7 win over Kirkwood in Walker Natatorium at Kirkwood High School.
Marquette finished 24-1. The win made it back-to-back championships and third overall. Water polo for girls began in 2021.
Coach Claire Maniscalco said there was no pressure on her girls to repeat.
“We set the same input goals every year, focusing on training and how we work. We don’t pay attention to results,” Maniscalco said. “We do the work and accept whatever results happen. Our kids are great at buying into the program’s approach.”
In the regular season, Marquette defeated Kirkwood 15-3.
Going into the final, Maniscalco said her girls were not overconfident.
“Confidence is earned by putting in the work. This year’s team really trained hard,” Maniscalco said. “What we refer to as the right way. They earned the confidence they brought into the championship game.”
The keys to the victory, Maniscalco said, were the Mustangs’ defensive and offensive disciplines.
In the win, cousinsNeveah Kerberand Cassidy Kerber played well. Cassidy, a sophomore, scored six goals. Neveah, a senior, scored five goals.
“Their power on offense stands out and the hard working movement defense lead by (junior) Olivia (Brzyski) in the goal and Isla (Sattler) mirroring their top shooter and effectively limiting her scoring chances stood out. Our four first year starters (Sattler, Dani Hume, Avery Anthony and Gabby Silasi) really bought into and learned zone help defense and executed amazingly.”
The Mustangs lose only Neveah Kerber to graduation.
“The sport is growing so competition gets stronger each year,” Maniscalco said. “We have two players returning who were first team all-district two years in a row now and a third who made second team this year. We’ll be in a good position to compete again next year.”
Salt Lake Community College to cut track and field programs after banner season
TAYLORSVILLE — One of the more successful athletic programs at Salt Lake Community College has been discontinued after just three seasons. The Bruins have discontinued both the indoor and outdoor track and field programs, the state’s largest two-year college confirmed to KSL.com Friday afternoon after a banner year for the sport on the Taylorsville campus. […]
TAYLORSVILLE — One of the more successful athletic programs at Salt Lake Community College has been discontinued after just three seasons.
The Bruins have discontinued both the indoor and outdoor track and field programs, the state’s largest two-year college confirmed to KSL.com Friday afternoon after a banner year for the sport on the Taylorsville campus.
“After thorough evaluation, this decision reflects broader institutional priorities and financial challenges,” the school said in a statement. “It was made after careful consideration and in no way reflects negatively on our student-athletes, who have represented the college with excellence and dedication.”
Athletes on scholarship and those who have signed letters of intent prior to the announcement will have their scholarships honored for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year, a spokesperson for the school said.
SLCC will continue to field a men’s and women’s cross country team, and “has no plans to discontinue cross country,” per the college.
Salt Lake is in the early days of new athletic leadership under Gary Veron, a former associate athletic director at BYU over student-athlete experience and NIL who replaced long-time athletic director Kevin Dustin after a decade in charge.
Prior to his time in Provo, Veron held several positions at BYU-Hawaii, including interim athletic director and associate athletic director for compliance and student-athlete welfare.
SLCC head coach Isaac Wood, who led the Bruins to three cross country national championships in his first three seasons and dual men’s and women’s national titles last year with the program, could not be reached for comment.
The 2023 National Junior College Athletic Association national coach of the year of the Bruins was coming off arguably the most successful season in the combined program’s short history, including national championships in both men’s and women’s cross country. It was the second consecutive title for women’s cross country, which also won the NJCAA half-marathon title in the fall.
Emerald Kehr, one of the stars of the 2023 national champions who prepped at West High, went on to sign with LSU after finishing second nationally in cross country and top five in the NJCAA in the mile, 3,000 meter and 4×800-meter relay.
Salt Lake sophomore JaQuavious Harris finished first overall to pace the men’s team in 23:30.7. The Cheraw, South Carolina, native then signed a professional running contract with Saucony and still competes and trains regularly with the local Run Elite Program.
The Bruins followed up the feat in March, when freshman Jayden Holdsworth won the NJCAA indoor 3,000-meter championship. The redshirt freshman from Orem surged to the front of the pack in 600 meters to become the second individual champion in the men’s track and field program’s short history and pace an eighth-place finish at the national meet.
In the outdoor season, Michael Maiorano and Melanie Anderson won championships in the men’s and women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, respectively, and American Fork native Jayden Fitzgarrald finished runner-up in the 5,000 meters. In all, 19 athletes earned NJCAA All-American status.
SLCC men’s cross country and track and field fielded 39 athletes on its roster last year, the majority of whom were from the state of Utah, with all but 11 of them coming from the state of Utah.
The Salt Lake women’s program lists 30 players on its roster — all but six of whom come from the Beehive State.
With the move, SLCC will sponsor four men’s sports and six women’s sports, as well as cheer/spirit squads and varsity esports rosters.
Salt Lake Community College swept the men’s and women’s NJCAA Division I cross country national championships, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo: Courtesy, SLCC)
