Standout athletes recognized in Marmonte, TVL

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers RIVALRY RENEWED- With 25 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's Marmonte League boys' basketball game between Westlake and Thousand Oaks high schools, Lancer guard Michael Shelton, left, and Westlake guard Kyle Olandt hit the floor for a loose ball. In a tightly contested matchup, TOHS pulled out a 45-41 victory at home. The Lancers are now 6-4 overall and 2-0 in league. Westlake is 6-4, too, but WHS has lost its first two league contests. He's only a junior, but Chris Brown of Newbury Park High is already ahead of the competition.

Brown took home the hardware as the Marmonte League's Most Valuable Player last week after rushing for 1,904 yards and 22 touchdowns for the Panthers this season.

Brown's teammate, Chance Flaaten, earned the Defensive MVP award while Westlake High running back Cooper Shockley was named Offensive MVP. Casey Blum of Moorpark High was named the league's Lineman of the Year.

Head coach George Hurley and his assistants at NPHS were named the Varsity Coaching Staff of the Year. Supporting Hurley were Doug Dagen, Gary Fabricius, Glen Bundy, Jack Willard, Anthony Foli, Gil Mendoza and Mike Sanders.

The same group was also named the Ventura County Football Coaches Association's Large Schools Varsity Staff of the Year.

The Ventura County Football Coaches Association's Large Schools also named Brown Offensive Back of the Year. Flaaten was selected as the Linebacker of the Year while his teammate, Tim Ketaily, was selected as Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Westlake's Curtis Peterson and Justin Lilley were named as the Ventura County Football Coaches Association's Large Schools Receiver and Defensive Back of the Year, respectively.

In girls' tennis, Calabasas High senior Brittney Harper was named the MVP of the Marmonte League.

In girls' volleyball, Hannah Clancy of Thousand Oaks High was named MVP. Her coach, James Park, won the league's Coach of the Year award.

In boys' water polo, Agoura High's Peter Kurzeka took home the league's MVP award, while his teammate, Ryan Paris, was named the league's coMost Valuable Goalie. Sharing the award with Paris was Royal High goalkeeper Stash Dabrowski. Dustin Litvak of AHS was named the league's Coach of the Year.

In girls' golf, Simi Valley High's Amanda Hawes earned the league's MVP award.

The Tri-Valley League named its awards as well. In football, Christopher Potter of Oaks Christian was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Sean Westgate of Oak Park High was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year while his coach, Dick Billingsley, was named the Coach of the Year.

Potter was also recognized by the Ventura County Coaches Association Small School awards as the co-Offensive Back of the Year. Potter's teammate, Dominic Denham, was the co-Defensive Lineman of the Year. Westgate was named the Linebacker of the Year.

In girls' volleyball, Shannon Armstrong of Oaks Christian was selected the Tri-Valley League's Player of the Year, while her coach, George Hees, was named the league's Coach of the Year.

In boys' water polo, Michael Craft and Tyler Reardon of Oaks Christian were named co-Most Valuable Players for the TVL.

In girls' tennis, Rachel Pan of Oak Park was the Tri-Valley singles Most Valuable Player, while La Reina's Lauren Toohey and Megan Wintger were named the top doubles team. Bowie Hahn of La Reina was named the Coach of the Year.

In girls' golf, La Reina's Kelsey Conway was named the Tri-Valley League Player of the Year. Tim Meinert of Oaks Christian was honored as Coach of the Year.