2016 in review: Remembering the county sports world of 2016

There was plenty to do 10 years ago.

In 2016, while people still stared at their phones while walking, at least they were on a mission to find Pokémon, as Pokémon Go kept people trying to catch them all.

Maybe people being so attached to their phones was one reason the average attention span dropped from 12 seconds 16 years earlier to eight seconds in 2016.

While most people’s attention spans were shrinking, postal workers had to remain on high alert, as 6,766 letter carriers were attacked by dogs in 2016.

Challenges were still popular in 2016, as the mannequin challenge took over and people around the world filmed themselves standing as still as possible. People also stood as still as possible when they spotted random clowns lurking around, which, for some reason, became a popular trend 10 years ago.

Yahoo suffered one of the largest data breaches in history, as 1 billion user records were stolen. Some may wonder how that happened, but when the most common password 10 years ago was “123456” – the same as it was in 2014 and 2015 – it’s easier to understand how data breaches happen.

If you were born a decade ago, there’s a chance you were named Olivia, Ava, Sophia, Isabella, Noah, Liam, William, Mason or James, as those were the most popular baby names of 2016.

It was also a difficult year for celebrity deaths, as David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Harper Lee, Nancy Reagan, George Martin, Merle Haggard, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Gene Wilder, Arnold Palmer, Leonard Cohen, John Glenn, Alan Thicke, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds all died in 2016.

A decade ago also brought victories that not many people saw coming, including the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series to end a 108-year championship drought and Donald Trump winning the presidency.

Now, let’s go back a decade and look at what happened in the world of Calaveras County sports.

WINTER

BRET HARTE BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Heading into 2016, the Bret Harte boys’ basketball team was led by Michael Ziehlke, Jordan Barkley, Anthony Fleck, Isaak McCamey, Wyatt Lawson, Zach Scott, Pierce Gill, Nick Kalika, Ryan Marinics, Bucky Seawell, Kyle Olsen, Jimmy Brechtel and Colin Prestin and was coached by Jeff Eltringham.

After going 6-6 in the 2015 preseason, the Bullfrogs began 2016 with a nonleague loss to Mariposa, 60-57, and opened Mother Lode League play with a 63-55 loss to Sonora. Bret Harte rebounded with wins over Amador, 48-43, Argonaut, 62-48, and Linden, 63-52. The Bullfrogs fell to 3-3 in league play with losses to Summerville, 63-25, and Calaveras, 63-55, before getting back in the win column with a 54-36 victory over Amador. Bret Harte then lost to Sonora, 68-60, and Summerville, 60-46, before stunning Calaveras, 45-43, at home. The season ended with a 63-45 win over Linden.

Bret Harte finished 12-13 overall and tied Sonora and Argonaut for third place in league play at 6-6. The Bullfrogs did not reach the postseason. Olsen earned first-team all-league honors, while Ziehlke was named to the second team.

CALAVERAS BOYS’ BASKETBALL

After winning the Mother Lode League title the previous two years, Calaveras, led by coach Kraig Clifton, looked to make it three in a row. The roster included Nate Schurawel, Dylan Byrd, Jake Land, Kyle Byrd, Dillon Autrey, Bowie Wood, Juan Reyes, Daniel Boitano, Hudson Hull, Caleb Hodson, Matt Dahl, Brandon Cline and Wyatt Ames.

In the preseason, Calaveras went 10-2. When the calendar turned to 2016, the San Andreas squad lost to Liberty Ranch, 71-65, before beginning league play. Calaveras opened the Mother Lode League season with a 54-45 win over Argonaut, followed by a 69-54 loss to Summerville. Calaveras then rattled off eight consecutive victories over Linden, 64-56, Sonora, 68-57, Amador, 79-62, Bret Harte, 63-55, Sonora, 60-51, Amador, 64-46, Argonaut, 63-52, and Linden, 58-41. The winning streak ended with a 45-43 loss to Bret Harte, followed by a 39-33 loss to Summerville.

Calaveras did not repeat as Mother Lode League champion but opened the playoffs with a 46-43 win over Foresthill before falling to West Campus, 68-43, in the second round. Land and Cline earned first-team all-league honors, while Dylan Byrd was named to the second team.

The biggest story of Calaveras’ season was Clifton being diagnosed with cancer early in the year. His diagnosis forced him to step away from the team to focus on his recovery. Longtime assistant coaches Dale “Old School” Clifton and Jamie Linneman took over in his absence. Clifton returned to the bench the following season.

BRET HARTE GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

The Lady Bullfrogs looked to improve on their 5-7 Mother Lode League record from the previous season. Bret Harte was led by Carly Herndon, Bailey Van Zant, Daphne Stanfill, McKensey Middleton, Maddie Walraven, Deb Brady, Danielle Diebold, Cali Anderson, Kiley Smithers, Alexis Howard and Ashlynn Maddeaux.

In the preseason, Bret Harte went 5-6. The Bullfrogs opened Mother Lode League play with a 55-42 loss to Sonora, a 33-30 win over Amador and back-to-back losses to Argonaut, 52-34, and Linden, 23-21. Bret Harte got back in the win column with a 27-19 victory over Summerville and followed that with a 38-25 loss to Calaveras, a 37-24 win over Amador, a 30-28 loss to Argonaut, a 70-41 loss to Sonora, a 38-17 win over Summerville and a 40-22 loss to Calaveras. The Bullfrogs closed the season with a 39-37 double-overtime victory over Linden.

Bret Harte finished 10-13 overall and, for the second consecutive season, went 5-7 in league play. Anderson led the Bullfrogs by averaging 15.3 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. She earned first-team all-league honors, while Herndon was named to the second team.

CALAVERAS GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

In 2015, the Calaveras girls’ basketball team featured a strong core of sophomores on the varsity roster. In 2016, the team, which included Olivia Long, Brooklyn Perry, Kelsey Boriolo, Kate Lumley, Brookelyn Larkin, Emily Jasper, Tori Wood, Maddie Lambert, Laney Evans and Alicia De Herrera, returned under head coach Jeremy Malamed and looked to take another step forward.

In the preseason, Calaveras won its first 11 games and entered Mother Lode League play with an 11-2 overall record. In league play, Calaveras defeated Argonaut, 39-25, Summerville, 51-39, and Linden, 53-35, before suffering a tough 43-41 loss to Sonora. Calaveras bounced back with wins over Amador, 62-47, and Bret Harte, 38-25, before falling to Sonora for a second time, 40-32. Calaveras closed league play on a five-game winning streak with victories over Amador, 48-21, Argonaut, 49-38, Linden, 49-30, Bret Harte, 40-22, and Summerville, 60-40.

In the playoffs, Calaveras lost to Lathrop, 43-37, in the opening round. Calaveras finished 21-5 overall and 10-2 in league play, good for second place. Larkin, Jasper and Wood earned first-team all-league honors, while Lambert was named to the second team. Malamed was named the league’s co-coach of the year. 

BRET HARTE WRESTLING

A lack of wrestlers hurt Bret Harte in 2016. Unable to field a full team, the Bullfrogs were underdogs throughout the season. In the county clash with Calaveras, Cody Kubiak (132 pounds) was the Bullfrogs’ lone varsity wrestler and earned an 11-6 decision. At the Mother Lode League tournament, Bret Harte did not have any individual champions.

CALAVERAS WRESTLING

Calaveras once again proved to be the top team in the Mother Lode League. Calaveras won the MLL dual championship for the ninth consecutive year and captured the league tournament title for the 10th straight season.

Individual league champions were Andrew Garcia (127 pounds), Darius Baza (132), Chance Norton (165), Austin Garant (175), Shane Torre (220) and Chris Williams (heavyweight). All 14 Calaveras wrestlers placed in the top four at the league tournament.

Calaveras went on to win the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship for the fifth time in six years. At the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters girls’ Wrestling Tournament, Calaveras’ Kyra Judd placed fifth in the 160-pound weight class.

SPRING

BRET HARTE BASEBALL

Following a 4-14 Mother Lode League record in 2015, the Bullfrogs hoped for a stronger 2016 season. With Zach Scott, Ryan Kraft, Isaac Abraham, Landon Drake, Joey Kraft, Jacob Faamausili, Seth Bakke, Joe Small, Pierce Gill, Michael Costa, Cody Rossler, Josh Lane and Brock Rizzo taking the field, expectations were high for the Purple and Gold.

Bret Harte went 2-2 in preseason play, with losses to McNair, 4-3, and Liberty Ranch, 13-3, and wins over Denair, 9-1, and Delhi, 13-0. The Bullfrogs opened Mother Lode League play with a 9-2 loss to Calaveras but rebounded with a 6-5, eight-inning victory over Amador. Bret Harte lost its next five games, falling to Sonora, 9-2, Argonaut, 6-0, Linden, 5-3, Summerville, 15-0, and Calaveras, 23-18.

The losing streak ended with an 11-8 win over Amador. Bret Harte followed with a 6-5 loss to Summerville, a 7-6 win over Sonora, losses to Linden, 3-2, Argonaut, 17-0, and Calaveras, 4-2, before beating Amador, 9-5. Bret Harte dropped its final four games of the season, losing to Summerville, 9-1, Sonora, 8-5, Argonaut, 10-0, and Linden, 7-3.

For the second consecutive season, Bret Harte finished 4-14 in league play and 6-16 overall. The Bullfrogs did not make the playoffs. Abraham, who led the team with a .415 batting average and 12 RBIs, earned first-team all-league honors, while Joey Kraft was named to the second team.

CALAVERAS BASEBALL

Led by Tyler Bachrach, Trenton Herring, Tyler Dunn, Ryan Taylor, Alex Flores, Trace Durham, Casey Copulos, Chris Peifer, Jason Kennedy, Logan Arledge, Joe Celli, Nick Patrick, Nathan Threet, Baron Andres and James Harkins, Calaveras looked to improve on its 6-12 campaign in 2015.

Calaveras opened the season by going 3-1 in preseason play, with wins over Dixon, 5-4, Stagg, 7-4, and Hilmar, 13-3. Calaveras’ lone loss came against Escalon, 6-4. Calaveras opened Mother Lode League play with a 9-2 win over Bret Harte before falling to Argonaut, 8-3. After a 7-5 nonleague loss to Dixon, Calaveras defeated Amador, 5-2, and Summerville, 4-2, before losing to Linden, 10-5, and Sonora, 10-1.

The bats came alive in a 23-18 win over Bret Harte. Calaveras then lost to Argonaut, 7-2, defeated Amador, 2-1, and dropped three straight games to Summerville, 4-3, Linden, 10-0, and Sonora, 13-4, before returning to the win column with a 4-2 victory over Bret Harte.

Calaveras closed the season with a 2-0 loss to Argonaut, a 2-1 loss to Summerville, a 6-5 win over Amador, a 13-11 loss to Linden and a 6-0 victory over Sonora. Calaveras finished 11-12 overall and 8-10 in Mother Lode League play, missing the playoffs. Durham and Patrick earned second-team all-league honors. 

BRET HARTE SOFTBALL

It had been several years since the Lady Bullfrogs posted a winning record, and the 2016 team, which included Makayla Stone, Shelby Masarie, Sydney Tonetti, Carley Herndon, Katie Juarez, Paige Herndon, Danie Diebold, Sammy Jordan, Lena Hirsch, Maddie Schwartz, Emma Arvin, Maddie Walraven, Rihanna Willis, Linda Crabtree and Ashlynn Maddeaux, looked to turn the program around.

The season couldn’t have started any better, with a 33-0 win over Tioga and a 27-1 victory over Tulelake. Bret Harte lost to Escalon, 10-3, before heading into league play. After a 24-1 loss to Calaveras, Bret Harte defeated Amador, 12-2. The Bullfrogs then dropped their next seven games to Sonora, 11-9, Argonaut, 17-2, Linden, 8-1, Summerville, 18-3, Calaveras, 18-0, Amador, 7-1, and Summerville, 13-0.

Bret Harte snapped its losing streak with an 8-5 win over Sonora. The Bullfrogs ended the season on another seven-game losing streak, falling to Linden, 18-1, Argonaut, 23-2, Calaveras, 13-2, Amador, 16-14, Summerville, 13-3, Argonaut, 9-5, and Linden, 10-0. Bret Harte finished 4-16 overall and 2-15 in league play. Juarez earned first-team all-league honors.

CALAVERAS SOFTBALL

Linden had been the top team in the Mother Lode League the previous two seasons. However, in 2016, the Calaveras squad of Katelyn Leatherman, Breanna Dunn, Alanda Cardon, Maddie Wyllie, Alexis Zahniser, Coco Bolin, Billie Coleman, Haley Chaboya, Tea Sevrens, Bri Head, Jordyn Okumura, Kayla Kappmeyer, Summer Scheidt and Alexis Dawe looked to change Calaveras’ fortunes.

In preseason play, Calaveras defeated Escalon, 8-6, and Edison, 18-1, before falling to Lodi, 13-2. Mother Lode League play began with a 24-1 win over Bret Harte, followed by victories over Argonaut, 15-8, Amador, 18-0, and Summerville, 9-2, before a 12-2 loss to Linden. In nonleague play, Calaveras lost to Manteca, 6-4, and defeated Golden Valley, 6-5.

Calaveras returned to league play with a 21-2 win over Sonora and followed with victories over Bret Harte, 18-0, Argonaut, 7-1, Amador, 6-2, Summerville, 20-0, Linden, 7-2, Sonora, 13-0, Bret Harte, 13-2, Argonaut, 3-1, Summerville, 13-3, Amador, 24-0, Linden, 10-0, and Sonora, 21-2.

Calaveras carried a 14-game winning streak into the playoffs. Calaveras defeated Liberty Ranch, 5-3, in the opening round before falling to Bear River, 4-1, in the second round. Calaveras finished 21-4 overall and won the Mother Lode League title with a 17-1 record. Kappmeyer was named the league’s MVP. Cardon, Dawe and Leatherman earned first-team all-league honors, while Bolin, Chaboya, Dunn, Wyllie and Head were named to the second team. Head coach Mike Koepp was named the league’s co-Coach of the Year.

BRET HARTE GOLF

After missing out on the Mother Lode League title the previous two years, the Bret Harte boys’ golf team changed its fortunes in 2016. The Bullfrogs went undefeated in Mother Lode League play with a 12-0 record. Mitchell Menzes was named the Mother Lode League MVP, while Nick Kalika and Nick Kristoff were all-league selections.

After winning the league title, Bret Harte focused on bringing home a blue section championship banner for the first time since 2010. With the blue banner on the line, the Bullfrogs shot a team score of 441 to finish 10 strokes ahead of runner-up Ripon of the Trans-Valley League. Four of Bret Harte’s six golfers placed in the top 15 out of 162 competitors.

Menzes shot a 7-over-par 79, good for second overall. Kristoff shot an 82 to finish fifth, Kalika was ninth overall with an 87, Riley Gorman tied for 15th with an 89, Kyle Olsen shot a 104 and Mason Davis shot a 110.

CALAVERAS GOLF

After winning the Mother Lode League title two years earlier, Calaveras looked to contend for another championship in 2016. Calaveras leaned on returners Mitch Bray, Kendall Clemens and Carson Van Buren.

Calaveras finished third in the Mother Lode League with a 7-5 record. Bray earned all-league honors. At the section tournament, Calaveras shot a 533 to finish eighth out of eight teams. Bray shot an 87 to lead Calaveras and tie for ninth individually.

BRET HARTE TRACK

Bret Harte’s boys team placed fourth at the Mother Lode League championships. Marc Behiel won the league title in the 3,200 meters. The Lady Bullfrogs tied Calaveras for the Mother Lode League championship. Kat Flood won league titles in the 400 meters and long jump. At the Sac-Joaquin Section championships, Behiel captured the section title in the 3,200 meters.

CALAVERAS TRACK

In 2016, Calaveras won its fourth consecutive Mother Lode League boys’ championship. At the Mother Lode League Championships, Calaveras scored 175 points to claim the team title. Individual league champions were Trevor Ramirez (200 meters), Caleb Bolton (400), Devin Scheidt (800 and 1,600), Alexander Robie (110-meter hurdles), Jaiden Caldwell (shot put) and Shane Torre (discus).

On the girls’ side, Calaveras and Bret Harte shared the Mother Lode League title, although Calaveras won the league championship meet with 186 points. Individual league champions for Calaveras was Isabella Moyer (100 and 200), Allura Bilderback (100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles), Jasmine Blair (shot put), Taylor Squire (discus) and Savannah Rose (high jump).

Calaveras’ strong season continued as both the boys and girls won Sac-Joaquin Section championships. Scheidt won section titles in the 800 and 1,600 meters, while Moyer captured the girls’ section championship in the 100 meters.     

BRET HARTE TENNIS

Bret Harte relied on twin brothers Adeen and Eranee Gonzalez to spearhead its Mother Lode League campaign in 2016, while Jovan Cruz and Addie Ellsworth made significant strides during the season. Also on the 2016 team were Savannah Luis, Lexie Cuslidge, Olivia Monroy and Veronica Medina.

At the Mother Lode League doubles tournament, Luis and Cuslidge placed third, narrowly missing a berth in the Sac-Joaquin Section tournament.

CALAVERAS TENNIS

Kaylyn Hedstrom was Calaveras’ No. 1 girls’ singles player during the 2016 season, while Giovanni Airola and Tomo Clark were the team’s No. 1 and No. 2 boys’ singles players. Also on the team were Gina Ballard, Ben Mering, Summer Schultz, Darrius Vaughn, Colton Minehart and Jacob Cantanho.

At the Mother Lode League tournament, Hedstrom did not drop a set while capturing the singles championship. After receiving a first-round bye and defeating teammate Schultz in the second round, she beat Summerville’s Kennedy Brockett, 6-1, 6-0, in the semifinals before defeating Argonaut’s Cheyenne Sheridan, 6-2, 6-2, to win the tournament.

Hedstrom advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III tournament and won her first-round match, 6-0, 6-1, before earning a 6-3, 6-0 victory in the second round. The semifinals were postponed because of rain. When play resumed, Hedstrom was hampered by a sore right shoulder and lost to Natomas’ Savannah Hammick, 6-4, 6-3, in the semifinals.

BRET HARTE SWIMMING

Led by coach Lauren Gerber, Bret Harte featured Austin Qualls, Kaitlyn McCratic, Grace Johnson, Archer Bitner, Ben Powell, Eddie Diegoli, Leah Jensvold, Katarina Riedel and Danea Palmer. Bret Harte’s girls’ team won its second Mother Lode League title with a perfect 10-0 record in 2016. The boys finished second with an 8-2 league record.

At the Mother Lode League championships, Bret Harte’s individual winners were Bitner (100-yard butterfly), Riedel (100-yard freestyle) and Jensvold (100-yard breaststroke).

CALAVERAS SWIMMING

The Calaveras swim team in 2016 featured Kaitlyn Butler, Micaela Vanderpool, Hannah Mazie, Hannah Dollens, Adam Contreras, Dylan Meidinger, Zachary Rambur, Skyler Day, Dylan Freinhofner, Giovanni Airola, Skyler Hoeke and Elizabeth Brant.

Calaveras’ boys team finished 5-5, while the girls went 3-7. At the Mother Lode League championships, Butler placed third in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:04.98.

BRET HARTE GIRLS’ SOCCER

The Lady Bullfrogs placed fifth in the Mother Lode League standings in 2016. Alyx Fairman, Mini Avila and Jenna Fairman earned all-league honors.

CALAVERAS GIRLS’ SOCCER

Amador had been the team to beat in the Mother Lode League, and Calaveras, led by Paige Burns, Kelsey Orlopp, Pookie Deckman, Sam Johnson, Claire Filter, Maryanne Linneman, Maddie DeAngelis, Kelsey Boriolo, Violeta Contreras, Alyssa Carlin, Taylor Dunn, Madisyn Patrick, Kate Kathan, Breanna Brumet and Jahyda Souza, looked to replace Amador at the top of the league standings.

In the preseason, Calaveras went 2-4 with wins over Escalon, 6-1, and Forest Lake Christian, 2-0, and losses to Bear River, 2-1, Bear Creek, 4-2, Yuba City, 4-0, and Union Mine, 2-0. Calaveras opened league play with shutout victories over Bret Harte, 5-0, and Sonora, 2-0, before falling to Amador, 4-1. Calaveras rebounded with a 6-2 win over Summerville, a 2-2 tie with Linden, a 4-1 victory over Argonaut, a 1-1 tie with Bret Harte and a 4-1 win over Sonora.

After a second loss to Amador, 6-2, Calaveras defeated Summerville, 4-0, before closing the regular season with losses to Linden, 2-1, and Argonaut, 5-1. Calaveras lost to Dixon, 8-3, in the opening round of the playoffs.

Calaveras finished 8-9-2 overall and placed fourth in the Mother Lode League with a 6-4-2 record. Deckman, Brumet and Linneman earned first-team all-league honors, while Burns and DeAngelis were named to the second team.

FALL

BRET HARTE FOOTBALL

After going 4-6 in 2015, there was optimism surrounding Bret Harte heading into 2016. With key players Colin Preston, Anthony Howard, Jim Brechtel, Ryan Kraft, Nick Osborn and Luke Pinney leading the way, the Bullfrogs had their sights set on the playoffs.

Bret Harte began the season with a 41-0 win over Riverbank. Ryan Kraft threw for one touchdown and rushed for another, while Howard found the end zone twice. Mason Lowe and Joey Kraft also rushed for touchdowns. The Bullfrogs followed with a 27-6 win over Golden Sierra. Ryan Kraft rushed for 119 yards and one touchdown, while Howard and Lowe each added a rushing score. Bret Harte improved to 3-0 with a 55-24 win over Highlands. Ryan Kraft threw for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Bucky Sewell and Javon Gilbert each caught a touchdown pass. In the Mother Lode League opener, Bret Harte fell to Argonaut, 27-13. Ryan Kraft rushed for 121 yards and one touchdown, while Howard added a rushing score.

The Bullfrogs played a nonleague game against Winters and won, 41-0. Ryan Kraft threw for 136 yards and three touchdowns. Sewell had four catches for 123 yards and three touchdowns. Bret Harte nearly upset Calaveras in league play before falling to its county rival, 27-26. Ryan Kraft threw for 136 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 63 yards. Sewell had 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Zach Scott caught one touchdown pass. The Bullfrogs followed with a tough 8-6 loss to Amador in the rain. Ryan Kraft scored the Bullfrogs’ lone touchdown on a rushing play.

Bret Harte snapped its two-game skid with a 34-3 win over Summerville. Ryan Kraft, Howard and Joey Kraft each rushed for a touchdown. Bret Harte then pounded Linden, 55-7. Ryan Kraft threw three touchdown passes, while Howard rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Gilbert, Brechtel and Nate Rodriguez also rushed for touchdowns, while Sewell, Michael Podesta and Gilbert each caught a touchdown pass. The league season ended with a 48-13 loss to Sonora.

The Bullfrogs reached the playoffs but suffered a heartbreaking 29-27 loss to Orestimba on a last-second score. Lowe rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns, while Ryan Kraft threw a touchdown pass to Sewell. Bret Harte finished 6-5 overall and 2-4 in Mother Lode League play. Preston was named the Mother Lode League Lineman of the Year. Osborn, Hunter VanVliet and Howard earned first-team all-league honors, while Brennan DeBisschop, Sewell, Ryan Kraft and Joey Kraft were named to the second team.

CALAVERAS FOOTBALL

Calaveras was one win away from reaching the section championship in 2015. With returners Noah Preuss, Anthony Giangregorio, Nick Quinday, Chance Norton and John Kelley, Calaveras hoped to once again contend for a section title.

Calaveras opened the season with four consecutive victories, beginning with a 25-7 win over El Capitan. Preuss, Kyle Byrd and Giangregorio each rushed for a touchdown. The following week, Calaveras defeated Escalon, 45-16. Preuss rushed for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Calaveras’ third victory was a 35-28 win over Modesto Christian. Byrd threw touchdown passes to Cesar Vazquez and Triston Madsen, while Preuss and Giangregorio each rushed for a touchdown. Calaveras capped the preseason with a 42-7 win over Union Mine. Byrd threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns, and Preuss rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Giangregorio had four catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Calaveras opened league play with a 28-14 loss to Sonora. Byrd threw touchdown passes to Nathan Threet and Norton. Calaveras rebounded with a 28-21 win over Argonaut the following week. Preuss rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while Giangregorio rushed for 110 yards and one touchdown. Byrd threw for 100 yards and one touchdown. Calaveras then survived a 27-26 county clash with Bret Harte, scoring in the final minute to secure the victory. Preuss and Byrd each rushed for two touchdowns. Calaveras’ second league loss came in a 24-14 setback to Amador. Byrd threw for 163 yards and one touchdown. Calaveras followed with a 41-7 win over Summerville. Preuss rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns, while Giangregorio, Tanner Joses, Logan Weatherby and Norton each rushed for a touchdown. The final league game was a 45-3 win over Linden. Joses rushed for 110 yards and one touchdown, and Preuss rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

In the playoffs, Calaveras lost to Marysville, 38-7, in the opening round. Calaveras finished 8-3 overall and 4-2 in Mother Lode League play. Threet, Preuss, Kelley, Quinday, Madsen and Giangregorio earned first-team all-league honors, while Cyp Piusis, Byrd and Norton were named to the second team.   

BRET HARTE VOLLEYBALL

Bret Harte had a powerful squad heading into the 2016 season, including Alexis Howard, Jordan Puccinelli, Christine Lora, Paige Herndon, Addison Stafford, Morgan Puccinelli, Elise Sanzeri, Jada Barnes, Gabby Hutchens, Sydney Jones, Alexia Stafford, Briann Simpson, Katie Juarez, Jenna Rapetti, Kenzie Seagle and Ashlynn Maddeaux.

Before Mother Lode League play began, Bret Harte went 7-1 in preseason action, with wins over Ripon Christian, Downey, Patterson, Johansen, Mountain House, Hughson and Mariposa. The Bullfrogs later picked up nonleague wins over Chavez, Colusa, Dixon, Sutter, Greenville, Willows and Woodland Christian.

In Mother Lode League play, Bret Harte opened with a 3-0 win over Argonaut and followed with victories over Calaveras, 3-0, Linden, 3-0, Summerville, 3-1 and Amador, 3-0, before falling to Sonora, 3-0. In the second half of league play, Bret Harte defeated Argonaut, 3-2, lost to Calaveras, 3-1, defeated Linden, 3-0, Summerville, 3-0 and Amador, 3-0, before closing the regular season with a 3-0 loss to Sonora.

In the opening round of the playoffs, Bret Harte defeated Hughson, 3-1, before sweeping Colfax, 3-0, in the second round. The Bullfrogs’ section title hopes ended with a 3-2 semifinal loss to Hilmar after taking a 2-0 lead in the match. In the state playoffs, Bret Harte lost to Sacred Heart Prep, 3-1. The Bullfrogs finished 25-7 overall and placed second in the Mother Lode League with a 9-3 record. Juarez, Stafford and Barnes earned first-team all-league honors, while Morgan Puccinelli was named to the second team.

CALAVERAS VOLLEYBALL

The Mother Lode League featured strong volleyball in 2016, and Calaveras was no exception. Breanna Dunn, Alyssa Carlin, Jessica Schumann, Sierra Reusche, Taylor Katicich, Bella Rose, Corina Mata, Tanner Pemberton and Sierra Hedstrom looked to lead Calaveras to their first league title since 2013.

Before league play, Calaveras went 1-3 in nonleague matches, defeating Escalon, 3-2, and losing to Modesto, 3-0, Lincoln, 3-0, and Lincoln of Stockton, 3-0. Later in the season, Calaveras took a break from league play and lost to Lodi, 3-1, defeated Colfax, 2-1, defeated Eureka, 2-0, lost to Mercy, 2-0, and defeated Clear Lake, 2-0.

Calaveras opened Mother Lode League play with a 3-0 loss to Sonora, followed by a 3-0 win over Argonaut and a 3-0 loss to Bret Harte. Calaveras responded with a 3-0 win over Linden before adding victories over Summerville, 3-0, Amador, 3-1, and Argonaut, 3-0, before falling to Sonora, 3-0. Calaveras earned a 3-1 rivalry win over Bret Harte before closing the regular season with a 3-0 loss to Linden and victories over Summerville, 3-0, and Amador, 3-1.

Calaveras reached the playoffs and defeated Liberty Ranch, 3-0, in the opening round before falling to Ripon, 3-0, in the second round. Calaveras finished 13-10 overall and placed third in the Mother Lode League with an 8-4 record. Pemberton and Carlin earned first-team all-league honors.

BRET HARTE GIRLS’ GOLF

With 10 golfers, including reigning Valley Foothill League North MVP Hannah Ellsworth, Bret Harte aimed to return to the top of the Valley Foothill League North standings, where it had not finished since 2012. Also returning in 2016 were Nicole Ayala, Kellie Krpan, Jessie Thompson and Olivia Fonseca.

The Bullfrogs placed second with a team score of 396 at the Valley Foothill League North midyear tournament. Ellsworth led Bret Harte with an 86, the fifth-lowest score of the day. Ayala finished seventh with a 96, while Thompson placed eighth with a 98. Krpan rounded out the Bullfrogs’ scoring four with a 116.

At the final league tournament, Bret Harte again placed second with a team score of 393. Ellsworth shot the tournament’s low round with a 75, while Thompson followed with a 99. Ayala and Krpan carded rounds of 103 and 116, respectively. Bret Harte finished 9-3 and placed second in the Valley Foothill League North. Ellsworth and Thompson earned all-league honors.

CALAVERAS GIRLS’ GOLF

Because of low participation, Calaveras did not field a girls’ golf team in 2016.

BRET HARTE BOYS SOCCER

After going 3-7-2 in 2015, the Bullfrogs were eager to improve their standing in the Mother Lode League. However, they had to wait longer than usual to return to the field.

In 2016, the soccer season moved to the winter after being played in the fall for many years. Bret Harte also had a new head coach, as Joel Barnett took over the program. Team captains were Ryan Crawford, Ryan Barnett, Alex Barboza and David Rodriguez.

CALAVERAS BOYS’ SOCCER

In 2015, the Mother Lode League soccer season was played in the fall. The following year, soccer moved from the fall to the winter. Because of the schedule change, the 2016 calendar year included only six preseason matches.

In those matches, Calaveras lost to West Campus, 4-1, Escalon, 7-1, Colfax, 2-1, and Escalon, 3-2, while defeating Forest Lake Christian, 4-1, and Riverbank, 3-1.

The 2016 team included Christian Leon, Aaron White, Florian Favaro, Daniel Boitano, Uri Bobyreki, John Leiga, Carson Young, Kyle Alfred, Donnie DeAngelis, Alberto Da Ros, Tyler Leetham, Kenyon Stone, Taylor Cammisa, Andrew Celli, Mateo Alliende, Saul Macias, Ezra Look and Ivan Ramos.

BRET HARTE CROSS COUNTRY

At the Mother Lode League championship meet in Sonora, Bret Harte’s Kaela Dishion finished second in the 5,000 meters. Sarahi Terrones and Alyssa Schaffer also posted top-20 finishes for the Bullfrogs. On the boy’s side, Connor Landis placed fourth in 17:27. Jordan Barkley and Brendan Dishion also posted top-20 finishes, placing 12th and 13th, respectively. Bret Harte’s boys team finished fourth overall.

At the Sac-Joaquin Section championships, Dishion finished the girls’ 5,000 meters in 18 minutes, 24 seconds to earn a ninth-place medal in Division IV. Dishion finished ahead of 180 other runners to earn the medal. It was her best finish at the section championships during her three-year cross country career at Bret Harte. In the Division IV boys’ race, teammate Connor Landis finished 47th in 16:31.5.

CALAVERAS CROSS COUNTRY

At the Mother Lode League championship meet, Saul Macias and Jeremy Milligan finished back-to-back in eighth and ninth place, just ahead of junior Brody Embrey, who placed 11th in 18:18. Calaveras tied Amador for second in the varsity boys’ standings with 69 points, but the tiebreaker awarded second place to Amador. In the girls’ race, Samantha Hooper finished just outside the top 20, missing a medal by two seconds.

At the Sac-Joaquin Section championships, Saul Macias finished 58th in 16:39 to lead Calaveras. Embrey and Jeremy Milligan finished one second apart in 124th (17:20.2) and 125th (17:20.9), respectively.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Next week, we’ll go back 20 years to look at 2006.