Summer, 2019: Athletes Close Out One Year and Look to the Next One

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By Dave Abbott of NELA Sports One

In high school sports, summer is a time of celebration, exhibition games, training – and for those who have graduated – moving on to bigger things. Here’s are some highlights from the summer lives of NELA’s athletes.

Celebrating the Season Gone By

The Eagle Rock boys basketball team – the 2019 L.A. City Section Division II champions – received their championship rings at a ceremony at Eagle Rock High School on June 10. The championship was the second in school history and the school’s 32nd championship in all sports combined.

L-R Mitchell Gravino, Coach Mike Barbera, Jordon Purvis, Rayford Turner, AJ Ragadio, Lawrence Diaz, Nicholas Chavez, Leo Lindemose, Jared Terrazas, Head Coach Christian Dunbar, Coach Narada Whalum, Max Jensen, Lloyd Borreson, Trainer Gersom Salmeron (Not shown: Coach Deon Johnson, Christian Naranjo, Tanner Guerra, Axel Ayers, Romero Nickel, Poalo Octoman).

Exhibition Play

Eagle Rock’s Keiko Utsumi in summer league game at Citrus College

Girls Basketball – Players from the Eagle Rock girls basketball team are competing in summer league games. Pictured at right, Keiko Utsumi, competed in two games at Citrus College in Glendora on June 22. In the regular 2019 season, the Eagle Rock girls basketball team was undefeated and advanced to the quarterfinals in the open division.

Football – Franklin High School Football hosted the 4th Annual Northeast Los Angeles Passing Tournament on Saturday, June 8. Franklin Coach Narciso Diaz says competing in tournaments gives his quarterback, Alfred Bobadilla, a chance to work on his timing with his receivers and new teammates coming up from junior varsity. In turn, new players get a feel for the game and a chance to compete before the seasons starts.

Franklin Panthers quarterback Alfred Bobadilla competing at the NELA passing tournament.

Bobadilla, who worked on strength and speed on the track team during the spring, will be entering his senior year. Franklin finished second among the 13 teams that participated in the Passing Tournament.

Incoming junior quarterback Axel Ayes represented the Eagles of Eagle Rock High in the Passing Tournament at Franklin.

Eagle Rock quarterback Axel Ayers competing at the NELA passing tournament

Shaping up for the Fall Season

Saul and Cesar Narro, brothers who coach the Franklin High track team, get in shape with the team by running during the summer at Arroyo Seco Park. The fall track season will start in late September.

Members of the Franklin cross country team training with their coaches for the upcoming cross country season at Arroyo Seco Park.

Athletes Moving On

Eagle Rock Alumnae Amanda Nobles on senior day in Colorado Springs

Amanda Nobles, Eagle Rock alumna and the 2015 All Northern League Softball Player of the Year, was honored on senior day on April 27 as a member of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) Mountain Lions softball team, where she played for the last 4 years. Amanda graduated from college in May and will attend post-graduate school at UCCS.

Jaasiel Alvarez, who played the wing position on the Eagle Rock girls varisty basketball team and graduated in June, is helping to train next year’s team until she heads off to college at Mount Holyoke in Massachusetts in the fall.

Recent Eagle Rock graduate Jaasiel Alvarez helping out with coaching the girls basketball team in summer league before heading off to college.

Photos: Dave Abbott, Splash Art Photography
To contact Dave about this coverage or to purchase
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