Top 10 Boys’ Athletes of 2015-16: Julian swims to star status
The top 10 boys’ high school athletes of the year were voted on by the Glendale News-Press sports department. These are selections two through 10. See Saturday’s edition for the James H. Jenkins Boys’ Athlete of the Year.
2 Trenton Julian, Glendale swimming: With a stunning CIF championship swim, Trenton Julian put himself and Glendale back on center stage as it related to the upper echelon of CIF Southern Section swimming.
But that was as a sophomore in 2015.
In the spring of 2016, Julian became a force, a force that won two CIF Southern Section Division II championships and later qualified and swam at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.
Though it’s no doubt taken years of hard work and long days of practice, Julian has seemingly burst onto the scene and already established himself as one of the greatest swimmers in area chronicle.
“We’re all witnesses to history,” Glendale High athletic director Pat Lancaster said in July. “He has a whole community who’s proud of him and it’s not just because he swims fast. He’s a hard worker and a winner, but he’s humble and mature. I guess what stands out most is that embodies the best of us. He represents Glendale well.”
After the high school season had concluded, Julian made history as the first Glendale High swimmer to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials while still in high school, punching his ticket in the 100-meter and 200 butterfly races. He only swam in one, taking 71st in the 200 fly, but while the end result was a little disappointing, it was truly and exclamation point to a remarkable year.
“I think the biggest thing that I took away is knowing that I can compete at that level and not have nerves,” said Julian, the All-Area Boys’ Swimmer of the Year for the second year in a row. “I can go into any competition and be ready.”
Julian won a pair of Pacific League championships, showcasing his versatility as he won the 200 individual medley in a league record 1 minute 49.80 seconds and brought home the 500 in 4:30.82.
Then came the CIF Southern Section Division II Championships in Riverside. A season before, he had pulled off a stunning win in the 100 butterfly, becoming the first Glendale High swimmer to win a CIF championship in 44 years.
This time around, Julian had arrived and emphatically cemented his place among the elite.
Julian repeated as the 100 fly champion in 47.88 and also won the 200 freestyle in 1:36.21.
Thus for a program that had gone more than four decades without a CIF championship, Glendale now had three CIF titles in two years all thanks to the brilliance of Julian.
“It was a different experience for me this year around,” Julian said. “I felt like I was one of the big names. I’ve always looked up to people and I was usually in the middle. That day, I was in front. My school was in front.”
3 Dante Fregoso, Flintridge Prep basketball and volleyball: Flintridge Prep’s boys’ basketball and boys’ volleyball teams had banner seasons and without Fregoso, it’s hard to fathom their fates would have been nearly as successful.
The front court force led the Rebels’ basketball team to a Prep League title, a run to the CIF Southern Section Division 5-A championship game and the second round of the Division 5 state playoffs. After averaging 18.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game, Fregoso was the Prep League Most Valuable Player, an All-Area first-teamer and an All-CIF selection.
He earned all the same accolades in the spring.
The former All-Area Boys’ Volleyball Player notched 414 kills, 265 digs, 57 aces and 48 blocks as the outside hitter led the Rebels to another league championship and a spot in the Division IV semifinals.
“With Dante these last few years, it’s been kind of like having an extra coach on the floor,” Flintridge Prep Coach Sean Beattie said in June. “He’s the type of player that can change a game with a big hit, or a big block or with the jump serve. He’s the type of player who gets six, seven, eight straight points for you.
“Maybe the most important thing, though, is that ‘coach on the floor’ aspect. He’s great at mentoring younger kids and getting them to play their best.”
4 Sean Davitt, St. Francis football: Twenty-three sacks.
It’s a number that stands out and is unlikely to be duplicated anytime soon.
It’s the final tally for Sean Davitt, the 2015 All-Area Football Player of the Year, who led the Golden Knights to the CIF Southern Section Southeast Division semifinals.
An All-CIF first-teamer performer who was voted All-Angelus League co-Linemen of the Year, Davitt registered sacks in 12 of 13 games, 78 tackles and 34 tackles for a loss.
The defensive end also played some tight end and was an excellent blocker who came up with a clutch catch here and there. But, ultimately, he turned in a season in which he terrorized offenses like nobody has in the area for some time.
“He was somebody people had to plan for and scheme around,” St. Francis Coach Jim Bonds said in January. “That changes your game plan. That’s an unseen stat.”
5 Jasher Foster, St. Francis football and track and field: Foster was somewhat of an enigma.
During the football season, his flat out speed and improved talent made him a weapon, but his histrionics proved to be a problem. As a returning track and field star in the spring, an injury kept him sidelined for much of the season.
In the end, Foster could not be slowed, as he hurdled his way to a stellar season.
Prior to Foster racing to a CIF Southern Section Division III 110-meter hurdles title in 2015, the St. Francis track and field team had won three championships since 1958.
After his run in 2016, Foster equaled that all by himself.
Foster won the 110 and 300 hurdles at the CIF finals on May 21.
He would move on to the CIF State Meet in both events.
Prior to his swan song in the spring, Foster was an All-Mission League selection for the St. Francis football team, scoring nine total touchdowns and tallying 1,105 all-purpose yards.
6 Logan Goddard, Crescenta Valley water polo: “I never worried about how he would perform,” Crescenta Valley Coach Jan Sakonju said of Goddard, the All-Area Boys’ Water Polo Player of the Year. “If he gives up a goal, he’ll blame himself. You like to see how players take accountability, whether it’s their mistake or not.”
Goddard was the catalyst for the Falcons’ run to the CIF Southern Section Division IV final.
Perhaps the biggest example was his 13-save performance against Santa Monica in the CIF semifinals in which Crescenta Valley emerged with a 10-7 win and a berth in the title match.
Overall, Goddard garnered 238 saves and was voted the Pacific League Player of the Year, an All-CIF first-team pick and the All-Area Boys’ Water Polo Player of the Year.
7 Andrew Tsangeos, Flintridge Prep football, basketball and baseball: Perhaps Tsangeos was just a natural.
In his senior season, he put up impressive numbers from fall to spring, earning three All-Prep League honors, two Prep League team championships, two trips to the CIF semifinals or further, two All-Area accolades and on and on.
As a football player in the fall, the quarterback was named the Prep League Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 1,764 yards and 15 touchdowns, while rushing for 520 yards and 13 scores. He was also an All-Area first-teamer.
His All-Area first-team skills were further showcased on the hardwood, as Tsangeos was key in the Rebels’ march to the CIF Southern Section Division 5-AA championship game and the state tournament.
In the aftermath of the ultra-successful campaign in which Tsangeos averaged 18.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game and was rewarded with All-Prep League, All-Area and All-CIF first-team honors.
“Andrew, being a quarterback, can see the whole field or court and can anticipate what will be happening when he shoots, rebounds or passes,” Flintridge Prep boys’ basketball coach Garret Ohara said of Tsangeos in the winter.
For the first time in his Prep career, Tsangeos decided to give baseball a try and though he missed games at the season’s onset due to the basketball team’s postseason run, he didn’t miss a beat and was a first-team All-Prep League selection with a .463 average, 14 runs batted in and 14 extra-base hits.
8 Andreas Langean, Flintridge Prep swimming: It was a sophomore season overflowing with titles for Langen.
At the Prep League Finals, Langen would earn co-swimmer of the year honors as he was a part of four Prep League titles, including the Rebels’ fourth straight team crown.
In addition, he was part of the victorious 200-yard medley relay squad. Individually, he claimed titles in the 50 freestyle and 100 free. It was all leading up to the CIF Southern Section Division IV Championships at Riverside City College.
Langen struck gold, as he swam to victory in the 50 free in 21.46 seconds. It was only two years prior that a Rebel had won a CIF crown, but it was 1980 when a Rebel had last won a CIF title in the 50 free.
Langen added a second-place finish in the 100 to his day.
Langen made further history when he became the first Flintridge Prep swimmer to receive an invitation to the CIF State Meet.
9 Geraldy Martinez, Hoover football and wrestling: Martinez maintained Hoover’s burgeoning tradition on the wrestling mat as he advanced all the way to the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet, becoming the third Tornado to do so.
“I’m glad that he got there for himself and for his school and I love the kid,” Hoover Coach Dave Beard said in February. “I think he represents Hoover very well and even though it’s the end of the season, Geraldy will have plenty more opportunities to pick up wins in his life. This isn’t the end of success for him.”
After a runner-up finish in the Rio Hondo League, the 145-pounder took fourth at the CIF Coastal Division Championships. He was also a crucial cog in Hoover putting together its most successful season, as the Tornadoes took second place in league for the first time and advanced to the playoffs.
Prior to the wrestling season, Martinez was a two-way lineman for the Tornadoes, earning all-league and All-Area honors.
10 Hamilton Evans, Flintridge Prep soccer and baseball: A leader on the field and off, Evans was Prep’s senior class president and the Tom Fry Award recipient, named after the longtime former coach who passed away and given to the student-athlete who showcases “generosity of spirit and love of life.”
With such high marks and respect, perhaps it’s little surprise that Evans built a reputation for winning and clutch play at Flintridge Prep.
Previously, he had been a focal point for a lengthy postseason run for the boys’ soccer team and a CIF championship run for the baseball team.
It was more of the same as a senior.
The Rebels boys’ soccer team struggled with a young squad for much of the season, but received an at-large berth into the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs and went all the way to the semifinals.
Evans was a key contributor and then some. In a huge upset to open the tournament, Prep defeated No. 2 Monrovia, 1-1 (4-2), with Evans tallying 11 saves and stopping a penalty kick and also converting one.
“We just defended really well and took it to [penalty kicks],” Rebels Coach AJ Yates said after the game. “I have a returning All-CIF goalie, so I’ll take my chances.”
In his team’s 3-2 sudden-death overtime win over Rancho Mirage in the quarterfinals, it was a huge boot by Evans that led to the game-winning goal. He finished with eight saves and the game-winning assist. At season’s end, he was once again an All-CIF, All-Area and All-Prep League goalie with 117 saves in 20 matches and seven shutouts.
As a third baseman for the baseball team that won the Prep League title, Evans was an All-CIF Division VI, All-Prep League and All-Area pick who batted .324 with 25 RBI and 24 runs. But it was his extra-inning walk-off hit to defeat Salesian, 7-6, in the CIF quarterfinals that loomed largest.
“We’re just having fun when we’re playing,” Evans said after the game. “When you have fun when you’re playing, you win.”
