College Update: Banner fall debut for McKenzie sisters
Cassie McKenzie (La Cañada High, 2016) Saint Louis tennis sophomore: Whether it was the Rio Hondo League Tournament or the CIF Individual Tournament, Cassie and Ally McKenzie had grand success at La Cañada High in tournament play.
Following the season’s first action for Saint Louis, tournament success has once again found the sisters McKenzie.
Sophie turned in a terrific performance at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Fall Invitational on Sunday as she won the Flight A singles crown with a perfect 3-0 mark and matched that with a 3-0 run to a Fight A doubles title with sister Ally.
The McKenzies were triumphant in the doubles final over Bradley’s Sandra Melatin and Natalia Barbery, 6-0. Previously, they won in the first round, 6-3, and in the semifinals by the same tally.
In singles, Cassie had a roller-coaster run to the title.
She opened up with a win over Eastern Illinois’ Rac Papvasilopoulos, 2-6, 6-3, 10-8. In the A Flight semifinals, she prevailed against Bradley’s Melatin, 1-6, 6-1, 10-4. Finally, in the finals, she avenged her sister Ally with a third straight come-from-behind victory over SIUE’s Morgan Steffes, 1-6, 6-2, 10-8.
Ally won in the first round, beating Bradley’s Barbery, 2-6, 6-3, 10-8, before falling to Steffes, 6-0, 6-2.
The McKenzies return to fall season action on Sept. 29 at the USML Invitational .
Ty Gangi (St. Francis High, 2014) Nevada football junior: Nevada lost on Saturday, but Gangi shined in defeat with three total touchdowns.
The Wolfpack dropped to 0-2 with a 37-24 loss to Toledo in its home opener.
Gangi completed 19 of 37 passes for 277 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, while adding 20 yards and a touchdown on six carries. Gangi had touchdown tosses of 19 and 75 yards with his run coming from a yard out.
Gangi has throw for four touchdowns in two games and 476 yards as he leads the Pack into Saturday’s game at Washington State.
Joe Mudie (St. Francis High, 2014) Chapman football senior: Despite holding a two-point halftime lead, Chapman lost at home Saturday in its season opener against Linfield, 27-12.
Mudie shared the game-high of 88 yards rushing, which came in just 11 carries with much of it on one 60-yard run. Mudie added four catches for 23 yards.
Will Mudie, Joe’s younger brother and another former St. Francis All-Area player, made his college debut in the game and the freshman linebacker recorded two tackles.
Chapman returns to action on Sept. 23 at Trinity (Texas).
James Williams (Burbank High, 2015) Washington State football sophomore: A week removed from setting the school record for receptions by a running back in a game with 13, Williams hauled in 10 grabs during a wild 47-44 Washington State win in triple overtime over Boise State at home.
The Cougars (2-0), ranked No. 20, rallied from a 24-10 fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime, where a 22-yard Jamal Morrow touchdown catch proved to be the game-winner.
Williams was held relatively in check, but got the ball plenty.
His game-high 10 catches transferred to just 36 yards, while he carried the ball a game-high 14 times for a team-high 31 yards.
Washington State opens up Pac-12 Conference play on Saturday against Oregon State. It will be the third of five consecutive home games to open the season for the Cougars.
Forest Fajardo (Burbank High, 2017) Pasadena City College football freshman: Fresh off an All-Area season in which he helped the Bulldogs to the CIF Southern Section Division VIII final, Fajardo has quickly become the leading receiver for Pasadena in the early going.
Fajardo has hauled in a team-leading 12 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in two games so far for PCC.
The Lancers are 0-2, however, with losses against Long Beach (52-17) on Sept. 2 and San Bernardino Valley (33-26) on Saturday. Fajardo was especially spectacular in the season opener against Long Beach as he had nine catches for 85 yards and a score.
A handful of other locals are playing for the Lancers.
David Vardanian, a freshman All-Area player out of La Cañada High, leads all defensive linemen on the team with seven tackles and has a forced fumble.
Andy Reyes, a freshman playing safety who was also an All-Area player for Burbank, has two tackles and an interception, Burroughs product Taiyo Gibbs has two tackles, including one for a loss, and Lionel Humphery III of La Cañada has one tackle.
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon
