Summer is here, and most local high...

Summer is here, and most local high school athletes are finally

getting some time to relax after an eventful 2002-03 school year.

The year saw its share of remarkable achievements, successful

teams and outstanding individuals who helped make the campaign

memorable.

But along with the successes were disappointing moments and unique

happenings that deserve recognition.

As is the yearly tradition, these deserving athletes, coaches and

events from the four high schools -- Burbank, Burroughs, Providence

and Bellarmine-Jefferson -- should be given special treatment.

So here is this year’s list of Tully Trophy winners. To be a

recipient, an individual, team or school has to exhibit meritorious

or worthy accomplishment. Either that, or they have to have done

something stupid or strange.

So without further ado, here are the lucky winners:

* The athlete-of-the-year trophy: Goes to Burbank High distance

runner Kyle Ivie. By far, Ivie had the best year of any of the

locals. In December, he began his senior season by leading the

Bulldog boys’ team to the CIF-State Cross-Country Championship. He

capped his year by qualifying for the track and field state final in

the 1,600 meters. Ivie’s skills as a runner are only be matched by

his good nature and likable personality.

* The coach-of-the-year trophy: Is given to Bell-Jeff girls’

basketball Coach Bryan Camacho. The Bell-Jeff grad led the Guards to

the CIF Southern Section Division IVA final. Camacho was able to mold

the team into a winning group that compiled a 23-6 record and

advanced to the final for only the second time in school history.

* The what-were-you-thinking trophy: Is justly earned by former

Burbank boys’ basketball Coach David Goosen. The coach was fired in

January after being linked to several CIF Southern Section rules

violations and school and district infractions. In Goosen’s 10 months

at the helm, he almost single-handedly brought down the Bulldog

program, and opened the school to shame and ridicule.

* The you’re-on-the-right-track trophy: Goes to the Burbank boys’

and girls’ water polo programs. Led by Coaches Andre Setaghian and

John Abdou, both Bulldog teams made the playoffs and should only get

better in the future. The amazing thing is that the squads are

enjoying success without a home pool.

* The I’ve-still-got-your-number trophy: Is awarded to the

Burroughs football team. For the 10th straight year, the Indians

earned a win against their cross-town rival Bulldogs, 43-31, in the

annual Big Game. The last time Burbank won the game was in 1992, when

it scored a 21-17 win.

* The nice-run trophy: Goes to the Burroughs boys’ basketball team

and Coach Art Sullivan. The Indians surprised many in the CIF

Southern Section Division IIA playoffs by advancing to the

quarterfinal round. Led by Joey Paysinger and Peter St. Hubert,

Burroughs played well in the game, losing to No. 2-ranked Lakewood

Mayfair, 77-61.

* The alone-at-the-top trophy: Is given to the Burbank boys’

tennis team, which bounced back in 2003 by winning a share of the

Foothill League championship with Valencia. The Bulldog team

accounted for the only league title -- in any sport -- during the

school year. Burbank -- coached by Paul McNiff and led by singles

player Haig Kassabian -- also made a nice run in the CIF Southern

Section Division II playoffs, advancing to the quarterfinals.

* The Wright-way-to-do-it trophy: Goes to Burbank boys’ swimming

Coach Adam Wright, who guided the Bulldogs to a second-place finish

in the Foothill League final.

* The not-living-up-to- expectations trophy: Is earned by the

Providence softball team, which experienced a letdown during the

season. Although the Pioneers began the year ranked No. 1 in CIF

Southern Section Division VI, Providence didn’t even finish first in

the Liberty League and barely made the postseason as the third-place

team.

* The sharp-shooting trophy: Goes to Burbank girls’ basketball

player Christine Kepenekian, who turned in a fine performance in

December. In a Bellarmine-Jefferson Holiday Classic game, the senior

scored 40 points and led her Bulldogs to a 61-58 win against Eshaya

Murphy and Van Nuys Montclair Prep. Kepenekian out dueled Murphy, who

is headed to USC.

* The best-nickname trophy: Goes to Bell-Jeff baseball player Joey

“The Bus” Diaz. Why is Diaz called “The Bus”? Because he always

drives players home. Diaz lived up to his nickname, finishing the

season with a .520 batting average and 23 runs batted in.

The record-breaking trophy: Is given to Burroughs junior Tulyah

Gaines, who set new Indian marks in two sports. In the winter,

playing for the girls’ basketball team, she set a record for most

assists in a season with 122. In March, as a member of the girls’

track and field team, she broke the Burroughs all-time mark in the

triple jump with a leap of 35 feet 4.

* The that-stinks trophy: Is presented to some unknown individuals

at La Verne Damien, who left the Indians some presents in November

prior to a CIF Southern Section Division II first-round game.

Burroughs was greeted by a visitors’ locker room laden with bodily

fluids. The Indians lost the playoff game, 17-14.

* The triple-threat trophy: Goes to Bell-Jeff three-sport athlete

Brendon Doyle. Not only was the junior an All-CIF quarterback for the

Guards’ football team, he also earned all-league honors in boys’

basketball and boys’ volleyball. Bell-Jeff coaches can’t wait to see

what Doyle has in store for his senior season.

* The hate-to-see-you-go trophy: Is given to Burroughs standout

Carolyn Brown. An accomplished cross-country and track and field

runner, along with being a fine girls’ soccer player, Brown is one of

the finest female athletes to come out of the school.

All the winners can step forward and claim their awards. And

please, keep your speeches brief.

JEFF TULLY is the sports editor of the Burbank Leader. He can be

reached at 843-8700, or by e-mail at jeff.tully@latimes.com