Area athletes garner share of recognition

GLENDALE — The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene.

REBELS GRAB ALL-LEAGUE HONORS

Though the Flintridge Prep football team didn’t qualify for the playoffs, some of its players stood out throughout the season.

The league’s six league coaches selected five Rebels to the all-league team after Flintridge Prep finished 2-6-1, 2-3 in league this season.

The Rebels, who placed fourth in league, had two players named to the first team and three on the second team. Those named to the first team were senior running back/middle linebacker Eric Kazangian and senior running back/outside linebacker Jordan Whaley. Senior quarterback/outside linebacker Kyle McDonald, junior running back Chris Wirthlin and sophomore offensive tackle/defensive end Chadd Cosse received recognition on the second team.

Kazangian was named to the first-team defense. He finished with a team-leading 83 tackles and averaged 9.2 tackles per game. On offense, Kazangian rushed for 373 yards in 45 carries and four touchdowns.

“Eric is hands down our best defensive player and leader,” Flintridge Prep first-year Coach Antonio Harrison said. “He led the team in tackles because he made sure to be in the right position.

“At game time, we looked for him to lead us and you had teams that double-teamed him.”

Whaley earned a spot on the first-team defensive unit. Whaley collected three interceptions and 76 tackles. He averaged 8.4 tackles per game and rushed for 224 yards in 56 carries.

“He held the outside for us defensively,” Harrison said. “He was able to play the whole season without missing time because of an injury and there was a nice progression for him.”

McDonald was voted on the second-team offense after he completed 63 of 125 passes for 752 yards and 11 touchdowns. When on defense, McDonald added 48 tackles and averaged 5.3 per contest.

Wirthlin also was named to the second-team offense. He finished with 490 yards rushing and three touchdowns in 75 carries. Wirthlin also added 44 tackles, including 4.9 per game.

Cosse registered 38 tackles and averaged 4.8 per contest.

VAQUEROS PICK UP ACCOLADES

Three members from the Glendale Community College women’s volleyball team that finished 6-17 and 2-10 in the Western State Conference received all-conference honors.

Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Alvarez was named to the first team after recording 243 kills, 201 digs and 41 aces.

Freshman outside hitter/middle blocker Sara Kert and sophomore setter Roxanne Domines earned honorable mention. Kert recorded 70 kills and 44 blocks, while Domines finished with 481 assists.

GCC SOCCER PLAYERS EARN AWARDS

Five Glendale Community College men’s soccer players and five women’s players earned All-Western State Conference accolades this season.

Those selected from the men’s squad (5-12-4, 4-9-1 in conference) were sophomore goalkeeper Edwin Cabrera to the first team and sophomore defender Hans Cabrera and Yuto Hisamura made the second team. Those receiving honorable mention were sophomore defender Tomas Jolon and freshman midfielder Jonathan Lopez.

For the women’s team, which finished 4-15-1, 3-10-1 in conference, freshman sweeper Alyssa Meredith was named to the first team. Those named to the second team were sophomore stopper Allyson Burns and sophomore midfielder Sharis Harootun, a Glendale High graduate. Honorable mention went to Diana Johansen and sophomore midfielder Taylor Nelson.

HONORS FOR PREP FRESHMAN

Flintridge Prep boys’ water polo player Ethan Vandeventer earned a spot on the All-Prep League second team. Statistics for the driver were not available.

REID BREAKS DOWN BIG MATCHUP

The Philadelphia Eagles face the host New York Giants at 10 a.m. PDT Sunday in a matchup to determine the NFC North Division championship. The Eagles and Giants are 9-4, though the Eagles pulled out a 27-17 home victory against the Giants on Nov. 21.

Eagles Coach Andy Reid, a Glendale Community College alumnus, offered insight into the game in comments to reporters on Thursday released by the Giants Communications Department.

“The way we look at it is if you get caught up in all of that stuff, it’s a problem,” Reid told profootballnyc.com about the game being a winner-take-all battle for the division. “That’s not how we approach it.

“We just go through the process of getting ready to play a great football team and that’s what we do. All of the other things we try to put out of the way.”