Individual and team success for Burroughs during 2011-12 campaign

This is the third in a four-part series looking back on the sports accomplishments of the four local high schools during the 2011-12 year. This installment is Burroughs High:

League championships, deep CIF Southern Section playoff runs and fine individual accomplishments highlighted a successful 2011-12 campaign at Burroughs High.

Right out of the gate, the Indians began the year with a solid fall campaign, which included a pair of stellar individual accomplishments.

Senior Anthony Monroy concluded his high school cross-country career in the CIF-State Cross-Country Championships by finishing 31st in the Division I final in a time of 15 minutes 50 seconds. It was Monroy’s second straight appearance in the State Meet, placing 19th in 15:22 over the 5-kilometer course in 2010.

Monroy was only the third Burroughs runner to advance to state competition and just the second to earn back-to-back invitations. Sadee Martinez qualified for the State Meet in girls’ competition in 2006 and ’07 and Western Nelson made it to the boys’ race in 2008.

Monroy had a regular season in which he placed second in the Pacific League finals and had solid races at the Mount San Antonio Invitational, CIF Southern Section preliminaries and CIF Southern Section Finals, among others.

Monroy qualified for state competition after placing sixth in 15:05 in the CIF Finals at Mount Antonio College. A week earlier in the CIF prelims, he posted the fastest area time, finishing third in 14:35

Another fine individual performance in the fall was turned in by football player Zander Anding. Anding, a senior running back, helped lead Burroughs to a share of the Pacific League championship, its third straight.

Anding rushed for 2,686 yards in 204 carries and 26 touchdowns (30 total touchdowns). He averaged 13.17 yards a carry and a whopping 268.6 yards a game. According to MaxPreps.com, Anding’s yards-per-carry average was tops in the country and No. 1 in state and his per-game average and yards-per-carry averages were first in the state.

In addition, Anding notched five games in which he gained 300 yards or more, his best effort coming with a 393-yard performance in a league game against Glendale to set a Burroughs record. He also had games of 368, 360, 326 and 319. He holds the top five spots on the all-time list. His 2,686 total also set a single-season record, as did his 182 points.

He leaves the school as the program’s all-time scoring leader (250) and career rushing leader (3,345).

Burroughs (6-5, 6-1 in league) had a successful season, earning a share of the league championship with Arcadia.

For his efforts, Anding was named the Pacific League Player of the Year, earned All-CIF accolades and was honored as the All-Area Football Player of the Year.

Another athlete who earned All-CIF honors was senior girls’ volleyball player Megan Stephenson. Stephenson was Burroughs’ go-to player all season, as she was voted the Pacific League’s Player of the Year and earned All-CIF and All-Area selections. Stephenson had 337 kills and averaged 16 kills a match. In addition, she tallied 117 digs and 27 aces.

The Indians (19-4) had a successful season with Stephenson leading the way. Burroughs went undefeated in the Pacific League at 14-0, winning its first crown in four years.

In girls’ golf, the Indians placed third in league.

In the winter season, it was the Indians girls’ water polo team that made the biggest splash.

Whatever their roles, senior two-meter standout Sam Buliavac and junior goalkeeper Ahsha Earwood were two of the key components that helped the Indians enjoy a successful season.

The two helped Burroughs place second in the Pacific League, almost pull off a stunning upset of champion Crescenta Valley and advance to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs.

For their efforts, Buliavac and Earwood were named to the All-CIF Division V third team. It was the first time in 11 years Burroughs players have earned All-CIF honors.

Along with scoring 137 goals with a 70% accuracy rate, Buliavac also tallied 40 steals, 26 assists and drew an impressive 52 ejections. Earwood had 268 saves to go along with 52 steals and 16 assists.

The Indians (20-5) placed second in league behind the Falcons and fell in the quarterfinals to Redlands East Valley, 10-5. The team also won its first-ever home playoff match, defeating Elsinore, 11-6, in a first-round contest.

In the Pacific League Tournament championship match, the Indians played well and lost to Crescenta Valley, 8-6.

The boys’ soccer team also enjoyed a solid season, placing second in league. The team was paced by senior forward Francisco Baez, who was an All-CIF selection. Baez ended the season with 18 goals and nine assists. In league play, he scored all 18 to set a new season mark for scores in the Pacific League. In addition, Baez had a four-goal effort against Hoover and scored three or more goals in three games, setting a Burroughs season record.

During the spring season, the success continued.

Junior singles tennis player Garrett Auproux put together a triumphant campaign with the Indians, as he was nearly unbeatable. Along with winning his second straight Pacific League singles championship, he also advanced to the semifinals of the challenging CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament. In addition, he helped pace the Indians to the Division II playoff semifinals for the second consecutive year.

Moving on to the CIF Individual Tournament, Auproux enjoyed one of the most successful runs in history by an area player. Seeded fourth, Auproux — who fell in the round of 16 as a sophomore — advanced to the semifinals by defeating Tomas Aranguiz of Ayala, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.

In the final four, Auproux flirted with an upset before falling to top-seeded junior Gage Brymer of Irvine University, 7-5, 6-3, at the Seal Beach Tennis Center. Auproux ended the season with a 47-4 record and is 91-7 over the past two years.

In the team playoffs, the Indians (13-3) were defeated by eventual champion Palm Desert, 14-4, for the second straight year.

In softball, the Indians captured a Pacific League crown. Senior Haley Schulman was the ace in the circle for the Indians (24-4). Schulman had a 17-4 record and a 2.15 earned-run average in 136 2/3 innings. In addition, she struck out 137 batters.

For her efforts, Schulman was named the Pacific League Player of the Year, earned All-CIF accolades and was an All-Area pick.

Also earning All-CIF honors in the spring was senior middle Robby Rutecki of the boys’ volleyball team. He helped the Indians claim a share of the league title. Rutecki, the Pacific League co-Player of the Year, helped Burroughs (21-5) advance to the CIF Southern Section Division III semifinals for the second straight season. He finished with 197 kills, 160 digs, 25 blocks and 31 aces.

In baseball, the Indians enjoyed a turnaround in 2012 after a scandal ended the team’s season midway through the 2011 campaign. Burroughs went 12-14, finished fourth in the Pacific League and qualified for the playoffs.

Monroy also enjoyed a fine track and field season, winning a league championship in the boys’ 3,200 meters in 9:18.42.

In swimming, Chris Reithel won a boys’ league title in the 50-yard freestyle in 22.16.