Team of the Year - West Ranch
The 2015 West Ranch boys didn't threaten Santa Clarita's all-time records at Mt. SAC and Woodward Park, largely due to injuries, but it still motored through the season in dominating fashion. Led by four-time All-Foothill League runner Tucker Welker and a Hart transfer Preston Pope, the Wildcats swept all three Foothill League meets, winning its first-ever team championship, just the second non-Saugus title in the last decade, and setting the all-time team time record in 88:09 at Central Park. A stress fracture to sophomore sensation Timothy Sterkel left West Ranch a five-man team, which included Welker, Pope, senior Ryan Painter, and juniors Jack Arnold and Justin Sherfey. The five combined to run 79:11 at Mt. SAC (No. 18 SCV all-time!) and 80:43 at Woodward Park (No. 15 SCV all-time!), qualifying for the CIF State Cross Country Championships for the first time in school history. Individually, Welker was an incredible team leader all season long, taking 10th at the state final when it counted most. With three of its top five, and a Sterkel, back next fall, the Wildcats will be a favorite to repeat as Foothill League champions in November.
Runner of the Year - Ryan Tate, Saugus, Senior
Following Brian Zabilski's graduation, there were questions as to how Ryan Tate would respond. The senior didn't just answer those questions; he trampled across them with one of the greatest seasons by a Foothill League male in history. Saugus' Tate went undefeated all the way up to Nov. 14, breaking Zabilski's school records at Palos Verdes and Central Park, winning all three Foothill League meets in impression fashion, becoming the first male in SCV history to win a sweepstakes title at the Mt. SAC Invitational, and breaking the 15-minute barrier at Mt. SAC. When the chips were down at the CIF State Cross Country Championships, Tate rose to the challenge, taking the lead with less than a mile remaining and pushing the pace. He didn't win, finishing a respectable fourth place, but he won a lot of respect for going for it and for closing out one of the best seasons in Santa Clarita Valley history. Only four other Foothill League runners have finished top five at the CIF State Championships.
Coach of the Year - Steve Welker, West Ranch
I'm not sure anyone expected this to be Steve Welker's final season coaching. We did expect the West Ranch boys cross country program to dominate the Foothill League and Welker was the reason for that. The father of five runners - Carter, Hunter, Ashley, Taylor and Tucker - took the Wildcats to great heights during his time there, helping them to their first Foothill League team championship and a state championship appearance. During the season, Welker and his program also set the Central Park team time record twice. From start to finish, Welker helped West Ranch, a school that's only a decade old, accomplish great things and we wish him the best in the future. You will be missed!
Most Improved Runner of the Year - Jacob Crosson, Saugus, Senior
Saugus' Jacob Crosson is the Bianca Tinoco of Foothill League boys running. After spending the first three years of his high school career injured, Crosson finally stayed healthy. The results were surprising, as the senior was one of the best prep runners the Santa Clarita has seen over the last decade. Crosson was one of the most consistent runners in the Foothill League this season, finished sixth at the Foothill League Finals, and qualified for the CIF State Cross Country Championships individually, where he finished an impressive 18th place in 15:39, a mark only 21 other runners in SCV history have run faster than. For obvious reasons, Jacob Crosson is our pick for the 2015 Most Improved Runner of the Year.
Newcomer of the Year - Preston Pope, West Ranch, Sophomore
Before the 2015 Foothill League season began, I had never heard of Preston Pope. To be honest, I'm not sure very many had, but thanks to one of the greatest seasons by a sophomore in Foothill League history, I won't forget. West Ranch's Pope was the most consistent of any league runner from the beginning of the season to the very last day, finishing third at the Foothill League Finals while setting the Central Park sophomore course record (15:28) and taking 17th place just head of Saugus' Jacob Crosson at the CIF State Cross Country Championships at Woodward Park (15:39). That mark is No. 3 on the SCV all-time sophomore list, only trailing all-time greats Dave Hartman and Brett Strahan. There's no question West Ranch's Preston Pope is the runaway favorite to win the 2016 Foothill League individual cross country championships, but for now he's our pick for the 2015 Newcomer of the Year.
Race of the Year - Mt. SAC Individual Sweepstakes Boys Race - "Ryan Tate dominates!"
There were a lot of great team and individual performance throughout the 2015 Foothill League cross country season, but none stood out like Ryan Tate's big sweepstakes win at the Mt. SAC Invitational in October. Tate used a powerful move at two miles to leave the field behind in becoming the first male in SCV history to win a sweepstakes title at the always-prestigious Mt. SAC Invite in Walnut. His winning time of 14:56 won by 11 seconds and ranks No. 7 on the Santa Clarita all-time list. Ryan Tate and his historic win at Mt. SAC is the 2015 Race of the Year.
Foothill League Final Rankings
Team
- West Ranch
- Saugus
- Golden Valley
- Hart
- Valencia
- Canyon
Individual
- Ryan Tate, Saugus, Senior
- Tucker Welker, West Ranch, Senior
- Preston Pope, West Ranch, Sophomore
- Jacob Crosson, Saugus, Senior
- Jonathon Bay, Golden Valley, Senior
- Jack Arnold, West Ranch, Junior
- Ryan Painter, West Ranch, Senior
- CJ Westenhofer, Saugus, Junior
- Brandon Estrada, Hart, Senior
- Juan Enciso, Saugus, Sophomore
- Ethan Danforth, Canyon, Freshman
- Angel Cortes, Golden Valley, Senior
- Ryan Stevens, Golden Valley, Junior
- Justin Sherfey, West Ranch, Junior
- Jaime Calderon, Golden Valley, Junior
All-Foothill League Senior Team
- Ryan Tate, Saugus
- Tucker Welker, West Ranch
- Jacob Crosson, Saugus
- Jonathan Bay, Golden Valley
- Ryan Painter, West Ranch
- Brandon Estrada, Hart
- Angel Cortes, Golden Valley
All-Foothill League Junior Team
- Jack Arnold, West Ranch
- CJ Westenhofer, Saugus
- Ryan Stevens, Golden Valley
- Justin Sherfey, West Ranch
- Jaime Calderon, Golden Valley
- Jacob Acosta, Golden Valley
- Garret Alcantara, Hart
All-Foothill League Sophomore Team
- Preston Pope, West Ranch
- Juan Enciso, Saugus
- Britain Reynolds, Valencia
- Elijah Stepan, Saugus
- Jacob Velarde, Canyon
- Ethan Ross, Saugus
- Brandon Martinez, Hart
All-Foothill League Freshman Team
- Ethan Danforth, Canyon
- Augusto Ornelas, Saugus
- Andrew Mawhorter, Canyon
- Daniel Rush, Golden Valley
- Alexis Romero, Golden Valley
- Kobe Serrano, Saugus
- David Flores, Hart
Foothill League Varsity Champion - Ryan Tate, Saugus, Senior
Foothill League Junior Varsity Champion - Drake Hougo, Saugus, Senior
Foothill League Frosh/Soph Champion - Augusto Ornelas, Saugus, Freshman
Top 10 Marks
Mt. SAC
- Ryan Tate, Saugus, Senior, 14:56
- Tucker Welker, West Ranch, Senior, 15:15
- Ryan Painter, West Ranch, Senior, 15:33
- Jacob Crosson, Saugus, Senior, 15:39
- Preston Pope, West Ranch, Sophomore, 15:41
- Jonathan Bay, Golden Valley, Senior, 15:45
- CJ Westenhofer, Saugus, Junior, 15:53
- Brandon Estrada, Hart, Senior, 16:16
- Jack Arnold, West Ranch, Junior, 16:21
- Juan Enciso, Saugus, Sophomore, 16:23
Woodward Park
- Ryan Tate, Saugus, Senior, 15:16
- Tucker Welker, West Ranch, Senior, 15:27
- Preston Pope, West Ranch, Sophomore, 15:39
- Jacob Crosson, Saugus, Senior, 15:39
- Justin Sherfey, West Ranch, Junior, 16:09
- Jack Arnold, West Ranch, Junior, 16:12
- Ryan Painter, West Ranch, Senior, 16:25
- Britain Reynolds, Valencia, Sophomore, 16:35
- Spencer Makar, Valencia, Junior, 16:51
- Hunter Covarrubias, West Ranch, Junior, 16:58
Central Park
- Ryan Tate, Saugus, Senior, 15:04
- Tucker Welker, West Ranch, Senior, 15:16
- Jonathan Bay, Golden Valley, Senior, 15:18
- Preston Pope, West Ranch, Sophomore, 15:28
- Ryan Painter, West Ranch, Senior, 15:32
- Jacob Crosson, Saugus, Senior, 15:37
- Jack Arnold, West Ranch, Junior, 15:44
- Ryan Stevens, Golden Valley, Junior, 15:51
- Brandon Estrada, Hart, Senior, 15:52
- Juan Enciso, Saugus, Sophomore, 15:58
Looking Ahead... 2016 Foothill League "Pre-Season" Rankings
Team
- West Ranch
- Saugus
- Golden Valley
- Hart
- Valencia
- Canyon
Individual
- Preston Pope, West Ranch, Junior
- Jack Arnold, West Ranch, Senior
- CJ Westenhofer, Saugus, Senior
- Juan Enciso, Saugus, Saugus, Junior
- Ethan Danforth, Canyon, Sophomore
- Ryan Stevens, Golden Valley, Senior
- Justin Sherfey, West Ranch, Senior
- Timothy Sterkel, West Ranch, Junior
- Jaime Calderon, Golden Valley, Senior
- Jacob Acosta, Golden Valley, Senior
- Elijah Stepan, Valencia, Junior
- Garret Alcantara, Hart, Senior
- Spencer Makar, Valencia, Senior
- Angel Luna, Hart, Senior
- Britain Reynolds, Valencia, Junior