Wolfenbarger leads Foothill’s turnaround

The senior setter and outside hitter embraced the challenge.

“She has a passion and a drive a lot of kids don’t have for competition,” Falcons coach Krysta Ortiz said. “She was willing to do whatever we asked her to.”

Wolfenbarger was rewarded when coaches recently voted her the Southeast League Most Valuable Player.

Wolfenbarger was the driving force behind Foothill’s first postseason appearance since 2005.

The Falcons (21-14) reached the Division I Sunrise Region semifinals, eventually bowing out with a 25-19, 25-12, 25-16 loss to Green Valley.

Wolfenbarger was a factor in every facet of the game, compiling 389 assists, 304 kills, 150 digs, 43 aces and 37 blocks.

Ortiz was named the Southeast coach of the year.

Green Valley swept the top awards in the Northeast, with senior outside hitter Carly Schiess being named MVP and Erin Hill coach of the year.

In the Southwest, Bishop Gorman junior setter Emma Filosi was named MVP, and Bonanza’s Dan Savage took coach of the year.

Palo Verde junior outside hitter/middle blocker McCall Phillips was named Northwest MVP, and Palo Verde’s Greg Siqueiros and Shadow Ridge’s Karissa Guthrie shared coach of the year.

Chaparral senior outside hitter Jaeda Allen was named Division I-A Southern Region MVP, and Faith Lutheran’s Amy Fisher was region coach of the year.

In the I-A Sunrise League, Allen was named MVP, and Boulder City’s Cherise Hinman took coach of the year.

Faith Lutheran senior outside hitter Taylor Richards was named I-A Sunset League MVP, and coach of the year went to Clark’s Linda Silver.

■ FRANTZ HONORED – Boulder City senior girls volleyball and track and field standout Avalon Frantz was named the Nevada female winner of the Wendy’s High School Heisman. The male winner was Damonte Ranch’s Tyler Meidell.

Frantz, a setter in volleyball and discus thrower in track and field, will now compete against winners across the country for a chance to be one of 12 national finalists.

The award recognizes academics, athletics and community leadership.

Local male state finalists were Coronado’s Chris Laliberte, Boulder City’s Jeremy Estes, Western’s Braeden Smith and Palo Verde’s Alex Blutman. Local female state finalists were Coronado’s Alex Battest, Spring Valley’s Alyssa Gomez and Pahrump Valley’s Kayla Skilling.

■ FOOTBALL AWARDS – Mountain View junior running back, linebacker and kicker Matthew Larson was named Division III Southern League player of the year.

Mountain View’s Mike Valenzuela was voted coach of the year by league coaches.

Laughlin senior linebacker JuQuan Lakes claimed defensive MVP.

■ CROSS COUNTRY HONORS – The Southern Nevada Track and Cross Country Coaches Association recognized the following as region coaches of the year: Coronado’s Mark Tondryk in Sunrise boys and girls; Centennial’s Mike McGuire in Sunset boys; Arbor View’s Tyrel Cooper in Sunset girls; Tech’s Tony Kyriacou in Division I-A Southern boys; Faith Lutheran’s Jeff Edwards in I-A Southern girls; The Meadows’ Charles Bernick in Division III Southern girls; and West Wendover’s Kim Reamer in Division III Southern boys.

■ MAHLANGU COMMITS – Green Valley senior Yannik Mahlangu committed to play tennis at Georgetown.

Contact reporter Tristan Aird at taird@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @tristanaird.