To cite a cliché, there’s always a first time.
But there was nothing cliché about the season turned in by the Montgomery High School boys volleyball team.
The Aztecs recorded a number of firsts in 2018, starting with the school’s first San Diego Section championship after defeating San Dieguito Academy in the Division II finals.
As it turned out, Montgomery was just starting to get on a roll, however.
The Aztecs won all three of their ensuing matches in the Southern California regional playoffs to crown themselves regional state champions.
Montgomery defeated host top-seeded Murrieta Valley 25-17, 28-26, 25-23 on May 26 to end their season of achievement with a 26-6 win-loss record.
Aztec head coach Deborah Isaia termed it “an incredible season.”
“We won our first-ever CIF volleyball championship in five exciting sets defeating San Dieguito, and then went on to win the first-ever state regional championship in school history against Murrieta Valley in three straight sets,” Isaia recounted. “It was my honor to coach this team made up of all seniors. I asked them to play a little bit bigger each post-season game, not to move mountains, but to climb one with me one step at a time, and they did.”
METRO CONFERENCE 2018 SPRING SPORTS PARADE OF CHAMPIONS
BASEBALL
Mesa League: Eastlake
South Bay League: Olympian
SOFTBALL
Mesa League: Bonita Vista
South Bay League: Chula Vista
BOYS LACROSSE
Mesa League: Eastlake
South Bay League: Chula Vista
GIRLS LACROSSE
Mesa League: Eastlake
South Bay League: Olympian
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Mesa League: Otay Ranch
South Bay League: Sweetwater
BOYS TENNIS
Mesa League: Eastlake
South Bay League: Sweetwater
BOYS GOLF
Mesa League: Eastlake, Olympian (co-champions)
South Bay League: Mar Vista
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Mesa League: Eastlake
South Bay League: Mar Vista
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
Mesa League: Eastlake
South Bay League: Mater Dei Catholic
BOYS SWIM & DIVE
Mesa League: Eastlake
South Bay League: Southwest
GIRLS SWIM & DIVE
Mesa League: Eastlake
South Bay League: Montgomery
Metro Conference 2018 Spring Sports All-League Teams
Besides player of the year awards, Mesa League and South Bay baseball teams also recognized pitchers of the year. Eastlake’s Grant Holman received recognition as the Mesa League Pitcher of the Year while Olympian’s Victor Zazueta and Southwest’s Enrique Canedo shared the honor for the South Bay League.
Holman, who is bound for Cal-Berkeley, finished the season 9-1 on the mound with a 0.98 earned-run average and 29-1 in his high school career.
Canedo posted an 8-2 record with a 2.28 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 70 innings.
Olympian won the league banner with an 8-2 record, followed by Southwest at 7-3.
ALL-LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS
Mesa League
First Team
Brian Leonhardt (Eastlake)
Micah Pietila-Wiggs (Eastlake)
Grant Holman (Eastlake)
Antonio Garcia (Chula Vista)
Christian Lopez (Otay Ranch)
Nate Nankil (Bonita Vista)
Hernan Gomez (Montgomery)
Juan Silva (San Ysidro)
Keoni Cavaco (Eastlake)
Omar Vega (Bonita Vista)
Second Team
Noel Perez (Otay Ranch)
Amari Riley (Otay Ranch)
Alex Celiceo (Chula Vista)
Oscar Ramirez (Hilltop)
Jake Espinoza (Eastlake)
Rafael Iribe (Chula Vista)
Ryan Major (Hilltop)
Marcelo Mayer (Eastlake)
Angel Morales (Montgomery)
Jesus Villegas (Bonita Vista)
Championship Team
Eastlake High School
Player of the Year
Brian Leonhardt (Eastlake)
South Bay League
First Team
Emilio Luna (Castle Park)
Jake Borst (Mar Vista)
Victor Zazueta (Olympian)
Enrique Cariedo (Southwest)
Eddie King (Mar Vista)
Raul Bojorquez (Southwest)
Jerry Lewis (Olympian)
Diego Ruiz (Southwest)
Eleazar Cruz (Castle Park)
Andres Contreras (Olympian)
Second Team
Elijah Burns (Mar Vista)
Ian Spillane (Olympian)
Miguel Miranda (Sweetwater)
Dominic Escobar (Southwest)
John Pyle (Sweetwater)
Jazzir Hernandez (Castle Park)
Nick Salisburg (Mater Dei Catholic)
Aaron Garcia (Olympian)
Robert Carrillo (Mater Dei)
Octavio Galasso (Olympian)
Championship Team
Olympian High School
Player of the Year
Emilio Luna (Castle Park)
ALL-LEAGUE SOFTBALL TEAMS
Mesa League
First Team
Mia Marinakis (Bonita Vista)
Arianna Miranda (Bonita Vista)
Brittney Mendoza (Bonita Vista)
Alyssa Garcia (Mater Dei Catholic)
Lexi Sosa (Mater Dei Catholic)
Sydney Sandez (Olympian)
Stephanie Alvarez (Olympian)
Hannah Slike (Eastlake)
Kassandra Solis (Otay Ranch)
Selena Serna (Hilltop)
Second Team
Micaela Macario (Bonita Vista)
Alexis Guevara (Bonita Vista)
Alena Ramirez (Mater Dei Catholic)
Alana Burges (Mater De Catholic)
Breeanna Simmons (Olympian)
Sarah Gross (Olympian)
Keila Bossinger (Eastlake)
Taylor Tropp (Eastlake)
Allison McElveney (Bonita Vista)
Jizabel Campa (Hilltop)
Championship Team
Bonita Vista High School
Player of the Year
Lexi Sosa (Mater Dei Catholic)
South Bay League
First Team
Morgan Quinlan (Chula Vista)
Mercedes Flores (Chula Vista)
Sabrina Figueroa (Chula Vista)
Emily Leslie (Mar Vista)
Abigail Rivera (Mar Vista)
Bryanna Schaffer (Mar Vista)
Pamela See (Sweetwater)
Isabel Morales (Sweetwater)
Gisselle Hernandez (Southwest)
Jeskari Rodriguez (Southwest)
Second Team
Gabriela Rodriguez (Chula Vista)
Viviana Macias (Chula Vista)
Kaelin McManus (Mar Vista)
Erika Sanchez (Mar Vista)
Ryleigh Titilah (Mar Vista)
Breanna Guardado (Southwest)
Serena Mena (Sweetwater)
Isabelle Lovelady (Sweetwater)
Arissa Rodriguez (Southwest)
Cassandra Loa (Southwest)
Championship Team
Chula Vista High School
Player of the Year
Emily Leslie (Mar Vista)
BOYS VOLLEYBALL ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
Mesa League
First Team
Logan Clark (Otay Ranch)
Roan Sharkey (Otay Ranch)
Jake Carreon (Eastlake)
Jano Tello (Eastlake)
Jesus Rodriguez (Montgomery)
Trevor Jurlina (Montgomery)
Joe Picone (Eastlake)
Second Team
Rene Vela (Montgomery)
Ben Daniels (Otay Ranch)
Mateo Gonzalez (Olympian)
Matthew Fontimayor (Bonita Vista)
Armando Bueno (Hilltop)
Olumide Allen (Eastlake)
Player of the Year
Logan Clark (Otay Ranch)
Libero: Joe Picone (Eastlake)
Championship Team
Otay Ranch High School
South Bay League
First Team
Joshua Magtoto (Sweetwater)
Warren Walter (Sweetwater)
Stephen Capuno (Sweetwater)
Sebastian Vega (Chula Vista)
Sam Edward (Chula Vista)
Jorge Rodriguez (San Ysidro)
Roel Cruz (Sweetwater)
Second Team
John Telmo (Sweetwater)
Sebastian Zuniga (Sweetwater)
Aian Cabreros (Sweetwater)
Julio Ramirez (San Ysidro)
Andres Munguia (Chula Vista)
Ben Clamp (Mar Vista)
Player of the Year
Joshua Magtoto (Sweetwater)
Libero: Roel Cruz (Sweetwater)
Championship Team
Sweetwater High School
BOYS LACROSSE ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
Mesa League
First Team
Jaxen Trinidad (Eastlake)
McKinley Egland-Young (Eastlake)
Tony Santos (Eastlake)
David Rodriguez (Eastlake)
Jacob Ramirez (Otay Ranch)
Ray Taylor (Otay Ranch)
Nicholas Flores (Otay Ranch)
Billy Esparza (Bonita Vista)
Peter Locke (Bonita Vista)
Shivon Gater (Olympian)
David De La Torre (Hilltop)
Second Team
Braden Mayer (Eastlake)
Tristan Corpus (Eastlake)
Kai Bowden (Eastlake)
Sean Devaney (Otay Ranch)
Joseph Santiago (Otay Ranch)
Jacob Peters (Bonita Vista)
Michael Lopez (Bonita Vista)
Justin Locke (Bonita Vista)
Austin Slike (Olympian)
Jose Morales (Olympian)
Brandon Townley (Hilltop)
Player of the Year
Jaxen Trinidad (Eastlake)
Championship Team
Eastlake High School
South Bay League
First Team
Giovanni Cimmino (Chula Vista)
Gabriel Mancillas (Chula Vista)
Marc Bello (Chula Vista)
Angel Reyes (Chula Vista)
Alfonso Trejo (Chula Vista)
Allen Castillo (Mar Vista)
Samuel Avelar (Mar Vista)
Levi Lord (Mar Vista)
Brandon Lopez (Southwest)
Sonny Ray Kilby (Mater Dei Catholic)
Alfredo Gamboa (Mater Dei Catholic)
Second Team
Lahir Perez (Chula Vista)
Netzer Villagomez (Chula Vista)
Joe Shanchez (Chula Vista)
Samuel Magana (Chula Vista)
Brandon Wenger (Mar Vista)
Paul Fieweger (Mar Vista)
Nicassio Garcia-Moreno (Mar Vista)
Samuel Espinoza (Southwest)
Andrick Mercado (Southwest)
Anthony Buenostro (Mater Dei Catholic)
Scotty Clifton (Mater Dei Catholic)
Player of the Year
Samuel Avelar (Mar Vista)
Championship Team
Chula Vista High School
GIRLS LACROSSE ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
Mesa League
First Team
Kika Funk (Eastlake)
Cori Montero (Eastlake)
Kameron Lujan (Eastlake)
Erika Farrage (Eastlake)
Bridgette Greene (Otay Ranch)
Jacqueline Beas (Otay Ranch)
Myra Odedina (Otay Ranch)
Basia Llamas (Hilltop)
Arianna Villalva (Hilltop)
Aurora Santillan (Mar Vista)
Maciel Duverge (Mar Vista)
Nikki Stuart (Bonita Vista)
Second Team
Katie Carroll (Eastlake)
Janelle Fortuno (Eastlake)
Gloriana Hinojosa (Eastlake)
Kaira Ballantyne (Otay Ranch)
Isabella Montenegro (Otay Ranch)
Zoe Finch (Otay Ranch)
Christina Rodriguez (Hilltop)
Katie Lias (Hilltop)
Carolina Akerlundh (Mar Vista)
Aurora Lopez-Miranda (Mar Vista)
Riley Williams (Bonita Vista)
Haley White (Bonita Vista)
Player of the Year
Bridgette Greene (Otay Ranch)
Championship Team
Eastlake High School
South Bay League
First Team
Isabel Friedly (Olympian)
Arianna Reynoso (Olympian)
Nicole Lacsina (Olympian)
Adalyn Vincente (Olympian)
Litzy Tamariz-Valencia (Chula Vista)
Priscilla Betancourt (Chula Vista)
Ariel Rodriguez (Chula Vista)
Soraya Diaz (Montgomery)
Jemina May Galas (Montgomery)
Emily Martinez (Castle Park)
Joseline Sandoval (Castle Park)
Alondra Arredondo (Southwest)
Second Team
Keionni Thompson (Olympian)
Samarys Bonilla (Olympian)
Annie Kuo (Olympian)
Ahlexis Tantay (Chula Vista)
Odalis Romero (Chula Vista)
Melissa Herrera (Chula Vista)
Josie Angelica (Montgomery)
Jazmine Hernandez (Montgomery)
Giselle Ochoa (Castle Park)
Celeste Preciado (Castle Park)
Maryam Ali (Southwest)
Johanna Sartor (Southwest)
Player of the Year
Isabel Friedly (Olympian)
Championship Team
Olympian High School
BOYS GOLF ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS
Mesa League
First Team
Jorge Petro (Mater Dei Catholic)
Steven Deutsch (Olympian)
Cal Johnson (Eastlake)
Jumpei Hanaoka (Eastlake)
Alexis Abalos (Olympian)
Adrian Soriano (Mater Dei Catholic)
Second Team
Umaan Avvari (Otay Ranch)
Jared Vichek (Eastlake)
Ashton Stencil (Olympian)
Edward Jeon (Otay Ranch)
Anthony Aguilar (Hilltop)
Sam Lee (Eastlake)
Player of the Year
Jorge Petro (Mater Dei Catholic)
Championship Teams
(Co-champions)
Eastlake High School
Olympian High School
South Bay League
First Team
Nikko De Castro (Sweetwater)
Benjamin Clamp (Mar Vista)
Nate Martinez (Montgomery)
Francisco Sanchez (Sweetwater)
Briley Markey (Mar Vista)
Yaziel Franco (Montgomery)
Second Team
Ricky Jensen (Montgomery)
Jordan Hallman (San Ysidro)
Jacob Beck (Mar Vista)
Jesse Ibarra (Mar Vista)
Mathew Wienberger (Montgomery)
Eliniel Pingol (Southwest)
Player of the Year
Nikko De Castro (Sweetwater)
Championship Team
Mar Vista High School
BOYS TENNIS ALL-LEAGUE
Mesa League
Singles
Ivan Smith (Hilltop)
Jesus Osuna (Eastlake)
Marco Alvarez (Olympian)
Alejandro Castaneda (Eastlake)
Mauricio Rovira (Eastlake)
Jarred Harman (Hilltop)
Doubles
Mathew Lanahan (Otay Ranch)
Daniel Dulay (Otay Ranch)
Ignacio Araoz (Eastlake)
Sebastian Castaneda (Eastlake)
Pedro Meneses (Olympian)
Justin Nguyen (Olympian)
Player of the Year
Daniel Dulay (Otay Ranch)
Championship Team
Eastlake High School
South Bay League
Singles
Philip Tuazan (Sweetwater)
Reynaldo Naanos (Sweetwater)
Jett Ratsachak (San Ysidro)
Joshua Salcido (San Ysidro)
Marvin Tauzon (San Ysidro)
Thomas Morgan (Montgomery)
Doubles
Santiago De La Torre (Sweetwater)
Dave Gutierrez (Sweetwater)
Jesus Gomez (Sweetwater)
Ronan Esperanza (Sweetwater)
Emmanuel Acosta (Montgomery)
Orlando Lara (Montgomery)
Player of the Year
Philip Tuazan (Sweetwater)
Championship Team
Sweetwater High School
Boys Track & Field All-League
Mesa League
Team champion: Eastlake High School
Track Athlete of the Year: Isaiah Labra (Bonita Vista High School)
Field Athlete of the Year: Jalyn Jackson (Eastlake High School)
South Bay League
Team champion: Mar Vista High School
Track Athlete of the Year: Chris Arana (Castle Park High School)
Field Athlete of the Year: Gustavo Carranza (Mater Dei Catholic High School)
Girls Track & Field All-League
Mesa League
Team champions: Eastlake High School
Track Athlete of the Year: Kolumbia Page (Olympian High School)
Field Athlete of the Year: Ajahnei West (Chula Vista High School)
South Bay League
Team champion: Sweetwater High School
Track Athlete of the Year: Estela Bustillos (Castle Park High School)
Field Athlete of the Year: Paola Nenninger (Mater Dei Catholic High School)
Boys Swim and Dive All-League
South Bay League
Team champion: Southwest High School
Swimmer of the Year: Edwin Inzunza (San Ysidro High School)
Diver of the Year: Carlos Anguiano (Southwest High School)
Mesa League
Team champion: Eastlake High School
Swimmer of the Year: Oscar Vargas (Mar Vista High School)
Diver of the Year: Luis Godinez (Mar Vista High School)
Girls Swim and Dive All-League
South Bay League
Team champion: Montgomery High School
Swimmer of the Year: Natalie Ramirez (Chula Vista High School)
Diver of the Year: Eva Reyes (San Ysidro High School)
Mesa League
Team champion: Eastlake High School
Swimmer of the Year: Yichen Liu (Mater Dei Catholic High School)
Diver of the Year: Sydney Snaith (Mar Vista High School)
Metro Conference Spring Sports
2018 Players of the Year
Photo gallery by Phillip Brents
Brian Leonhardt, Eastlake High School, Mesa League Baseball Player of the Year
Emilio Luna, Castle Park High School, South Bay League Baseball Player of the Year
Lexi Sosa, Mater Dei Catholic High School, Mesa League Softball Player of the Year
Emily Leslie, Mar Vista High School, South Bay League Softball Player of the Year
Logan Clark, Otay Ranch High School, Mesa League Boys Volleyball Player of the Year
Joshua Magtoto, Sweetwater High School, South Bay League Boys Volleyball Player of the Year
Edwin Inzunza, San Ysidro High School, South Bay League Boys Swimmer of the Year
Natalie Ramirez, Chula Vista High School, South Bay League Girls Swimmer of the Year
Samuel Avelar, Mar Vista High School, South Bay League Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year
Bridgette Greene, Otay Ranch High School, Mesa League Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year
Jorge Petro, Mater Dei Catholic High School, Mesa League Boys Golfer of the Year
Isaiah Labra, Bonita Vista High School, Mesa League Boys Track & Field Track Athlete of the Year
Jalyn Jackson, Eastlake High School, Mesa League Boys Track & Field Field Athlete of the Year
Kolumbia Page, Olympian High School, Girls Track & Field Track Athlete of the Year
Ajahnei West, Chula Vista High School, Girls Track & Field Field Athlete of the Year
Chris Arana, Castle Park High School, South Bay League Boys Track Athlete of the Year
Estela Bustillos, Montgomery High School, South Bay League Girls Track & Field Track Athlete of the Year
