Varsity Extra athletes of the week (Aug. 31-Sept. 5)
I select athletes from each sport on a weekly basis and post them here Monday. If I get them right or wrong, let me know in the comments section below. And please e-mail me your nominations at jzentz@idahostatesman.com.
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FOOTBALL
Eric Dzwilewski, Centennial: The senior quarterback was efficient and effective in Centennial's season-opening 16-14 victory at Eagle last Wednesday as he completed 18-of-26 passes for 144 yards with no interceptions and ran 12 times for 65 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He suffered cramps in the third quarter and missed a few plays, but returned for the fourth quarter, and led the Patriots on a drive to the Mustangs' 7-yard line to set up the winning field goal by Cole Coba. The Patriots (1-0 overall, 0-0 5A SIC Division 2) host Mountain View (1-0, 0-0 5A SIC Division 1) at 7 p.m. Friday.
VOLLEYBALL
Morgan Odale, Eagle: The Mustangs were taken to five sets Tuesday against Rocky Mountain, but prevailed 23-25, 25-14, 25-23, 17-25, 15-13. Odale led the charge in that match with 22 kills, 13 digs and five aces. In a 25-17, 25-18, 25-19 victory against Timberline on Thursday, she finished with 13 kills, seven digs and two blocks. Eagle (3-0 overall) hosts Vallivue at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
BOYS SOCCER
Omar Lopez, Skyview: He led the way in a 5-0 victory against Kuna on Monday with two goals and an assist and played provider in a 3-0 victory against Columbia on Wednesday with two assists. Thanks in large part to Lopez, the Hawks improved to 4-1-0 overall and 4-0-0 in 4A SIC play. The Hawks return to action at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Middleton.
GIRLS SOCCER
Jessica Higer, Kuna: After opening the week Tuesday with a 3-3 tie against Skyview, Higer and the Hawks went on a roll, beating Kuna 9-0 on Thursday and Wesier 8-0 on Saturday. Higer scored three goals and added an assist in both victories for Kuna, which improved to 5-0-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the 4A SIC. The Kavemen return to action at 6 p.m. at Mountain Home.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Eric Fitzpatrick, Boise: The senior and two-time defending 5A state champion got his season off to a strong start with a victory at the Caldwell Twilight meet on Friday. He crossed the finish line in 16 minutes, 8.21 seconds, nearly 30 seconds ahead of runner-up Kramer Quist of Centennial. Boise heads to the Brooks XC Festival in Hermiston, Ore., at 11 a.m. MDT Saturday.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Kate Jamboretz, Boise: The junior finished 11th at the 2008 5A state meet, but ran well for the second consecutive week, this time knocking off reigning state champion Liz Brandon of Eagle by less than a second at the Caldwell Twilight on Friday. Jamboretz finished in 19:03.44, while Brandon was second in 19:03.63. Jamboretz and Brandon also finished first and second at the Camel's Back Classic on Aug. 28. Boise heads to the Brooks XC Festival in Hermiston, Ore., at 11 a.m. MDT Saturday.
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Volleyball
What will the high school sports section write about next year when there are no more Odales living in the valley and playing volleyball. Its too bad a number of other amazing players in the valley are overlooked because of the single focus on Eagle volleyball.
Volleyball
Agree with the comment of 09/09/09. The players here in the valley have a hard enough time being recognized locally, just imagine what it is like trying to be recruited for college when all you have is a resume, and your coaches contact info. Players who are also club players spend enormous amounts of time and money to have the opportunity to play, and for so many in Idaho it ends in high school because nobody has every heard of them and the "local media" does not recognize their talent.
Think of it as a numbers game. In football recruiting there may be as many as 65 scholorship opportunities at a school each year. For Volleyball, they are lucky to get 8. Then there is specialty position training, long distance travel for off season play, expensive training and prospect camps in the summer, highlight film and skills film, and the never ending correspondence to colleges during the entire Junior and Senior year just to get a "look-see". There are plenty of volleyball players who would love to know their community supported them, even a little.