Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit: Empire big men Matt Cousins and Jacob Noisat made the Pac West Conference weekly honor roll for their play in the NCAA Division II league. Cousins leads Chaminade University in scoring and rebounding, helping pace the Silverswords to second place in the Pac West. The former All-Empire player from Cardinal Newman is second in the conference averagingboth 17 points and 8 rebounds a game. Noisat is Dominican University’s top scorer with 11… Read More »

Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit: Coming off another convincing conference win, the Santa Rosa Junior College women’s basketball team continues rising up the rankings. The defending state champions are 11th in the California Community College Athletic Association rankings and fifth in the northern California poll. The Bear Cubs are 15-5 overall and 6-0 in the Big 8 Conference after pulling away from Delta College in their last game. The Santa Rosa Junior College men’s basketball team is ranked seventh… Read More »

By MICHAEL COIT THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Teaming to power Cal Poly Pomona’s bid back to the NCAA tournament, Empire basketball standouts Sarah Semenero and Charlene Popoff were longtime adversaries in prep playing days. Semenero, a guard, now looks to feed Popoff in the post, staying in motion for a give and go or backdoor pass. As top players in high school, though, Semenero (Sonoma Valley) and Popoff (Windsor) targeted one another for defensive stops over several years of Sonoma County… Read More »

Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit: Led by women’s soccer and volleyball, Santa Rosa Junior College ranked among California’s top fall athletic programs. Santa Rosa finished eighth statewide in overall athletic excellence for fall sports. Big 8 Conference rival American River topped the rankings by the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators. Colleges receive points based on where teams finish in state competition following conference play. The top five men’s and women’s teams at each school are… Read More »

Matt Cousins Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit: A pair of former Empire standouts made the Pac West Conference men’s basketball honor roll on Monday. Matt Cousins, of Chaminade University, and Jacob Noisat, playing for Dominican University, were among the conference’s best in leading their teams to recent wins. The onetime All-Empire players –Cousins from Cardinal Newman and Noisat out of Elsie Allen — are among the league leaders in the Pac West, an NCAA Division II conference.… Read More »

Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit: Sonoma State fared well in a national annual ranking of athletic programs and student athlete academic success. The 2011 National College Scouting Association Collegiate Power Rankings placed Sonoma State No. 21 among all 280 NCAA Division II schools. Topping the list was UC San Diego, a Seawolves rival in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The rankings are based on student-athlete graduation rates, academic rankings by U.S. News & World Report, and the… Read More »

 Sam Siebert Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit: Post season honors for the Santa Rosa Junior College women’s volleyball team demonstrate the depth of talent on the state runner up squad. Setter and second year standout Sam Siebert, from Analy High, was recognized at all levels. Siebert was a second team All-American, was All-State and made the All-Tournament team out of the final four. She also was an All-Big 8 Conference selection. Right behind was sophomore outside hitter… Read More »

Dick Walker led Sonoma State to the NCAA tournament twice during 16 seasons as head coach of the team. (Photo by KENT PORTER / The Press Democrat, 2005) By MICHAEL COIT THE PRESS DEMOCRAT Dick Walker was a player’s coach, putting Sonoma State men’s basketball back on the map over 16 years, creating a legacy of future coaches who called on him until his death at 77 from cancer Monday at his Cloverdale home. A standout prep and college player… Read More »

 Cara Curtin Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit: Following a run to the state title, the Santa Rosa Junior College women’s soccer team finished ranked second nationally with sisters Cara and Lauren Curtin also receiving All-American honors. Going 20-1-3 including a sweep of the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs, the Bear Cubs posted another great season after finishing runner up in the state a year ago. Santa Rosa finished second in the final ranking by the National… Read More »

Posted By Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit: Carrying great play on Empire pitches into college, a handful of former area prep standouts have been named to NCAA and NAIA regional teams. The awards are made by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Courtney Parsons, goalkeeper, San Diego, made second team for the NCAA Women’s Division I All-West Team. The senior from Ursuline helped lead San Diego to NCAA tournament wins over UC Irvine and UCLA before the Toreros… Read More »