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Dragons youth movement in 2010-11 makes future bright, Sonoma’s Vitorelo SCL golf all-leaguer

 

Throughout the recent 2010-11 sports seasons, the term “young” was used when describing most, if not all, the Sonoma Valley High School boys’ and girls’ varsity teams, who had solid, but small, cores of senior athletes to build around, but had to turn to the help of more junior, sophomore and even some freshmen athletes

Every year schools have to depend on their younger players to contribute if their teams are going to be successful.

But in 2010-11, a majority portion of the Sonoma squads depended on the play, and improvement, of their underclassmen, who exhibited a wide range of talent and promise that has painted a bright 2011-12, and beyond, picture for the Dragons.

Sonoma’s large youth movement started in the fall season with football, girls’ volleyball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, cross country and water polo and girls’ golf and tennis; continued in the winter season with wrestling and boys’ and girls’ basketball; and ended in the spring season with boys’ baseball, girls’ softball, boys’ and girls’ track and field and swimming, and boys’ golf and tennis.

With the extra dependence on the youthful Dragon athletes this past year, there were definitely struggles and frustrations as the younger players adjusted to competing at the varsity level.

But as the seasons unfolded, inspiration, hope and impressive efforts enhanced the play, evolution and outlooks for the Dragon teams.

Though Sonoma had only one title team in 2010-11 – the Dragon soccer boys were the Sonoma County League co-champions – it had quite a few all-league and top-performing athletes.

With the ongoing improvement of the underclassman Dragon teams and athletes from the beginning to the end of the 2010-11 seasons, it’s no wonder Sonoma’s athletic departments are looking forward to the 2011-12 campaigns.

 

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Sonoma’s recently graduated senior A.J. Vitorelo was named a repeat all-league boys’ golfer by the Sonoma County League after a standout 2011 season. Vitorelo also received the esteemed Herb Lane Memorial Award at SVHS’s recent senior awards ceremony.