Athletes of the Week: Matt Airola, Cassandra Calderon, Brenden Evans, Katie O'Connor,
MATT AIROLA, Bret Harte cross country
Any other season, Matt Airola might have been the small-school runner by which others in the Sac-Joaquin Section are judged by. Running in the same division as Riverbank's German Fernandez -- one of the nation's elite performers -- meant Airola was destined to finish second, but the up-and-coming sophomore didn't let that deter him.
He finished second in the section, running the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 58 seconds -- 48 seconds ahead of the third-place finisher. He then finished sixth in the state in 16:09.
"Matt has had success mainly on natural ability," said coach Keith Maurer. "This doesn't mean he doesn't work hard, but that there is a wealth of untapped talent. Our goal is to get him to up his mileage along with the rest of the team and then up the intensity next fall.
"It will be interesting to see if he can keep up the intensity. He runs smart races and is easily coached."
CASSANDRA CALDERON, Downey basketball
That Cassandra Calderon was on the court for the season opener put her a step ahead of last season, when she missed the first month with an ankle injury. She took advantage of her health to get 20 points, nine rebounds, nine steals and three assists in a 60-56 win over Weston Ranch.
It wasn't just the stat line that impressed coach Chris Victorino: "Patience and maturity are the biggest changes. She had the skills and athletic ability. She has helped improve team chemistry by being more optimistic and taking on a larger leadership role. Last year, there were times she tried to do too much and put too much pressure on herself."
Downey took a hit when two starters suffered knee injuries in a scrimmage, but Victorino says that will provide opportunities for Calderon's other teammates.
"For the girls with less experience, these preseason opportunities to play will really pay off," he said.
BRENDEN EVANS, Sonora basketball
Brenden Evans had a remarkable impact on the Wildcats' program as a sophomore, but quick success as a varsity player didn't go to his head. His offseason program was as vigorous as ever, coach Rick Francis said, maybe even tougher.
"Brenden is a much stronger player," Francis said. "He has put many hours in the weight room. His outside shot has improved a great deal and he's shooting much better off the dribble. He is a much more confident player. In the offseason, Brenden plays for an AAU team out of Tracy."
The 6-foot-5-inch forward displayed his skills in the opening week, combining for 45 points, 22 rebounds, three blocks and three steals in victories over Downey and Summerville. He scored 30 against Downey and was 11-for-12 from the free-throw line in two games.
"We are young, with four seniors (and) seven juniors," Francis said. "Hopefully we will improve ... by January."
KATIE O'CONNOR, Bret Harte cross country
One of the difficulties in coaching cross country is straddling the line between pushing runners to reach their maximum level and keeping the sport enjoyable, said Bret Harte coach Keith Maurer.
"(Katie) is another untapped talent (who) could really improve with more training," Maurer noted. "She has a tendency to go out too fast. Hopefully, with maturity, she can reel that in."
Though still developing, the sophomore provided a glimpse of her potential by winning the Division IV individual crown -- covering the 3.1-mile course in 19 minutes, 55 seconds -- and leading Bret Harte to the team title at the section meet. She ran a 19:25 to finish 18th at the state meet.
"We have had success in the girls over the years, with 10 section championships in 20 years," Maurer said. "We could do better at state if we pushed kids harder, but we might end up turning some off to running."
-- RICHARD T. ESTRADA
This story was originally published November 29, 2007 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Athletes of the Week: Matt Airola, Cassandra Calderon, Brenden Evans, Katie O'Connor,."