A year to remember

Through the decades, Mid-Valley athletes have lived out their dreams in Super Bowls, walking the PGA links and winning Olympic medals.

But long before they elevated to such heights, they dazzled their hometown crowds on the high school gridirons, in gymnasiums, on the diamonds, the local golf courses and at track and field venues.

Perhaps nobody encompasses that spirit more than Lindhurst High's Joey Villasenor, who lettered in five sports his senior year, and Gridley High's Sarah Nichols, who found glory in three sports.

For their accomplishments, Villasenor and Nichols have been name the 2007-08 Appeal-Democrat Athletes of the Year — the first time the honor has been awarded.

"It is very exciting, especially being the first one ever. It means all my hard work has paid off," said Nichols, 18, who reached the state level of competition in volleyball, basketball and in two events in track and field, and was selected to the Appeal-Democrat's all-area teams in all three sports as well.

It is ironic that Nichols would find her greatest individual success in a sport she really did not have much of a passion for until this past year.

"I really don't like to run," said Nichols, although she has been participating in track and field events since her youth in Bangor.

Back then, she was a distance runner. At Gridley, she found her overall athleticism served her better as a hurdler and jumper.

She won the Northern Section titles in the long jump and 300-meter low hurdles, and with that success, was named the Northern Section female co-track athlete of the year.

Nichols certainly counts that as one of the highlights of her athletic career, but she holds dearest those moments she could share with teammates.

But it is athletics in general that motivate Nichols. "I think athletics are my whole life. I mean, I'm a good student and get good grades, but I don't think I would have gotten through school without athletics," said Nichols, who graduated with a 3.8 grade-point average.

Nichols will continue her competitive spirit at Butte College where she will play volleyball — her favorite sport — and compete in track and field.
She had considered Chico State, Humboldt State and a couple of colleges from Colorado also expressed interest in Nichols. She said Butte gave her the best fit for now.

“Besides, I don’t like the cold,” Nichols quipped.

Villasenor also mixed athletics with academics.

In addition to celebrating two Sac-Joaquin Section football championships at Lindhurst – and was one of the top pass receivers in the Section as a senior – he capped his athletic career by reaching the finals of the 800 meters at the State Track and Field meet this spring.

It was the highlight of his year.

“I had a goal in mind, but I was going to run as had as I could and if I made (the finals), I made it, but either way it would be a PR (personal record),” said Villasenor, who said he honestly never figured to get past the preliminaries.

His effort in the heat race left him with little left for the final, but Villasenor had already exceeded his goal, a work ethic that served him throughout the year.

He also won the Golden Empire League championship in cross country, played basketball, played baseball and was a three-event GEL champion (800, 1.600, 3,200) in track in field.

Oh, by the way, he also was the student body president.

Villasenor does not downplay the role he played in the renaissance at Lindhurst, a school once viewed as an afterthought, and now viewed in often glowing terms.

Villasenor said winning the football championships was the catalyst.

More students wanted to get involved in athletics, but to do so they had to get their grades up and keep them up. He said he saw the difference in the faculty, too.

He said some teachers who wouldn’t even give an athlete the time of day before the championships, got involved in study halls for athletes later.

“It was crazy,” said Villasenor of the football crowns, noting particularly the impact on the community as a whole.

“And that community really supported me, too,” Villasenor said.

Villasenor will be the first person in his immediate family to go to a university, accepting a track and field scholarship from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, which is offering an athletic program for the first time at the Division II level.

He sees in that accomplishment, like all his accomplishments, his family

“I am who I am today because of my parents,” Villasenor said.

Despite all that he did accomplish, Villasenor left Lindhurst with one regret.

“I wanted to wrestle,” he said.