SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis' Kevin Warren, Julia Southard and Brian Nabeta each earned Coach of the Year honors in softball, lacrosse and swimming, respectively, while softball pitcher Hope Jenkins and lacrosse midfielder Zahra Smith were both selected as the Player of the Year for her sport as the Delta League rolled out its full slate of spring sports awards following the conclusion of the Sac-Joaquin Section postseason.
Warren has been a mainstay of the Troubadour softball program for almost three decades as a head coach, head JV coach, co-varsity head coach and assistant for varsity. His 2022 team finished its season with a 26-5 record, the program's best in recent history, and advanced to the CIF NorCal Regional. The Troubies also posted a key upset of Folsom on March 29 and went undefeated at the NFHS NorCal Leadoff Classic in Tracy, facing the likes of Lincoln (Stockton), Central Catholic and Enochs.
Nabeta assumed the helm of the St. Francis swimming program on an interim basis during the 2022 preseason, and immediately made his mark: a program-best eighth at the CIF State Championships, a runner-up finish at the Sac-Joaquin Section meet (highest since 2011), and school records in all but one of the 11 swimming events. Nabeta also mentored a squad that massed 263 team points at the California Catholic Challenge, despite missing several of SF's top performers due to spring break.
St. Francis lacrosse enjoyed a historic season under Southard: a 14-6 overall record, a share of the Delta League title, the highest North Coast Section playoff seed (No. 10) since 2013, plus victories over area powerhouses Davis and Granite Bay. In all, the spring coaching trio raised the Coach of the Year count to six for SFHS during the 2021-22 school year. They join Melanie Cleland (cross country), Marisa Kolokotronis (water polo) and Maryclaire Robinson (soccer).
The Delaware State-bound Smith posted school records for goals (58) and caused turnovers (49). She performed 11 hat tricks during the year, including six-goal performances against Christian Brothers and Davis. Smith was joined on the all-league rolls by Abby Alvernaz, Brynley Hodge, Bella McCullough, Karly Okamoto and Johanna Stevenson. Okamoto shattered the SFHS benchmark for assists, and senior and future William Penn goalkeeper McCullough posted the program's No. 2 saves total.
Hope Jenkins posted monstrous numbers in her final Troubie season before she joins twin sister and fellow All-Delta League honoree Grace Jenkins at UConn next year. She fired three one-hitters and three no-hitters, including a perfect game at Pioneer on March 25. The two Jenkins sisters were also selected as 49ers Sac-Hi Sports Co-Players of the Year, and were honored as such during a ceremony at Levi's Stadium on May 22. They were joined on the All-Delta League rolls by senior Kayla Garber, who will play at Sacramento City College next year.
All-league distinction also goes to the first-place varsity performers in swimming and track & field. Ava Chavez (200-yard freestyle), Maddy Ching (50 free) and Sinclair Yadao (diving) represent St. Francis in the pool, while Tatiana Cornejo (800 meters), Grace Heisinger (300 hurdles), Cate Joaquin (1,600 and 3,200 meters) and Maddie Pelfrey (pole vault) won respective individual titles on and around the oval. Cornejo will run cross country and track at Cal Poly next year, while Joaquin is headed for Georgetown in those same sports.
In addition to all-league honors, each team selects a winner of the Delta League All-Sportsmanship Award. Junior Isabelle Vela won softball's honor, Lauren Baleria won the lacrosse award, while senior Kelly Wilson claimed the nod for swimming and diving. No award was chosen for track & field due to the absence of a head coach.
What follows is a summary of St. Francis' All-Delta League honors plus team-specific awards given out at various banquets and gatherings during the final weeks of the school year.
SOFTBALL
All-Delta League: Kayla Garber
All-Delta League: Grace Jenkins
All-Delta League: Hope Jenkins
Delta League Coach of the Year: Kevin Warren
Delta League Player of the Year: Hope Jenkins
Delta League Sportsmanship Award: Isabelle Vela
Complete awards list: https://www.deltaleague.org/news/index.php/2022/05/29/delta-league-softball-all-league-team/
Varsity Most Valuable Player: Hope Jenkins
Varsity Most Improved Player: Olivia McFarland
Varsity Most Inspirational: Grace Jenkins
JV Most Valuable Player: Natalie Vigil
JV Most Improved Player: Lexi Salmons
JV Most Inspirational Player: Taylor Lewis
SWIMMING & DIVING
All-Delta League: Ava Chavez, 200 Freestyle
All-Delta League: Maddy Ching, 50 Freestyle
All-Delta League: Sincair Yadao, Diving
Delta League Coach of the Year: Brian Nabeta
Delta League Sportsmanship Award: Kelly Wilson
Complete awards list: https://www.deltaleague.org/news/index.php/2022/05/29/delta-league-swimming-diving-all-league-team/
Most Valuable Diver: Sinclair Yadao
Most Improved Diver: Maya Hamilton
JV Most Valuable: Ella Ching
JV Most Improved: Neta Tovar
JV Coaches Award: Alexis DeAngelis
JV Most Dedicated: Kennedy Seitz
JV Most Spirited: Mia Hill
JV Team Manager Award: Mackenzie Back
Varsity Most Valuable: Erica Jaffe
Varsity Most Improved: Greta Laborde Lagrave
Varsity Coaches Award: Ava Chavez
Varsity Most Spirited: Presleigh Seitz
Varsity Most Dedicated: Sydney Glenn
Varsity Most Spirited: Teaghan Brostrom
TRACK & FIELD
All-Delta League: Tatiana Cornejo, 800 Meters
All-Delta League: Grace Heisinger, 300 Hurdles
All-Delta League: Cate Joaquin, 1600 Meters
All-Delta League: Cate Joaquin, 3200 Meters
All-Delta League: Maddie Pelfrey, Pole Vault
Complete awards list: https://www.deltaleague.org/news/index.php/2022/05/29/delta-league-track-field-all-league-team/
[No team awards or Delta League Sportsmanship Award given in 2022.]
LACROSSE
All-Delta League: Abby Alvernaz
All-Delta League: Brynley Hodge
All-Delta League: Bella McCullough
All-Delta League: Karly Okamoto
All-Delta League: Zahra Smith
All-Delta League: Johanna Stevenson
Delta League Coach of the Year: Julia Southard
Delta League Player of the Year: Zahra Smith
Delta League Sportsmanship Award: Lauren Baleria
Complete awards list: https://www.deltaleague.org/news/index.php/2022/05/29/delta-league-girls-lacrosse-all-league-team/
Varsity Most Impactful Player: Zahra Smith
Varsity Hammerhead Award: Johanna Stevenson
Varsity Brick Wall Award: Bella McCullough
JV Most Improved Player: Bella Taylor
JV Biggest Hustler: Sofia Rabinovitz
JV Best Attitude: Diane Jones
