Nearly nine months ago we named our first athlete of the week of the 2016-17 school year and since then more than 60 athletes have taken home a plaque provided by Kern Trophies. With this week's graduations and final exams we thought we'd look back at the best stories from the year in prep sports.
Bakersfield Christian's Bella Bouma helped extend the Eagles' volleyball dynasty. The team leader in kills and blocks, Bouma played a major part in BCHS' 35 win campaign and fourth straight valley title.
Under BCHS' lights, Jeremiah Foster gave wings to a high flying Eagles' offense. Following our plaque handoff, Foster and the Eagles flew to a Valley Championship and hosted a state title game.
RELATED: BCHS' comeback in Selma
Speaking of wins, the Bakersfield Drillers extended their own state record to 37 section titles thanks in part to dynamic underclassmen Cameron Williams & Shane Jones. While there were a number of sophomore/junior standouts, one senior had a year to remember.
RELATED: BHS wins state record 37th section title.
Navonte Demison caught the game winning touchdown in the valley championship and followed that up with his second straight wrestling title. Demison will wrestle next at Arizona State.
There were other individual champions. Stockdale's Lexi Keenewill head to Northern Arizona University after one of the best four year golfing careers in Kern County history while Highland's Moises Medrano earned the title "fastest in the valley" after winning a cross country valley title.
Here's @Highland_Scots's Moises Medrano after winning the D-III cross country title. His first! pic.twitter.com/UV4dezikMe
— Stephen Hicks (@StephenHicks23) November 18, 2016
There was redemption for Ridgeview's Justin McCall who before heading off to play for Rod Barnes at CSUB finally capped the "Road to Selland" with a win.
Blye Escalante led Chavez basketball to the Titan's first league title in school history.
But the most dramatic drought buster happened last weekend. Down to their final out, Wasco's Lalo Barraza hit a 3-run double to seal the Tigers' 5-4 win and their first section title in 27 years.
The 27 year wait is over! Down to their final out Lalo Barraza hits a 3-run 2B to give @TigerWasco a 5-4 lead. 1st valley title since 1990! pic.twitter.com/wZobpBu1E1
— Stephen Hicks (@StephenHicks23) May 27, 2017
RELATED: Wasco baseball wins first title since 1990
Finally, Stockdale junior Aaliyah Wilson is a Masters champ in the 100 meter sprint & hurdles and will try this weekend for a medal at the state championships in Clovis.
RELATED: Outtakes, bloopers & plaque handoffs from Spring season
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