Live Oak girls track and field, coach Mike Sullivan; Sobrato
girls basketball, coach Natalie Bobuk honored
MORGAN HILL — Backed by five returning starters (Melissa Cachopo, Courtney Sedlak, Katie Nicca, Shealyn Kunze, Michelle Bradley) plus the energy of first-year coach Natalie Bobuk, the Sobrato girls basketball team had high expectations for the 2008-09 season, but faced a whole new set of challenges as a new member of the Mount Hamilton Division.
Against teams that were bigger, faster and more aggressive than those seen a year ago in the Santa Teresa Division, the Lady Bulldogs struggled out of the gate, losing three of their first four league contests. They lost four straight from Jan. 30 to Feb. 11, but were not ready to fold.
“I remember telling them at that time, ‘that’s not the team we are,’ ” Bobuk recalled. “We made a couple of adjustments and focused on staying positive.”
Sobrato won two of its final three regular-season games — and returned to the Division II section playoffs. The Bulldogs (14-13 overall, 5-9 league) reached the quarterfinals.
“It was a gift taking over this team, a team that had played together and had success together the previous year,” Bobuk said. “When everything clicked, we were amazing. I can’t wait for next year.”
Live Oak’s girls track and field team placed second in the Santa Teresa Division and won division titles in four events.
The Lady Acorns’ CIF-Central Coast Section contingency included Stephanie Armstrong (high jump, 300-meter hurdles, 4×400-meter relay), Pauline Olsen (400 meters, 4×400 relay), and the school-record setting 4×100-meter relay of Erika Rodriguez, Courtney Robinson, Lauren Drewniany and Catherine Sparling. Rodriguez and Sparling also were part of the 4×400 relay.
Armstrong placed fifth in high jump at CCS Finals.
“We only had 10 to 12 girls for most of our meets, but those 10 to 12 girls were awesome,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “They helped our team reach its goal of 200 PRs. We had 219.”
