Linfield Athletics 2019-2020 Recap

This year was another memorable year for Linfield Christian high school athletics, despite being cut short.Our teams, athletes, coaches and fans experienced the thrill of victory, achieved and surpassed expectations, broke school records, 14 to be exact, and persevered through challenges, finding success beyond the win/loss record. As an athletic department, our coaches and staff worked to carry out the mission of our department as they challenged our athletes to grow in their character, build community, and compete for championships.
Here are just some of the highlights from this year:
  • Kat Mathews won the Ambassador League Singles Tennis Championship.
  • Girls Cross Country went undefeated in the Ambassador League winning back-to-back league championship titles. The girls team went on to earn a CIF-SS Division 5 Runner Up Title and finished in 8th place at CIF State Championship meet, the highest placement of a girls team in Linfield history. Ryley Burns finished 5th earning both All-CIF and All-State honors and set a new 5k school record. Ryley is the first female in recorded school history to receive All-State honors. Scudder Sinclair also set a new 5k school record for the boys.
  • Volleyball finished second in the Ambassador League during which time, seniors Devin Sivertson and Paige Williams hit career milestones with 2,000 assists and 500 kills, respectively. The Lady Lion were ranked #1 in CIF Division 6 headed into the post season. Making another incredible run in the playoffs, they went on to defeat Nordhoff yet again in the CIF finals to secure back-to-back championship titles, the first back to back titles since the 1980s. Middle blocker Paige Williams received CIF Player of the Year and Coach Eric Hawes was named CIF Coach of the Year. The Lady Lions entered the state tournament as the 14th seed and went on to upset the third and 11th seeded teams and would finish as regional semifinalists.
  • Football also initiated post season success, defeating #1 seed Beaumont in a game that came down to the final seconds. The Lions went on to defeat Pasadena High School in the CIF Quarterfinals in yet another nail biter and finished the season as CIF semifinalists.
  • Boys Soccer finished second in the Ambassador League behind a stellar rookie performance from Spencer Lewis who broke the single season goal record halfway through the season finishing with 36 goals.
  • Boys Basketball also finished second in the Ambassador League and made it to the post season for the first time in four years, finishing as CIF Quarterfinalists.
  • Girls Soccer had a historical season earning the first CIF-SS Girls Soccer Championship in school history. Dani Williams placed a free kick perfectly into the back of the net to to secure the title. The Lady Lions’ success did not stop there as they made a run in the state tournament finishing as semifinalists. Sophomore Ryley Burns was named CIF Player of the Year and Coach Angela Hernandez received CIF Coach of the Year honors.
Thank you to all the athletes and their families, all our coaches, Trainer Abby, our team doctors, and the entire Linfield Community for being a part of the successes this year!

Linfield Athletics 2019-2020 Department Awards

CIF SCHOLAR ATHLETES

The CIF Scholar Athlete, as defined by CIF, is awarded to two seniors whose academic and athletic careers have been truly exemplary. The recipients must have no less than a 3.5 cumulative grade point average, have demonstrated athletic ability in at least two years of varsity sports in California, and most of all portrayed themselves as athletes of character, displaying trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.
At Linfield, we have many outstanding scholar athletes that match this description. This year, our two winners have risen to the top in their sports, have challenged themselves academically, and have been actively involved in the Linfield community, all while maintaining above average GPAs.

SARAH NEWMAN / CIF FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE (4.35 CUM. GPA)

  • Varsity Volleyball (11,12)
    • CIF Champion (11,12)
    • 1st Team All-CIF (12)
    • 1st Team All-League (12)
    • 2nd Team All-League (11)
    • Scholar Athlete (11, 12)
    • 375 career kills, 447 career digs, and 77 career aces
  • Varsity Softball (10,11,12)
    • Team Offensive MVP (11)
    • Team Captain (12)
    • Scholar Athlete (10,11,12)
    • .411 career batting average, .469 career on base percentage, 42 career RBIs
  • CSF (10,11,12)
    • Vice President (11)
  • National Honor Society (10,11,12)
    • Vice President (12)
  • National English Honor Society (10,11,12)
  • Principal’s Honor Roll (10,11,12)
  • ACSI Outstanding Student in Athletics & Leadership (11)
  • AP Biology Student of the Year (11)
  • Human Body Systems Honors Student of the Year (11)
  • Junior Honor Guard (11)
Coach Ryan McKenzie had this to say about Sarah: “Sarah Newman is one of the smartest and most tactical volleyball players to have ever stepped on the volleyball court for Linfield Christian.  I will never forget the look on Sarah’s face when we beat Division 1 Scripps Ranch from the San Diego section in the state tournament.  After being down 2 sets to 1, winning the fourth, and beating Scripps in the 5th set 15-9, Sarah walked off the court, bright-eyed, and with the look that said “how…did we…just…do…that?”  Well Sarah…part of the credit goes to you.  Your stats speak for itself, your confidence on the court is unmatched, and the leadership that you and your fellow seniors brought has elevated the program unknown to Linfield for decades. You are a two-time all Ambassador League player, an All-CIF player, and a back-to-back CIF Champion. This was all accomplished amidst a standard of excellence in academics.  You are a critical thinker, effective communicator, and a fantastic writer.  Grading your DBQs from sophomore year was easy as they were almost flawless. Sarah, congratulations on this award and I am so proud of all of your accomplishments.”

MICHAEL HARKINS / CIF MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE (3.79 CUM. GPA)

  • Varsity Football (11, 12)
    • CIF Champion (11)
    • CIF Semifinalist (12)
    • 1st Team All-League Defense (12)
    • Team Special Teams Player of the Year (12)
    • In his two-year football career as a Lion:
      • Passing Yards – 1376
      • Passing TDs – 22
      • Rushing yards – 357
      • Total Tackles – 14
      • Solo Tackles – 11
  • Varsity Baseball (11, 12)
    • 2nd Team All-League (11)
    • Started off his senior season strong:
      • Batting Average – .483
      • On Base Percentage – .579
      • Stolen Bases – 13
      • Putouts – 18
      • On the mound he totaled 12 strikeouts, 1 complete game, and 1 shut out
  • Student Ambassador (12)
  • CSF (12)
  • National Honor Society (12)
  • National English Honor Society (12)
  • High Honor Roll (11, 12)

Coach DeChon Burns had this to say about Michael: “Michael Harkins has managed to become a woven piece of the Linfield Student body fabric over the past two years. He desires to compete and accepts challenges no matter the size. It has been a pleasure to watch him grow over the last two years on the football field in both athletic ability and character. He is a young man that loves his family and values his friends. I am certain that he is destined to obtain all the success God has in store for him. He will be an impact player in whatever arena he chooses in life.”

SPORTSMAN & SPORTSWOMAN

The sportswoman and sportsman of the year award is given to one male athlete and one female athlete who has made a significant impact on Linfield Christian athletics this year.  In choosing these athletes, thought is given to their individual stats and their team’s performances in league play and in CIF playoffs.  Both the range of their participation based on the number of varsity sports they have played as well as the depth of their participation as evidenced by the impact they had on and off the field is considered. Our two recipients this year have left their mark in the Linfield record books for their individual and team accomplishments.

CAYLAN MEDLEY / SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

  • Varsity Volleyball (10, 11, 12)
    • CIF Champion (11, 12)
    • Team Most Improved Player (12)
    • 2nd Team All-League (12)
    • 244 career kills, 72 career blocks, 30 of which were solo blocks
  • Varsity Soccer (9, 10, 11, 12)
    •  CIF Champion (12)
    • 1st Team All-CIF (12)
    • Team Captain
    • Linfield Tournament Defensive MVP (12)
    • 206 career saves, 14 career shutouts
  • Varsity Track & Field (9, 10, 12)
    • CIF Individual Finalist, High Jump (10)
    • CIF Prelim Qualifier, High Jump (9, 10)
    • Ambassador League Field MVP (10)
    • 1st Team All-League, High Jump (10)
    • 2nd Team All-League, 100 Hurdles (10)
    • Ambassador League Team Champions (9, 10)
    • In her short senior season as a high jumper Caylan…
      •  Placed 6th at Winter Championships clearing 5’ 1”
      • Went on to clear 5’ 2” at Mt. Carmel Field Carnival, placing 2nd in the meet and qualified for Arcadia, the largest outdoor high school track meet in the nation.
      • She was ranked (1st) in the Ambassador League, (6th) in CIF Division 4, (15th) in CIF Southern Section, (24th) in the state, and (173rd) in the nation.

Coach Kenny Kamashian had this to say about Caylan: “When I found out that Caylan was going to try out for the girls varsity soccer goalkeeper as a freshman, I was very concerned. She hardly knew any of the rules and her only experience at that time was as a middle schooler. The thought of her taking opponents shots from potential 12th grade high level club players was concerning. As her coach I watched as she aggressively and without fear of injury, attacked and absorbed everything she was taught regarding as many possible offensive scenarios that we could throw at her. The steps that she has made have been truly remarkable and that is because of her amazing work ethic, coachability, character and desire to improve for the betterment of the team.  She is every coach’s dream because of her work ethic and her strong desire to improve every day. Those traits combined with many strenuous, relentless workouts and competition have resulted in achieving back-to-back CIF volleyball championships, the first ever girls soccer CIF championship in school history, and the potential to compete for a high jump CIF championship this spring prior to the pandemic. Regardless of it being cut short, this girl has had an amazing high school athletic career! Caylan, I am so proud of you and know that great things await for you at Belmont Abbey next year.” 

JALANI JEFFERSON / SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

  • Varsity Football (10, 11)
    • CIF Champion (10)
    • 2nd Team All-League Offense (11)
    • 2nd Team All-League Defense (11)
    • His season totals from this year include:
      • Receiving Yards – 298
      • Receiving TDs – 8
      • Tackles – 30; 26 of which were solo tackles
      • Interceptions – 3
  •  Varsity Basketball (10, 11)
    •  2nd Team All-League (11)
    • CIF Quarterfinalist
    • Team Defensive Player of the Year (11)
    • His season totals from this year include:
      • Points – 164
      • Rebounds – 129
      • Assists – 65
      • Steals – 80
      • Blocks – 22
  •  Varsity Track & Field (10, 11)
    • Began the track season very strong, PRing in both the long and triple jump
    • His long PR was 20’ 5.25” and he was ranked (2nd) in the Ambassador League, (6th) in CIF Division 4, and (83rd) in CIF-Southern Section
    • His triple jump PR was 43’ 7” which earned him 2nd place at the Mt. Carmel Field Carnival and qualified him to compete in the Arcadia Invitational Track Meet.
    • In the triple jump, Jalani was ranked (1st) in the Ambassador League, (3rd) in CIF Division 4, (16th) in CIF Southern Section, and (27th) in the state.

Coach Waheed Mitchell had this to say about Jalani: “Jalani was hands down the best defender in the Ambassador League. Night in and night out he took pride in stopping our opponent’s top player. By the end of the game, they were exhausted by his continuous pressure and tenacious defense. He made it easy for our staff to game plan defensively because we knew we had a player that loves that end of the floor. This is rare, and he affected the game in a major way just by how he approached the game defensively. Jalani took pride in his craft and it was fun to watch. The way he played defense was contagious throughout our entire team. He was the leader of our defense and it became our calling card. By setting the tempo defensively, we were able to do special things this year as a team in which without him, none of it would be possible.  Thank you Jalani for allowing me to challenge you in that area and for accepting that challenge and making it your own. It is a pleasure to coach you because you always came with the attitude to outwork your opponent. Excited to see you continuously grow on and off the floor.”