Ranger basketball in first place
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Nordhoff senior Chase Plott plays pressure defense in a game earlier this month. Plott is a big reason the Rangers are atop the Citrus Coast League standings.
Ted Cotti, Ojai Valley News correspondent
Nordhoff High School’s boys’ varsity basketball team improved to 8-6 overall and took control of the Citrus Coast League race this past week, improving to 3-0 in league with wins over Carpinteria on the road and Santa Paula at home.
Nordhoff water polo wins again
Ted Cotti, Ojai Valley News correspondent
Nordhoff High School’s girls’ varsity water polo team routed visiting Hueneme 10-1 Tuesday, improving its overall record to 4-6. They are now 2-1 in Citrus Coast League competition.
Villanova basketball heads into league play
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Villanova Prep freshman Rachel Patrykus (center) starts a fast break with her teammates ready to attack the Carpinteria defense in a recent 51-40 victory over the Warriors.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
Basketball teams in the Ojai Valley recently returned to the hardwood after the winter break, and are now turning their attention to league play and hopefully the postseason. At Villanova Prep the Lady Wildcats, who are currently the ninth-ranked team in Division 5A, dropped a home game to La Reina by the score of 42-32.
A life to emulate
Photo submitted
Coach Fred Linkenhelt left his mark on Nordhoff High School, generations of students and the Ojai community.
When reflecting upon the life of Fred Linkenhelt, who passed away last week, one can only be thankful for having the opportunity and privilege to know this generous and caring man who truly was a gentleman in every sense of the word.
Lady Rangers basketball still looking for first victory
Nordhoff High School’s girls’ varsity basketball team remains winless on the season after dropping its Citrus Coast League opener to Fillmore, 48-35, last Friday night.
Lady Rangers soccer splits against Santa Paula, Malibu
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
The Nordhoff High School soccer team defeated the Santa Paula Cardinals 3-1 on Jan. 10 thanks to the performance of players like Ofelia Navarro (right, shown here earlier this season). The Lady Rangers then lost a tough match 3-2 against the Malibu Sharks on Jan. 15. NHS is now 3-5 and 1-2 in Citrus Coast League play. The Nordhoff crew will return to the pitch Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. when they host Hueneme.
Ojai Roadrunners merge with the Santa Ynez track and field program
Ojai Valley News photo by Holly Roberts
Ojai Roadrunner Conner Rothermel competes in a past track and field event at Nordhoff High School. The popular Ojai Valley program recently announced a merger with the Santa Ynez.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Ojai Roadrunner track and field program recently announced a merger with the Santa Ynez Track Club. After growing to 200 athletes, the Santa Ynez program started to see a decline after some of its participants began to age out of the program. The Thomas Fire also had an impact on the program.
NHS soccer eyes return to the postseason
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Nordhoff High School senior Carla Rodas soars past a Fillmore defender in the Lady Rangers’ Citrus Coast League opener. Unfortunately for Nordhoff, Fillmore took the match, 3-1.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The Nordhoff girls’ soccer team is off to a 2-3 start this season. But don’t let the average start fool you, the Lady Rangers should be a force on the pitch this winter. “We are going to be a lot like we were last year in terms of talent,” said head coach Matt Wilson.
Oregon basketball team invades Ojai
Ojai Valley News photo by Ken Brown
Nordhoff junior Kaden Gard (No. 5) does his best to contest a shot in the paint by Wilsonville’s 6-foot 8-inch sophomore Logan Thebiay in a game Jan. 3. The visitors from Oregon won, 74-42.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
Coming out of the winter break, the Nordhoff High School basketball team had the rare opportunity to host an out of state opponent when Wilsonville High School made the long trek from Oregon to the Ojai Valley.
Nordhoff athletics set to offer girls’ lacrosse
Photo by Susannah Foster
Sophia Fitch, left, and Willow Williams go for the ball at a lacrosse camp Jan. 5 on the Nordhoff High School campus.
Girls interested in playing on an inaugural Nordhoff High School girls’ lacrosse team participated in a camp to introduce them to the sport last Sunday morning on the newly designated lacrosse field.
Nordhoff High School girls learn about lacrosse — try it out Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 3:15 p.m. on field behind gym
Photos by Susannah Foster
Nordhoff High School girls enjoy a sports camp Jan. 5 at the high school. Also pictured are new lacrosse coach Mike Flanagan and Nordhoff High School parent Jim Kehoe.
Girls interested in playing on an inaugural Nordhoff High School girls’ lacrosse team participated in a camp to introduce them to the sport Sunday morning on the newly designated lacrosse field.
Twenty girls came out, most holding a lacrosse stick for the first time.
Mike Flanagan of Ojai, who has considerable experience coaching lacrosse, will be the coach and will hold the girls’ first practice on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 3:15 p.m., behind the gym.
2019 brought plenty of sports excitement to the Ojai Valley
Photo submitted
The 2019 Nordhoff High School softball team won its first ever CIF Southern Section championship with a thrilling 3-2 victory over top-ranked Santiago High School.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
The 2019 calendar year brought plenty of great sports action to the Ojai Valley, and a handful of teams even made school history. Over at Villanova Prep, the girls water polo team kicked off the year by winning its third consecutive league title and it looks like the Lady Wildcats are well on their way to another title in 2020.
Ojai all-stars win on penalty kicks in Simi Valley
Photo submitted by Jason Hill
The Ojai under-14 all-star team continued its tournament season by taking first place in the Simi Valley New Year’s tournament.
Ninth annual Ojai Holiday Tennis Challenge a success
Photo submitted by Paul Del Signore
Scott English readies to hammer a serve while daughter Anna gets in position for a possible return in the 9th Annual Ojai Holiday Tennis Challenge.
Although frost dusted the tops of the fence posts and crisp, cold morning temperatures tingled the senses, bright SoCal sunshine eventually warmed up the 64 adult and junior players in this year’s ninth annual Ojai Holiday Tennis Challenge on Dec. 28-29 in downtown Libbey Park. The fundraising event was sponsored by the Ojai Valley Tennis Club (OVTC) and managed by Craig Fugle and Jakob Vos, with strong support from Scott Burton, Ojai Recreation Department Tennis Director and multiple volunteers.