Outstanding quartet rounds out Athletes of the Month for 2018-19 year
SACRAMENTO - The postseason spelled success for the final four winners of the CCCSIA Athletes of the Month for the 2018-19 academic year as diver Amy Crayne of American River College and sprinter Antonio Mitchell from Riverside City College earned honors for April while softball pitcher Briana Wheeler of Mt. San Antonio College and Cole Van Den Helder from Orange Coast College garnered accolades for May.
APRIL
WOMEN
AMY CRAYNE l AMERICAN RIVER l WOMEN’S SWIM & DIVE l SOPHOMORE
A double-winner on the 1- and 3-meter diving boards at the 2019 CCCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, Crayne duplicated a feat that was accomplished by her mom (and current coach), Dede, in 1985 for Santa Rosa Junior College. Amy Crayne won the 1-meter board with a state record 261.40 points, besting the record set last year by Cypress’ Alejandro Gomez by 7.30 points. She added another title and another state record by taking the 3-meter board as well with 266.30 points. Her last dive netted her 52.5 points, giving her the new mark.
MEN
ANTONIO MITCHELL l RIVERSIDE CITY l MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD l SOPHOMORE
Mitchell was a big reason while the Tigers claimed the SoCal CCCAA Men’s Track and Field Championship, winning a pair of gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter dash before picking up two more on relays. Mitchell blazed to a wind-aided time of 10.12 seconds in the 100 prelims before going 10.32 to take first in the finals. His wind-aided time of 20.71 brought him his other regional title. Mitchell ran the second leg on the victorious 4x100 (40.17) before ending the meet as a member of the winning 4x400 (3:10.33).
MAY
WOMEN
BRIANA WHEELER l MT. SAN ANTONIO l SOFTBALL l SOPHOMORE
Wheeler pitched Mt. San Antonio to its second straight softball state championship in dominating fashion, throwing four consecutive complete games as the Mounties swept through the tournament undefeated. She struck out 22 batters during the championship, including nine batters during a second-round, eight-inning 4-2 over Palomar. She struck out four and walked none in the title-clinching win over Palomar, 7-4. Wheeler was named the Most Valuable Pitcher at the CCCAA Championship tournament for the second straight year. She went 7-0 during the month of May, collecting 43 strikeouts.
MEN
COLE VAN DEN HELDER l ORANGE COAST l BASEBALL l SOPHOMORE
Van Den Helder capped an amazing baseball season with an even more amazing pitching performance in the state championship final, coming back after just two days rest to lift Orange Coast to a 10-7 win over Sacramento City, giving the Pirates the CCCAA Baseball Championship at Fresno City College. Van Den Helder threw 118 pitchers and struck out seven in eight innings during OCC’s opening-round win over Sac City, 6-1. The Pirates then turned to him for heroics in the winner-take-all final against Sac City and he responded with a Herculean five innings where he struck out nine and didn’t allow an earned run during Orange Coast’s 8-7 win. He was named the State Tournament MVP for his performances.