SIMPLY THE BEST

As 2011 draws to a close, many around the North State will reflect on this past year as they prepare for the New Year.

Here in the South County, there have been many amazing headlines that have graced the top of the sports page these past 52 weeks.

Below is just a taste of the top five stories of 2011.

5) Megan Beeson makes Sacramento Kings dance team

After receiving 3,817 votes and finishing the online voting in first place, Cottonwood resident Megan Beeson, 17, made the Sacramento Kings dance team.

“I can’t explain how amazing it feels to have accomplished such a big goal; I get to do something I’m absolutely in love with for my job,” said Megan Beeson, a 2011 West Valley graduate, in an October interview.

“Not many can say that they are in love with what they do, and love going to work every day, but I can.”

According to Beeson, she is most looking forward to the performing aspect of being on the team, but said she also appreciated the opportunity to become a family and make life-long friends with the other dancers as well.

4) Austin Lobsinger takes second in state

Austin Lobsinger represented the north state well back in March at the California State Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield. Lobsinger took second in a tough tournament.

He pulled off five victories and one loss, which came at the hands of Tank Knowles, who was ranked fifth in the nation at the time.

Knowles came into the match as the defending state champion. He has teched or pinned everyone he has wrestled in California.

Knowles and Lobsinger were tied at two after the first round.

In the second round, Lobsinger escaped from the bottom making it 3-3. Knowles then took down Lobsinger with a single leg, making it 5-3.

With a minute and a half to go, Knowles held the lead—but Lobsinger got an escape with 45 seconds left, bringing the score to 5-4. With 30 seconds left, Lobsinger almost scored a takedown.

Lobsinger finished the season 44-3 with 30 pins.

3) Anderson girls

basketball wins first

NAL title in 20 years

It was only fitting that Anderson would have to take on their South County rivals, West Valley, in order to claim their first Northern Athletic League basketball title in 20 years.

The Cubs came out and dominated the game, putting the Eagles on notice early on; however, Anderson would make the most of their shooting opportunities, while West Valley fell flat.

The Cubs went on to claw their way to a 66-52 victory and nab a title that had eluded them for two decades.

2) Cheridan Hawkins signs letter of intent

“I had to give up a lot to be able to do what I needed to do. I wouldn’t take any of it back,” said Anderson High senior Cheridan Hawkins in a November 12 interview.

During National Signing Day in November, Hawkins signed her letter of intent to play for the University of Oregon.

According to Hawkins, she received a 75 percent scholarship. As for her final softball season as a Cub, she and the team are already practicing.

Last season, Hawkins broke the strike-out record with 510 and this season her personal goal is to break her own record. She said the team goal is to repeat their NAL and Northern Section titles, but to go undefeated. The Cubs finished last season 31-4.

1) Alyssa Spurgeon takes gold in Germany

The 13-year-old Cottonwood resident went to the IDO World Show Dance Championships in Riesa, Germany as part of Team USA for the third year in a row and came back with gold. The championships are held the last week of November.

“I couldn’t believe it! I started crying. My dad was on stage with me, I turned and looked at him and he told me to go up there,” said Alyssa Spurgeon, who dances over 25 hours a week.

For the second time, Spurgeon competed in the female soloist junior division, which was comprised of 48 dancers between the ages of 12 and 15.

Spurgeon competed under the name Alyssa Banwarth because the adoption by her step-father wasn’t finalized until after she had already started competing for a spot on Team USA.

The West Cottonwood student said she danced to “Don’t tell mama” from the musical Cabaret.