CalHiSports.com released its male athletes of the year today and 2008 Times Athlete of the Year Jason Welch of Las Lomas was named the Division II Athlete of the Year.

Welch, who is training in anticipation of his move eastward to Northwestern University, excelled in football, wrestling and soccer this season. He finished the season as the top-ranked 160-pound high school wrestler in the country according to almost every amateur wrestling publication.

Also receiving mention was Monte Vista’s Drew McAllister, who was named a Division I Athlete of Distinction. McAllister was a three-sport star (football, basketball and track and field) and he’ll play safety at USC next season.

Unless you’re a coach, student-athlete or parent/guardian of a student-athlete whose high school soccer season takes place in spring, this year’s soccer season came to an end Saturday night, Feb. 23.

And what a conclusion it was. I was assigned to the North Coast Section 2A boys final between Piedmont and Campolindo at Acalanes High School. Not to belabor a point, as I’ve written about this game in a previous entry, but both teams did themselves proud. OK, so the score was 6-1 for Campolindo, but there were a lot of elements in this game to appreciate.

I wish there could have been two of me that same night, as colleague Matt Smith looked as if he caught a very good game in witnessing Pittsburg beat Amador Valley for the boys 3A title. Can only wonder, though, how Richmond High would have held up against either of those teams. Richmond, as described in an earlier post, was the team of skill in its Feb. 16 quarterfinal at home against Deer Valley, which relied largely on force. Deer Valley might have prevailed on a late penalty kick in that game, but the biggest loser was the sport of soccer itself.

In the long run, though, soccer itself was no loser come Feb. 23. Colleague Bill Kruissink, from all reports, saw a real barnburner when covering the 3A girls championship game between San Ramon Valley and Foothill at Dublin High. SRV won this game in a shootout. OK, so shootouts never are perfect; they’re a tough way to lose and maybe not the most satisfying way to win. Still, it sounded like a great game for both teams, who can only be proud of the performances they gave.

Colleague Phil Jensen covered the 2A girls title match between Piedmont and Miramonte that preceded the boys match at Acalanes High. Having arrived at Acalanes well in advance of the boys game, I was able to catch the last few minutes of the girls match. The scoreboard read, “Home 1, Visitors 0,” when I arrived, but until I asked Phil specifically, I could not tell which team was ahead as both the Highlanders and victorious Matadors kept attacking until the final whistle.

Yes, the winter soccer season is finished. And for the sport of soccer itself, it ended on a high note.

To soccer nonbelievers (of which there are many, unfortunately), the thought of either a scoreless or lopsided contest is sure to induce a roll of the eyes and perhaps a feigned snore for added effect.

The poor souls just don’t know what they’re missing.

Take the Feb. 23 North Coast Section 2A boys final between Campolindo and Piedmont at Acalanes High School as a case in point. Sure, Campolindo won 6-1. But the teams were more evenly-matched than the score might indicate. Both teams showed some fine skills and an overall feel for the game. But the Cougars, most especially, gave a wonderful display of their abilities on set pieces, a part of the game that is grossly undervalued by many.

Seems the Cougars have a lot of strong-legged players. Alika Okamitsu was a joy to watch, a revelation for those who had never before seen him. Okamitsu set up the game’s first goal with a booming free kick from beyond midfield. A defender, Okamitsu exhibited speed and ball skills to go along with his booming shots and free kicks. A junior, Okamitsu surely will be one player to keep an eye on next season.

Beyond Okamitsu’s well-placed assist (Max Smith-Gee was credited with the goal), free kicks led to two other Cougars goals. And a throw-in that was flicked on before being put into the net accounted for a fourth. Further, Okamitsu wasn’t the only Cougars player capable of long-distance accuracy, as both Georgio Tavecchio and Jason Kimura scored on second-half “crackers,” as British commentators are wont to say.

A free kick also led to Piedmont’s only goal as Nikolai Littleton finished a William Young serve into the box in the late minutes. In all, Piedmont had most of the early play and finished with 12 shots to Campolindo’s 13. But in this game, every Highlanders mistake proved costly.

On paper, a 6-1 final score might not impress. But Campolindo-Piedmont made for great soccer and a great NCS final - - and on a cold, wet evening, too boot! What a great display in the value of set pieces and accurate long-range shooting!

It makes a fan want to scream for an encore!

Well, I’m getting ready to head down to Newark Memorial High School for today’s wrestling proceedings and, as promised, I’ll be bringing you some live updates throughout the day. I’m hoping to kick the blog off around 2 p.m., so check back some time this afternoon.

Until then though, here’s something to hold you over. No, it’s not wrestling, but there are other winter sports to talk about (or so I’m told).

This season’s NCS 2A playoffs featured a double dose of Bishop O’Dowd playing at Miramonte. On Feb. 16, the Matadors beat the Dragons 2-0 in a boys quarterfinal. Four days later, Miramonte’s girls made it 2-for-2 over O’Dowd in a 1-0 semifinal win. I wasn’t able to get to the boys game, so any impressions from those who were present always are welcome. As the reporter assigned to the girls game, however, there was plenty to, well - - report.

For starters, both teams struggled to possess the ball, and long passes tended to pick up speed on the FieldTurf at Miramonte. As it rained Feb. 19 and earlier in the day on Feb. 20 when the game was played, I offer this hypothesis: that FieldTurf tends to play faster in the hours and days after a rain than it does in drier weather. Perhaps you can share your thoughts on this subject, too.

Overall, the game was fast-paced (perhaps too fast-paced), physical and had plenty of emotion. Still, neither team ever shifted into high gear. O’Dowd - - in spite of two missed chances in the first half - - was akin to the football team that plays well between the 20-yard lines and struggles in the “red zone.” Miramonte was reminiscent of the ice hockey team that works the puck up to the center line or blue line and then just dumps it into the opponent’s zone and hopes for the best. Most unfortunately, the EPL-ish elements of the game (long passes and footraces between the forwards and defenders) just didn’t mesh with the fast field. 

Check out the week in photos, our weekly photo feature from the BANG-EB photo and multimedia staffs.

 Photo gallery

This season - - no, make that for many seasons - - the Oilers of Richmond have exuded pride and poise when it comes to boys soccer. This is a team that plays with skill, passion and a deep love for the game. And Oilers fans are enthusiastic with a knowledge of the game that is second to none.

On Saturday (Feb. 16), the Oilers lost 1-0 at home to Deer Valley on a penalty kick in a North Coast Section 3A quarterfinal. For Richmond, the penalty call (the referee ruled a trip in the box) was cheesy. For Deer Valley, it was a wonderful call.

Regardless of rooting interest, skill did not prevail in this game. Deer Valley played a physical style and Richmond players paid the price. One even got a concussion. This wasn’t a game for the faint of heart.

Credit Richmond, though, with a show of spirit, as after the game, players and coaches danced around in a circle while doing their traditional “Vamos, Vamos Aceiteros“  (”Let’s go, let’s go, Oilers”) chant.

There is a sense of community and togetherness on this team that others in the NCS could well emulate. When it comes to the core meaning of what high school sports are about, the Oilers are champions year after year.

Check out this week’s edition of the prep photo gallery, brought to you by the photo and multimedia staffs of BANG-East Bay (I’m paid to say that…).

Prep Photo Gallery

Back in the ’80s, my favorite games to watch involved Juventus of Italy’s Serie A on the club level and the French national team at the international level. The great midfield maestro Michel Platini played for both, serving as captain of the latter. Though there were many great players of that era, none could match the flair, class and elegance of Michel Platini  (http://www.ifhof.com/hof/michelplatini.asp; http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/05/01/worldcup.dreamteam.platini/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Platini).

Granted, Michel Platini was an extraordinary player, and most would be hard-pressed to replicate his skills, vision and feel for the game. Given his playing style, though, the now-UEFA president would be a great role model for those looking to bring their games up to a higher level. Having retired from competitive play in 1987, perhaps his zenith simply was too long ago for many of the current generation to remember.

In my coverage of high school soccer through nearly two decades, I have searched for that one player to emerge as the American Platini. Perhaps here in the states, Michel Platini exists as “Michelle” Platini, as girls soccer relies less on speed and force, and more on finesse, than boys soccer. Still, there has been only one Platini - - the original.

The search continues.

Before we get all geeked over the spring season, take a minute to look back at the winter sports photos taken over the past week. And yes, wrestling takes center stage this week in the photo gallery (major props go to photographer Anda Chu of the Argus, who worked his butt off to get a bunch of good shots on Saturday at Mission San Jose). 

Prep sports photo gallery brought to you by the BANG-EB photo and multimedia staff