photos by Charlie McDonald (charlie.mcdonald@surewestsports.com)
by Mike Finnerty (mike.finnerty@surewestsports.com)
The Fall season in high school sports had many outstanding athletic performances, but there were two athletes who stood out the most and earned this year's SureWest Sports' Fall Athletes of the Year.
(Friday - Coaches of the Year announcement)
Tanner Trosin - Boys Fall Athlete of the Year
Folsom quarterback Tanner Trosin is SureWest's Fall Athlete of the Year, an honor earned by winning and setting records.
Before the season had even started, Trosin had the giant task of leading a team that was coming off a Division II State Championship, but individually Trosin was taking over the quarterbacking reigns for last year's MaxPreps National Player of the Year, Dano Graves.
Trosin led Folsom to an 11-3 record and an appearance in the Division II section championship game where Trosin's Bulldogs fell to Vacaville, 39-35. Trosin's signature victory was leading Folsom to a 42-28 win on the road against previously undefeated Elk Grove, a win that sent Folsom to the section championship.
As for records, Trosin finished up as the State's all-time single season leader in passing yards (5,185) and total yards (6,349), while also setting a Northern California record for passing yardage in a game (601) and tying a National record with a 99-yard touchdown pass to Carson McMurtrey in the Division II section championship game against Vacaville.
Mikayla Tucker - Girls Fall Athlete of the Year
For Union Mine Diamondbacks outside hitter Mikayla Tucker, she earns our SureWest Sports' Girls Fall Athlete of the Year for being not only one of the best players in the section, but for leading her team to a Division IV State Championship with an MVP performance.
Entering the 2011 volleyball season, only one Sacramento area team had ever won a State Championship and that was the St. Francis Troubadours back in 2005. That list grew by one on December 3 when Union Mine beat La Jolla Country Day, the two-time defending Division IV State Champions, led by Tucker's 30 kills that earned her tournament MVP honors.
The State Championship capped off an incredible season for Union Mine and for Tucker.
It was a season that included a Sierra Valley Conference title, a Division IV Section Championship win over Christian Brothers, and a NorCal Championship win over Soquel of San Jose.
For the 5'8" Tucker, undersized for her position as outside hitter, she was the best player on the best team, as well as a captain, and a leader. In addition to her MVP award in the State Championship, Tucker had a team high 24 kills in the NorCal Championship.
Tucker will play for Fresno-Pacific University (NAIA) next year.