Schools

ESPN Honors ANHS National Champions

A pizza party was held Thursday in honor of the Aliso Niguel girls' soccer team.

For Aliso Niguel High School senior Sammy Jo Prud’homme this may just be the perfect ending to her high school career.

“This is such an exciting thing. It’s something that doesn’t happen too often and may never happen again,” she said.

Prud’homme was the Division 1 player of the year as a member of the Aliso Niguel Wolverines girls’ soccer team, who are now ranked #1 in the nation.

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The team was honored Thursday by ESPN High School for their accomplishments and top ranking in the Powerade Fab 50, a weekly ranking complied by ESPNHS of the nation’s high school sports teams.

This is the first national title for any ANHS sports team, according to coach Randy Dodge.

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The ceremony and pizza party was held at the Aliso Viejo Aquatic Center and welcomed several city officials, including Mayor Don Garcia; Council members Phil Tsunoda, Carmen Cave and William Phillips; and Capistrano Unified School District Board President Gary Pritchard.

“This is fantastic,” Garcia said. “They are national champions. I think that says it all.”

Dodge said this is an amazing time for the team, who he hopes will hold on to this feeling their entire lives, adding he won’t forget the feeling when they beat their “arch rivals” in San Clemente. From the field at the moment of victory, Dodge said he remembers the “deathly silence” coming from one side of the stadium and the roar of cheers that came from the other.

“These girls just keep riding this wave. This happened in March, now its June and it’s like it happened yesterday,” Dodge said.

In front of a crowd of supporters and enthusiastic parents, the Wolverine’s received their team trophy, medals and national champion rings during the ceremony.


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