Irma Torres placed 7th in her race with a time of 18:57 becoming Fillmore High School's fastest freshman on the Seaside Invitational course.

(l-r) Kimberly Vasquez and Briana Segoviano.
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In an amazing season opener at the Ventura State Beach on Friday the Cross Country team powered their way over the 3 mile course to earn high accolades. Several freshmen had break out first races while the old grizzled veterans strutted their stuff and bettered themselves on the blistering course to earn personal records (PR), medals, and placings.

Freshman Irma Torres started the day off right with her impressive 7th place finish to earn her the first medal of the day. There were 271 freshman athletes in the women’s race. In the women’s sophomore race Sofia Gallardo and Alexis Tafoya both set personal bests with a 1:15 second improvement from last year for Sofia and a 1:56 reduction for Alexis. In addition to the biggest female improvement on the day, Alexis also snagged some hardware in the form of a medal with her 28th place finish. There were 279 sophomores in the women’s race. In the women’s junior race Jordyn Vassaur ran a 53 second improvement narrowly missing a medal with her 52nd place finish. There were 236 junior women in the race. The top five women ran a respectable team time of 1:02:35.
On the men’s side of the gender divide, sophomore Isai “EZ” Bolanos had a breakout race with a 4:14 improvement from last year. He must have eaten his Wheaties. Also making an impression for the sophomore men was Jorge Hurtado. Jorge placed 49th out of 364 to earn a medal. Juniors Mario Gaspar and Nico Frias also hit big PR’s with Mario obtaining a 2:58 second bettering and Nico hitting a 2:28 improvement. Nico also finished 28th out of 320 to earn the right to a medal around his neck as well.

But it was the men’s seniors who distinguished themselves at the Seaside Invitational. They took 2nd place overall as a senior group out of 30 senior teams and 6th best overall as a team. The veteran and vastly experienced varsity team had all 5 scorers under 15:34 and a 5 man time spread of 6.79 seconds, virtually unheard of in a cross country race. 6 of the boys earned medals. Isaac Gomez was 19th. Hugo Valdovinos was 20th while Adrian Mejia was 21st. Alexander Frias was 25th and Anthony Rivas was 29th. Jose Almaguer placed 39th. Their combined efforts resulted in a 4:56 team time improvement over last year to finish in a combined 77:29. This places the team as tied for 14th on the all-time best boys list for the meet. In addition for the 2nd week in a row the boys are ranked #1 in CIF Division 4 Southern Section.

Varsity Flashes defeat Boscoe Tech 49, 6. According to Coach Matt Dollar, “It was a great team effort, the offensive line did a great job, our backups that got in the game played very well.” Collin Farrar had 23 carries for 192 yards, Andrey Sanchez had 15 carries for 125 yards and an interception, Carson McLain was 3 for 3 for 60 yards and one touchdown, Tyler Esquivel had a 25 yard touchdown reception, and an interception, Jeremy Martinez and Joseph De La Mora played tough defense. Fillmore vs. Santa Paula this Friday at home! JV 4:30 p.m. & Varsity 7:30 p.m.

JV Flashes defeat Bosco Tech 35, 0. Fillmore Flashes JV Held the Bosco Tech Scoreless for their second shutout in as many games. They held the Tigers to no 1st downs and negative yards from scrimmage for the entire game. The defense was led by Daniel Flores, Michael Castro, Chad Petouglu, Rafael Hernandez, and Carlos Briceno. On Offense the Flashes had touchdowns by Hayden Wright, Joseph Magana, Damien Gonzalez, Bryce Farrar, and Jorge Andrade.

Friday, September 14th will mark the 102nd meeting between both schools which will be hosted by Fillmore. In acticipating a large number in attendance, both schools will be selling “Pre-Sale” tickets from their Student Stores until 12PM (Noon) on Friday. Stadium Way and 2nd Street, near the stadium will be “closed” to traffic. Fillmore High School stadium parking will only be available for handicap guests (that display placards) and guests that have purchase VIP Parking ($10.00) through FHS. Additional parking will be available at Fillmore Middle School as well as Fillmore High School and all surrounding side streets. For questions or any additional information, please feel free to contact the Fillmore High School Athletic Department at (805) 524-8491.

Palo Alto, CA - The USA Water Polo 2012 Jr Olympics - On July 28 through August 1, 2012, Fillmore resident Kyle Popp participated with the Buena Club Water Polo team in capturing 2nd place in the Bronze Division of the 14U Boys. The team played 7 games with the outcome of 1 tie, 4 wins, 2 losses. San Diego Shores 13-13 tie, SoCal Gold 15-9 loss, Sleepy Hollow 6-7 win, 680 2-13 win, Santa Barbara 11-12 win, Sleepy Hollow 7-8 win, Shores Solana 15-11 loss.

Also participating for Buena Club Polo were the Boys 18U and Girls 16U teams.

Congratulations to this outstanding group of young athletes!

Believe it or not it’s that time again “FILLMORE FLASHES FOOTBALL AND FALL SPORTS”. This is the time of year when we start to look to our community to help us make this a successful year for the Sports Program at Fillmore High School. The Fillmore High School Athletic Boosters is an organization run completely by unpaid volunteers, which include board members, parents, coaches and many other adults who donate their time. Everyone is dedicated to the advancement of Fillmore High School Sports at all levels of play.

We are starting early this year on the Football Program and that is why we need your help. We are seeking local businesses that would be interested in placing an “AD” in this years “FILLMORE FLASHES FALL SPORTS PROGRAM”.
If you are interested in advertising please contact Susan Golson at 805-216-4013.

John Rogers, Christian Conaway, of Fillmore, and Kolby Parks on the podium.
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Jon Huey, Keith Henderson and Kyle Castenada, of Fillmore, on the podium for their Classic Luge results.
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Kyle Castenada qualifying on his Classic Luge.
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Fillmore natives, Christian Conaway (18) and Kyle Castenada (19) traveled to Goldendale Washington to compete in the International Gravity Sports Association sanctioned 2012 Maryhill Festival of Speed race. 240 gravity racing athletes from over 14 countries gather together for this much anticipated race. Racers traveled from as far away as Europe, Japan, Brazil and Peru to race on the famous Maryhill Loops Road course.

On June 29th Christian Conaway pulled off “The Double” by setting fastest qualifying times in both Street Luge and Classic Luge with a time of 3:03.060 minutes down the 2.25 mile long course on his Street Luge and broke the course record for Classic Luge with a time of 3:11.140 down the course. Castenada earned a time of 3:11.168 setting the second fastest time in the Classic Luge class on the first day of qualifying.

The second round of time qualifications was held the following day. Conaway’s time on his Classic Luge held throughout the day. Kolby Parks out of Canada set a blazing time of 3:03.010 and bested Conaway’s first Street luge qualifying time. On his second qualifying attempt Conaway ran a 3:03.067, which was .007 of a second slower the second day.

With Conaway and Castenada both earning one of the top six fastest times in Street Luge they both qualified for the King of the Hill race on Saturday evening. The race was held late in the afternoon under rapidly darkening skies. Racers were reporting rain at the top of the course and wet track conditions at the starting line. Conaway jumped out front for an early lead heading into the first left hand corner, but due to slippery conditions slid out but avoided going into the hay bales. At that point the King of the Hill Race became a survival event. At the finish line all the racers crossed with a few seconds of each other with John Rogers earning the title King of the Hill. Castenada crossed the finish line in 5th place, with Conaway crossing in 6th place.

The Street and Classic Luge Finals were run on Sunday July 1. Conaway and Castenada quickly advanced through the heat races to seed themselves in the Street Luge and Classic Luge Finals. In the Street Luge Final race Conaway was passed by John Rogers and Kolby Parks after he took a corner a little wide. Conaway, in third place, took advantage of the last corner prior to the finish line and cut in on Kolby Parks for an inside left hand pass to take over second place at the finish line. Parks said “I couldn’t see anything at the last corner as the sun was in my eyes when Conaway made the pass on me”. When Conaway was asked what he saw when he made the pass on Parks he simply said “I saw 2nd place”. After five days of practice and racing the 2.25 mile 17 corner and hairpin turns both Conaway and Castenada came home with trophies. Conaway took second place in Street Luge and came in 4th place in Classic Luge. Castenada took 3rd place in Classic Luge and 4th Street Luge.

Complete final results were as follows: Street Luge Classic Luge, 1st. John Rogers 1st Jon Huey, 2nd Christian Conaway 2nd Keith Henderson, 3rd Kolby Parks 3rd Kyle Castenada.

BIG Congratulations to our Fast Pitch Softball 10U Fillmore Girls All-Stars for their berth to Nationals in Spokane, Washington July 30 through August 5, 2012.

Our girls qualified in the DIstrict Tournament in El Rio June 25-27, leading them to a State Tournament July 6-8 in Lancaster where they lost their first game Friday and battled through the loser bracket in 90 degree plus weather. We faced off Sylmar in the final game for Nationals. Winner advances to Washington and losers to end their All-Star season. In the top of the second inning, the first run scores giving Fillmore the lead by 1-0. Sylmar comes back to score 2 runs in the third inning to take the lead by 1-2. In the sixth inning Fillmore scores to tie the game 2-2. We went into international tie-breaker in the top of the eight inning where Sylmar scores again to reclaim the lead 3-2. Fillmore scores a run in the bottom of the eight to tie it back up, 3-3. Our defense holds Sylmar from scoring in the top of the ninth inning. During bottom of the ninth, Nevaeh Walla sacrifice bunt moves Alyssa Ibarra our runner to third bases and Ollie Robledo hits to left field and Alyssa scores our winning run. Jessie Fontes picks up the win pitching the entire nine innings.

This is the first time in Fillmore history that a "B" Gold League has qualified for National Tournament to represent the City of Fillmore at the highest level of ASA Softball.

Please come out and support our Car Wash this Saturday July 14 at Balden Plaza, 502 W. Ventura St. next to Verizon in Fillmore from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Baldwin Plaza will be matching our fundraising earnings during this car wash.

We will also be having a Chicken dinner drive thru at the Fillmore Fire Station on Wednesday July 25, 2012 between 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm. Phone orders will also be available, contact Mario at (805) 766-2122 or Vanessa at (805) 824-7015 and our girls will deliver.

We are proud of these young ladies and their commitment. Good Luck girls and play your hearts out at Nationals!

Thank you Fillmore Girls Softball and to our City of Fillmore!

Congratulations to our 10U "B" Gold Division Fillmore Girls Softball All-Stars for qualifying for State Tournament in the ASA Western District Tournament this past weekend, June 22-24, 2012 in El Rio.

This is the first time in Fillmore history that a "B" league has qualified for a chance to win the State tournament in Lancaster, CA. on July 6-8, 2012. Competing against 72 teams, they will have a chance to advance to Nationals in Spokane, WA. Our "B" Gold league is the highest level of competition in ASA Softball All-Star Tournaments. We are so very proud of our team and all the commitment they have displayed in preparation for this level of competition. GOOD LUCK AT STATES!

Fillmore native Christian Conaway, 18, traveled to Windham, New York this past weekend to compete in the “I Love Downhill New York” Street Luge and Standup Speed Board race. Approximately 20 street luge racers entered the contest. Conaway racked up three 1st place heat race finishes and one 2nd place heat race finish. In the 4th round heat race Conaway made an inside pass on David Dean in Crash Corner and stayed in Dean’s draft until he made his move for a toe to toe finish with Conaway besting Dean on the run by 6”. Top racers from the heats advanced to the Street Luge Final race. In that event Conaway and fellow competitor David Dean jumped out in front of the rest of the pack. Conaway picked an inside line which would set him up for the next corner thereby hoping to build his lead over Dean. Conaway hit a pothole in the road and was unable to keep his luge from sliding, at which point the other finalists took advantage of the incident and passed Conaway. Conaway regained control and slowly picked off another racer further down the track to take the third place Bronze podium finish. Taking the Gold was David Dean, Silver Justin Crenshaw with Conaway taking Bronze. “The course was more technical then I expected and the competition was really good” said Conaway. This event was a good warm up for the Maryhill Festival of Speed which Christian will be competing in from 6/27/12 through 7/1/12 in Washington. Conaway has earned podium finishes in the last three events he’s raced, which was 2011 Maryhill Festival of Speed (Bronze), IGSA US Nationals (Gold) and now I Love Downhill New York (Bronze).

Local Fillmore resident Miguel Lagunas will be competing with the Easton Venom of Ventura County in the prestigous American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Tournament in Cooperstown, NY the week of June 30,2012 - July 6, 2012.

Games can be seen live at www.dreamsparktv.net