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McIntyre leads South Tahoe’s all-league, all-state honorees

Steve Yingling, Tribune sports editor

In the school’s final season in the Northern Nevada 4A League, the South Tahoe High Vikings earned all-league consideration in four of five sports and landed 33 student athletes on the all-state academic team.

South Tahoe will compete in the Northern 3A’s Mount Rose League next year.

Sophomore distance runner Shelby McIntyre led the postseason athletic achievements by garnering first-team all-region and all-state in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. McIntyre was the state champion in the 1,600 meters and state runner-up in the 3,200 after finishing runner-up in both events at regionals.



“All in all we couldn’t be happier with the outcomes. South Tahoe’s last 4A champion at least for the foreseeable future,” said South Tahoe distance coach Dan Wilvers.

Track and field postseason honors are based on where the athletes place at regionals and state. First and second-place finishers are accorded first-team status, while third- and fourth-place performers achieve second-team recognition.



DeLallo makes second team

In baseball, the Vikings’ ace pitcher Max DeLallo earned a spot on the Sierra Division’s second team. On a 7-23 South Tahoe team, DeLallo registered a 3-6 won-loss record and 4.89 earned run average. DeLallo repeatedly recorded double-digit strikeout totals, including a school-record 17 punchouts against North Valleys late in the season.

“He’s great, great athlete … the hardest worker I’ve ever been around,” said STHS baseball coach Don Amaral.

DeLallo knew that a first-team selection wasn’t a possibility because he didn’t win a Sierra Division game.

“The second team was an appropriate choice for me,” DeLallo said. “Second team is the best I could make for what I accomplished this year.”

Senior second baseman/pitcher Ricky Braun and senior catcher Connor Casey received honorable mention. Braun earned honorable mention or better in all three of his sports seasons as a senior.

Genasci, Marin on all-region team

South Tahoe’s swimming team put two male swimmers on the all-region squad – junior Luca Genasci and sophomore Francisco Marin. Genasci was the only Vikings’ swimmer to qualify for the state meet in Las Vegas, where he finished seventh in the 200 freestyle. He received second-team all-region by placing third in the 200-yard freestyle at the regional meet.

“It’s very hard to get to the state level, especially when you are dealing with the South in swimming. Luca worked very hard at it,” said STHS coach Jerry Erickson.

Marin nearly qualified for the state meet in two events, finishing fourth in the 100 breaststroke and sixth in the individual medley. To qualify for state, swimmers needed to finish third or better in their event.

“Francisco is an up-and-coming swimmer, one of the better swimmers I have coached in a while,” Erickson said. “He has a very unique way of swimming with a really strong pull. When he throws in front of himself, he catches a lot of water and he utilizes that in all of his strokes.”

South Tahoe’s softball team had two players receive honorable mention: senior shortstop/pitcher Terra Backinger and junior hurler/first baseman Melissa Smith.

Vikings keep priorities straight

Backinger was one of six softball players and nearly two dozen overall to earn all-state academic honors. The others were Kristine Guarino, Melissa Ewing, Ashley Killeen, Amanda Rives and Emily Rives.

“This is a good number,” said STHS Athletic Director Don Borges, noting that the star student athletes also receive a certificate from the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association and a special patch from the school’s booster club.

Baseball players making the all-state academic grade were DeLallo, Andrew Contaxis and Rylan Tepper. Golf and swimming each placed one team member on academic all-state: David Wise and Jason Elder.

To qualify for all-state academic team, a student athlete need to earn straight As in their previous semester.

The Vikings’ all-state academic track and field members included Emily Acker, Katherine Albrecht, Gregory Baghdikian, Erich Baumann, Samuel Bray, Rachael Caglia, Ulises Caro, Leighton Crook, Brandon Cramer, Madeline Dant, Hannah Green, Raimana Herrmann, Brooke King, Bridget Moffat, Tyler Myers, Connor Rettig, Kira Smith, Kelsey Smith, Janelle Spandau Buts, Tammi Tu, Tina Tu and Kyle Wilkinson.


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