Jackie Cannon signs with Concordia University For Release June 4, 2009
Southridge’s Jacalyn Cannon Signs with Concordia

Jacalyn Cannon

PORTLAND, Ore. – Southridge High School’s Jacalyn Cannon has signed to continue her education and play basketball at Concordia University, CU head coach Aaron Christian announced.

“Jackie comes from a great high school basketball program where she has developed and improved as a player,” Christian said. “When I look at Jackie I see a player who hasn’t reached her full potential. With her size and ability to play on the perimeter, she will make it tough for people to guard her. We look forward to Jackie joining the Cavalier program.”

Cannon was a three-year varsity player for Southridge High School. A 5-foot-11 wing, Cannon was a member of two Skyhawk state championship teams. Southridge claimed the 2007 6A state title after going 25-4 on the year and the 2008 championship with a 24-4 mark.

For Release May 12, 2008
Cal Inks 3 Rowers to National Letters of Intent Bears tab Norwegian international, Cal alum's daughter and local product

BERKELEY - The California women's crew program signed three recruits to National Letters of Intent this spring, with Golden Bears head coach Dave O'Neill bringing in a daughter of a Cal alumnus (Brittany Santucci), a Norwegian international (Kristina Lofman) and a Berkeley product (Zoe Janachek).

Janachek, a 5-9 Berkeley High School student-athlete, is the captain of her Oakland Strokes club and has been rowing for four years. She combines a terrific work ethic with a calm demeanor. Her leadership skills will be important throughout her tenure at Cal."Zoe is a really good kid and tireless worker," O'Neill said. "She spent a fair amount of time this fall taking care of an injury, and it was impressive how she took care of herself, kept things in perspective and got ready for the spring. She is going to do very well on our team."

The 5-11 Lofman comes to Cal highly recommended and looks to be a perfect fit for Cal women's crew. The native of Oslo, Norway, represented her country at the junior world championships in the double in 2006 and 2007, placing 16th and fourth, respectively. "I am really looking forward to working with Kristina," O'Neill said. "She has already shown to be a team player, and I was impressed with her noticeable improvement in the double. She is strong rower and is becoming more proficient. It's obvious she's an athlete with the right attitude."

Santucci, 6-1 from Beaverton, Ore., is the daughter of John Santucci, an oarsman for Cal men's crew in the early 1980s. Brittany Santucci was a starter on the Southridge High School basketball team that won its fourth straight state title this past March.

"I have been really impressed with Brittany," O'Neill said. "She has shown that she knows what it takes to win, and, more importantly, knows how difficult it is to sustain excellence from one year to the next. That type of mindset most certainly translates from one sport to the next."

The current Cal team will send the nation's top-ranked varsity eight into action in the Pac-10 Rowing Championships on Sunday, May 18, at Lake Natoma in Gold River, Calif. On May 20, the NCAA will announce its selections for the upcoming NCAA Women's Rowing Championships. Cal is the host of the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships, which will take place May 30-June 1 at Lake Natoma.
Link to Cal Crew http://www.calcrew.com/folder1/home.html

For Release: Nov. 23, 2007
USC Women Add Three Top Players To 2008-09 Roster Ashley Corral, Briana Gilbreath and Michelle Jenkins sign on with the Women of Troy.

The USC women's basketball team welcomes three new outstanding players to Troy, as three athletes have signed national letters of intent for the 2008-09 season, USC head coach Mark Trakh has announced. Lined up to become Trojan freshmen in 2008 are Ashley Corral, Briana Gilbreath and Michelle Jenkins.

"This class has been ranked No. 6 in the nation and we're really looking forward to having them here," Trakh said. "Our past three classes have now been ranked No. 1, 12 and 6, so we're excited about our talent. When Ashley, Briana and Michelle start, they'll also be joining our two injured players Jacki Gemelos and Stefanie Gilbreath for their first seasons. To consider the five of them all together, that's an especially great class."

Rounding out USC's incoming class is 6-3 post player Michelle Jenkins, who was named the 2006-07 Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year after helping her Southridge High School team win its third straight state title. A former teammate of fellow Beaverton, Ore., native and current USC sophomore Aarika Hughes, Jenkins comes to USC as the No. 7 rated post player and No. 93 player overall according to hoopgurlz.com. She earned 2006-07 All-American Honorable Mention from Street & Smith and was the 2006 End of the Trail Co-MVP. In 2007, Jenkins was an All-Oregon State Tournament First Team selection as well as earning her second straight First Team All-Metro pick. She also recently participated in the 2007 Nike Regional Skills Academy. Jenkins also considered Cal and Arizona State.

"Michelle is very fundamentally sound," Trakh said of Jenkins. "She is a solid post player who can get up and down the floor. She is great with her face or her back to the basket."

to read the entire article...
http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/112307aaa.html

For Release: Nov. 15, 2007
ASU Women's Basketball Signs Three
Kimberly Brandon, Alex Earl and Janae Fulcher are newest Sun Devils

TEMPE, Ariz. - A pair of explosive posts from Southern California and a top guard from the Pacific Northwest, highlight the 2008 Arizona State women's basketball signing class announced by head coach, Charli Turner Thorne.

A 5-10 guard, Earl has been a four-year member of the varsity squad at Southridge High School in Beaverton, Ore. The team leader in assists, steals and three-point field goals, Earl was named third-team all-state and first team all-league in 2007 following a season in which she helped lead the Skyhawks to their third consecutive 6A state title. A 2006-07 Street & Smith's Prep All-American Honorable Mention selection, Earl also earned all-league notice in 2005 and 2006, was named to the Oregon City `End of the Trail' All-Tournament Team in 2005 and 2006 (also earned MVP honors in '06), and played on Team Concept during the 2007 Nike Elite Regional Camp. In addition to her ability on the hardwood, Earl was also a four-year starter on Southridge's soccer team, earning second-team all-state honors in 2005 and first-team all-league honors in 2005 and 2007. Earl, whose father has coached basketball, was also a U.S. National Team member in 2004 and was on the Olympic Development Team for the state of Oregon for three years.

"Alex definitely plays like a `Coach's kid' said Turner Thorne. "Her court awareness and understanding of the game combined with her outstanding skills and athleticism truly separate her.

"Alex is one of the best guards in the country at one of the best high school girls' basketball programs in the country. She is a great shooter and floor leader who will be able to play all three guard positions for us. She is savvy, intense and fun-loving all at the same time. I truly look forward to her being a Sun Devil."

Currently No. 14 in the country, the 2007-08 Sun Devils resume play on Thursday night when they host the Chinese National Team at 6:30 p.m. in Wells Fargo Arena. It will be the first of three home games they will play in five days as they will host UC Santa Barbara on Saturday (4 p.m.) and Yale on Monday (6:30 p.m.).

to read the entire article...
http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/asu-w-baskbl-body.html

For Release: April 20, 2007
WOU Women’s hoops squad adds 5 - Wolves continue rebuilding process with top class
MONMOUTH, Ore. –Second-year Western Oregon women’s basketball coach Greg Bruce has announced the signing of three high school standouts and two top transfers to add to the Wolves roster for the 2007-08 season. Wearing Wolves uniforms next winter will be Danielle Wells (Southridge HS), Katie Torlund (Burns HS/Nebraska-Kearney), Whitney Chase (Oregon City HS) and Sara Zahler (Newberg). Also making a major impact for WOU next year will be senior transfer Vanessa Wyffels, who played at NCAA Division I Wagner and at Willamette, and was a redshirt at WOU this past winter.

Danielle Wells, a 5-9 forward, was the team captain this year for three-time state champion Southridge High School. She averaged nearly eight points a game and four rebounds a contest for the Skyhawks, who won the 6A title this year after winning the 4A crown the two years previous. Wells was an honorable mention All-Metro League pick, shooting 53 percent from the field.

"Danielle is the ultimate team player who was a big contributor for Southridge in winning their third consecutive state championship,” said Bruce. “She enjoys competition, relishes playing defense, and has just the kind of attitude that will help turn our program around. She is a very accomplished passer from the high post who also has the ability to score inside against taller defenders. Any coach would enjoy working with Danielle; we are thrilled she chose to come to WOU."

Thursday, November 16, 2006
NNU Bsketball inks Falissa Smith

NAMPA - Northwest Nazarene head basketball coach Kelli Lindley announced today that Falissa Smith has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend NNU and play basketball for the Crusaders next fall. In addition to basketball, Falissa will compete for the Crusader track and field team in the spring.

Smith, a senior at Southridge High School in Beaverton, Ore., is a 5-7 combo guard on a Southridge High School team that has been ranked in the USA Today Top 25 listing the last two seasons and has captured the last two Oregon 4A state championships.

"We are thrilled to have signed someone with Falissa’s experience, athleticism, and character," Lindley commented. "Falissa comes from an outstanding high school basketball program where she has learned what it means to work hard and compete daily. She has impressed us with her desire to continue to get better and because of her speed and athleticism, her potential is unlimited."

A sprinter on the oval, NNU head track and field coach John Spatz made these comments. "The track and field program at NNU is very glad to know that Falissa Smith will be a part of the team here next year. We are especially excited about Falissa's ability to have an immediate impact in our sprint program."

"Falissa is an outstanding student-athlete that should be very successful at the GNAC Conference level as well as at the NCAA II National level," Spatz continued. "Falissa's early decision should help her to be able to enjoy her senior year and to be able to focus on her basketball and track season's free from the pressure of choosing a school late in the year."

"We couldn’t be happier to have Falissa joining our program," Lindley added. "Not only is she a talented basketball player, but she has the type of character and personality that will only make this team better on and off the court." Sentiments that coach Spatz echoed in regard to the track and field program.