PRO MOTORSPORTS Website: HERE BECCA WEBSTER Red Bull’s 'Rock Diva' is a 6-time U.S. National Champion in Rock Crawling for Team RockIt At Santana HS, she was a CIF titlist in gymnastics & diving PRO SOCCER WPS: HERE ANGIE (Woznuk) KERR Sky Blue FC '11 (N.J.) Link: HERE St. Louis Athletica '09 Atlanta Beat '10 NATALIE SPILGER Chicago Red Stars '10 Link: HERE PRO SOFTBALL NPF: HERE SAVANNAH BROWN Philadelphia Force '09 Link: HERE CARRI LETO MARTIN (retired) New England Riptide Link: HERE 2004-08 ARCHIVES HERE 2008-09 ARCHIVES HERE PRO BASKETBALL PRO VOLLEYBALL HEATHER MOLZEN Lemvig Basket club Dameligean League (Denmark, 09-10) JENNIFER HOLDREN AVP Pro Tour PROFILE ADVENTURER Roz Savage completed 3-year mission to row solo across the Pacific Ocean. BLOG

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (4-5-12) — The San Diego Surge, the national runners-up in the 62-team Women's Football Association, is making a move and will play its 2012 spring schedule at Santee Community Stadium on the campus of Santana High School.

The Surge, which has played under others nicknames (Sunfire, Scorpions) over the past decade, posted 11 consecutive victories to capture the American Conference crown last season before falling in Dallas to the Boston Militia for the national title.

The season opener will be at home against the Silver State Legacy of Las Vegas on Sat.,Apr. 21. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m.

The long-time quarterback for the Surge is Melissa Gallegos, who begins her 10th season with the Surge. Her favorite target is tight end Carmen Cruz, the leader in receptions, yardage and touchdowns.

"I feel very old for this sport -- I sometimes feel like Brett Favre," joked Gallegos, 32. "But we've got a lot of key players and a lot of experience, so we shouldn't have any problem to play for another championship."

In 2010, Gallegos was selected to represent Team USA at a world women's (American style) football event in Sweden, directing the Americans to the gold medal following a victory over Canada. Then last year, she led the Surge to an 11-0 mark and the American Conference crown after defeating the previously undefeated Dallas Diamonds, 48-20.

Last month, the Surge conducted a 2-day mini-camp in Gallegos' hometown of El Centro in preparation for the season. Practices are conducted twice weekly at Hourglass Field in Mira Mesa.

The veteran Surge squad features several East County products, including a pair of basketball standouts from their high school days.

Included are a pair of former East County players of the year in Kim Martin, who led Mount Miguel High to the first of its current stretch of 12 consecutive Grossmont Conference league titles in 2000-01; and Jessica Cable, the benchmark to the 2002-03 El Capitan team which went into double-overtime before falling in a memorable CIF Division II title game to Mount Miguel.

"A cousin of mine, Michelle Starks, plays for the team," said Martin, who is in her second season playing football. "When I came back from college, I saw some of their practices and decided I had to be competitive again and this was the way to go."

Martin, a power forward in her basketball days, is a slot receiver for the Surge.

"I always said I was too aggressive for basketball, so I felt football was a way to take my aggression out. Plus, in football, I can make better use of my height, so that's nice."

Cable enjoys the physicality of playing tackle football

"It's intense and I love the contact," noted Cable, a third-year right tackle who can play anywhere along the offensive line. "And it's nice to be in a team situation once again."

"It's awesome to be on this team. We all get along, we're all on the same page and we're all her for one goal. It's nice to be on a high-caliber team again."

Cable, who also starred at Grossmont College, would like nothing better than to make a repeat appearance in the WFA title game, but, of course, win it all.

"We're after it this year," she added. "We have more passion, more dedication, to get back there this year. It's a great environment."

Cable's basketball coach at El Capitan, Darin Curtis, is also an assistant coach for the running backs, along with being the public-address voice of the Surge.

Remaining Surge home games include: the Bay Area Bandits (May 19), the Arizona Assassins (June 9), and the Pacific Warriors (June 16). Playoff dates will follow.

Further information is available on the team website: www.sandiegosurge.com.

UPDATE: Nyad falls short (watch CNN video below)

For the summer 2011 season, midfielder Angie Kerr will play for Sky Blue FC, the WPS franchise in Piscataway, N.J.

Natalie Spilger

DID YOU KNOW... Spilger is known for gaining the assist on the first-ever goal in WPS history.

The Citi Sportswoman of the Year Award recognizes the player who demonstrates exemplary community involvement. The citation was announced during The 2010 WPS Year-End Awards banquet.

"I'm excited and honored," Spilger said. "There are so many women in this league who are deserving of this award, and I'm just really flattered."

Spilger's work has been chronicled in numerous media outlets. She has been recognized at the United Nations as part of their "Champions for Change," and GreenLaces now has more than 1,000 people who have "Made a Promise to the Planet" to reduce waste, promote reusable products and conserve natural resources by doing little things every day.

Her involvement within a grassroots-focused WPS has been a natural fit for Spilger on and off the pitch.

"This league allows you to be engaged within the community," Spilger said. "A smile, or a wave, a hug, the fact that we can inspire girls to come back to a game -- I've had a chance to affect them positively. Being a good person goes a long way, and this league is so important in showing that they can be leaders, too." MORE

Washington State's Heather Molzen (El Capitan) signs professional contract to play in Denmark. (WSU courtesy photo)

2010-11 Molzen Update The economic downturn has hit in Europe, too, forcing many teams to send their American import players home. However, Molizon was offered a position in the National League of Turkey, yet declined and is back home in Lakeside. Along with staying in shape playing basketball at a local fitness club, she is working with children suffering from autism.

Heather Molzen

Molzen was a four-year letterwinner with the Cougars, appearing in each of the team's 60 games over her last two seasons. She combined to make 56 starts her junior and senior years, and became the first player in school history to start 30 games in a season in 2007-08.

Molzen led the team in both rebounding average (6.0 per game) and total rebounds (179) as a senior, ranking 11th in the Pacific-10 Conference in the former. As a junior, Molzen led the Cougars in total rebounds (128; 4.3 per game), and finished second on the team in scoring (203 points; 6.8 per game).

Lemvig Basket, located in Lemvig, Denmark, recently completed its first season in the Dameligaen (8-14 record; 7th of 9 teams), missing the playoffs in its debut season by only one game.

"We signed Heather Molzen for the coming season because we want to make our team stronger on the inside, and at the same time keep the flexibility," Lemvig Basket chairman Rene Jakobsen said. "She is a perfect match, being able to fill in at different positions. We also feel that Heather will be a great role model for our younger players."

At El Capitan, Molzen was a three-time All-East County performer, once leading the region in both field goal shooting (61.5 percent) and blocks.

Molzen is the first local player to play pro ball in Northern Europe since former Santana standout center LESLIE ELLIS did so in Norway (Tromso AC) during the early 1990s.

Katie Wilkins as a member of the USA National women's volleyball team. (Courtesy, USA Volleyball)

© East County Sports.com
CUAYNABO, Puerto Rico (2-1-10) — Former Christian High standout KATIE WILKINS KIMMICH, the former CIF San Diego Section player of the year who went on to play for the U.S. National women's volleyball team, is continuing her professional career in the Puerto Rican Superliga, signing with the Mets de Guaynabo.

Kimmich, a former Lakeside resident who was recently married, is a 6-foot-4 outside hitter who was 2001-03 West Coast Conference player of the year for Pepperdine, also taking All-America honors all three seasons for the Waves. She also played for the Hungkuk Pink Spiders of the Korean volleyball league, plus two seasons on the pro beach circuit.

APRIL 2010 UPDATE: Despite strong play by Kimmich, the Mets finished last in the 10-team Superlga at 4-18. However, she suffered a career-ending knee injury, so now lives with her husband in Germany; he's in the U.S. Air Force.

Savannah Brown Catcher, Philadelphia Force

Leadoff hitter Stacy May paced Chicago with a pair of basehits.

Brown, who played for the Rockford (Ill.) Thunder last season, entered at catcher in the 5th inning, even though former Georgia Tech teammate Jessica Sallinger was the starting pitcher for the Force. Brown went 0-for-1.

Angie Woznuk (left) Defender, St. Louis Athletica

© East County Sports.com
CARSON (5-31-09) — ANGIE WOZNUK, who played on all six levels of the U.S. National Soccer team program in her amateur career, made her Southern California debut as a professional on Saturday (May 30), but her St. Louis Athletica fell to the Los Angeles Sol, 2-0, at Home Depot Center.

Woznuk, a defender, was credited with one shot. but the Sol, owners of the best record (6-1-2) in Women's Professional Soccer, held a 16-8 advantage in shots. Included were goals by Camille Abily in the 35th minute and former San Diego Spirit (WUSA) striker Shannon Box in the 50th minute.

Woznuk, an El Cajon resident, started for NCAA women's soccer national champion University of Portland, then was drafted 15th overall in the WPS draft by St. Louis, which rests in the middle of the 7-team pack at 2-3-2 overall.

© East County Sports.com
LAGOS, Portugal (3-5-09) — El Cajon's ANGIE WOZNUK scored the tournament's first goal in the 2009 Algarve Cup, leading the United States past Denmark, 2-0, at Municipal Stadium. For Woznuk, a defender, it was her second career international goal.

The Algarve Cup, now in its 16th edition, is the world's most prestigious women's football (soccer) tournament behind only the Women's World Cup and the Olympics.

Update — Sweden won its third Algarve Cup by nipping defending champion USA in a penalty shootout after the teams played to a 1-1 draw in the final. Denmark finished in third place. Hope Solo, a teammate of Woznuk for the St. Louis Athletica, was tabbed the tournament's most outstanding player.

Angie Woznuk Her US Soccer Page

WPS opens Mar. 29th

© East County Sports.com
ST. LOUIS (11-23-08) — ANGIE WOZNUK, the two-time Parade prep All-American soccer star from University of San Diego High, has been drafted by the St. Louis Athletica of the new Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league, which debuts this April.

Woznuk, an El Cajon resident, was the first pick in the third round (15th overall) in the WPS general draft.

Woznuk's standout career included am NCAA national championship with the University of Portland. She also captured the FIFA U-19 World Championship for Team USA, winning the Silver Ball award at the second most valuable player and the Bronze Foot award as the tournament's third-leading scorer.

At USDHS, Woznuk was tabbed the Gatorade Californian state player of the year. Now 23, Woznuk joined the U.S. Women's National Team in 2005. The new league is the forerunner to the WUSA (Women's United Soccer Association), which included the San Diego Spirit.

In 2009, WPS franchises will be: Los Angeles Sol, St. Louis Athletica, FC Gold Pride (San Jose), Chicago Red Stars, Boston Breakers, Washington (D.C.) Freedom and Blue Sky FC (New York/New Jersey). Joining in 2010 will be teams in Atlanta, Dallas and Philadelphia.

NORSEMEN IN THE PROS
Valhalla High is the lone high school in the nation with two alumni playing in National Pro Fastpitch – Rockford Thunder rookie catcher Savannah Brown (left) and New England Riptide all-star second baseman Carri Leto Martin. Brown was recently traded to the Philadelphia Force.
Carri Leto Martin New England Riptide	Savannah Brown Philadelphia Force

© East County Sports.com
LOWELL, Mass. (2-6-09/Revised 2-9-09) – CARRI LETO MARTIN, a 3-time All-Star in National Pro Fastpitch, has been declared a free agent along with all of her teammates after the New England Riptide withdrew from the 2009 season due to economic duress. NPF commissioner Cheri Kempf made the announcement.

The second baseman is free to sign with any of the five remaining NPF franchises. Leto Martin could also rejoin the Riptide should the ballclub return for the 2010 season. A new schedule has been released to reflect this latest development.

However, Leto Martin may call it a career following her recent promotion on the Harvard University women's softball coaching staff.

"Because of my promotion to first assistant coach at Harvard – and the summer recruiting commitments that come along with it – I will not be playing in the league this year," Leto Martin exclusively told East County Sports.com.

In addition to her coaching responsibilites, Leto Martin plans to take classes toward her Master's degree this summer. With such a busy schedule, little time remains to play the game at the professional level.

Although Leto Martin did not officially close the door to her playing career, she added, "It was a good run."

It was also a nice run for the Riptide, one of the original six teams that joined the revamped Women’s Pro Softball League in 2004 which changed names shortly thereafter to the current league known as National Pro Fastpitch.

“It is with a very heavy heart that we have made this decision,” said Riptide owner Joe Adlman. “We would like to thank the community of Lowell, our sponsors, staff and especially our players for their support and contribution over the years."

Four other members of the Riptide (22-26 last season) were named to the 2008 All NPF team: pitcher Eileen Canney; first baseman, Lyndsey Angus; and outfielders Gina Carbonatto and Lisa Modglin. The franchise won the Cowles Cup championship in 2006.

Leto Martin captured a Cowles Cup in 2004 with the New York-New Jersey Juggernaut, then stayed with the franchise for two additional season after it moved and became the Philadelphia Force. She join the Riptide for the 2007 and 2008 campaigns.

2008 BIO – Carri Leto Martin, a fifth-year player and three time NPF All-Star, returns for her second year with the Riptide. Martin was part of the championship NY/NJ Juggernaut in 2004. She remained with the team during their move to Philadelphia where she had a breakout year. She led the team with a .307 batting average and a .371 on base percentage. This fine offensive year was capped off by being awarded the National Pro Fastpitch Defensive Player of the Year award. Martin continued her offensive onslaught with the Riptide in 2007, batting .296, second highest on the team. In 2002, Martin competed with the Team Smith Nationals which placed third at the prestigious Canada Cup. She ended her successful career at Northwestern University ranking in the top seven in ten different career offensive categories. Martin earned Northwestern Female Athlete of the Year honors in 2004 in addition to being a three time All-Big Ten selection.

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