OC Sports Zone editor and school leaders receive CIF Champions for Character awards

CIF officials handed out Champions for Characters Awards Monday. Pictured from left, Jim McCormack, Tim Burt and Tom Connolly from OC Sports Zone; former Northwood athletic director Phil Roh, Irvine Principal Monica Colunga, Northwood AD Sierra Wang, Northwood Principal Leslie Roach, Northwood AD Brandon Emery and Saddleback boys basketball coach Chris Emaguna.

Long-time Orange County sports writer Tim Burt was among those honored at the 16^th Annual Jim Staunton Champions for Characters Award Ceremony Monday evening at the Grand Conference Center in Long Beach.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

The awards are presented annually to the students-athletes, coaches, administrators, member schools and media who represent excellent sportsmanship and outstanding character while contributing to high school athletics and education.

Burt, the lone media representative who was honored this year, was among more than 40 recipients who accepted their awards. Orange County Register writers Steve Fryer (2004) and Dan Albano (2017) were previous media recipients.

The ceremony began with musical entertainment provided by the Long Beach Poly High School Jazz Band, followed by a welcoming by CIF-SS Commissioner Rob Wigod, who led the 250 attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Following dinner, award winners were honored individually on stage as their prerecorded video messages were played to the audience. 

Each recipient received a crystal plaque award, a certificate and banner displaying his/her name and their achievement. In addition, the 14 student-athletes received a one meal per week for one year voucher at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Fast-Food Restaurants. Each student-athlete also received a $1,000 scholarship. 

Burt was recognized for his 30 plus years of sports journalism service covering CIF events. He worked for the Orange County Register/Irvine World News from 1984 to 2018.

In July of 2018 Burt helped launch a new web-only venture, OC Sports Zone, a free website that covers high school and college sports in Orange County. Burt is the owner, editor and main sportswriter for OC Sports Zone. In 2016 he was honored by the City of Irvine and received the Irvine Wall of Recognition Award. Also in 2016, the Irvine World News sports section was recognized as the best in the state by the California Newspaper Publishers.

“Tim sets a great example and he sincerely cares about the student athletes and we certainly appreciate all of the work he has done over the years,” said CIF-SS Commissioner Rob Wigod.

Assistant CIF-SS Commissioner Thom Simmons nominated Burt for the award.

“Tim was promoting Irvine high schools sports programs before anyone else was doing it; he loves Irvine,” Simmons said. “They owe him a debt of gratitude. He doesn’t make a million dollars, but Tim has always said it is always about the student athletes. Rob and looked at each other and said, ‘yes we need to recognize Tim.'”

Seemingly overwhelmed by the honor, Burt humbly said how grateful he was for the award and said he was appreciative of the support of his family, friends and colleagues.

“This award means a lot to me,” Burt said. “I am grateful to the student athletes, without them we wouldn’t have the stories to tell. “I am grateful to the CIF for this award. It was a total surprise. I’m grateful to my family, all of the editors, writers, photographers and lay-out people that I have worked with over the years. Without their help, this wouldn’t be possible. I love sports and I have gotten to do something that I love for a living for over 30 years. I feel blessed and honored.”

Also on hand to honor Burt was Gabriel Calderon, advertising and social media director who was instrumental in the launch of OC Sports Zone; Tom Connolly, a freelance contributor for the site and Jim McCormack, who volunteers for OC Sports Zone providing photos.

Burt added he looks forward to covering many more stories in Orange County for OC Sports Zone and he and his staff are looking at covering as many teams in the county as possible.

Among the other county recipients were administrators from Northwood and Irvne and two county coaches.

Northwood High School Principal Leslie Roach and Athletic Directors Sierra Wang and Brandon Emery were honored with the Commissioner’s Award presented for their exceptional display of character, compassion and support. Also on hand was former AD Phil Roh.

“We are honored, humbled and touched to be recognized for this award and to represent our school and community,” Roach said.

Dr. Monica Colunga, Principal of Irvine High school was also honored as an administrator for the example she sets for teaching, enforcing and advocating the values of good sportsmanship. She was also cited for equipping her staff with the tools they need to reinforce effective character-based behavior and for her endless work with the Student Athletic Leadership Council in developing a culture of sportsmanship and character with the student-athlete, coaches, parents and guardian supporters.  

“I am extremely honored,” Colunga said. “Our school displays the values and integrity that the CIF promotes. We are a valued based school and we have embraced the CIF values.” 

Saddleback High boys’ basketball coach Chris Emaguna was also honored for campus/community involvement and character development of his student-athletes and for his volunteer work among other campus clubs and teams. 

“I enjoy and I am inspired watching the kids grow, not just on the basketball court, but in life,” Emaguna said. “I get to watch them evolve from freshmen all the way through the process. This is an honor and it makes me feel that I am moving in the right direction.” 

Also honored was Marina baseball coach Toby Hess, who was nominated by Athletic Director Michelle Spencer.

“Toby Hess has been a coach and teacher at Marina for the last three years and he has shown me over and over that character and class are what matters most to him,” Spencer wrote. “His baseball program is a ‘first class program’ and he has not wavered in his dedication to making it just that. Toby invests his time, not just teaching the game of baseball, but teaching student athletes the skills they need to be great human beings….He makes students believe in themselves.”

The ceremony came to a close as the commissioner congratulated all of the recipients, attendees and their families and thanked them for their continual promotion of the student athletes. The recipients then all posed for a group picture.   

List of Recipients:    

Athletes: Rob Arzano (Xavier Prep), Kristin Berry (Long Beach Wilson), Sean Boskovich (Don Lugo), Erik Cuellar (Covina), Meghan Drake (Paloma Valley), Lauryn Gutierrez (Lakewood St. Joseph’s), Patrick Kalb (La Canada), Chase Kito (Rowland), Christina Marchese (Orange Lutheran), Kenya Nunez (Banning), Carter Stoddard (Sunny Hills), Tyler Tiengerd (Royal), Daron Yessayan (Mesrobian), Violet Zavodnik (Lakeside). 

Coaches: Dave Burdett (boys volleyball, Woodcrest Christian), Jeff Dietz (boys basketball, Martin Luther King), Chris Emaguna (boys basketball Saddleback), Cindy Gurney (girls volleyball, Alta Loma), Toby Hess (baseball, Marina), Lois Miller (boys and girls swimming/boys’ and girls’ tennis, Banning), Reymundo Orresquieta (cross country/soccer/track and field Azusa), Laura Shinar (softball, Ramona), Kevin Watson (boys’ soccer, Arlington), Kristi Whitcomb (softball/girls volleyball, Summit) and Ryan Woods, (boys’ soccer, Simi Valley). 

Trainers: Chanel Burrell (Jurupa Hills), Nicole Calderilla (Beaumont), Heather Harvey (A.B. Miller) and Jasmine Velazquez (Lawndale).  

Administrators: Steve Beerman (Athletic Director (Poly/Pasadena), Lisa Busch (AD Lakewood), Dr. Kimberly Cabera (Principal Don Lugo), Dr. Patricia (Principal Carter), Dr. Monica Colunga (Principal Irvine), Rita Kear (Assistant Principal San Dimas), Don Nicholson (Assistant Principal/AD Elsinore).

Media: Tim Burt (Owner/Editor and sportswriter for OC Sports Zone.)

School: Rowland (Mitch Brunyer, Principal, Mike Ortalli, AD)

Commissioner’s Award: Colin Logan (Edgewood), Leslie Roach, (Principal, Brandon Emery and Sierra Wang, AD’s Northwood).

-Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone