Clipboard: State records rewritten by Monterey High weightlifters

One world record and 10 state records were established by five Monterey High students at the World Association of Bench and Dead Lifters Championships at the Bodyworx in Monterey.

Headlining the list was Ba Thanh (BT) Santiago, who established a new world record in his age and weight class in the deadlift at 408.7 pounds.

Competing at 132 pounds in the 16-17-year-old division, Santiago also set a state record in the bench press (192.7 pounds) and push/pull (601.4 pounds).

Ahman Willis (16-17) rewrote three state records at 181 pounds, deadlifting 451 pounds, bench pressing 253 pounds and compiling 704 pounds in the push/pull.

James Langford (14-15) also set three new state marks in the 165-pound division, deadlifting 407 pounds, bench pressing 198 pounds and push/pulling 605 pounds.

Moonlighting as a weightlifter, UC Santa Barbara-bound softball pitcher Ella Myers (16-17) set a state record in the 148-pound class in the pull/push (407 pounds). The three-sport standout also deadlifted 270 pounds.

Rosie Savukinas (14-15) also established a state record in the 148-pound class in the push/pull (336) and deadlifted 209 pounds.

Jude Lasko (16-17) captured the 165-pound bench press (225) and deadlift (340 pounds) events, while Clive Potter (16-17) won the 181-pound bench press (209 pounds) and deadlift (446).

Emotional win for Main at TCU

Stevenson Tomi Main has won a lot of tennis matches over the last two years, but none bigger than last week.

With the match on the line, Main recovered from a 4-6 loss in the first set, bouncing back to take the next two sets 6-4, 6-2 to lead TCU to a 4-3 win over Texas Tech. Main is a redshirt junior at TCU.

The significance in the win for Main is that her collegiate career started at Texas Tech, before she transferred to UOP for two years, before entering the portal and enrolling at TCU.

A multi-sport athlete at Stevenson, Main left school after her junior season to begin her college career.

A former five-star recruit, Main was 23-15 overall last year at UOP in Stockton, earning All-West Coast Conference second team honors as a doubles player.

In her first season at TCU, the Seaside native is 11-4 overall as the team’s No. 4 singles player – 7-2 in tournaments and 4-2 in duals.

Overall, Main is 20-13, as she has alternated between the Horned Frogs No. 2 and No. 3 double teams this season.

Main, who reached the CCS singles semifinals as a freshman at Stevenson, was ranked No. 9 in the nation in 2018 in the 18-under division.

She also won a Level III pro tournament in Sacramento as an amateur in 2022.

Monterey’s Aldrete has solid spring training

Signed to a minor league contract, Carter Aldrete hit .250 for the Sacramento Athletes during spring training, ripping a double and driving in a run in nine games.

The Monterey High alum, who will report to the A’s Double-A affiliate in Midland, Texas, was flawless at third base for the Athletics, recording 18 putouts and one assist.

Released by the Giants organization after the 2023 season, Aldrete revived his career last year playing in the American Association for the Cleburne Railroaders, an independent team.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Aldrete hit .341 with 21 homers and 74 runs batted in over 100 games, all career highs. He also stole 20 bases in earning all-star honors.

Drafted in the 15th round in 2019 out of Arizona State, the right-handed hitting Aldrete hit 47 homers and drove in 194 runs over four minor league seasons, reaching the Giants Double-A affiliate.

Aldrete earned all-county honors in baseball twice at Monterey, quarterbacking the football team to a spot in the postseason as a junior.

Alisal grad gets playing time at Eastern Kentucky

Splitting time between shortstop and first base, Jordan Smith has appeared in 20 games as a true freshman for Eastern Kentucky, starting 17 games.

Smith sports a .928 fielding percentage, having handled 64 out of 69 chances in the field for the 19-6 Colonels.

A member of The Herald’s all-county softball team last year at Alisal, Smith picked up her first two collegiate hits recently, and has driven in two runs in 24 at-bats.

A multi-sport athlete, Smith hit .560 over four years at Alisal, leading the program to its first league softball title last spring and first postseason appearance in three decades.

Local youth wrestler places second at state

Omar Rodriguez will be one to watch in the future, as the 14-year-old finished second at 225 pounds at the State Folk Style Championships for middle schools in Fresno.

A member of the Salinas Valley Wrestling Club, Rodriguez was the highest finisher among any county athletes. He’s won three previous tournaments this season

Teammate Jesus Ruiz – who a won tournament title earlier in the year – also took part in the state championships as a 14-year-old.

Coaches needed

Alvarez is looking for coaches for flag football. Go to brian.vazquez@salinasuhsd.org

Officials needed

Peninsula Sports Incorporate is looking for high school and middle school officials for all sports this season. Varsity officials are paid $100 a game.

There is an immediate need for officials and umpires in the spring for boys’ volleyball, baseball, softball and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse. Training is provided. Call Tom Emery at (831) 241-1101.

Monterey Women’s Basketball League

The Monterey Women’s Basketball League will begin on Saturday at the Monterey Sports Center. A pick-up game will tipoff the season at 2 p.m., with teams being formed after the game. Games will be held each Saturday from 1-5 p.m. Standard fee is $100. Register at montereysportscenter.com