TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Announcements

Basketball

Tryouts for Ballers for Christ AAU boys team (ages 15-17), March 12, 14 at Stonecreek Junior High. Call coach Watkins (661) 319-3979.

Bakersfield Heat Premier girls basketball club is offering basketball skill-building classes for girls in grades 7-11 from 6-7:30 p.m., Wednesdays, March 13, 20, 27 at Lakeside School. Contact Jim Parks (661) 747-0685 or Michelle Gibson (661) 747-4646 or visit www.bakersfieldheat.org.

Fitness/weight training

Pinnacle Performance Institute will be having a Grand Opening at its new location at 6610 Downing Ave., on Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Andrew Coombs' Desirable Fitness will be teaming up with PPI, providing more programs for adult fitness and weight loss. Stop by for food, drinks, samples of the latest supplements and the chance to win fitness and weight-loss packages worth up to $500. There will also be one-time opportunities to sign up for our most popular programs at a discounted price. Questions/Comments call (661) 374-FAST or email info@pinnperf.com

Track and field

"The Fastest Kid in Town" is accepting registration for ages 7-14. Meets are on Tuesdays between March 19-April 30. All meets will start at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact Nick Cholometes at (661) 619-6199.

Youth tackle football

The Spartans of the Golden Empire Youth Football League will be conducting tryouts soon. Contacts for information are: Freshmen (ages 7-9), coach Jet (661) 889-8500; sophomores (10-11) and JV (12), coach Dee (661) 333-2548; and varsity coach Hill (805) 340-4779.

ResultsNational Junior Basketball

Feb. 17 scores, top scorers

Boys Division 3

Spurs 31, Heat 26 (Leyendecker)

Sunday's scores, top scorers

Boys Division 1

Lakers 60, Heat 42 (Stapp 31, Pelz 18)

Clippers 43, Celtics 41

Championship: Spurs 50, Kings 45 (Figures 18)

Boys Division 2

Clippers 58, Heat 34 (Sakowski 17)

Kings 43, Lakers 40

Championship: Bulls 29, Thunder 26

Boys Division 3

Championship: Bulls 53, Lakers 25 (Marantos 19, Chavez 16)

Girls Division 3

Championship: Comets 25, Mercury 13 (Kizziar 10, Camarillo 9)

Springboard diving

Talia Mickelsen, representing Kern River Divers, placed third in the 3-meter, 11U novice diving event, with 102.85 points at the For Love of Diving meet at Palomar College in San Marcos this weekend. She also placed seventh in the 1-meter, 11U Junior Olympic event with 85.15 points.

Accomplishments

Gymnastics

The entire Optional Boys gymnastics team qualified for the State Championships based on their performance at the North Conference Championship in Van Nuys on Sunday. The Level 8 team of Marty Peterson, Benjamin Walker, Tyler Weiner, Spenser Prow and Wade Froehlich won the competition, all posting season high scores in the all-around. Walker won the 13-14 level 8 age group, winning rings, parallel bars and high bar, and placing second on the other three events. Froehlich, Prow and Weiner placed second, third and fourth, respectively, in the all-around in the level 8 (11-12 year old) division. Froehlich won floor, rings and high bar, placing second on parallel bars. Prow placed second on pommel horse and rings, and Weiner placed second on pommel horse and vault. Peterson won Floor and Rings in the level 8 (15-and-older) division. In Level 9, Paul Flora placed third in the all-around in the 13-14 age group. He placed second on floor and pommel horse. Brett Ridley won the Level 10 (16-18) division with a career-high score. He won pommel horse and parallel bars and placed second on rings. The boys are coached by Tom Ladman and Matt Williams.

All of American Kids Sports Center's level 6 boys gymnastics team qualified every gymnast to the State Championships based on their performance at the North Conference Championship in Van Nuys on Sunday. The team also placed second in both the younger and older age divisions. Team members are Connor Shanley, Zach Whitmore, Alex Pope, Matt Rogers, Kaleb Hillan, Collin Maberry and Zak Worman. Maberry won the all-around in the 13-and-over age group, also winning the pommel horse and rings, placed second on floor, parallel bars and high bar, and third on vault. Worman placed third on rings in the same age group. Pope won parallel bars and took second on vault in the 11- 12-year-old division. Hillan placed third all-around in the same division, placing third on floor, rings, and parallel bars. Shanley and Whitmore tied for third on vault in the 9-10 division. The boys are coached by Tom Ladman and Matt Williams.

American Kids Sports Center's level 4 boys gymnastics team had its final tune-up before the State Championship by competing at the North Conference Championship in Van Nuys on Saturday. Leading the way were Aiden Roberson and Collin Stikes, who both received only Superior and Outstanding awards for their routines. Every member of the squad received at least one Superior or Outstanding award. Other team members are Max Morelos, Jarrett Smith, Jack Parks, Maddox Maughan, Hudson Sheats, Sam Morelos, Tristen Dillworth, James Banks, Sabastian Jara, Carson Ming, Nathan Jarvis, Steven Ballock, Raffi Bouldoukian, Korbin Hillan, Zachary Tisinger, Trey Letzkus and McKay East. The boys are coached by Hayden DaMant, Sean Farrell, Arthur Farzan and Duncan Harris.

American Kids Sports Center's level 5 boy's gymnastics team qualified six gymnasts to the State Championships from the North Conference Championship in Van Nuys on Sunday. The team also placed third in the younger division and fourth in the older division. Qualifying for the March competition were: Aiden Myers (third all-around 7-8 year olds), Diego Lopez, Jarrett Lowe, Joshua Evangelio, Shane Willey (third all-around 11-12 year olds) and Chase Shanley (fourth all-around 11-12 year olds). Myers also placed second on high bar, and third on floor and parallel bars. Willey won floor and placed second on vault and third on pommel horse. Shanley won high bar and placed third on floor and parallel bars. The boys are coached by Sean Farrell and Hayden DaMant.

Karate

Japan Martial Arts Academy of Bakersfield had a strong showing in the Golden Empire Karate Championships at O.J. Actis Middle School on Saturday. Results: Rayyan Akram (2. weopons kata; 3. kata); Brycen South (1. Weopons kata; 1. kata); Ceaser Martinez (2. weapons kata; 2. kata); Venia Hasna (1. kata; 1. kumite); Anica Bolanos (3. kata); Kell Harris (3. weapons kata); Mathew Ruiz (1. kata; 1. weapons kata, 2. kumite); Liv Aril Lautchang (1. kumite); Kevin Tun (3. kata); Sam Cole (1. weapons kata, 1. kata); Justine Garcia (3. weapons kata; 1. kata); Sandra Ryan (1. weapons kata, 3. kata); Denise Ruiz (1. kumite; Denizze Ramos (2. kata; 1. kumite); Grant McMahon (1. kata); Alex Ceaser (1. kata, 3. kumite); Hafiz Arham (3. kumite); D.J. Simos (3. weapons kata, 1. kata, 1. kumite); Donovan Simos (1. weapons kata; 2. kata, 1. kumite); Ethan Padua (2. kata; 2. kumite).

Motorcycle racing

Bakersfield motorcycle racers fared well Feb. 16-17 at the Southern California Flat Track Association in Perris. Jeff Lessley won the 360 Expert Class both days on his 360 Astro, and also won his Over-50 class both days, riding his Bultaco. Fred Berger (pictured right), riding a 1967 Bultaco brakeless 250, won his races Saturday and Sunday, and also earn seconds both days in the Over-50 class, riding a Honda 450. Jeff Lessley finished first in both the 360 Vintage class over-50 Expert class. Andy Williams (pictured left), riding a Honda 450 in the Open Novice Class, was fifth on Saturday and fourth on Sunday. Clay Williams, riding a Southland Racing Honda, was fifth on Saturday and third Sunday, in the Youth 250 class. He also took seconds both days on his Honda 85 in the Youth 85 2 Stroke Class. The next race for SCFTA in Perris is scheduled for March 9.

Cheerleading

Rosedale Middle School captured the State/Grand Championship at the Sharp International Cheerleading competition at Knots Berry Farm this weekend.

Head coach Desmond Ramey, assistant Mel and captain Baleigh Yorba.