Godbehere molded a legend in Shafter
| Friday, Jun 26 2009 11:16 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jun 26 2009 11:21 PM
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Jenn Ireland / The Californian Matt Godbehere, All-Area track coach of the year.
Behind every great athlete, there normally is a great coach, and that's no different with Anna Jelmini.
For the national high school record-holder in the girls discus and perhaps the best U.S. prep track and field athlete ever, the man behind the scenes is Shafter's Matt Godbehere.
"Matt will tell you it's (just) Anna," said her dad, Rick Jelmini. "But I'm telling you, it's Matt too."
Godbehere is omnipresent at Jelmini's meets, big and small, and he's the one she goes to for advice between throws -- sometimes having to shout across a track or a field to the coaches area.
Through it all, he's gotten close to Anna and is the first to tout her accomplishments while being the last in line to take credit.
"She does things that amaze you," Godbehere said. "Even though you strive for perfect technique, you're not always in the best position. And all of a sudden, she's able to come out of this position with a big throw. Her athleticism continues to amaze me, and she's very coachable in picking up what I tell her."
Godbehere's wife, Dawn Dumble-Godbehere, coached Jelmini in middle school and then passed off those duties to her husband.
"I really felt like she would be the next big thrower out of Bakersfield," said Dumble, who herself once owned that title. "But Matt was able to cultivate that talent. He's done a great job."
Also considered Steve Anderson, Bakersfield; David Gaeta, Frontier
Second team
Alana Alexander, Centennial
Asha Brown, Bakersfield
Monica Guzman, Garces
Tijerra Lynch, Ridgeview
Shinead McDonald, Bakersfield
Lacie Rasley, Shafter
Megan Thompson, Taft
Reshana Watson, Stockdale
Honorable mention
Arvin: Bailey Tarver; Bakersfield: Alicia Torres, Felisa Torres; Bakersfield Christian: Melissa Merrill, Sarah Hill; Centennial: Hanna Chudy; Frontier: Kassidy Ellis, Kirby Ellis; Golden Valley: Bre Bowden, Jamara Scott; Liberty: Julia Fitch, Molly Fitch, Teresa Little; McFarland: Lizet Perechica, Kathy Torres; Ridgeview: Desiree Armendariz; Shafter: Elizabeth Wittenberg; Taft: Juliana Campos.
All-Area history
Girls track and field
Athlete of the Year
2008 Anna Jelmini, Shafter
2007 Dominique Lauderdale, Ridgeview
2006 Ashlee Thomas, Bakersfield
2005 Desiree Gonder, Stockdale
2004 Missy Faubus, Centennial
2003 Keisha Gaines, Stockdale
2002 Keisha Gaines, Stockdale, and Rachel Varner, Bakersfield
2001 Tiffany Brown, Stockdale, and Rachel Varner, Bakersfield
2000 Tiffany Bennett, Centennial
1999 April Burton, Bakersfield; Halima Decree, Foothill; Dee Scott, South; Tiffany Bennett, Centennial; Tiffany Brown, Stockdale; Mandi Ruzleck, Tehachapi; Kamesha Bowens, Bakersfield; Jenna Lazzerini, Garces
1998 Bo Alade, Foothill; April Burton, Bakersfield; Dee Scott, South; Veronica Sanchez, Wasco; Judy Fischer, Stockdale; Tiffany Bennett, Centennial
1997 Bo Alade, Foothill; Halima Decree, Foothill; Tracy Cohn, Stockdale; Dee Scott, South; Mandi Ruziecki, Tehachapi; April Burton, Bakersfield
1996 Bo Alade, Foothill; Tracy Cohn, Stockdale; La Tanya Sumlin, North; Tosha Thomas, Bakersfield; Laren Parker, Bakersfield; April Burton, Bakersfield
1995 Tracy Cohn, Stockdale; Bo Alade, Foothill; Tina Watkins, South; Andria Brown, South; Mandy Buckey, Bakersfield
1994 Tina Watkins, South; Tracy Cohn, Stockdale; Laren Parker, Bakersfield
1993 Tina Watkins, South; Ebonie Henderson, Bakersfield
1992 Janice Nichols, Bakersfield, and Karn Warner, West
1991 Janice Nichols, Bakersfield; Karn Warner, West; Lori Miller, North; Tike Jackson, Bakersfield
1990 Janice Nichols, Bakersfield; Dawn Dumble, Bakersfield; Melisa Weis, Bakersfield
1989 Janice Nichols, Bakersfield, and Melisa Weis, Bakersfield
1988 Mary Ann Martinez, Foothill; Dawn Dumble, Bakersfield; Melisa Weis, Bakersfield
1987 Angela Davidson, Wasco, and Dawn Dumble, Bakersfield
1986 Sonya Mitchell, Bakersfield, and Shiana Mosby, East
1985 Shiana Mosby, East, and Janie Williams, Arvin
1984 Sonya Mitchell, Bakersfield
Coach of the Year
2008 Randy Jones and Ryan Renz, Centennial
2007 Randy Jones and Ryan Renz, Centennial
2006 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
2005 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
2004 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
2003 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
2002 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
2001 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
2000 Randy Jones and Matt Love, Centennial
1999 Bob Coons and Phil Roberts, Bakersfield
1998 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
1997 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
1996 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
1995 Tom Tarrer, South
1994 Dave Lonsinger, Stockdale
1993 Tom Tarrer, South
1992 Joe Garrett, West
1991 Gary Kuster, North
1990 Scott Semar, Bakersfield
1989 Scott Semar, Bakersfield
