Ross Makes Packers' Roster; Wiggins Signs With Bolts

It had to be an emotional roller coaster this past weekend for our several local football players trying to make an NFL roster.

Laguna Creek's Jeremy Ross has made the 53-man roster of the Green Bay Packers. He'll be their punt and kick returner and a fifth wide receiver.

After being cut Saturday by the 49ers, Elk Grove's Kenny Wiggins signed with the San Diego Chargers and was added to their practice squad. Last season Wiggins was on the Niners' practice squad and spent a few weeks with the Ravens the prior season.

Cut over the weekend and unsigned, as of this writing (Monday) are Pleasant Grove's Deonte Williams and Elk Grove's Matt Kopa. Armond Armstead, a former Eagle, is on the injured list with the Patriots.

Of course, the Herd's Lance Briggs will be the leader of the Chicago Bears' defense this fall. He's a seven-time All-Pro linebacker and begins his 11th year with the squad.

Girls' Volleyball, Cross Country, Golf

St. Francis opened the girls’ volleyball season in a big way Labor Day weekend by defeating Nevada Union for the High Sierra Tournament title in Reno.

The Troubadours’ cross country team at virtually the same time opened its season by taking the Oakmont Invitational title.

Senior Lauren LaRocco won the individual title for the second consecutive season with a career-best 14:02 over the 4-kilometer course.

“I am glad I have improved since last year,” LaRocco tol the Cross Country Express website. “The course felt short and that is good because we will be moving up to 5K. It was still a lot flatter than most of the courses we will run so it was good to ease into some of the hills.”

The Troubadours won the varsity race with 27 points, placing each of their top five student-athletes in the top 10 and three in the top five. Senior Madison Rawson was third overall in 14:29 with junior Miranda Myers close behind in fifth in a time of 14:46.

“It is a good first meet to have and helps us build up as they get harder throughout the year,” said Rawson. “Our whole team really proved ourselves this year and the summer training paid off.”

Junior Camille Boudreaux crossed the line eighth in the varsity race in 15:39, while Mallory Shingle was 10th (15:42). Junior Chloe Kardasopoulos was 12th overall.

“The varsity had a good first test,” said assistant coach Mason Myers. “Our top six had very solid performances. Lauren reset the course record on a modified course. It was a great effort by her and she had to have a lot of motivation internally.”

St. Francis won the varsity team title for the third consecutive season, placing ahead of Whitney, Del Campo and Pleasant Grove.  Cosumnes Oaks finished seventh while Franklin ended up eighth.

“One of things that kept me going was hearing “St Francis” everywhere and all the St. Francis athletes up at the front,” said LaRocco. “It hopefully sets the tone for the rest of the season that we have a lot more wins to come.”

St. Francis also won the junior varsity title with a perfect score 15 as the Troubies claimed the top five spots in the race behind winner Ariel Medina (16:31). The frosh/soph squad was second overall behind Oak Ridge.

The Troubadours return to action in two weeks at the Ed Sias Invitational on Sept. 14. St. Francis ranked among the top 15 nationally in preseason polls by both the NHSCA and DyeStat.com.

Girls Golf Starts Monday

The high school girls’ golf season begins Monday. The Loren Roberts tourney named in honor of the professional golfer, will be at Emerald Lakes. All EGUSD golf teams will be competing at the annual event.

Roberts donated more than $70,000 to the school district three years ago when he heard that budget cutbacks were going to force the elimination of high school golf teams.

The first Delta Valley Conference match is Sept 25th at Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Club.