Breitbard Stars of the Month, September, 2008

PROFESSIONALS

Jimmie Johnson, Darren Sproles, Chris Young

JIMMIE JOHNSON (Motor sports, NASCAR/Granite Hills High) – Johnson won two races in the month of September as he chased another NASCAR season title in the Sprint Cup standings. Johnson won Sept. 28 at the Kansas Speedway in the Camping World 400 and he won on Sept. 7 at Richmond, Vir., in the Chevy Rock and Roll 400.

DARREN SPROLES (Football, Chargers) – The fourth-year running back/return man was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September. He had a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Denver and averaged 32.4 yards for 14 kickkoff returns to rank second in the NFL. He also finished the month with 106 yards rushing (5.3 per carry) and five catches for 116 yards (23.2) and one touchdown.

CHRIS YOUNG (Baseball, Padres) – The tough-luck pitcher overcame injuries to post a 3-2 record in September, which included flirting with a perfect game and no-hitter until the eighth inning at Milwaukee. He had a 2.38 ERA for the month and finished the year with a 7-6 record.

BRITTANY CAMERON (Soccer, USD) – The senior goalie was named the Co-West Coast Conference Player of the Week after posting back-to-back shutouts against New Mexico and No. 19-ranked Miami. Both matches in the UCLA Tournament ended in 0-0 double overtime ties. She had a season-high seven saves against Miami. Cameron helped the Toreros climb to No. 19 in the national rankings.

AMY DEGROOT (Volleyball, USD) – The 6-foot-2 junior outside hitter was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week as she led the Toreros to the championship of the USD tournament. She led USD with 38 kills and had a team-best 12 blocks. During the month, she led USD to a 10-2 record and national ranking of No. 15.

RYAN LINDLEY (Football, SDSU/El Capitan High) – The redshirt freshman quarterback was named the Mountain West Conference Offensvie Player of the Week when he threw for 433 yards and four touchdowns in the Aztecs’ 45-17 win over Idaho. He also threw for 352 yards in a loss to Cal Poly and for 274 yards in a loss at Notre Dame.

JOHN MATTHEWS (Football, USD) – The senior wide receiver was named the Pioneer Football League Player of the Week when he scored three touchdowns in a win over Azusa Pacific. Matthews later established USD’s career record for touchdown receptions when he surpassed Adam Hannula’s record of 36.

BRE SCHOFIELD (Cross country, UC San Diego/Carlsbad High) – The redshirt freshman has established herself as one of the top NCAA Division II cross country runners in the nation with four wins for the month. She was twice named the Runner of the Week in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. She was honored for winning the Cal State San Bernardino Coyote Invitational and for finishing seventh in a field of Division I runners in the Aztec Invitational.

COCO VANDEWEGHE (Tennis, Carlsbad) – The 16-year-old home-schooled athlete won the girls U.S. Open championship, becoming the first American to win the girls title since 1995. She won by scores of 7-6 (3) and 6-1. It was her first junior competition in an International Tennis Federation event. She is the daughter of Tauna Vandeweghe, an Olympian in swimming and volleyball, and the neice of Kiki Vandeweghe, a former NBA player and now general manager of the New Jersey Nets.