Seventh annual San Francisco High School Awards' banquet for top prep athletes, coaches, contributors is Monday

Standouts such as RL Miller, Jerry Mixon, Reza Po and Joey Kennedy to be honored in the names of such legends as San Francisco legends as Joe DiMaggio, Hank Luisetti and Kevin Restani

SAN FRANCISCO — The list of current San Francisco high school athletes and coaches is impressive. 

The names of those who are honoring them are legendary. 

The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club and its 501c3 Foundation hosts the seventh annual San Francisco High School Awards banquet Monday at 1630 Stockton Street and the turnout always is filled to the brim with pride, enthusiasm and pasta. 

In short, it is The City's premier annual gala for prep sports, an Academy Awards of sorts for San Francisco's brightest and boldest for the 2022-23 season. 

The event is already sold out. 

Event founder and organizer Randy Bessolo, who doubles as University High School-San Francisco's boys basketball coach, leaves no stone or honoree unturned, while considering the prep sports landscape of one of the country's most renowned and sophisticated cities.  

While it doesn't register among the masses like say, architecture and fine dining, the importance and history of San Francisco's high school sports can not be over-stated, Bessolo and other event organizers maintain. 

The Golden Gate Bridge is a perfect backdrop for many of San Francisco's most intense contests, in this case a Lincoln vs. Washington football game in October. Photo: Eric Taylor. 

That is why many of its awards are named after such sporting legends as Joe DiMaggio, Hank Luisetti, Kevin Restani and Steve Mariucci, along with vital community and coaching legends like Vince Tringali, Marty Lurie/Uncle Abe, Margi Beima, Dante Benedetti and Stephen Negoesco. 

It's also why this year, the SFIAC is also honoring others such as Ron Nocetti (CIF State Executive Director), Don Lippi (recently retired legendary coach), Jim Ketcham (recently retired University athletic director) and Harold Abend (reporter) for their contributions. 

But the night will largely belong to the players and coaches who contributed mightily to the 2022-23 seasons. 

Proceeds from event primarily go to San Francisco's only public league, the Academic Athletic Association which was founded in 1912. With more than 250 in attendance annually, a donation of more than $5,000 is typically raised. 

Sponsors for the event are the San Francisco Giants, Original Joe's, Tri Counties Bank, Toast Eater, Jane R. Poppelreiter, Advanced Wellness, Pinotti & Associates, Inc., BFI LLC, Capo Isetta Wines, Tom Piro and Bill Black. 

Here's a list of all the announced winners: 

Vince Tringalli football trophy — RL Miller (Sacred Heart Cathedral): The Fresno State-bound two-way standout was the West Catholic Athletic League's Wide Receiver of the Year but might have been better on defense, where he scored five touchdowns. He earned SBLive's National Athlete of the Week award for scoring touchdowns on a Pick 6, a scoop and score and a reception during a 30-17 win over Bellarmine in Oct. (see video above). He was also an All-WCAL basketball standout, leading the Irish to a first Central Coast Section Open title. 

RL Miller (Sacred Heart Cathedral). Photo: John Reid

Margi Beima girls volleyball — Kinnari Atlura (University): The junior led the Red Devils to a 28-7 record while averaging 4.4 kills per game. 

Kevin Restani girls basketball — Reza Po (Sacred Heart Cathedral): A dynamic 5-foot-3 point guard, the junior was the San Francisco Chronicle's city Player of the year and a first-team All-WCAL performer for a 21-6 squad. 

Kevin Restani boys basketball — Joey Kennedy (University): A two-time Chronicle SF Player of the year, the 6-6 forward averaged 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists per game after leading the Red Devils to a 29-4 record and BCL West and NCS D4 championships. 

Joey Kennedy (13) with coach Randy Bessolo (left) and senior teammates (L-R) Mason Spivy (12), Matt Moore (2), Luke Bradley (24) and Thomas Woeber (33). Courtesy photo: University athletics 

Steve Negoesco girls soccer — Ariana Beddoes (Sacred Heart Cathedral): The WCAL Goalkeeper of the Year as both a junior and senior. She plays for the Wales national team. 

Steve Negoesco boys soccer — Miles Keane (Lowell): The AAA's Goalkeeper of the Year, Keane will play next season at Western Washington University. 

Joe DiMaggio baseball — Niko Gomozias (St. Ignatius): The USF-bound standout is 5-3 with a 2.88 ERA at present, while contributing 14 hits, four doubles and 13 RBI. The Wildcats are 16-11 after two WCAL playoff wins.  

Hank Luisetti scholar girl — Jacqueline Holman (Lowell): A three-sport standout who excelled in cross country, soccer and track and field. She currently has the San Francisco Section's top times in the 800 (2:20.89), 1600(5:11.85) and 3200 (10:58.43). 

Hank Luisetti scholar boy — Zach Jones (Riordan): Another three-sport standout, Jones was first-team all-WCAL in football as a receiver and defensive back, helped the Crusaders to a WCAL basketball title and is a track and field standout. Last week he won the WCAL 100 meter (10.88 seconds) and long jump (22 feet, 3 inches) titles. He'll play football next season at UC Davis. 

SFIAC male overall athlete — Jerry Mixon (Sacred Heart Cathedral): The Oregon-bound football player was the WCAL's Linebacker of the Year and The Chronicle's co-San Francisco Player of the Year with Miller. He was also second-team All-WCAL in basketball, leading the Irish to an Open CCS title. 

Jerry Mixon (6) was a mainstay on both sides of the ball for the Irish. Photo: Eric Taylor

SFIAC female overall athlete — Emily Ennis (St. Ignatius): An All-WCAL performer in both basketball and soccer, Ennis will play soccer next season at St. Mary's College. 

Dante Benedetti lifetime achievement — Jim Ketcham (University), Don Lippi (St. Ignatius/St. Joseph Notre Dame): Not only led one of the Bay Area's top small-school athletic programs as Athletic Director, also served 18 seasons as the school's tennis coach. ... Lippi retired after 45 seasons and won 914 career games (third most in state history) and four state titles. He also coached at St. Patrick-St. vincent and Skyline-Oakland. Known for his long and robust coaching tree and teaching life lessons.

Steve Mariucci coach (boys sport) — Carl Jacobs (Lincoln): One of the winningest coaches in San Francisco high school basketball history, Jacobs led the Mustangs to another banner season, a 27-4 campaign that featured a second straight AAA title. He won five AAA titles in a previous stint at Lincoln and captured three BCL titles at International. His 2022-23 team was honored by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Carl Jacobs (top right) and his Lincoln Mustangs were honored by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for their outstanding 27-4 season. Courtesy photo: Lincoln athletic department

Steve Mariucci coach (girls sport) — Demetrius Jackson (Sacred Heart Cathedral): In his first season as head coach, Jackson turned around a team that went 9-16 in 2021-22 to 21-6 in 2022-23. 

Athletica Leggera cross country/track and field girl — Ellie McCuskey-Hay (St. Ignatius): Only a freshman, McCuskey-Hay has elevated herself as one of the top sprinters in the state by winning the day meet 100-meter dash at the prestigious Arcadia Invitation in 11.81 seconds. She also has a top time in the 200 (24.62) and anchors the Central Coast Section's second fastest 400 relay (48.83).

Athletica Leggera cross country/track and field girl — Monroe Barnum (St. Ignatius): A standout on the football team as a wide receiver, Barnum has shown off his skills as a triple jumper, recording a massive leap of 46 feet, 4.5 inches, the best in CCS and 10th best in the state, to win the WCAL title. 

SFIAC Team of the Year — Lincoln football: The Mustangs continued the AAA's string of state titles by taking the 7A championship with a 54-6 victory over Crenshaw-Los Angeles in the finals. Under head coach Phil Ferrigno, Lincoln finished 10-3 and won its third state title and 13th SFS crown with a 44-7 win over Balboa in the 98th Turkey Day Game.  

Lincoln's football team celebrates a 13th San Francisco Section/Turkey Day Game title. Photo: Ernie Abrea

SFIAC Guests of Honor — Ron Nocetti (Sacred Heart graduate), Harold Abend (Washington-San Francisco graduate)

MORE SFIAC ATHLETES/SCHOLAR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

• Justin Aquino (Lincoln boys basketball): AAA's Player of the Year led Mustangs to another section crown.

• Jeremiah Aquino (Lincoln boys basketball): First-team All-AAA.

• Luke Bradley (University boys basketball): All-Metro basketball star for NCS title team, also a top hitter and pitcher of basketball squad. 

Luke Bradley (University) was first-team All-BCL West standout leading a 29-4 squad. Courtesy photo: University athletics

• Isiah Chala (Riordan football): First-team All-WCAL lineman earned a scholarship to Fresno State.

• Diego Cristerna (Lincoln football: The rugged fullback and linebacker was first-team All-AAA member, rushing for 309 yards and six touchdowns and adding 63 tackles and two interceptions. 

• Ashanti Dias (Riordan three-sport standout): The junior point guard averaged 15.3 points per game, while also excelling at track and field and football. 

• Sydney Grundland-Lanuza (Washington soccer): Led the Eagles to a 15-1-2 record. 

• Dhiaraj Gurung (Washington football): AAA Player of the Year led Eagles (8-3) to best finish in 11 years. 

• Gabriella Kelley (University girls basketball): Co-BCL West Player of the Year led Red Devils to 25-5 record, undefeated league title and NCS D5 crown.

• Jolene Lally-Stephens (Washington girls basketball): AAA's Player of the Year led Eagles to AAA title.

• Olivia Levitt (St. Ignatius softball): The senior shortstop is hitting .400 (22 of 55) with five doubles, a triple and two home runs. She'll play next season at Notre Dame-South Bend, Ind.

Olivia Levitt (16) with another big hit for St. Ignatius this season vs. Aragon. Courtesy photo: Paul Ghiglieri/St. Ignatius athletics

• Nora Mannion (St. Ignatius girls volleyball): A first-team All-WCAL player, Mannion earned a scholarship to De Paul. 

• Jamelle Newman (Lincoln football): The AAA's back of the year did it all with 1,161 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns for the state champions. He also had 39 tackles, an interception, fumble recovery, two returns for touchdowns and six two-point conversions. 

• Izzy Perez (University girls basketball): Co-BCL West Player of the Year led Red Devils to 25-5 record, undefeated league title and NCS D5 crown.

• Hugo Rutherford (Waldorf boys basketball): The BCL-Central MVP led the Wolverines (25-5) to a NCS and NorCal D6 titles. The team finished on a 17-game win streak. Rutherford will play next season at Puget Sound.