Students Considered for Ventura County Hall of Fame
On June 8, the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame will induct two new student athletes from Ventura County that have been nominated from their school. This year, the administration and sports coaches at Newbury Park deliberated and decided to nominate Alex Brunk and Tyler Cartaino, both senior basketball players.
Brunk, who was selected as MVP for her junior and senior year, says she has been playing basketball since second grade, with her dad as her coach, and has “progressively got more and more into the sport … I’ve been on Varsity since I was a freshman, and each year I’ve been getting better and better,” she says.
Between basketball, school and extracurriculars, “I’m very busy all the time,” Brunk says. “I take my academics very seriously … I also help teach basketball to younger kids … (and) I teach Sunday School for my Church (and) I do vacation bible school over summer.” Brunk is also involved in helping students in special education, on and off campus. “I’ve actually been a teacher’s assistant in the special education class here since freshman year, I’m the president of the Panther Pals club on campus, (and) sophomore year I planned prom for all the special education students,” she says. She is also involved in “Buddy Break” at her church.
Next year, Brunk will be attending Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and playing on their NCAA Women’s Basketball Team. She plans to major in Applied Health Sciences with an emphasis in Kinesiology, as she is interested in pursuing a career as a physical therapist. “It’s kind of cliche as an athlete – but I love being around sports and being involved in them.” However, she says she would like be involved in special education, “possibly teaching it or being a speech therapist … I’m not entirely sure, there’s a lot of things I want to do,” she says.
Cartaino, who was also an MVP this year, has been playing in multiple teams since fifth grade. These include “NPBA, (Newbury Park Basketball Association) … travel team … club basketball, I played all four years of high school and I’ve been doing AAU (Amateur Athletics Union) since my sophomore year.” Cartaino credits his youth basketball coach with his success, who is currently training players on the NBA Memphis Grizzlies team. “The person who has helped me most is Adam Mazarei … He’s been my biggest influence over the years.”
Outside of playing basketball, Cartaino volunteers to teach others basketball. “I helped coach my little brother’s team, (and) sophomore year and junior year me and my friends did special needs basketball club. I’ve helped out with a bunch of basketball camps for younger, like third grade through eighth grade (kids).”
Cartaino is undecided about his plans for next year, but is going to keep basketball a part of his future. “I might have to go to a prep school first but right now I’m getting looks from Cornell, Columbia, Brown … then the Air Force is the other one.” He says he may want to study “something with law … but I’m not 100% sure yet.”
Coach Jason Klein says that Brunk and Cartaino were exceptional in all areas of criteria for the award, which include academic and athletic excellence. “They’re great, they’ve both contributed so much, not only to their respected teams but to their school and how hard they worked… they’re just great examples of Panthers.” Larry Berlin, Assistant Principal, agreed, saying “(they are) both team leaders.”
Both athletes were humble and grateful for the recognition, and surprised as well that they had received the nomination. “I was very shocked when I got this award, because I mean there are so many deserving athletes … every sport has so many incredible people,” Brunk says. “It’s such an honor and a blessing to be given this opportunity to represent my school … I’m very thankful.”
“I didn’t really know what to say, I ended up just saying thank you,” Cartaino says. “I’m getting nominated for it personally, but honestly, if I didn’t have my teammates and my coaches with me it wouldn’t have happened … so I’m really thankful for the guys that I’ve got to play with for the past four years. Even during the losing seasons ‘cause those are all learning experiences,” he adds, “The guys … they’re the reason I’m here, my teammates and my coaches.”
