Northern California Sports Association Awards Scholarships

$ 100,000 in scholarships, that’s the amount the Northern California Sports Association has awarded in their annual “Scholarship Dinner” to local high school seniors in about the last 10 years. It keeps growing each year and hopefully they will again be successful in this year’s dinner to start giving away $20,000 annually.

Roughly 10 years ago, a suggestion was made from one of their committee members, Joel Guthrie, to use their surplus money on scholarships. The idea was born and two $500 scholarships were awarded that very first year. This Saturday, March 21, the Northern California Sports Association will hold their annual “Hall of Fame and Scholarship Dinner” at St. Isidore’s Church at 200 Clark Ave. in Yuba City. During the festivities they will induct eight new members into their “Hall of Fame” as well as present $15,000 in scholarships to six high school recipients.

Marysville High School and Sutter High School students have accumulated the greatest amount of these scholarships. Yuba City High, River Valley High, and Wheatland have added to that number over the years. Letters are sent out early in the year to all Northern California High Schools asking them to recommend one student from their school for these awards. There are four criteria they must follow and the Hall of Fame Committee awards these six scholarships after reviewing all submitted applicants. There has also been good representation from the Chico/Redding area, and last year one of the top athletes in the state, from West Valley High School, was awarded a scholarship and is playing football this year at a Division I University.

Aaron Birch

This years recipients were just announced.  


Aaron Birch from Marysville High School, a football player and swimmer, with a 3.98 GPA with hopes of going to Williamette or Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo.  

Riley Vickner

 Riley Vickner from Sutter High School, a football player and wrestler, with a 3.94 GPA aspiring to attend either Tulane or University of San Diego.  

Luis Angel

  Luis Angel from Princeton High School, a 3.98 GPA who played football and basketball, and wants to attend either Chico State or University of Santa Barbara.  

Alexander Murray

Alexander Murray from Golden Sierra High School, who was on the downhill ski racing team and swim team while also playing football, soccer, and volleyball and attained a 3.87 GPA, he is headed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  

Gilsa Cantellon

 Gilsa Cantellon is from Los Molinos High School and had a 3.77 GPA while participating in volleyball and basketball, with intentions of entering nursing school at Chico State University.  

Riley Davis

Riley Davis is from Shasta High School and was on the track, cross country, and soccer team while sporting a 4.00 GPA, with hopes of being accepted at The Air Force Academy, UC Berkeley, or Cal Poly SLO.





The individuals that will be inducted into the “Hall of Fame” will be ex-Sutter High football coach Scott Turner, Ken Barnes (ex Placer-Nevada League standout), Joe Belcastro (Weed High and Sac State All-American), Kirk Freitas (ex-YCUHS and 33-year Chico State Track coach), Mark Reischling (ex-Chico State basketball and long-time Pac-12 official), Bob Rush(ex-Nevada Union High and invented the electronic timer in track), Ray Sehorn (long-time Oroville sports announcer and teacher), Cecil “The Diesel” Stephens (Shasta College and Humboldt State All-American). The 1963 Yuba City High School Football Team will also be honored as only the 2nd team to be inducted into this “Hall of Fame” in it’s 45-year existence.

The evening starts with a reception at 4:30pm, dinner at 5:30pm, with the presentations beginning at 6:30pm. For information on tickets please call Joel Guthrie (530)743-2089 or John Rice (916)296-1501. Or send $30/person to NCSA-HOF, P.O. Box 1551, Marysville, CA. 95901