Nwosu is SBART Athlete of the Week
Manny Nwosu was selected as Athlete of the Week by the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. SBCC’s sophomore running back picked up the award during Monday’s weekly press luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Café.
Emmanuel Nwosu was selected as Athlete of the Week by the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. SBCC's sophomore running back picked up the award during Monday's weekly press luncheon at Harry's Plaza Café.
Nwosu carried 27 times for 127 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 14-0 win at L.A. Valley. He surpassed 1,000 yards for the season, becoming the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Vaqueros in 47 years.
His final tally of 1,080 yards are the second-most in school history behind Jerry Hughes' single-season record of 1,235 yards, set in 1970.
"Manny is the kind of young man that you can never get out of the game or out of practice," said Vaquero coach Craig Moropoulos. "Usually, we have several runners who carry the ball. For Manny to play the whole season, carrying the load, and rush for over 1,000 yards while staying healthy is a real tribute to him."
Nwosu led the American Pacific League in rushing and was No. 9 in the state with 1,080 yards and a 5.6 average.
"Unfortunately with two series left in Saturday's game, he dislocated his shoulder," Moropoulos stated. "He came to the sideline and it popped back in. I looked at our trainer and asked, 'Is he out?' and he says, 'Yeah, he's out.'
"I told Manny he wasn't going back in and I'd never seen a man crumple like that with tears in his eyes. He wanted to go back in but I told him, 'You've done enough and I'm proud of you.' "
The Vaqueros went 4-6 overall and 1-4 in the APL. They were young this year with only 13 sophomores on the 70-man roster.