Last week's boys' winner from the San Diego Section is the ultimate two-sport athlete since he's competing in both basketball and soccer at the same time of the year.

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

Editor's Note: We held up publishing this story in order to wait and see how honoree Trevor Newquist fared in his unique double-duty last Saturday. In the CIF San Diego Section Division I boys soccer final, he was credited with outstanding defense in helping Torrey Pines defeat Westview, 1-0, for the championship. Later in the evening, he wasn't as fortunate as Torrey Pines lost in the Division I section basketball final, 59-45, to El Camino of Oceanside. Trevor had four points and six rebounds in that game. To nominate a state athlete of the week of your own, send info by Monday at 12 noon each week to mark@studentsports.com. You also can email writer Harold Abend at marketingharold@yahoo.com.

If there's a word that goes beyond amazing or remarkable in describing what Trevor Newquist did on Saturday, March 7, it would have to be unbelievable.

At 2:15 in the afternoon the referee dropped the ball at midfield and two teams not in the top four seeds, Torrey Pines and neighboring Westview (San Diego), squared off at Valhalla (El Cajon) in the San Diego Section Division I championship soccer game.

Starting somewhere in the Torrey Pines lineup will be the linchpin of the team and one of its leading scorers with 12 goals, Trevor Newquist.

"Trevor can play anywhere, on defense or as a forward. He's truly fantastic. The complete package,” said Torrey Pines soccer coach Andy Hargreaves, a native of Manchester, England who came to the states at age-20 to attend Pt. Loma Nazarene College in San Diego.

On the road, Feb. 27 at third-seeded Rancho Buena Vista (Vista) in the quarterfinals, Newquist scored the only goal in a 1-0 upset.

"Oh my, a fantaaastic goal,” said Hargreaves, using the word fantastic again and drawing out the word like only the English can.

Next up was the March 3 semifinals against fellow upstart Escondido, a 4-2 upset winner over second-seeded Chula Vista.

Once again Newquist got the Falcons on the board, opening the scoring in the 20th minute of a 4-1 Torrey Pines victory.

Now, both his 18-4-3 Falcons boys as well as the girls' team were in a doubleheader with Westview for all the marbles.

Because of his prowess on the soccer field as well as having an overall 3.8 GPA at academically challenging Torrey Pines, Newquist will be receiving a scholarship to play soccer at St. Mary's College in Moraga.

Sounds like a nice young man and a nice story but not unbelievable if the two-sport athlete's second sport were baseball, or even football, or even tennis or golf, but it's basketball.

You see, as soon as Newquist was finished with soccer on Saturday, he took off those cleats and hot-footed it 20 miles from El Cajon to the Jenny Craig Pavilion at the University of San Diego where he put on sneakers.

There his second-seeded 26-4 Falcons awaited their starting guard, captain and leading scorer at 13.8 points per game to lead them in the 8 p.m. Div. I section championship game against top-seeded El Camino of Oceanside.

Not only is Newquist the star of both teams, he's been playing both during the current winter season all along, and Saturday wasn't the first time he's played two games in two sports on the same day. He's played on consecutive days a whole lot of times.

The day after he scored that "fantaaastic” goal against Rancho Buena Vista, he dropped in 19 points to lead the Falcons to a 59-52 upset of San Diego, who although missing players ruled ineligible and docked games participated in, was still considered to be a strong factor in the playoffs.

On March 4, the day after the 4-1 semifinal soccer victory, Newquist and his basketball teammates were in the hoops semifinals against arch-rival La Costa Canyon.

Trevor was nearly the goat in that affair. He fouled out with 15 seconds left and the game tied after only scoring eight points, all in the second half.

La Costa Canyon made one of the two ensuing free-throws to take a 56-55 lead.

The Falcons got the ball and after a mad scramble and a couple of missed shots, reserve Ramsey Hopkins got a put-back/tip-in at the buzzer and Torrey Pines escaped with a 57-56 victory.

 "It was an overflow crowd and there must have been a couple of hundred people outside the gym,” Newquist told CalHiSports.com the morning after the victory.

"After the final buzzer there was chaos on the court,” he said in describing the scene.

His amazing saga could have ended as it did the past two seasons at the hands his rivals from Carlsbad, but just as he's done so many times this season for one of his two teams, a teammate picked him up and now both of Newquist's teams got that chance at a section title.

"I was pretty upset when I fouled out,” Trevor said. "I thought, oh my gosh, I let my team down and this is my last game.”

"Trevor is rather remarkable. Both sides (the two teams) worked well together but to do what he's doing, the dedication and hard work it takes, he has it,” said 12-year Torrey Pines basketball coach and PE teacher John Olive, who puts on the Maxpreps Holiday Classic, and who played for the L.A. Clippers, then coached at his alma mater Villanova, and then Loyola-Marymount for five years before coming to Torrey Pines.

"It's worked out better than we expected,” remarked Hargreaves.

"One thing that concerned me was his ability to make the commitment and keep up his grades since he has a full ride to St. Mary's,” Hargreaves continued.

"Regardless of who you are if you don't show up for practices you don't play. It' amazing because he shows up and he's the hardest working guy on the team – always gives you 120,” said Hargreaves who also runs the Rancho Santa Fe Attack club team and who coached at Francis Parker (San Diego) before coming to Torrey Pines 10 years ago.

When the inevitable question came up about whether his playing two games on the same day were ever questioned, the articulate Newquist was quick with an answer.

"Before the season started I emailed Commissioner Dennis Ackerman to be sure I cleared it with the section first,” Trevor said. "He emailed me back and said there was no rule against it.”

Athletics is a big part of the Newquist household and Trevor talked proudly about each family member.

Hi father, Gunnar, a naval investigator, ran track and played football in high school and ran track at Boston University.

"I grew up with him pushing sports on me,” Trevor said with a chuckle.

On his mother, Linda, a kindergarten teacher. "She was an athlete as well,” Newquist said with pride in his voice. Linda was a swimmer and played tennis and volleyball at Acalanes in Lafayette, close to St. Mary's College where Trevor is attending.

"It's kind of neat that my grandparents live real close to my college,” he said.

Little brother, 16-year-old Trent, a sophomore at Torrey Pines, runs track and cross country. "He's already on varsity,” Trevor said proudly.

His younger sister, Kiersten, an eighth-grader, plays field hockey, basketball and soccer.

"I'm really looking forward to college,” said Newquist, who probably will study sports management with an eye on a career in that field.

"My first goal is to hopefully play professional soccer but whether that works out or not I'd like to become an agent, a scout or maybe a coach,” Newquist said.

Trevor also credits his teammates with supporting his two-sport efforts.

"My best friends are on the two teams and I've known most of the guys on the soccer team for a few years. They pushed me to play basketball. Without their support I couldn't do both,” he said matter-of-factly.

If anyone thinks doing what Newquist is doing is peaches-and-cream they better think twice and heed his advice.

"Some days I'm pretty sore but I know I have to keep going. I take a lot of ice baths and vitamin B12,” he said in a resolute tone and continued.

"It just takes fighting through it, putting forth the effort, being really motivated and having high work ethic. I think my work ethic is high.”

Not many would disagree.

Humility is part of this complete package as well.

"When I got the message I didn't believe it,” Trevor remarked. "I've gotten a couple of articles in San Diego but I thought, is he really calling me. I'm being honored by ESPN CalHiSports?”

Still, in the end, it's about the teams and the school, and Newquist's closing remarks belied any doubts as to his priorities about those two.

"At the beginning of the season, I knew it was possible but there would be so much to overcome to win two section championships in one day. It would be a remarkable feat and a dream come true to do it. Then, I would feel I really gave something back to Torrey Pines.”

Finally, his advice to other up-and-coming youngsters.

"Work as hard or harder in the classroom and in sports always give 100 percent.”

"Remember, you never know what play can be your last play or what game might be your last game.”

Win or lose in either of the two games, Trevor Newquist has treated prep sports fans in San Diego to a ride they might not see for many years to come.

The ultimate, truly unique, two-sport athlete. Fantaaastic, indeed.