Being the starting quarterback for the varsity football team and the starting pitcher on the varsity baseball team are a couple of achievements that many high school athletes can only dream about, but for senior Matt Gorgen it is a reality.

Along with being a well rounded athlete, Gorgen can now add Clayton Valley 2005 Male Athlete of the Year to his high school résumé.

“Receiving it [Male Athlete of the Year award] is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It really was an honor.”

Gorgen was also selected as one of the Contra Costa Times’ Top 100 Prep Athletes, along with Lindsay Kiyama and his twin brother Scott Gorgen.

During the football team’s 2004 campaign, Gorgen was one of the tri-captains along with Jesse Hunt and Jimmy Mares.

As quaterback this past season, Gorgen threw for 15 touchdowns.

Along with teammates Jason Poltl and Kyle Ballard, Gorgen helped the Eagles reach the NCS semi-finals for the second year in a row for football.

“He [Gorgen] is a natural leader, and he has a ton of talent. He definitely deserved the award,” said Ballard.

Head baseball coach Bob Ralston seems to be in agreement with Ballard in regards to Gorgen.

“Gorgen did a good job of getting guys out in tough situations, and he’s a great leader,” said Ralston. “He’s just an all-around winner, on and off the field.”

This past season, Gorgen pitched extremely well. He held an ERA of 1.90, giving up only 12 earned runs and 31 hits in 44 innings pitched. Along with an outstanding ERA, Gorgen had 61 strikeouts and only 17 walks while facing an astonishing 179 batters during the 2005 season.

Not only is Gorgen a talented pitcher, he can also hold his own at the plate, batting with a .266 average and 15 RBI’s with 17 hits in 64 plate appearances.

His football and baseball teammate Scott Gorgen knows his brother has great potential.

“I’m excited to see how he does at Cal. I’m sure that we’ll hear more about him in college,” he said.

For this future Golden Bear, even receiving the prestigious award of Male Athlete of the Year may not be the highlight of his career.

During the off-season Gorgen will leave on June 20, to go play on the USA National Team in Missouri.