Glimpse of the future?

Charlie Brande

NEWPORT BEACH - The Annual Newport-Mesa Junior High boys’

volleyball championships last week were a tremendous success.

The experience is one that these young athletes remember for the rest of

their lives.

With parents and teachers in attendance, it is an opportunity for players

to be involved with the playoff experience that prepares them for high

school’s CIF playoffs. Last year’s CIF Southern Section boys’ Division I

volleyball championship match between Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar

featured a majority of players who had participated in this junior high

school tournament.

The tournaments are organized by Harbor Day coach, Mike Coleman, who

coordinates the league standings which “seed” the teams for the

tournament.

For years, Ensign Junior High has serveD as the host. There are many

memories about that gymnasium.

The eighth grade tournament was an exciting event with fourth-seeded

Ensign, winning a wild three-game match with top-seeded Dwyer (Huntington

Beach) by scores of 15-12, 10-15, 15-12.

TeWinkle defeated Harbor Day in the other semifinal match to set up a

TeWinkle-Ensign final.

The final was another three-gamer with Ensign winning the 1999

Championship by scores of 15-11, 5-15, 15-4.

Ensign Coach Karen DeFrancesca credited setter Joel Ramirez for his

consistent sets to Tim Baker, Brian Campos and Michael Bury, who carried

the load at the net.

DeFrancesca also acknowledged the all-around play of Tanner Bendheim,

Mike Vackar and Trevor Gregory as well as Tyler Gibbs and Matt Cheffer

who “were dusting the floor” and “getting every ball that came their

way.”

In the seventh grade tournament, top-seeded Corona del Mar slipped by

TeWinkle by scores of 18-16, 16-14, while second-seed Dwyer, nipped

Ensign 8-15, 15-10, 15-6.

In the final, Dwyer beat CdM 15-11, 15-5 to win the championship.

CdM Coach Jason Bilbruck, was impressed with the setting of Tom Welch,

the all-around play of outside hitter Kevin Welch, the passing from Grant

Almquist and the hitting by Tyler Lance, who led the team in kills.

The experience of the event is always a memorable one. Hopefully, we’ll

see these players representing their high schools in future CIF playoffs.