Day leaps to front of list

Chris Yemma

Throughout all the Costa Mesa High girls sports programs, spanning

from the fall to spring seasons, one athlete soared above the rest,

helping bring statewide attention to the school nestled on Fairview

Road.

The two main sports of choice for the junior, both of which

incorporated athletic skills that ran in the family, helped Jasmin

Day contribute to a powerful soccer team, as well as a top-notch high

jump effort for the track and field team.

Day finished second at the CIF State meet in the high jump

Saturday, while also helping lead the soccer team to a CIF Southern

Section Division III quarterfinal appearance in February.

Individually speaking, Day grabbed the school’s biggest athletic

accomplishment throughout this school year, with her 5-foot, 9-inch

leap for second in the state. On the team front, the soccer squad was

the most proven and potent group of girls -- a group that was on pace

to bring a second CIF title to the school in three years.

But the third-seeded Mustangs were shocked in the quarterfinals by

Arroyo Grande, which sneaked in a goal during the fourth overtime

period after being outshot, 34-4.

The Mustang soccer team, which finished the year 19-2 and

undefeated in the Golden West League for the third straight year, was

also led by Jenny Sparks, Nilani Duarte, Kyla Flores, Kindra Bailey,

Cyndi Mendoza and Sharon Frazier. Coach Dan Johnston finished his

13th year at the helm.

Day led the track and field team, claiming league titles in the

high jump and 100 hurdles, while also winning her second straight

Southern Section Division III title and a Masters Meet title, both in

the high jump.

Day was also instrumental for the cross country team in the fall,

finishing second overall at the league championships to lead the team

to a league title. Other key runners for the team were Flores,

Duarte, Sparks and Emily Cotton. Both Day and Flores competed in the

CIF State meet for Costa Mesa.

* The Mustang water polo team was also a dominant force for the

school, advancing to the CIF Division VI quarterfinals before falling

to Santa Monica, 7-6, in February.

The water polo team, led by Sarah Bowman, Annie Le, Chandra

Malapira, Carley Millian and Kelly Gentling, scored two goals within

a three-minute span against Santa Monica to pull within, 7-6, with

two minutes left, but couldn’t muster the tying goal.

The Mustangs finished 20-10, 5-1 in league, good for second place.

* The racquet-wielding athletes of the Costa Mesa girls tennis

team reached the second round of the CIF Division V postseason, led

by doubles teammates Leah Le and Hong-An Nguyen, as well as Maria

Garcia and Uyen Le. The team finished second in league.

* The Mustang volleyball team finished third in league and

qualified for the CIF Division III playoffs for the second time in

three years behind the hitting of Lindsey Navarrette and Tracy

Bjelland. The Mustangs lost in the first round to Nordhoff and

finished the year 9-6, 8-4.

* Led by Bethany Vergara, the Mustang basketball team finished

9-17, 5-6, and claimed the coveted Lady Bell trophy from crosstown

rival Estancia. Vergara averaged 9.1 points per game and drained 36

three-pointers through the course of the season.

* The Costa Mesa softball team, led by slugger Britney McAleer and

defensive specialist Christy Gregory, finished 11-10, 6-6, good for

fifth in league. McAleer tallied a league-leading six home runs for

the team.

* Annie Le, Millian, Twohig and Allyson Harris led the swim team

in the spring, all placing second in their respective events at the

league finals.