High School Roundup: Laguna dominates in league opener
The Laguna Beach boys’ tennis team swept its way into the start of its Orange Coast League season Tuesday.
The defending champs, again ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division 4, hosted Saddleback and shut out the Roadrunners, 18-0.
In singles, No. 1 Stuart Webb and No. 2 Charles Keller won by 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 scores, and No. 3 Jake Robbins posted wins of 6-1, 6-0, 6-0. In doubles, the No. 1 team of Ethan Gee/Tristan Krogius and No. 2 team of Ryan Gee/Hayden Seitz won by 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 scores, and at No. 3, Sterling Dudley-Bowen/Zack Washer won, 6-0, and Dudley-Bowen/Nick Besso won, 6-1, 6-0.
Laguna, the division’s top-ranked team in the second poll of the season, improved to 6-2.
Coach Don Davis said his team “dominated play.”
“The team is improving, and understanding that this is the key to finishing strong at the end of the season,” he said.
In a nonleague match March 19, the Breakers took a 14-4 win from host Mission Viejo.
Laguna played its second league match Thursday against Estancia. The score wasn’t available at press time.
The Breakers play once next week and host Dana Hills in a 3:15 p.m. nonleague match Wednesday.
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Swimming
The Breakers’ boys’ and girls’ varsity teams won their Orange Coast League opening meet against visiting Saddleback Wednesday, the boys by a 116-43 score, the girls by a 124-27 verdict.
Setting new CIF qualifying times for the Laguna girls were Kasey Karkoska in the 50 free (26.00) and 100 breaststroke (1:13.10), and Aria Fischer in the 500 free (5:31.16). CIF qualifying times set by the Laguna boys were by Cameron Karkoska in the 50 free (22.70) and 100 butterfly (53.07), and Erik Juliusson in the 100 butterfly (52.29) and 100 breaststroke (1:03.45).
“Our team has a lot of depth this year, and we are looking to defend our league titles for varsity and sweep league across all four levels (boys’ and girls’ varsity, boys’ and girls’ junior varsity),” Laguna co-Coach Beth Weber said. “The fact that we have already accomplished nine CIF Division 2 cuts on the girls’ varsity team, and 12 cuts on the boys’ varsity team from just these last two meets, shows the depth of our talent on both teams and we will only get stronger as the season goes on.”
Freshman Laguna diver Mackenzie Peasley competed at the Riverside City College High School Invitational Saturday and scored 322.05 points, earning an automatic qualification for CIF.
Weber said both Peasley and freshman Liv Mitchell, Laguna’s other diver, will compete Saturday at the Mission Viejo Swimming and Diving Invitational.
Next week, the Breakers return to OCL competition for a 3 p.m. meet Wednesday at Costa Mesa.
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Boys’ Golf
Wednesday at Aliso Viejo Country Club (par 35), the Breakers opened Orange Coast League play with a victory by defeating visiting Calvary Chapel, 193-213. Laguna’s John Grayden was low medalist at 37. Two freshmen, Drake Dvorak and Benji Sharpe, scored 38, and Ethan Gee shot 39.
“I’m really proud of the guys for starting the league opener this way,” Laguna Coach Scott Finn said. “They experienced a real sense of accomplishment in that they all gave their best effort throughout the entire round.”
In a nonleague match last week against Aliso Niguel, Laguna was edged by the Wolverines, 191-193, at Ben Brown’s Golf Course (par 32). Grayden shot 35 and Sharpe a 37.
The Breakers and Wolverines split their two nonleague matches this year.
Laguna faced Estancia in league action Thursday. The result wasn’t available at press time. They are back on the links next Tuesday for a 2:30 league match against Costa Mesa at Ben Brown’s Golf Course, and also host Calvary Chapel at Ben Brown’s (2:30 p.m.) Wednesday.
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Boys’ Volleyball
The Breakers, who moved up to the top ranking in CIF-SS Division 2, opened their Orange Coast League schedule Thursday when the defending league champions took on Costa Mesa. The score wasn’t available at press time.
Laguna replaced Oak Park as the division’s top-ranked team. The Eagles fell to No. 3, one spot behind second-ranked Burroughs/Burbank.
Laguna plays two league matches next week starting with a 5:15 match Tuesday at Saddleback. The Breakers host Estancia at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
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Surfing
The Breakers put on a dominating performance Saturday at the Scholastic Surf Series Orange County High School League Event No. 5, taking wins in five division events at the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier.
The final event competition of the regular season also included teams from JSerra, Santa Margarita, El Toro and St. Margaret’s.
Saturday’s first event, the Bodyboard final, was won by Laguna’s Spencer Davis, who has won four of five events this season. Two Breakers competed in both the girls’ Longboard and Shortboard finals with Anika Pitz winning both competitions. Teammate Cayla Henderson finished sixth in Longboard and fifth in Shortboard.
The Laguna boys’ Shortboard team grabbed five of the six spots in the division final. Zach Levin took first place, his first win, and Tobie Grierson placed second, Willy Hogan fourth, Noah North fifth, and Jake Levine sixth. In the boys’ Longboard, Grierson ripped his way to a first-place finish. Ryan Meisberger was third and Wesley Eagleton sixth in the division.
The Breakers, coached by Scott Finn and Alisa Cairns, next will compete May 16-18 at the State Championships at Church Beach, San Onofre.
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Football
Corey Brown, who has led the Laguna Beach football program for the past two years, has stepped down from his position. Brown, also the transition service coordinator at the school, is leaving both posts to return to school, he said.
Brown’s first team, the 2013 squad, went 5-5 overall. Last fall, the Breakers won their season opener and finale and finished 2-8.
Prior to becoming head coach, Brown was head coach of the Laguna frosh/soph team and a varsity assistant coach.
“It was a fantastic experience and a difficult decision to make, but I felt returning to school was what I needed to do,” the 29-year-old said. “There are so many people to thank for giving me this great opportunity, for hiring me, and for their guidance and leadership. I also am super-thankful of how supportive the parents here have been to me these past five years.
“Some of my best memories have taken place on Guyer Field. The relationships with this student-athletes that have formed will always be remembered, and my goal always was to be a good role model for these young kids on and off the field.”
Brown, who said he has “a passion for coaching,” says he would like to return to coaching in the future.
He took over the Laguna varsity position after Athletic Director Mike Churchill stepped down as head coach after the 2012 season. Prior to that, he was an assistant on head coach Jonathan Todd’s staff at Laguna.
“I am very sorry to see Corey leave,” Churchill said. “He is first and foremost a very good person who cares about helping kids. I greatly appreciated all the help that he gave me during my two years as the head coach. We will miss him but wish him all the good fortune in his quest for a teaching credential. The next school will be very lucky to have him.”
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CIF Weekly Rankings
(released Monday)
Boys’ Tennis: Laguna Beach (No. 1, Division 4).
Boys’ Volleyball: Laguna Beach (No. 1, Division 2).
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca