Virgen’s View: Club sports help make dreams come true

Cameron Jabara struggled with the decision a couple years ago when he wasn’t sure if he should play baseball for Newport Harbor High or go the travel-ball route.

On one hand, he could play for the Sailors for the third straight year and know that he would compete in the ultra-competitve Sunset League. On the other hand, he could gain a unique experience, playing against elite players in various situations.

Jabara gave up playing for his school after earning two varsity letters. On Thursday, he was still able to celebrate with his father and travel-ball coaches because he confirmed commitment to play for Oregon.

“It’s a special day,” Jabara said on Thursday. “It’s awesome.”

Jabara is among several players across the nation who have chosen to compete in club sports with the hopes of gaining more exposure and facing elite competition. He said he talked to other players who also left high school baseball to help narrow down his decision.

His father, Gary Jabara, saw his son struggle with the decision because he said his son enjoyed playing with his friends at Newport Harbor.

But in the end, Gary Jabara said he did what he advises other parents to do: “Listen to your kid.”

Cameron Jabara grew up quickly with the decision. He became recruited as a right-handed pitcher after playing for CBA Marucci.

“Cameron works extremely hard,” Gary Jabara said. “There’s probably nothing that feels better as a parent to see your child be successful because of the hard work they put in.”

Cameron Jabara wasn’t the only Newport-Mesa area baseball standout to be honored on Thursday for committing to a college program. Also at Newport Harbor, Luke Genova committed to Santa Clara. CdM star pitcher Evan Larsen made a formal signing to Cal State Fullerton. Sage Hill School’s Conner Bock, a big-time hitter, went with UC Berkeley.

“There’s a lot of ways to get expsoure,” Newport Harbor baseball coach Evan Chalmers said. “Our league [the Sunset League] speaks for itself. Huntington Beach was a CIF champion and had eight of their players go Division 1. There’s a way to be noticed in the Susnet League. I’m a huge advocate as a high school coach of the integrity of high school baseball. The idea you take the community kids and you go to battle with them. I can speak for most county coaches, we’re proud of the ability to put those pieces together and develop them over a four-year course and go compete against other schools that like to do the same thing.

“Cameron is a good kid. He played for me a couple years ago. I respect his decision if that’s the route he chooses. Obviously he’s been able to land at Oregon and I wish him luck.”

At Costa Mesa High, volleyball standout Mason Tufuga was honored during a signing cermony on Friday. Tufuga is headed to Stanford. Friday was a symbol of a path completed mostly because of his dedication to club, Orange Coast Volleyball Club, which is based in Lake Forest.

Tufuga has certainly represented the Mustangs in an excellent way. Yet, he admitted he wouldn’t have been able to gain exposure or top-level experience without club.

Nowadays, club competition is a neccessity to reach NCAA Division I dreams.

Tufuga also balanced competing in boys’ basketball at Costa Mesa, as well as his academics on his way to accomplishing his goal.

He said he never really got burned out or thought about quitting because he knew the payoff could be great.

There were plenty of smiles at Costa Mesa on Friday during lunch.

Tufuga’s father, Mai, became emotional when he spoke to me, as he explained how special the day was for his family. Mai’s father and his brothers also attended the ceremony. Mason Tufuga’s mother, Yvette, and his sister, Malia, were also there to celebrate.

The day proved to be special for all the athletes because parents, coaches, teammates and school administrators have all noticed the great work the student-athletes put in.

At Newport Harbor, golfers Grace Ferrell (UC Irvine) and Madison Fernandez (Carroll College) and rower Karly Pearson (Duke) were also honored during its signing ceremony.

At Corona del Mar, Taylor Benson (rowing, Southern Methodist University), Natalia Bruening (basketball, UC Santa Barbara), Pedro Fernandez del Valle (tennis, University of Colorado/Denver), Rylee Glaych (rowing, Texas), Tim Hanson (swimming, Michigan), Sam Kobrine (volleyball, UCLA), Heidi Ritner (water polo, Michigan) and Bridgett Storm (water polo, UCLA) were also recognized for gaining acceptance to college sports programs.

In addition, CdM’s Sherwin Gersten (lacrosse) signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Cleveland State.