The Pipeline

Thursday, February 19, 2026

LJ g water polo: Analysis of semifinals

By Ed Piper

Something happened between Jan. 7 and Jan. 17. La Jolla beat Valhalla 12-10 in a non-league game right after the New Year break. Then, in the latter game, Coach Paola Vizcarra's Norsemen--Norse-people?--figured the Vikings out and broke away for a 10-5 win.

That's when state and San Diego rankings flipped, putting the Valhallans ahead of La Jolla.

The most recent update is that the Vikings, again in their home pool at Coggan Family Aquatic Center for the CIF Open Division playoffs Feb. 17, fell to the orange-clad Norse 15-14 in a game that wasn't that close in the fourth quarter--Valhalla held a 14-9 lead at one point, though Coach Tom Atwell's squad rallied, only to fall short.

In the CIF semifinal, the Vikings were scoring easily in the early portion of the game, though not able to make headway and take a steady lead--their defense was leaky.

But as the game progressed, unheralded Gia Jacob and lefty Ava Mammo filled in the gap for Vizcarra's team, scoring key goal after key goal. Jacob, apparently a triplet playing with her two sisters, scored five goals. Mammo, one of the few team members who is not either a twin or a triplet, scored three.

The Norsemen were able to loft several floaters over Viking goalie Lucia Vega's head and into the far end of the cage. It was frustrating business, from La Jolla's side.

The home side knew that after defeating Torrey Pines 20-13 Feb. 11 in the quarterfinals, they were going to have a tough time against Valhalla. Valhalla has had a good program, but the seniors peaked at the right time and came into the semifinal contest with La Jolla in a strong position. Too strong, from the Vikings' standpoint.

Junior Cora Pfau almost willed La Jolla to a win, scoring the last three goals when the Vikings were desperate. She took them from down 15-11 to trailing 15-14, but with only three seconds on the clock. The clock ran out as Valhalla kept the ball away, Pfau and others ready to pounce if there was any chance.

It was a bit of a sad way to end the San Diego Section portion of the schedule, stretching back to the Ventura Tournament in mid-November, when coach and team went north and did some bonding by visiting UCLA and taking a tour there with a former player.

So much good promised such a good season--of course, with the juggernaut Bishop's looming over the Open Division picture.

Atwell's crew still has the Southern California Regionals to tangle in, likely with an away game up north Tues., Feb. 24.

LJ g soccer 2, SDHS 0 - CIF D2 playoffs - 2/18

Photos by Ed Piper

Aila Choi-Fitzpatrick (left) of La Jolla winces

on a left-footed kick by Caver Julianna McEvoy

(right) five minutes into the game.

Viking freshman Bowie Kerch (right) does

a dance with McEvoy, a sophomore, soon after.

Caver goalkeeper Thea Brigham (pink uniform),

smiling, brings the ball out front of the goal

after La Jolla's two kicks went off the crossbar

and neither scored with under 20 minutes left

in the first half, Vikings ahead 1-0.

Sam Woolf (left), who scored the

Vikings' first-half goal, shadows

Julianna McEvoy near the midfield

sideline.

Kerch (23) pivots to try to take the ball

the other way against McEvoy's pressure,

the score still 0-0 early in the first half.

Choi-Fitzpatrick takes a throw-in

in front of the SDHS bench.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Prep g water polo: Davidson on physicality

By Ed Piper

Ian Davidson is the co-coach of Bishop's water polo, including the girls' team that is the rival of La Jolla High's squad. His and Doug Peabody's teams play a particularly physical type of game, which is clean but hard to oppose.

La Jolla coach Tom Atwell recently said, "The only thing harder to coach than size (which can't be coached) is teaching physicality to players who don't want to be physical."

This interchange took place after the Knights' 22-4 win in the CIF Open Division semifinals over El Camino, and before the Vikings' 15-14 loss to Valhalla Tues., Feb. 17. Valhalla wins the right to face Bishop's in the final Sat., Feb. 21. La Jolla still qualifies for the Southern California Regionals next week.

Q: How do you coach physicality? Your team is the only one I've seen in the county that plays with that level of physicality.

Davidson: You know, these girls have done a good job of playing together. We've learned the right way to play, and play with each other. They've done a really good job of learning how to move together. I think that's where it starts. And learning what acceptable and unacceptable levels of physicality are within a water polo game.

There's a gross style of physicality, and then there's a way the game should be played. And I think they've done a really awesome job of learning how to move in the water and learn what is the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Q: I agree. Good luck in the finals.

ID: I appreciate it.

LJ g water polo: Game story 2/17

By Ed Piper

La Jolla went ahead, 7-5, early in the second quarter on Stella Tezcan's goal on Taylor Goldstein's pass against Valhalla in the CIF Open Division semifinals Tuesday night, Feb. 17.

And at this point early in the match, the Vikings were scoring easily on a formula of pass to the center, catch the Norseman defense off-guard, and score the goal.

In fact, it seemed that Coach Tom Atwell's squad, much fortified since last year, had enough firepower to overcome Valhalla, though they were playing with them, not forging any kind of steady lead.

Finally, much to Coach Paola Vizcarra's second-seeded team's credit, their persistence paid off and the Norse ended the third quarter leading, 10-9, then added to that advantage to ultimately lead, 14-9, with 5:27 left in the game. It seemed insurmountable.

Junior Aviana Cavaiola scored two goals, then classmate Cora Pfau scored three--including a shot that was sitting on the edge of the cage entrance, then drifted in to score--but time ran out and Valhalla went home with a 15-14 win and ticket to face number-one Bishop's Sat., Feb. 21 in the finals.

Bishop's smothered El Camino, 22-4, in the other semifinal to reach the final.

LJ g water polo 14, Valhalla 15 - CIF Open Semifinals - 2/17

Photos by Ed Piper

Sunday, February 15, 2026

LJ b wrestling: Kressin wins 144 title at CIF Division 4 Finals - 2/14

Liam Kressin of La Jolla, at 144 pounds, records

a fall in 3:34 over Sergio Lucero-Avila (left)

in a second-round match. The senior

won his weight division at the CIF Division 4

Finals at Mar Vista High Sat.. Feb 14.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Senior Liam Kressin, capping two years of reaching the Masters tourney, won the title in his 144-pound class at the CIF Division 4 Finals by scoring a major decision over Jackson Kowalski of Mountain Empire, 14-5, Sat., Feb. 14.

Kressin, a lanky practitioner of his craft, achieved next Friday's Masters meet in part by taking a fall over Sergio Lucero-Avila of Valley Center in 3:34 in the second round, following a first-round bye.

He then decisioned Marcos Garcia of Holtville, 18-2, for a tech fall to reach the championship bout.

Kressin (on top) nears his 14-5 victory as

Coach Joey Stofko (right rear) shouts

instructions from the coaches' corner.

* * *

Fellow senior Dylan Haugum, returning for a successful season after being away from wrestling since his freshman year, placed second at 215 pounds. He dropped the championship bout by suffering a fall in 2:37 to Axel Gomez of Holtville.

Haugum, who sported a new "playoff haircut" in true football style (he starred for the Vikings football team on defense), comes on with a big burst of energy to begin matches. He first forced Jorge Padilla of Castle Park to default in 5:50 after a 7-5 lead in the first round.

Subsequent to a loss by pin in the second round, the energetic 12th-grader took Henry Sailor of High Tech North down for a fall in 3:28 to reach the title match.