LJ b wrestling @ CIF Masters - 2/20

Photos by Ed Piper

Vike Liam Kressin (top, 144 pounds) thoroughly

dominates Jayden Loiselle of Canyon Hills

in a first-round bout, 10-1, for a major decision.

Kressin (his hand raised, as Loiselle exits)

finishes his high school career going

to Masters both his junior and senior years--

like going to all-stars in other sports.

Junior Ori Mor (far left) gets some urging from

head coach Joey Stofko as associate coach

Kellen Delaney (far right) looks on during a

pause in his first match of the morning.

Mor, at 157 pounds, pins Ron Pizarro of Mater Dei

in his first-round match. Ori was trailing, 4-3,

at the time of his fall.

Senior Dylan Haugum (left) tries to hold his ground

in a bout with Michael Maddy of Hilltop.

Haugum (left), who returned to wrestling his senior

year after being away since 9th grade, does some

hand-fighting with Maddy in period one.

LJ b soccer 3, Christian 1 - CIF D4 2nd round - 2/19

Photos by Ed Piper

Senior Marco Lopez signals before a corner

kick, five minutes into the game, after

heavy rains right up until game time.

Senior Tate Phillips handles the ball

near the Christian sideline

early in the game.

Vikes' Thilo Hoelscher (right) looks on

closely as Dylan Schellenberg

deals with the ball on a cold night.

Patriot Pierson Cunningham (8) clears the ball

out of bounds to keep Tate Phillips (7) from

advancing the ball in the Viking scoring half

of the field.

Junior defender Nico Bardaro (18) guides

the ball as the Patriots' Steven Benson (far left),

who scored Christian's goal, keeps a watchful eye.

Peyton Gustafson (6) of La Jolla boots

an attempt toward the goal halfway through

the second half, the Vikes leading 2-1.

Pearl Plaskonos, on her phone, works out

on the cycles as part of the girls' practice

during the boys' game under the supervision

of head coach Austin Mobley (far left,

in woolen gray cap). They later supported

the boys from both sidelines.

Thilo Hoelscher (left, hands turned up) gets sent off

with a red card after the referees ruled he left

the ground before impact with #8, Cole Howarter,

committing "serious foul play".

Wet conditions persist after three storms

in four days as the girls' team works out

early in the boys' contest against Christian.

Evidence of nest-rebuilding hangs over

the lights above the visitors' stands

after an osprey (not pictured) flew

over the field during competition.

Junior Nico Bardaro (behind, red

jersey) sends the ball up the left

sideline for Peyton Gustafson

(front) to take.

Christian goalkeeper (with the ball)

runs out from the goal after a save as

Thilo Hoelscher (red jersey) and Patriot defenders

move back into position in the second half.

Peyton Gustafson (red jersey) pursues his own

kick against a Christian defender.

LJ g wrestling @ CIF Masters - 2/21

Photos by Ed Piper

Grace Roman (115 pounds) wins her first

bout over Savanna Diaz (far left) of Ramona

in 46 seconds.

LJ baseball: 32nd Annual Alumni Game - 2/21

Photos by Ed Piper

Stan Smith, Class of 1960.

plays the National Anthem

on trumpet. Smith, a catcher,

stole home six times his

senior year.

Weston Clark (R) with head coach Gary Frank

Opening alumni pitcher Tim Biers

warming up

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.

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.