LJ b water polo 9, Bishop's 15 - Game story

Shot attempt by Viking attacker
Gavin Olson (white cap, #2)
in the third quarter.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Usually, La Jolla's water polo team is the one that beats up on the little guys, then toys with them.

But in their game at rival Bishop's Thurs., Sept. 26, this was a different animal.

The host Knights, instead, were toying with Coach Tom Atwell's squad.

The La Jolla corner of the pool, opposite the large photo posters of last year's and this year's Bishop's squads, was strangely quiet.

That commonly only happens when the game is an easy blowout win--or the reverse.

Bishop's, coached by Doug Peabody, came in ranked number one in CIF San Diego. La Jolla, coached by Tom Atwell, was in the number seven slot.

Lefty Jack Martin wreaked havoc on his brothers from up Nautilus St. From the point, Martin, a big, burly presence, repeatedly waved the ball above his head from his commanding position at the top. Then, when he wasn't passing to give the ball to his teammates around the perimeter, or leaking deft feed passes inside to the two-meter, he was firing at will at Viking goalie Levi Lentin's domain.

The result was a resounding 15-9 win for the Knights. It was, on this occasion before a hundred or more fans from the neighboring schools, "Knight time."

After La Jolla's Alex Brown scored the first goal of the game, Bishop's moved out to a 4-2 lead at the end of the first quarter behind a pair of goals by Kyto Fraley.

The Vikings still only trailed by three, 6-3, at halftime.

However, in a stretch from four minutes left in the third quarter through the end of the period, Martin scored two of four Bishop's goals for a commanding 10-5 lead. La Jolla never closed the gap.

Brown had three goals to lead the Vikings' scoring. Cole Black added two.

LJ b water polo 9, Bishop's 15 - Photos 9/26

By Ed Piper

LJ b beach VB: Photos 9/25 vs. Point Loma

By Ed Piper

LJ FB: 'Trenton Fudge Kicker-and-Receiver' Award

By Ed Piper

Time for another unofficial award, with the Vikings enjoying their bye week, including a day off from practice Mon., Sept. 23.

"TRENTON FUDGE KICKER-AND-RECEIVER" AWARD

When I interviewed junior Devin Bale for a La Jolla Village News story Monday, he didn't know who Trenton Fudge was.

Fudge was the "little brother" who played during the golden years of Collin Rugg and Carlton O'Neal, when La Jolla football, with present Head Coach Tyler Roach as Offensive Coordinator, set records for passing touchdowns in a season (46 by Rugg, a CIF San Diego Section record at that time), career receptions (O'Neal), and other marks.

Fudge started out as a sophomore in 2013 as a place-kicker. He only was inserted at receiver periodically.

As he showed the ability to catch passes consistently, he played during more and more snaps, until becoming a major contributor to the Vikings' spread, speed-up offense in Rugg's senior season, 2014.

Where Bale comes in is the combination of his kicking and his pass-catching. He is blasting punts (Fudge wasn't a punter). He is doing an excellent job in his place-kicking. And his receiving on offense fits right in with his brothers at receiver: Cooper McNally, Luke Brunette, Makai Smith, and Diego Solis.

Fudge also exhibited considerable ability hitting the baseball and playing second base for Gary Frank's Viking baseball team, even after taking a year off from baseball.

Bale's "other" sport is soccer, where he is a starter on defense for La Jolla.

LJ FB: Spark

By Ed Piper

With La Jolla trailing 7-0 starting the second half, Viking linebacker Max Smith spied a pass from Scripps Ranch quarterback Luke Durkin coming toward his territory, caught it with space to spare, and began wending his way up the left sideline.

Smith, who has provided several a few highlights like this in La Jolla's first five games, evaded would-be tacklers right in front of his team's bench. He ran the ball all the way back, 75 yards down field.

The only thing that caused a delay in the Vikings' touchdown celebration was a flag way back upfield. The flag was pulled by the officials, and Coach Tyler Roach's team flew into joy as the two teams were tied, 7-7, after Devin Bale's kick.

The pick six came on second-and-eight at the Falcons' 28-yard line. There were four minutes gone in the third quarter when Smith, who had two interceptions of Bishop's QB Ty Buchner within five plays in the season opener, collected in the aerial and headed to paydirt.

The only problem was, La Jolla's offense, running on a low throttle, failed to score a TD the entire game.

Yes, Scripps Ranch's defense is good. Two-points-allowed-per-game good. And with normally active receivers Makai Smith, Bales, Cooper McNally, Luke Brunette--Diego Solis sidelined with an ankle injury most of the game--not able to get in the mix, Smith's lone score couldn't stand up to the 17 points the hosts (5-0) put up.

"We learned against Del Norte (when La Jolla went in with back-to-back wins in weeks two and three) that we can be humbled," said Roach the day before the Falcons game. "We have to reset each week." The result in that match-up with the extremely well-prepared Nighthawks was a 14-7 loss.

At Scripps, you expected a burst from the red and black, who have been playing so well on defense, and tantalizing all of us on offense with shades of success: Jackson Stratton's live arm, Solis' energizing cameos at quarterback and receiver, Makai Smith's play-making ability, Max Smith's "what's he going to do next?" potential.

It ended kind of flat. The way the La Jolla defense goes about warm-ups before games, it's like watching a demolition crew quietly setting up its work, knowing they have the means and the firepower to detonate buildings in a display that's going to stun everyone.

Max, Jack Wiese, Dirk Gershon, and their minions--Alessandro Demoreno is contributing, you know Finn Rice is working so hard back there at safety, Grady Mitchell is becoming a monster of tackles, LT Shimp is growing, Aiden Trudeau is coming on more and more--they're all keeping the Vikings in every game, no blowouts this season. It's really remarkable. A special time for the defense.

LJ g golf: Krasuski burning 38's

Olivia Krasuski tees off against
Point Loma at Riverwalk Sept. 24.
(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Olivia Krasuski, La Jolla High's number-one golfer who has sprinted out of the blocks by shooting two separate 38's over nine holes, agreed things are coming together pretty well in her game.

"Except I've made some mistakes reading shots," she said in modesty before the Vikings' match against Point Loma at Riverwalk Tues., Sept. 24. She said those errors will be overcome as she practices and plays more.

The senior, in her fourth year on Coach Aaron Quesnell's varsity, said she delayed a little in submitting her paperwork and starting play with returners Amalia Parzen, Chloe Kim, and her other teammates because the family had relatives visiting and she wanted to spend time with them.

The Krasuskis often go back to Poland, the homeland of Olivia's father. This summer she didn't go. But she has kept her hand in auto racing, going to tracks near Palm Springs and another location.

Olivia adjusts her "LJ" cap
before the match
against the Pointers.

As a result, you might say, Krasuski is a "fast woman".

Olivia's two 38's at Riverwalk Sunset Sept. 5 and Sept. 17, respectively, plus a 41 she carded in between on Torrey Pines' North course Sept. 12, are, by far, the best scores a Viking has recorded in the young season.

No one else on the team, who is technically coached by assistant Christie Quinn, a golf pro, has shot lower than a 43 so far.

Krasuski's presence, though the win over Point Loma 226-246 was La Jolla's first in the Western League after three losses, obviously ups the Vikings' game and makes them more potent.

With Olivia at the one spot in the six-person lineup, veterans Parzen and Kim go two-three behind her.


One of Krasuski's strengths is her powerful legs, which provide launch power off the tee. That was apparent Tuesday, both on the driving range at Riverwalk before the intersquad match, and on the opening tee, where Olivia's good form complemented her strong frame with a nice drive.

*  *  *

Amalia Parzen seems to have a very healthy outlook on the links. When asked if having a teammate shoot 38's alongside her affects her, La Jolla's number-two said, "I just try to play the best I can."

She said third-period Ceramics class is her favorite during this Fall semester of her senior year. "It's a fun class, and my friends are there," she said, a short time before teeing up against the Pointers.

*  *  *

Chloe Kim, who has worked diligently through her freshman and sophomore seasons for Quesnell, said putting came somewhat naturally for her from the beginning. "My chipping isn't as good," she said as she warmed up at the Riverwalk Performance Center. School seems to be going well for her, she said. As always, she was unfailingly smiling while a reporter pestered her with questions on the practice green.

*  *  *

Paige Dierlam said, when asked about hyrdrating, "Golfers don't drink a lot of liquids." She said, instead, "We eat a lot." She was smiling when she said it. Asked what the preferred snack during a round is, she replied, "ClifBar Chocolate Chip."

LJ g golf: Photos 9/24 vs. Point Loma @ Riverwalk

By Ed Piper

LJ FB 7, Scripps Ranch 17 - Game story

By Ed Piper

La Jolla, facing an undefeated Scripps Ranch team (4-0) in their own place, throttled the Viking offense down from a more open vertical game to shorter, crisper passing, interspersed with a ground attack. The purpose was to limit the mistakes that have befallen the Vikings periodically due to young, developing offensive leadership.

But in so doing, the visitors found their offensive engine sputtering, unable to score a touchdown against a stingy Falcon defense that was allowing only two points a game by opponents.

The result was a close but ultimately unsuccessful 17-7 decision Fri., Sept. 20, in the Interstate 15 game, dropping Coach Tyler Roach's team to 0-1 in league, 2-3 overall going into a bye week.

Max Smith intercepted a Luke Durkin pass and ran it back for the Vikings' only score, early in the third quarter. Devin Bale added the point-after-touchdown kick, his ninth in nine tries on the season.

La Jolla only managed to gain 62 yards on the ground, and 48 in the air for an anemic 110 total yards in 43 plays from scrimmage.

The Falcons (now 5-0) didn't show themselves to be a powerhouse, but they did enough to win against a determined Viking defense. Durkin and gang only converted five of 15 third downs, while Roach's crew was three for nine.

Viking quarterback Jackson Stratton was 8 for 22 passing attempts for 80 yards. Finn Rice caught a pair of passes for 21 yards. Luke Brunette snagged three for 12 yards.

Smith carried 10 times for 39 yards. The hard-working linebacker had eight tackles on defense. Jack Wiese led the team with 10 tackles.

Max has scored 36 of La Jolla's 81 points through the first quintet of games, a 44-percent mark--a huge chunk, especially for a non-quarterback who doesn't get to handle the ball on every offensive play.

Two of his TD's have come on pick-sixes. The other four are rushing touchdowns.

LJ Cheer: Photos 9/20 at LJ-Scripps Ranch FB

By Ed Piper

LJ FB: Playmaker Award

Viking receiver Diego Solis (5) begins to flip
in the air, holding onto the reception,
after safety Jake Hadzicki makes contact
for Del Norte Sept. 13.
(Photo by Julian Tucker)

By Ed Piper

We continue with our unofficial awards at midseason for the Viking football team.

"PLAYMAKER" AWARD

Diego Solis brings excitement when he is in the game. His presence equals anticipation. He provides a spark. What is Solis going to do?

Whether he is playing quarterback, receiving passes, or even running the ball on offense, or if he's playing in the backfield on defense, the junior often finds a way to have an impact, to change the course of the game.

And he is reckless in stirring things up: In snagging passes, he will sacrifice his body, lunging and stretching, sometimes being hit in the air. I have in my mind an image of Diego flying through the air, the pass reception tucked safely in his hands, his legs now sticking straight up as one or two tacklers hit him at an angle. It's almost scary how he exposes himself to contact this way.

I know that Solis was mightily disappointed when, almost suddenly, he went from being a dependable passer to throwing repeated interceptions during 7-on-7 competitions last summer. On two successive weekends, in the Hilltop passing tournament, then the big tourney held at Southwestern College over a Friday-Saturday, he began plopping normally-carefully-considered passes into the hands of opposing players.

Diego Solis
(Photo by Ed Piper)

He shook his head after this happened several times, not understanding why he suddenly could not be accurate in targeting his passes.

That resulted in not only Jackson Stratton, the Vikings' other quarterback, alternating possessions with him. Now it meant Jackson took the reins full-time, and this had to be very disappointing to Diego, who had worked so hard, been such a spark during his sophomore season last year.

But he found a way to contribute in other aspects of the game. That was through becoming an extremely-useful multi-use player. He resumed playing defense, which he hadn't done after his triple collarbone fracture against Christian High in October 2018. He also began being inserted as a receiver on offense, sometimes scripted into carrying the ball.

One of the big plays combining his talents this season was a touchdown pass he threw after two reverses deposited the ball in his hands. It caught La Jolla's opponents completely off-guard. It showcased Diego's versatility and ability to contribute, even while not sharing time at quarterback the way it looked like he would until that fateful pair of weekends last June.

Against Scripps Ranch Sept. 20 in week five, the Vikings lacked a little of that spark that Diego could provide. He was limited in playing time by an ankle injury he sustained the week before in a 15-7 loss to Del Norte.

In that heart-breaking defeat to the Nighthawks, Stratton, with time running out, fired a long bomb in Solis' direction. Diego, who has good speed as well as leaping ability, got his hands on the pass in the end zone. Briefly, he seemed to have possession. But then, as he hit the ground with a defender closely covering him, the ball squirted loose as the game ended.

His dad said Diego thought he should have caught the ball, which could have tied the game with a two-point conversion. There might have been "some" defensive pass interference, and Diego was also distracted by activity near him around the perimeter of the end zone.

In any case, it would have been a spectacular catch, and it would have been trademark Solis. Sudden, unexpected, game-changing, exciting. Anything to make his team's outcome better.

LJ b water polo 10, Redondo Union 11 - America's Finest City Tournament, Coronado - Day 2

By Ed Piper

LJ FB: Midseason awards

Linebackers Jack Wiese (12) and Dirk Germon (23)
before the Vikings' game at Scripps Ranch Sept. 20.
Diego Solis is at left.
(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

With five games (and a 2-3 record) under their belts, and a bye week coming up for La Jolla's football team, it's time for unofficial awards at the midseason point.

"LOCKDOWN DEFENDER" Award

The linebacker trio of Max Smith, Jack Wiese, and Dirk Germon are worth the price of admission to Vikings games alone. The core of the red-and-black defense, the inner heart--though the season has been all a team effort--pumps within these guys, who go about their business without fanfare and without asking for recognition.

The strength on the defensive side of the ball radiates out from these three to their hard-working teammates.

In my 16 years of covering Viking sports, there has never been a power threesome like this on the LJHS football team. There were individuals and maybe pairs of strong players, but not a veritable wolfpack hunting down opponents like this one--until now.

During the Vikings' 14-7 loss at Scripps Ranch (now 5-0) last night, Fri., Sept. 20, Smith upended a kick returner with such force that the poor guy flipped in midair as Max smacked him in a clean but punishing hit for a stop.

Max Smith, before another
power-packed performance.
This was at Scripps Ranch.

Wiese is workman-like, as well, continuing the productive ways of his junior season, when he first emerged as a potent force for Coach Tyler Roach's rebuilding program. Now LJHS shows up to any game as a viable threat to equal or defeat its opponent, which it could not claim to do previously, prior to the development of the defense.

Germon has only been stopped by sickness, not opponents. The one game he missed of La Jolla's first five came because he was sidelined and couldn't make the game. In the other four games, he has amassed tackle totals of 5, 9. 14. and 4 (the last incomplete, unofficial) versus Bishop's, Santa Fe Christian, Del Norte, and most recently, Scripps Ranch.

Plus, of course, Smith does ridiculous things on the other side of the ball, too. Last night he returned a pick-six off Falcon quarterback Luke Durkin 75 yards for the Vikings' only score. He raced around the entire SRHS offense, eluding would-be tacklers, to parallel the left sideline right in front of the La Jolla bench all the way to the Falcons' end zone.

The only player to my knowledge (which is limited) during my decade-and-a-half of covering LJHS who could even rival these three was Josh Kilmer, a linebacker for the Vikings in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Kilmer had total tackles of 42, 125, and 98 in his sophomore, junior, and senior years, respectively, playing for mediocre Viking football teams.

Jack Wiese (12) leaps in putting pressure
on Del Norte quarterback Jack Borer.
(Photo by Julian Tucker)

Kilmer, who went on to play football at Mesa College, was recognized as the all-time career record holder for the school in tackles during his senior season.

Prior to my years reporting on La Jolla, I am aware that there were outstanding football teams from the school. But I do not know the history, nor have I accessed records from those earlier years.

LJ FH 0, Westview 1 - Halftime - Photos 9/19

By Ed Piper