LJ b golf: Consistent, hot?, and star novice

By Ed Piper

These comments from statistics are risky, and from a non-golf expert, but it appears in the early going that the La Jolla boys golf team is going along pretty well. It has to be especially nice that everyone is attending school in person, and out on the links as well--such a contrast from the last two years. (In fact, in 2020 the Spring sports were cancelled soon after March 13, 2020 hit upon us.)

Kaden Ward is the "old hand" on the team, a junior. That is not totally surprising, in view of the hit that development of teams in all sports has taken due to the aforementioned COVID disruption (recruiting of new members, practice, games, the whole package).

Ward is putting up numbers that are pretty consistent: two 45's (front and back nines at San Diego Country Club) on St. Patrick's Day in the Saints Invitational. Before that, he shot a 44 on March 15 on the Torrey Pines North Brown course against Scripps Ranch in a dual match, a 45 on March 7 against La Costa Canyon at the La Costa Resort Legends Championship course (front nine). I could go on.

Kaden tore up Riverwalk Mission Blue, the Vikings' workout site, with a 38 on March 1.

The "hot" Viking could be Nathan Wittkow, a sophomore, who shot a 39 on the back nine at SDCCC March 17; a 38 on the Torrey Pines North Brown course (front nine) March 15 against Scripps (a league match); a 42 against Bishop's on the Rancho Bernardo Inn Black (front nine) March 3; and I could go on.

The newcomer would be freshman Nate Takata. One of a sixsome of ninth-graders who have seen at least some competitive action with the Vikings--despite all the rigors and demands of the COVID pandemic and restrictions until last week--Takata put up a 49 in the second part of the Saints Invitational on St. Patrick's Day; his 45 led the way for La Jolla against Eastlake in a non-league encounter at Eastlake Black (the back nine) March 16; and his four other outings have been decent and respectable. A star in the making.

Christie Quinn, the Vikings' now-"fulltime" (in the sense of coaching both boys' and girls' teams) coach since Aaron Quesnell moved into the LJHS Athletic Director's position this year, is a steady, knowledgeable presence with the ability to communicate techniques and the health of the mental game. She is coaching the boys, as well as the girls team in the fall. She has worked alongside Aaron for several years, knows the program well, and that should make the transition for the players smooth and unbumpy.

Other team members representing the school include Justin Woods, a freshman; Julio Jativa, the sole senior; Trevor Kula, a freshman; Ciaran Snyder, a sophomore; and then the other ninth-graders: Igor Tvrdisic, whose sister Daria plays for the Vikings in the fall; Gabriel Lopez; Ben Buechel; and Seigo Lavinsky.