The Pipeline: 2025

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

LJ b water polo 14, Valhalla 5 - end 3rd quarter 9/16

Photos by Ed Piper

Hands-on work: LJ's Nate Thomson (10, left)

versus Luke Tominna (12) of Valhalla.

La Jolla's defense in the third quarter:

George Gayner (1, in goal, behind)

and Matthew Shomo (left, 15, black cap) keep

an eye on the Norsemen's Luke Tominna (12).

Junior Luke Weid (left, 8) takes aim to score

with 10 seconds left in the third quarter.

Henry Glenister (13), the Vikes' other lefty.

LJ b beach VB v. Bishop's 9/15

Photos by Ed Piper

Sonny Wiczynski dives for

the ball in the ones match.

Andrew Cardenas at the net

in the threes faceoff.

Zepher Smith in the ones match.

Senior Dylan Marshall sets a

beautiful ball near the net.

Sonny Wiczynski, Zepher's

partner, goes up.

New assistant Tim Pohlmann (L), with LJ

head coach Jake Northrup. Tim plays for

Miramar College, is from Santa Cruz, and

has an AAA rating in beach volleyball.

Senior Adam Grushkevich

sets in the twos match.

Chase Ostrom (L) delivers

on a set by his partner,

Zepher Smith (R).

Chase, a senior, extends for a ball

at the net.

Monday, September 15, 2025

LJ FB: Four linebackers back

By Ed Piper

Before La Jolla's game against Grossmont, Defensive Coordinator Randy Cowell said, "We have four linebackers (again). We're back to our basic alignment."

The Vikings had been missing a linebacker due to injury.

The alignment was effective, along with the other elements of La Jolla's defensive unit, helping forge a nail-biting, late-in-the-game-doubt, 40-28 victory over the Foothillers at home Fri., Sept. 12. It was Grossmont's (2-1) first loss of the season.

Cowell ticked off his highlights of the Viking win the week before over La Jolla Country Day: Dylan Haugum on the inside (line), Charlie Martin at linebacker, Joseph Crudo, who had an interception.

"We're still a work in progress," the former 22-year coordinator at Valley Center.

"Did you see Nico's (Bardaro) stat line?" Cowell asked. "17 tackles, three sacks, four TFL's (tackle for loss)."

Regarding Grossmont, I commented that the Hillers had been scoring a lot in their first two games--40 points each time.

Cowell: "They played Patrick Henry (La Jolla's victim in week 2) and Westview--who I think is 0-2." He wasn't totally discounting them. "They'll be a test for us. Their head coach was a record-breaking quarterback at USD, All-CIF at Grossmont. So he's coaching his alma mater."

Grossmont showed surprising fight, coming back from a 20-0 deficit, breaking into the scoring column at the end of the first quarter. Tyler Holmes, the Hillers' quarterback, started slowly, but then passed and ran for good numbers.

More than the numbers, he and his teammates showed heart, despite La Jolla's fast start and apparent intention to blow the visitors out with the three-touchdown lead.

The fourth quarter was a scary time. Grossmont scored to take the lead, 28-27, before the Vikings rallied back to score back-to-back TD's and finish 40-28.

Sunday, September 14, 2025

LJ FB: More photos 9/12

Photos by Ed Piper

Kaden Pomare (left) comes in to help

Drake Weise (21) in stopping

Hiller receiver Randy Ballard (3)

in the third quarter. The Hillers

scored on the next play to make it

20-14, La Jolla leading.

LJ g VB: Vikes reach semifinals

The La Jolla girls volleyball team, led by setter Sofia Costello, made it to the semifinals of the La Jolla Coastal Classic Sat., Sept. 13, before falling to La Jolla Country Day in three games.

Costello, a senior, was named to the All-Tournament team as the Vikings (coming in 4-6) won their pool Thurs., Sept. 11, to reach the day of playoffs Saturday.

La Jolla was in a pool with OLP and SDA (San Dieguito Academy). The Vikings, with Coach Kelly Drobeck, were the hosts of the tournament, which draws teams to the beautiful setting of La Jolla for pool play at Bishop's and La Jolla High.

Saturday, September 13, 2025

LJ FB: More photos 9/12

Photos by Ed Piper

Assistant Max Martinez (left) confers

with special teams members while the

offense is on the field.

LJ Cheer: LJ-Grossmont FB 9/12

Photos by Ed Piper

Vikings cheerleaders join with Grossmont's

as they bring them over to the home side

in the third quarter.

Rozelin Cabrera shows her "hops" on this leap

during the halftime show.

LJ FB: Photos 9/12

Photos by Ed Piper

Carson Diehl (13) wows the crowd with

a run after receiving a Hudson Smith pass

in the third quarter. He took the ball to the

Grossmont 16-yard line, where Aiden

Farrell ran it in from there.

La Jolla led, 27-14.

Vikes back Aiden Farrell on an early run.

LJ corner Drake Weise (left, 21) grabs

Jonah Yost (23) of the Foothillers

before getting more help.

Charlie Martin (right, 22) goes for

a two-yard plunge for La Jolla's first

TD with less than five minutes gone,

6-0.

A Viking defender (4) jolts Grossmont

QB Tyler Holmes (16) to cause a fumble

to begin the third quarter. The Foothillers

were able to recover the ball.

LJ FH 2, Canyon Hills 1 - League opener 9/12

Photos by Ed Piper

Sofia Saiegh (L) of La Jolla

Olivia Morrison-Reyes (8)

Vike forward Allison Hawthorne (left) lays

her stick on the ground to block ball movement

by the Rattlers' Abby Trivelpiece (3).

The Vikes' Talia Snider (4, left) goes against

Morgan Trivelpiece (8) in early action.

Forward Ella Cathalinat (2) stretches for

a ball in the first quarter.

Senior Leyla Yazici (16, left) pushes the ball

with goalie Adalee Branstetter (77, upper left)

in view. Also seen is teammate Sofia Saiegh (10).

La Jolla defenders break out with goalie Adalee

Branstetter (77, red jersey) on a Canyon Hills

corner hit in the first period.

Sophomore Ella Milton (18, center) tries for

the ball against Sami Lee (24, far right) of

the Rattlers. "Milty" is a defender.

Defender Savannah Putnam (17, right) hits

the ball in the formation on the corner hit

against Rattlers' Eva Allen (14), who is

wearing the protective headgear for corners.

Senior Leyla Yazici (16, left) makes a hit

as teammate Savannah Putnam (17) looks on.

Yazici, an All-CIF First Team selection last year

for La Jolla, is defended by Rylie Strom (7).

Sofia Saiegh (10) attempts to pass to teammate

Ella Cathalinat (2, upper right). The midfielder

is defended by Eva Allen (14) of Canyon Hills.

Ella Cathalinat (2, left), a senior, crosses sticks

with Eva Allen (14) of Canyon Hills.

LJ FB 40, Grossmont 28 - Week 4 9/12

Junior Nico Bardaro (running in gray uniform)

carries the ball into the end zone for a

40-28 lead with 1:17 left, closing out

scoring in La Jolla's battle with Grossmont.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

When La Jolla scored its third lightning touchdown on Huddy Smith's strike to receiver Nico Bardaro from 28 yards out to begin the second quarter Fri., Sept. 12, visiting Grossmont seemed as good as dead.

Quarterback Tyler Holmes and his offense appeared jittery and were hurrying their plays to no good result.

But their grit and determination helped them claw their way back into the game, and in the fourth quarter, the game was in the balance.

With 5:52 left, Holmes ran the ball across from 15 yards for an earlier unfathomable 28-27 lead by the Hilltoppers.

The hosts, on a Patriot Day observance of the 9-11 tragedy, rallied to fight back, immediately scoring on a Smith-to-Carson Diehl pass of 26 yards.

After another Diehl TD was called back due to a penalty, Bardaro rushed in from four yards out with 1:17 left to put the Vikings in the lead by 12. Finally, the game was in the shaky but safe hands of La Jolla.