The Pipeline: August 2025

Saturday, August 23, 2025

LJ Cheer: Photos at LJ-Torrey Pines FB game 8/22

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ cheerleader Simona Meyerov (far left) enjoys

a pizza slice with TP buddies after the JV game.

Junior Alysse Jagielinski hangs

before the varsity game. She is the

granddaughter of Kathy Donnell.

LJ FB: More photos 8/22

By Ed Piper

Former Vike All-Eastern League running back

Aidan "Carolina" McGill (left) sits in the

north end zone during the broadcast of the

La Jolla-Torrey Pines game. "Carolina" graduated

in May.

Torrey Pines QB Blake Miller (9)

pauses during pregame warmups.

LJ FB: Photos 8/22

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ running back Charlie Martin (22) heads

out of bounds on first-and-goal from the 9

in the Vikings' drive for their second TD

of the night late in the third quarter.

Senior lefty Julian Zavala kicks off at the start

of the 7:15 game at Torrey Pines.

Receiver Nico Bardaro (far right) does a

toe-touch inside the line for a TD reception

of seven yards with 5:23 left in the

third quarter, a 30-13 score.

LJ FB 19, Torrey Pines 43 - Season opener

Carson Diehl (13) leaps backward

in a spectacular advance against

tackler Cyrus Alexander (13)

of Torrey Pines for a 9-yard reception

midway through the first quarter.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Last fall, La Jolla wanted to pick a fight with Torrey Pines, a much bigger football program.

Head coach Tyler Roach, in his desire to "up" the Vikings' game, as in his other eight seasons, scheduled the Falcons for the second game of the 2024 slate, and they beat Torrey 21-14 during a hot streak of five games beginning the year.

Well, the payback from the angry Falcons came a year later, when the home-and-home agreement led La Jolla to travel to their Del Mar campus to face the inheritors of the besmirched bunch that dropped the game to the "lowly" Vikings the year before.

Quarterback Blake Miller--only a sophomore then who didn't start in that loss the year before--and his offense played a near-perfect first half Friday night, August 22, in Torrey's dominant 43-19 performance to open the season.

Before that 2024 match-up, the two schools hadn't played each other since 1992, 32 years prior. The red-and-gold won that contest going away, 32-0.

Back to the future: Roach had plenty of tricks up his sleeve, and was banking on his own speed-up, spread offense behind returning senior quarterback Huddy Smith.

The Falcon band, of all things, got flagged twice for playing while Smith was trying to audibly count the cadences for his offense. The first was a warning, the second a 15-yard penalty.

Torrey Pines, enjoying home field advantage, also brought as much crowd noise as it could in an attempt to intimidate the fewer, smaller Vikings, who dared step on their campus. Hundreds of students, standing much of the first half, singing and chanting to amplified music, occupied the student section on the home side of Ed Burke Stadium.

Miller, the Falcon QB, distributed to backs Dominic Rocha and Sonny Villegas for 181 yards rushing. In the air, the Del Mar "wild bunch" was just as dangerous, piling up 179 yards off Miller's arm to five different receivers.

Finally getting up off the mat after numerous mistakes and miscues, the nervous Vikings got on the scoreboard with a 60-yard scoring screen pass to sophomore Aiden Farrell, achieving a 20-7 mark late in the second quarter.

Farrell, being scouted early by Palomar head coach Noel Phillips, twisted and zig-zagged around would-be tacklers, as he first headed up the middle, then arced way over toward the right sideline on the way to paydirt.

Huddy Smith, who over the past year and two summers has showed a lot of promise and productivity for Roach, who also serves as La Jolla's Offensive Coordinator, connected with fellow senior Carson Diehl. Diehl, a commit to SDSU, finished with 11 receptions for 161 yards. Smith was 19 for 28 for 274 yards.

The Vikings blew a big opportunity to get back in the game with 9:22 left in the third quarter, when a fumble turned the ball back over to Torrey.

Later that quarter, much of the Falcon student body had exited to their cars and other options for a Friday night.

Thursday, August 21, 2025

LJ FB: New playing surface ready at TPHS

A worker uses a lift and a roller to paint the goal

post at the northern end of the TPHS stadium

a bright yellow Thursday morning, Aug. 21.

La Jolla plays the Falcons Aug. 22.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Torrey Pines High's new playing surface--Cardinal red (and gold) brightly shining in the end zones--is finished and ready to go for La Jolla's season opener in Del Mar on Friday night, August 22.

"We came last year and you (the Vikings) beat us," said TPHS assistant coach Matt Livingston, who will be in the press box for the game, a rematch of last year's contest at La Jolla High. La Jolla won, 21-14, on its home turf.

The two schools previously played 33 years ago, in 1992. The Falcons won that one handily, 32-0.

The legendary Ed Burke led Torrey Pines back then, the same coach whose name now hangs over the field on the campus on Del Mar Heights Road.

On Thursday, August 21, workers were also painting the north uprights bright yellow with a roller. The south uprights may not get the same treatment until later. The latter goalposts show a dull, faded yellow.

Another feature on the Torrey Pines campus is the new district swimming pool, projected to be completed in January 2026. The location on campus is below the south end of the football stadium.

A crew erects a net, apparently for field hockey,

behind the south goalposts at TPHS Thursday.

The newly-installed playing surface

features the Falcons' Cardinal red and gold

in the end zones.

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

LJ g VB v. Helix - season opener 8/19

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ xc: Chiara holds course record

By Ed Piper

With the Bronco Roundup at Kit Carson Park in Escondido coming up Sat., Aug. 23, Chiara Dailey of La Jolla holds the girls' course record of 11:04 in 2023, when she was a junior.

In that same event, Dailey's push--or pull--effect brought each of her teammates up to record times, as well: Kirra Fisk ran 11:40 (seventh place), Daphne Mayer 12:15 (29th), and Hannah Aalaei in 12:53 (86th).

They all recorded times in the top 100 of all time at the Rancho Bernardo High event.

Dailey, of course, is expected to run again. Now she is a senior, and she is quite visible at team workouts that leave from campus, with her bright red hair and running outfit.

Aalaei, also a senior, is expected to run also. Fisk and Mayer graduated in May 2024, one of the best tandems La Jolla High running has ever had.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

LJ FB: Still more photos

Photos by Ed Piper

Logan Clark (25) at QB

Julian Zavala punting

Receiver Liam Plezia takes a Logan Clark

pass to the left side for yardage,

escaping a tackler.

DC Randy Cowell just talked to linemen

on sidelines.

Senior captains Taylor Jeffery, Carson Diehl,

Charlie Martin (11), Taylor Clark, and

Huddy Smith (5), left to right, sing an

impassioned though off-key Alma Mater

with their teammates to the few LJ parents

that attend the Mt. Carmel scrimmage

after a big finish.

Friday, August 15, 2025

LJ FB: More photos of Mt. Carmel scrimmage 8/14

Photos by Ed Piper

Senior kicker Julian Zavala tries a kick

from distance in the middle of the informal

game without rushing or blocking.

Zavala hit on two of three.

LJ senior Charlie Martin (11) stars in his new

role as a running back during drills starting

at the 40 partway through the scrimmage.

Players from both teams receive instructions

beforehand from a lead referee (top left):

a single line of face paint under each eye,

no additional mouthpiece for show hanging

below the helmet, and other "emphases"

players can be sent off the field for

this season.

Backup QB Logan Clark (25)

(behind) lets fly with a pass

near the end of the evening.

LJ golf: Now it can be told

By Ed Piper

Maddie Quach, captain of the LJHS girls golf team, had a softball game Wednesday night, August 13, after golf tryouts.

She was playing on the same travel team as former Viking Arie Williams.

Arie transferred to Helix last year during the school year. Now we know why. Her mother is the coach of the Highlanders' softball team.

Maddie's mother told why Arie's mother was sold on Maddie. On the first day they met, Maddie, who is very socially interactive, asked, "Who are you? Hi, I'm..." Arie's mom was so impressed, she and the Quaches bonded.

Maddie was doing the same thing Wednesday at tryouts. She went up to many of the girls, nicely asked their name, and got them situated and located. Coach Christie Quinn was checking for medical clearances, which are required by the school and CIF for a student to participate.

It was like having another coach on staff, with the younger Quach around. She has exhibited many of the same skills with the wrestling team, which she lettered for two years ago and stayed around the team and kept records of matches for Head Coach Kellen Delaney and his staff after she had a health scare during the season.

Her scary moment came that initial season. It was a tournament match, and this reporter was perched on the corner of the mat, taking photos. Maddie suddenly passed out in the middle of the bout. When she came to, she twitched in an awkward movement.

When she was fully alert, she played off observers' concerns with, "I'm fine." But she had to sit out for a while, and now that issue is resolved to the Quaches' satisfaction. She went on to have another lettering season her junior year, which brings us up to her senior and final year in high school.

LJ FB: Recap of Mt. Carmel scrimmage 8/14

Vike running back Aidan Farrell (R)

carries at the start of La Jolla's scrimmage

at Mt. Carmel Thurs., Aug. 14.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla tried to conceal some of its best weapons during a preseason scrimmage at Mount Carmel High Thursday evening, August 14: Safety/receiver/punt returner Carson Diehl wore number 9; junior Nico Bardaro, a defensive end/tight end who added quarterback to his resume Thursday, wore 88; and middle linebacker Charlie Martin dressed in the unfamiliar 11 jersey.

But woe to the weapon-hiders. Martin showed himself a raging running back when he took handoffs from quarterback Huddy Smith and tore down the left side of the field, the second one going for a TD.

By then, Bardaro, blossoming further after injuries slowed him the latter part of the season as a sophomore, had run and received for three TD's--receptions at the hands of Smith, who was throwing customarily well.

Diehl, the SDSU commit, had humbler but just as important contributions. He juked a defender after grabbing a pass near the left sideline as the Viking offense drove for the south end zone, and added a few yards as he slipped around the overmatched defenders before being tackled.

He had a grin after that one.

Being known is different from the days when he was an unknown sophomore two years ago, and nobody knew to game-plan for him. Now, Mt. Carmel coach Drew Westling and his colleagues know to have an answer for Carson, or he will burn you even worse.

As a result, sometimes it appears that Diehl has to carry the weight of the team as well as multiple tacklers if he is going to make further progress. Not an outgoing guy, he remains quieter as cameras are aimed his way and as the spotlight gets brighter in this senior year.

LJ receiver Carson Diehl jukes his Sun Devil

defender for a few yards near the left sideline

after taking a pass from QB Huddy Smith

for a few yards on the Vikings' seventh

of 12 plays they were allotted in the first

part of the scrimmage.

Unfortunately for Mt. Carmel, the Sun Devils' offense got weaker as the scrimmage--announced for a 6 p.m. start, but not getting underway until after 6:30, as a referee crew chief took a few minutes to go over "emphases" that will be carried through by referees this season for players of both teams--went on.

La Jolla's offense got better, as players got excited and then took advantage in only the way that sports and adrenaline can combine to make things easier for the time being.

That's when Martin tore things up. Aiden Farrell, only a sophomore, played both ways, exhibiting his imitation of the graduated Aidan "Carolina" McGill from the last two years by running between the tackles for some hard yardage.

Late in the scrimmage, Farrell also made a stop on defense as the Viking unit under new Defensive Coordinator Randy Cowell showed some skill.

There were multiple offsides and encroachment flags against La Jolla. "Hopefully, they got that out of their system in the scrimmage," commented one observer.

Next week, in week one of the regular season, the Vikings will travel to Torrey Pines Fri., Aug. 22, to face a juggernaut of a program. The Falcons have bigger and more players, which means they can send in fresh troops to wear down the lesser-numbered La Jollans.

A strategy to counteract some of the advantages Torrey Pines may possess is for better athletes to play both ways. Head coach Tyler Roach brought that approach with him when he took over the program eight years ago. He will definitely have to apply that technique this season.

Defenders Aiden Farrell (2) and Logan Clark (25)

grab hold of a Mt. Carmel receiver as the two

teams shift to start working from the opponent's

40-yard line.

LJ g golf: Cousino on goal

By Ed Piper

Sam Cousino has spent her freshman and sophomore years at La Jolla High playing in goal in soccer for La Jolla High. True to the maxim that says girls often mature earlier than boys, from the moment Sam entered high school, after years playing club soccer, she has had a handle on playing as goalie at Edwards Stadium.

The junior showed up at tryouts for the Viking golf team Wed., Aug. 13--her first time trying golf--and she looked ready, smiling, confident.

The only thing: She didn't have her medical clearance to take part in tryouts. The Vikings, directed by Head Coach Christie Quinn, was going to tee off on the front nine at Balboa Golf Course once all 16 girls had been checked off, their medical clearances submitted, and golf clubs in hand. Some were veteran players, others are brand-new to the sport, like Sam.

Regarding playing soccer and lacrosse, Cousino said, "I like it. I like doing something different.

Asked what transfers between the two sports, she said eye-hand coordination "from being goalie". That could give her a hand up in golf, as well, though the sport is notorious for requiring certain repeatable movements that are not part of other sports.

LJ g golf: Sutton family at tryouts

By Ed Piper

Freshman Natalie Sutton showed up to tryouts for the La Jolla High girls golf team at Balboa Golf Course Wed., Aug. 13.

Asked if she played golf, Natalie said, "I started at seven years old. Then I didn't play much. Last year, I started playing again."

Her father, Dustin, brought her to tryouts. He was an assistant to Coach Kamal Assaf at La Jolla in 2008-09, and for four years in total, during the "golden age" of Vikings boys basketball.

He had a story. "Let me tell you about Kamal," said Dustin, noting that Assaf is now middle school coach at Bishop's as he continues to teach history there.

"During one practice, players were going through the motions. It was slap-dap, the kids weren't taking it seriously. It wasn't going well.

"Kamal stopped the whole thing. He addressed the players: 'Your parents and friends could be going to a movie, or going out to dinner. But they're coming to watch you.

'You have to know your lines. This is like a play where you play a part. It is has to go well.'

"Kamal started practice again, and the whole atmosphere changed. The team members took it seriously. They were playing hard.

"The whole thing changed after that."

Dustin Sutton was addressing the fact that Kamal Assaf took coaching basketball seriously, and he was able to transmit that to his players.

The Vikings won the CIF Division 3 title in 2007-08, 2008-09, and narrowly missed a three-peat in 2009-10 on a foul call at the buzzer on a three-point attempt that could have gone either direction.

Coach Sutton came "after the first title", he said. So he was there for the 2008-09 campaign, and then the near-miss against Mount Miguel the next year.

This reporter had another another Kamal Assaf story. This one was about Kamal's near-obsession with coaching. Every possible moment, when he was single, was spent coaching basketball, learning more about coaching, or investing his time in some other endeavor that had to do with coaching his favorite sport. (He played it at Bishop's when he was a student there.)

One time Mike Haupt, a close friend who continues to coach at St. Augustine, called Kamal. They were chatting and talking about what was going on lately. On an off-day from school, Haupt asked him what he was doing.

"I'm at a coaching clinic," Mike related that Assaf told him. He was floored, that on a free day when he could be resting up from teaching and coaching, he was at another basketball event. Haupt couldn't believe it.

Thursday, August 14, 2025

LJ FB 30, Mt. Carmel 12 (unofficial) - scrimmage 8/14

Photos by Ed Piper

Nico Bardaro (88) of La Jolla takes

the ball for one of his three TD's

against the Sun Devils.

Carson Diehl, who committed to SDSU

recently, stretches before the scrimmage.

The senior captain plays safety

and wide receiver.

Vikes' Charlie Martin (11) busts a run

around to the left for a score against

Mt. Carmel.

QB Huddy Smith (5) looks at video of a play

with receiver Carson Diehl (left) and others

on the sidelines.

Rowing: SDRC athletes went to Nationals

Gabby Bigler (center), a junior, looks up her

erg workout on her iPad in her garage

alongside her parents.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

What do Bella Ciulli, Kate Rowley, and Maggie Hou have in common?

They all attend La Jolla High and row for the San Diego Rowing Club (SDRC).

What do the threesome have in common with Gabby Bigler and Kate Rasmussen?

All five rowed at Junior Nationals in Sarasota, Florida, in June. In their eight-oar boat, they finished in the top 20 (18th) in the nation.

In addition, in the hot, sweaty conditions in Sarasota, Bigler and Rasmussen, who attend Canyon Crest and Cathedral Catholic, respectively, placed first at Junior Nationals in PR3 Inclusive--a visually-impaired rower, in Gabby's case (another physical impairment also qualifies), paired with an able-bodied teammate.

All five and their other oarswomen, undoubtedly, all have their sights set on qualifying for the U.S. national team, and either the Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles only three years away in 2028.

Bigler, 16, recalls of the conditions in Sarasota, "Everything is hot. You're sweaty. Your hands are sweaty on the (oar) handles."

In the two-person scull, rowing is a little different from the eight-person. In the scull, each rower has two oars, one in each hand. In eight-person, each rower strokes with one long oar extending out to port or starboard, with the coxswain in front calling the cadence.

"The scull requires much more awareness," says Bigler, who carries a full load of courses at Canyon Crest, including Advanced Placement classes. She sits in the front row in class, takes photos of the whiteboard, and enlarges them to note details. "In the smaller boat, you have to make sure the boat doesn't lean."

Plus her partner, Rasmussen, sits behind her in the scull and looks over her shoulder (backwards) to keep the boat in the middle of the lane, centered between the buoy markers. Kate looks at a stroke counter, which Gabby cannot visually make out.

Her only job is to row. "I'm focused on my breathing and staying relaxed," the junior says. "I'm aware of my breathing and my technique--the position of the blades (on her oars)."

Gabby has a condition called Aniridia, which affects the development of the pupils. Obviously, she is sighted, but she needs the aid of her phone to make out notes on the board in class clearly.

Bigler took AP World History (APUSH) and AP U.S. History last spring at CCA, which has a demanding schedule of four one-and-a-half hour classes a day, and lots of homework and projects--not for the faint-hearted. This fall, she just started AP English and AP U.S. History, along with Physics and Pop Culture.

In the San Dieguito Union High School District, CCA is known for accepting the most promising students. Many students who don't want to face as rigorous and demanding an academic program opt for Torrey Pines High.

As someone who has worked in the district for the past decade, this reporter has seen how the campus at CCA doesn't experience some of the distractions, incidents, even unsettled classrooms that the other high schools in the district have. The same goes for its feeder middle school next door, Pacific Trails Middle School.

As for her aspirations, Gabby says of the Paralympics, which could be in her future, "I have trained with Paralympians. I was recently in Boston for selection camp for the 2025 World Rowing Championships, which went very well (for me).

"It was an amazing experience to get to train with the best Para rowers in the country, many of whom have competed at prior World Championships and Paralympics."

She talks about some of the challenges on campus, where all students are welcome to go across the street at Pacific Highlands and eat their lunch at one of the eateries there.

Bigler cannot specifically read the "Don't Walk" sign at the light. It is a challenge she has had to adapt to to stay safe. "When I'm walking around by myself, if the crosswalk is not working, I'll take a picture of it.

"If the crosswalk is working, I can't see the running man. I see it as a red thing. I don't physically see the running man. If it's not red, then I know I can go."

"At CCA, it's close enough (to the school). There are always people around. I go when other people go."

Of the pluses of her condition, she smiles. "The biggest advantage is my extensive sunglass collection. I have sports sunglasses. I have social sunglasses. As someone who loves fashion and dressing up," it's a cool thing. "That's how I categorize social sunglasses--non-athletic."