LJ-Bishop's b water polo: Photos 9/24

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ b water polo 15, Bishop's 14 - OT - Western League opener 9/24

La Jolla goalie George Gayner (1, far right)

blocks a Bishop's shot with 2:12 left in the

third quarter, the score tied 6-6.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

In the Western League opener, La Jolla downed crosstown rival Bishop's, 15-14, in overtime in a thrilling matchup of equals. A packed house at Coggan Pool helped make the impact of every play, every call crucial as both student bodies were well-represented.

The Vikings climbed back from a 12-8 deficit with 1:16 left in the third quarter to tie the game with 57 seconds left in regulation on junior Henry Glenister's shot on a pass from teammate Ryder Jaseniuk.

6'6" Dexter Black scored two goals in the first three-minute overtime, Lev Kevorkian added another, and La Jolla held on through the second OT to secure the victory.

Black, catching his breath after the two squads slapped hands pool-side following the match, deflected credit to his team: "We were distributing the ball. We got it to our centers. Henry made that great shot to put us in OT. It was all just shooting from there."

Dexter had scratches on his body and flexed his back with a grimace after getting out of the pool following the two overtimes.

LJ b water polo: Bishop's looms in league opener 9/24

By Ed Piper

The local water polo universe circles near to Coggan Pool in La Jolla this afternoon, Sept. 24, when Bishop's travels to the La Jolla High campus to open Western League play against the Vikings.

Each school carries in a positive win-loss record, Coach Tom Atwell's Vikings at 15-2, the Knights under Doug Peabody and Ian Davidson at 6-5 in their own pre-league competition.

Bishop's played in the South Coast Tournament at the end of last week, which saw Newport Harbor defeat Cathedral Catholic, 12-7, in the final.

The Dons are the reigning Western League champs, downing both La Jolla and Bishop's last fall in a rearranging of the local order in boys water polo.

Cathedral travels to Point Loma tomorrow, Thurs., Sept. 25, got its own league opener.

*  *  *

On Monday, Sept. 22, Peabody and Davidson were reluctant to make their athletes available for interviews. "We have a big game coming up," Davidson told a reporter who came by the Bishop's campus in person, not impolitely.

Then he said, "It's up to them." He thought: "They have three periods off."

A phone number was left, but no calls were received from the "team leaders" who were requested for interviews.

In the elite South Coast Tournament in Orange County, the Knights beat San Marcos (Santa Barbara), 12-7, then Mira Costa, 15-11, on Thurs., Sept. 18.

The next day, they fell to the eventual tourney champ, Newport Harbor, 15-8. Finally, on Sat., Sept. 20, Bishop's succumbed to Miramonte by one goal, 15-14.

LJ b beach VB: Danish former tour player assists with Clairemont

Morty Fog wears his

Danish pro tour jersey

to the LJ-Clairemont

match Tues., Sept. 23.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Morten "Morty" Fog was wearing his bright red "Danish BeachVolley Tour" jersey--offset by his blue trunks--at the La Jolla-Clairemont beach volleyball match at the back of the Chieftains' campus Tues., Sept. 23.

It was the lead-in to a conversation about the jersey, and additionally, Morty's experience on the Danish pro tour, which peaked in his being named the top middle player in 2015.

The conversation then lent itself to a lengthy discussion over just what a pro player is. "Does it mean I played at the top level? That I received money for playing?" Fog asked rhetorically.

His last name, Fog, was even memorable. A reporter said, "Like the fog rolls in?" "Yeah," the 6'4" former beach player said.

"I played for 20 years at the highest level," he said during the extended "what is a pro" debate. "I made pocket money" during his best years at the highest level.

The issue really comes up because, as the reporter and interviewee agreed, outside of North America, the rest of the world subscribes to a non-scholastic view of sports and clubs that compete in those sports.

For example, this reporter lived in Mexico City right after college to teach English and language arts in a small private school. It is there that he encountered this "non-scholastic" system, which he later learned predominates around the world.

Teams there in basketball, in his area of preference, aren't tied to any high school or college. In fact, pro soccer teams that are named "UNAM" (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico) or "UAG" (Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara) have nothing to do with those universities except the name, and athletes who populate their rosters are not students in those schools.

"We have an NCAA in Denmark," said Morty, bringing the discussion back to Scandinavia. "But it oversees teams that are unaligned with schools." In other words, that version of the NCAA isn't really "Collegiate", it would be a board that oversees the sports world in Denmark.

Fog is now 38 years old. He last played on the Danish Beach Volleyball Tour three years ago. He also played in Switzerland and, of all places--he laughed--Bangladesh.

The tour in Denmark has 10 to 12 teams. Four of them come from Copenhagen, the capital.

LJ b beach VB @ Clairemont 9/23

Photos by Ed Piper

Andrew Cardenas lunges for a ball

in the threes match.

Chase Ostrom bumps in the ones match.

Hudson Matheny

displays a nice set

for partner Jeffrey

Bruner (not in view).

Dylan Marshall goes to a knee

to receive a pass, next to

Andrew Cardenas.

Andrew Cardenas (L) goes against

a 6'7" opponent from Clairemont

at the net.

Jeffrey Bruner vaults for the ball

in the fours pairing.

Hudson Matheny leaps for

a jump serve. The fours

won their first game

in overtime, 24-22.

Jeffrey Bruner does

likewise in the

match with the

Chieftains.

Zepher Smith goes

"Sky Pilot" at the net

n the ones encounter.

LJ b water polo: Looking ahead to Western League

George Gayner (rear top left) guards the cage

while teammate Henry Glenister (black cap)

defends Jorge Solis (4) in the Saturday afternoon

game Sept. 20 against Damien in the AFC

Tournament.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The Vikings have to feel very good about winning the AFC title, a worthy accomplishment in a long-running tournament.

One drawback, though, was that the America's Finest City water polo tourney in Coronado could not provide La Jolla any worthy competition.

On day one, Friday, Sept. 19, in group (pool) play (which the Vikings enjoyed in their home pool, Coggan), Le Jardin Academy fell to the able Vikings, 13-2. Not much of a fight.

Two hours later, Valhalla--whom La Jolla had beaten badly only the week before--succumbed, 21-8. No fight at all.

So, when Saturday, Sept. 20, came around, and there wasn't a lot of buzz around the finals at the tournament, Viking coach Tom Atwell had to be somewhat concerned. His boys are playing well, but who were they going to be tested by?

The afternoon game against Damien wasn't going to provide it, with a 15-4 result. The evening match, in which Canyon Crest student coach Jake Peeler told me, "Don't underestimate us," was no better at 21-8.

The count after one quarter in that game was 7-2, 16-2 after two quarters.

The same thing happened last year: La Jolla won the AFC tourney, then proceeded to tread in hard times during the Western League schedule.

Meanwhile, from up north, the news was that Cathedral Catholic--who took over supremacy of the Western League last year--lost to Newport Harbor, 12-7, in the championship game of the South Coast Tournament.

Bishop's, the other main competition for the Vikings in the Western League and their opponent this Wednesday, Sept. 24, in the league opener, was also vying in the South Coast Tournament.

That tourney would seem to afford a better test of the skills of Nate Thomson, superior defender on the 4-5 side, Dexter Black, great scorer  whether from the "5" spot or in the middle, Henry Glenister, 1-2 defender, and the rest in the black-and-red caps.

Maybe Atwell will have to rethink this one in the future. The legacy of former coach Randall Burgess at Coronado High is one thing, but the future of his LJHS program is another.

LJ b water polo 15, Damien 3 - AFC 2nd day 9/20

Photos by Ed Piper

Jonathon Jimenez (R) wins opening spring

against the Vikings' Henry Glenister (13).

Dexter Black (left, 4), an All-CIF pick

last year as a sophomore, puts a hand up

against Jimenez (10).

Vikes Henry Glenister (13), Lev Kevorkian (2),

and Ryder Jaseniuk (9, behind) during

warmups.

LJ b water polo: Title game 9/20 - more photos

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ's Henry Glenister (black cap, 3) guards

Leon Kaszan (3) of CCA on the Vikings'

initial defensive setup.

Viking defense cuts off passing lanes - Henry

Glenister (13, black cap), Tor Martin (black cap

top middle), as CCA's Leon Kaszan 3, white cap)

attempts to shoot from far out.

Nate Thomson (10) looks to shoot, defended

by Erik Kaszan (arm raised) of the Ravens.

LJ b water polo wins AFC title 9/20

Photos by Ed Piper

Vikes' Henry Glenister (black cap, 13)

immediately swamps Leon Kaszan (white cap, 3)

in La Jolla's first defensive stop of the night.

LJ led 7-2 after one quarter, 16-2 at halftime.

Nate Thomson (back left, 10) passes from

the 1-2 side on offense as Tor Martin (11, black

cap) looks on from center.

High-scoring Dexter Black (4 black cap) has a paw

on his left shoulder from Sardor Sattrov (out

of view) of CCA, with Sebastian Guido (13)

on his right side.

Dex (4, left) gets Sattrov (7) back with

a hand on his left arm.

LJ's Tor Martin (11, left) defends

Leon Kaszan (3).

With George Gayner in goal (top, back) in the

second quarter, Barney Pearce (arm raised)

guards Oriya Baruch (18) on the 1-2 side.

Henry Glenister uncapped.

Lev Kevorkian (2) looks to shoot or pass

inside from the perimeter.

LJ b water polo: Vikes move to AFC finals

 

Vike senior Nate Thomson (10),

lock-down defender (here against

Damien High Thurs., Sept. 18).

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla's boys water polo team defeated Le Jardin Academy, 13-2, after school Fri., Sept. 19, then Valhalla, 21-8, in the evening at Coggan Pool on campus in the annual AFC Tournament. The first of two days of competition came in group (or pool) play.

The Vikings (12-2) now move to the finals Sat., Sept. 20, with all games at Brian Brent Memorial Aquatics Complex (BBMAC) on the campus of Coronado High, the host of the tourney. Coach Tom Atwell's squad plays Damien at 3 p.m., then Canyon Crest Academy at 7 p.m.

Both games Saturday are in the first-to-third place matchups to determine the AFC title.

La Jolla defeated Damien, its opponent in the afternoon game, by a large score the day before the tournament in a friendly arrangement in which the coaches annually agree to have their teams meet, to give Damien another opportunity for competition.

Last year the Vikings won the AFC tournament in a thrilling final. They edged Rio Americano 12-10.

Before COVID, the tournament, whose acronym stands for "America's Finest City", held games at both BBMAC and the City of Coronado Aquatics Center down the Strand in Coronado. Twelve teams are participating in the boys' tourney this year, three groups of four schools each. In the past, 32 teams used to compete each year.

LJ b beach VB @ UC 9/18

Photos by Ed Piper

Chase Ostrom in the ones match.

Senior Dylan Marshall serves

in the threes tilt.

Dylan goes up and tries

to block the UC shot.

The man, the myth, the

legend: Adam Grushkevich,

a starter on the varsity

(indoor and out) since

he was a freshman

three years ago.

Seior Andrew Cardenas goes low

to bump a serve in the threes match.

Hudson Matheny, a sophomore, chain flying,

is too late on a shot way up near the net.

Nate Dickinson

skies in the

fives match-up.

Jeffrey Bruner sets a ball for his

partner, Matheny. Both are sophs;

this was in the fours encounter.

Bruner receives a serve.

Perfect technique.

Hudson Matheny takes flight

on a jump serve.

LJ b water polo d. Damien (La Verne, CA) 9/18

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ's Quinn Daniels (black 3 cap, bottom)

lobs over a reaching B. Dallas in goal, 2-0.

Henry Glenister (black 13, right) defends

Damien's M. Redfern.

Vikings' Nate Thomson (10 guards

D. Solis (19) of Damien.

Quinn Daniels (black cap) gets physical

in pressuring Damien's Z. Verduzco-Murphy

(white cap, 3).

La Jolla offense first time after opening sprint

LJ FH: Game story 9/17

The Vikings' Talia Snider (far left, 4) pushes

the ball forward against Penelope Buser (5, right)

of LCC in La Jolla's 4-1 win Sept. 17.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The Vikings displayed what could become a pattern this season when they opened up against visiting La Costa Canyon Wed., Sept. 17.

They scored early, then kept the ball mostly in their attacking zone--their end of the field, as they dominated ball possession in the earlier parts of the game.

Senior Leyla Yazici ventured out of her defender spot at the back of the field, to score La Jolla's first goal only 1:37 into the game.

The other potential pattern, which head coach Amanda Combs Warford would likely want to pursue, is the ball possession factor in their half of the field. The more you have the ball near the opponent's goal, the more chances you have to score.

However, in this contest, the Mavericks came back to tie the game as time had run out at the end of the first quarter, and the play proceeded.

La Jolla then forged ahead with two more quick goals by Talia Snider early in the second period, the Second Team All-CIF selection last year scoring first with 13:07 on the clock, then again with 12 minutes left. The assist on the later one came from teammate Reese Lejuwaan.

LJ FH 3, LCC 1 - 2nd quarter 9/17

Photos by Ed Piper

Senior Leyla Yazici (left, 16) sprints

with the ball, defended by

Lily Logan (4) of LCC.

Midfielder Sofia Saiegh (10) heads upfield

against LCC defender Kayla Waters (2, right).

Vikings Talia Snider (rear left) and Ella

Cathalinat (right) block Ava Yates (8)

of the Mavericks near the right sideline.

Defender Allison Wittkow moves the ball

along the sideline.

LJ forward Ella Pearl (21, red) extends to try

to hook a ball versus LCC's Kayla Waters

(far left, rear).

Viking captain Allison Hawthorne (left)

keeps the ball away from Waters.

Defender Leyla Yazici, who scored

La Jolla's first goal, gets aggressive

in pass the ball toward the attacking

half.

Vike goalie Adalee Branstetter manning

the LJ defense from the back.

Rainy, windy conditions prevailed at

Gene Edwards Stadium.

La Jolla's early goal.

Soph Ella "Milty" Milton (R) goes against

the Mavs' captain, Annika Evenskaas

(note leg insignia).