LJ b wrestling @ CIF Masters - 2/20

Photos by Ed Piper

Vike Liam Kressin (top, 144 pounds) thoroughly

dominates Jayden Loiselle of Canyon Hills

in a first-round bout, 10-1, for a major decision.

Kressin (his hand raised, as Loiselle exits)

finishes his high school career going

to Masters both his junior and senior years--

like going to all-stars in other sports.

Junior Ori Mor (far left) gets some urging from

head coach Joey Stofko as associate coach

Kellen Delaney (far right) looks on during a

pause in his first match of the morning.

Mor, at 157 pounds, pins Ron Pizarro of Mater Dei

in his first-round match. Ori was trailing, 4-3,

at the time of his fall.

Senior Dylan Haugum (left) tries to hold his ground

in a bout with Michael Maddy of Hilltop.

Haugum (left), who returned to wrestling his senior

year after being away since 9th grade, does some

hand-fighting with Maddy in period one.

LJ b soccer 3, Christian 1 - CIF D4 2nd round - 2/19

Photos by Ed Piper

Senior Marco Lopez signals before a corner

kick, five minutes into the game, after

heavy rains right up until game time.

Senior Tate Phillips handles the ball

near the Christian sideline

early in the game.

Vikes' Thilo Hoelscher (right) looks on

closely as Dylan Schellenberg

deals with the ball on a cold night.

Patriot Pierson Cunningham (8) clears the ball

out of bounds to keep Tate Phillips (7) from

advancing the ball in the Viking scoring half

of the field.

Junior defender Nico Bardaro (18) guides

the ball as the Patriots' Steven Benson (far left),

who scored Christian's goal, keeps a watchful eye.

Peyton Gustafson (6) of La Jolla boots

an attempt toward the goal halfway through

the second half, the Vikes leading 2-1.

Pearl Plaskonos, on her phone, works out

on the cycles as part of the girls' practice

during the boys' game under the supervision

of head coach Austin Mobley (far left,

in woolen gray cap). They later supported

the boys from both sidelines.

Thilo Hoelscher (left, hands turned up) gets sent off

with a red card after the referees ruled he left

the ground before impact with #8, Cole Howarter,

committing "serious foul play".

Wet conditions persist after three storms

in four days as the girls' team works out

early in the boys' contest against Christian.

Evidence of nest-rebuilding hangs over

the lights above the visitors' stands

after an osprey (not pictured) flew

over the field during competition.

Junior Nico Bardaro (behind, red

jersey) sends the ball up the left

sideline for Peyton Gustafson

(front) to take.

Christian goalkeeper (with the ball)

runs out from the goal after a save as

Thilo Hoelscher (red jersey) and Patriot defenders

move back into position in the second half.

Peyton Gustafson (red jersey) pursues his own

kick against a Christian defender.

LJ g wrestling @ CIF Masters - 2/21

Photos by Ed Piper

Grace Roman (115 pounds) wins her first

bout over Savanna Diaz (far left) of Ramona

in 46 seconds.

LJ baseball: 32nd Annual Alumni Game - 2/21

Photos by Ed Piper

Stan Smith, Class of 1960.

plays the National Anthem

on trumpet. Smith, a catcher,

stole home six times his

senior year.

Weston Clark (R) with head coach Gary Frank

Opening alumni pitcher Tim Biers

warming up

LJ g water polo: Analysis of semifinals

By Ed Piper

Something happened between Jan. 7 and Jan. 17. La Jolla beat Valhalla 12-10 in a non-league game right after the New Year break. Then, in the latter game, Coach Paola Vizcarra's Norsemen--Norse-people?--figured the Vikings out and broke away for a 10-5 win.

That's when state and San Diego rankings flipped, putting the Valhallans ahead of La Jolla.

The most recent update is that the Vikings, again in their home pool at Coggan Family Aquatic Center for the CIF Open Division playoffs Feb. 17, fell to the orange-clad Norse 15-14 in a game that wasn't that close in the fourth quarter--Valhalla held a 14-9 lead at one point, though Coach Tom Atwell's squad rallied, only to fall short.

In the CIF semifinal, the Vikings were scoring easily in the early portion of the game, though not able to make headway and take a steady lead--their defense was leaky.

But as the game progressed, unheralded Gia Jacob and lefty Ava Mammo filled in the gap for Vizcarra's team, scoring key goal after key goal. Jacob, apparently a triplet playing with her two sisters, scored five goals. Mammo, one of the few team members who is not either a twin or a triplet, scored three.

The Norsemen were able to loft several floaters over Viking goalie Lucia Vega's head and into the far end of the cage. It was frustrating business, from La Jolla's side.

The home side knew that after defeating Torrey Pines 20-13 Feb. 11 in the quarterfinals, they were going to have a tough time against Valhalla. Valhalla has had a good program, but the seniors peaked at the right time and came into the semifinal contest with La Jolla in a strong position. Too strong, from the Vikings' standpoint.

Junior Cora Pfau almost willed La Jolla to a win, scoring the last three goals when the Vikings were desperate. She took them from down 15-11 to trailing 15-14, but with only three seconds on the clock. The clock ran out as Valhalla kept the ball away, Pfau and others ready to pounce if there was any chance.

It was a bit of a sad way to end the San Diego Section portion of the schedule, stretching back to the Ventura Tournament in mid-November, when coach and team went north and did some bonding by visiting UCLA and taking a tour there with a former player.

So much good promised such a good season--of course, with the juggernaut Bishop's looming over the Open Division picture.

Atwell's crew still has the Southern California Regionals to tangle in, likely with an away game up north Tues., Feb. 24.

LJ g soccer 2, SDHS 0 - CIF D2 playoffs - 2/18

Photos by Ed Piper

Aila Choi-Fitzpatrick (left) of La Jolla winces

on a left-footed kick by Caver Julianna McEvoy

(right) five minutes into the game.

Viking freshman Bowie Kerch (right) does

a dance with McEvoy, a sophomore, soon after.

Caver goalkeeper Thea Brigham (pink uniform),

smiling, brings the ball out front of the goal

after La Jolla's two kicks went off the crossbar

and neither scored with under 20 minutes left

in the first half, Vikings ahead 1-0.

Sam Woolf (left), who scored the

Vikings' first-half goal, shadows

Julianna McEvoy near the midfield

sideline.

Kerch (23) pivots to try to take the ball

the other way against McEvoy's pressure,

the score still 0-0 early in the first half.

Choi-Fitzpatrick takes a throw-in

in front of the SDHS bench.

Prep g water polo: Davidson on physicality

By Ed Piper

Ian Davidson is the co-coach of Bishop's water polo, including the girls' team that is the rival of La Jolla High's squad. His and Doug Peabody's teams play a particularly physical type of game, which is clean but hard to oppose.

La Jolla coach Tom Atwell recently said, "The only thing harder to coach than size (which can't be coached) is teaching physicality to players who don't want to be physical."

This interchange took place after the Knights' 22-4 win in the CIF Open Division semifinals over El Camino, and before the Vikings' 15-14 loss to Valhalla Tues., Feb. 17. Valhalla wins the right to face Bishop's in the final Sat., Feb. 21. La Jolla still qualifies for the Southern California Regionals next week.

Q: How do you coach physicality? Your team is the only one I've seen in the county that plays with that level of physicality.

Davidson: You know, these girls have done a good job of playing together. We've learned the right way to play, and play with each other. They've done a really good job of learning how to move together. I think that's where it starts. And learning what acceptable and unacceptable levels of physicality are within a water polo game.

There's a gross style of physicality, and then there's a way the game should be played. And I think they've done a really awesome job of learning how to move in the water and learn what is the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Q: I agree. Good luck in the finals.

ID: I appreciate it.

LJ g water polo: Game story 2/17

By Ed Piper

La Jolla went ahead, 7-5, early in the second quarter on Stella Tezcan's goal on Taylor Goldstein's pass against Valhalla in the CIF Open Division semifinals Tuesday night, Feb. 17.

And at this point early in the match, the Vikings were scoring easily on a formula of pass to the center, catch the Norseman defense off-guard, and score the goal.

In fact, it seemed that Coach Tom Atwell's squad, much fortified since last year, had enough firepower to overcome Valhalla, though they were playing with them, not forging any kind of steady lead.

Finally, much to Coach Paola Vizcarra's second-seeded team's credit, their persistence paid off and the Norse ended the third quarter leading, 10-9, then added to that advantage to ultimately lead, 14-9, with 5:27 left in the game. It seemed insurmountable.

Junior Aviana Cavaiola scored two goals, then classmate Cora Pfau scored three--including a shot that was sitting on the edge of the cage entrance, then drifted in to score--but time ran out and Valhalla went home with a 15-14 win and ticket to face number-one Bishop's Sat., Feb. 21 in the finals.

Bishop's smothered El Camino, 22-4, in the other semifinal to reach the final.

LJ g water polo 14, Valhalla 15 - CIF Open Semifinals - 2/17

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ b wrestling: Kressin wins 144 title at CIF Division 4 Finals - 2/14

Liam Kressin of La Jolla, at 144 pounds, records

a fall in 3:34 over Sergio Lucero-Avila (left)

in a second-round match. The senior

won his weight division at the CIF Division 4

Finals at Mar Vista High Sat.. Feb 14.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Senior Liam Kressin, capping two years of reaching the Masters tourney, won the title in his 144-pound class at the CIF Division 4 Finals by scoring a major decision over Jackson Kowalski of Mountain Empire, 14-5, Sat., Feb. 14.

Kressin, a lanky practitioner of his craft, achieved next Friday's Masters meet in part by taking a fall over Sergio Lucero-Avila of Valley Center in 3:34 in the second round, following a first-round bye.

He then decisioned Marcos Garcia of Holtville, 18-2, for a tech fall to reach the championship bout.

Kressin (on top) nears his 14-5 victory as

Coach Joey Stofko (right rear) shouts

instructions from the coaches' corner.

*  *  *

Fellow senior Dylan Haugum, returning for a successful season after being away from wrestling since his freshman year, placed second at 215 pounds. He dropped the championship bout by suffering a fall in 2:37 to Axel Gomez of Holtville.

Haugum, who sported a new "playoff haircut" in true football style (he starred for the Vikings football team on defense), comes on with a big burst of energy to begin matches. He first forced Jorge Padilla of Castle Park to default in 5:50 after a 7-5 lead in the first round.

Subsequent to a loss by pin in the second round, the energetic 12th-grader took Henry Sailor of High Tech North down for a fall in 3:28 to reach the title match.

215-pound Dylan Haugum (left) of the Vikings

kind of plays with opponent Gabe Cabrera

of Calipatria late in a 14-0 major decision

in the first round. Haugum qualified

for the Masters meet next week by placing

second in his weight division.

LJ b wrestling @ CIF Division 4 finals - Mar Vista HS 1/14

Photos by Ed Piper

Noah Pace (122) wins by fall

in 32 seconds over Mateo

Tsujimoto (left, background)

of Sage Creek--partly to protect

a recovering left knee.

Big Dylan Haugum (left, 217 pounds) dominates

in his 14-0 decision over Gabe Cabrera (right)

of Calipatria. The two wrestlers tower over

referee Tiana Alanis (right rear), who competed

as a student at Bonita Vista at 103 pounds.

LJ g water polo: Game story 2/11

Junior Avery Edstrom (2) takes aim late in the

first quarter against Torrey Pines' Jazmyn Modir (4).

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla's girls struggled with Torrey Pines in their CIF Open quarterfinal match Wednesday evening, Feb. 11, but as expected, Coach Tom Atwell's squad came out successfully in the end, winning 20-13.

The Falcons scored on a shot from center midway through the first quarter. The next time down the pool, the Vikings triple-teamed the post, and stole the ball. That solved one problem.

At the end of the period, however, Atwell was apoplectic at the La Jolla offense twice throwing the ball across the pool, from the 4-5 side, behind the player on the back row on the 1-2 side. The result in each instance was time killed on the 30-second shot clock for further offense, and the coach wasn't happy.

In another quarterfinal, Bishop's, the nation's sixth-ranked team, clobbered Cathedral Catholic, seeded eighth in the playoffs, 22-2. (The Vikings are ranked 16th in the U.S.) The Knights systematically dismantled the Dons and apparently are going to show no mercy in the playoffs, even when games are already securely in their possession.

La Jolla next plays Valhalla, the second seed, Tues., Feb. 17. The Knights face El Camino, which narrowly beat San Marcos, 9-8.

LJ g soccer: Bruner to train in Malaga, Spain

Senior Caroline Bruner, with her parents at

Senior Night Feb. 12. The defender is going to spend

an unusual "gap" year in training at the soccer

academy in Malaga, Granada, Spain next year

to prepare to play D1 soccer in the NCAA.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The Viking seniors were introduced with their families Thursday night, Feb. 12, at Senior Night in Edwards Stadium, and half of Coach Austin Mobley's varsity roster paraded across the field from the Viking tunnel at the southeast corner of the turf.

That means that next year, Mobley again has a rebuilding project--much as he did a year ago, when many 12th-graders from the rotation moved on to their futures, leaving many empty positions to fill.

La Jolla's latest rebuilding project has gone well, with the Vikings going through the Eastern League season without a loss or tie. As they enter the CIF playoffs Tues., Feb. 17, they are in good shape and expected to play well in the postseason competition.

Announced during the Senior Night festivities was the fact captain/defender Caroline Bruner, who has starred for Mobley on defense and whose role has been expanded to moving into the midfield when scoring opportunities might present themselves, plans to move to Malaga, Granada, Spain after graduation in May to train at the prestigious Malaga City Academy.

Malaga sits on the Mediterranean coast, directly south of Madrid, Spain's capital, several hundred miles away.

This resembles the plan a year ago of former Viking Tahlia Zadeyan, who planned for a year at a soccer academy in Spain, to develop and train for a scholarship position on the University of North Carolina, I believe.

What was stated in the intros Thursday was that Caroline "hopefully" will attract an NCAA Division 1 offer after her preparation in Malaga. This is a little different from Zadeyan's situation, where an athletic scholarship was understood to having already been proffered by UNC, if the year in Spain went well.

Tahlia would also seem to have more international exposure, having played for the Armenian National Team program in the juniors during high school. She's a midfielder.

Bruner focuses on defense, and that would seem to be her forte.

*  *  *

The FC Malaga City Academy operates in Almunecar, near Malaga, in southern Spain. UEFA-certified  coaches help prepare a prospect to play at the professional level--in Caroline's case, at an NCAA Division 1 level.

The price is hefty: According to online sources, nine months for 24,550 Euros, approximately $29,146, considered a "full" academy season, and the cost goes down from there, pro-rated for the number of months. 

LJ g soccer: Senior Night 2/12

Photos by Ed Piper

Captain/defender Caroline Bruner

Sonia Wu

LJ g water polo 20, Torrey Pines 13 - CIF Open quarterfinals - 2/11

Photos by Ed Piper

Avi Cavaiola (3) scores on a penalty shot

for a 3-1 lead with 2:54 left

in the first quarter.

Taylor Goldstein (9) of La Jolla looks for an opening

on offense.

Sophie Trinidad (13) defends Kaiah

Smith (2) of Torrey Pines.

Aviana Cavaiola brings the ball toward the

Vikings' attacking zone.

La Jolla's Cora Pfau (4) looks for a pass

in the first quarter.

LJ's Alicia Lopez Vargas (5, foreground)

wins opening sprint, passing to Cora Pfau (4).