LJ g water polo: Top seed in D2 Southern California Regionals

Junior Avi Cavaiola scores against Torrey Pines

in the second quarter of a 20-13 CIF Open

quarterfinal Feb. 11. Six 11th-graders have

played key roles for the Vikings this season,

portending well for 2027.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla's girls water polo team, led by senior captain Stella Tezcan, takes the top seed into today's (Feb. 24) 4 p.m. home game against Glendora, the eighth seed, in the first round of the Southern California Regionals.

The Vikings, with firepower from juniors Cora Pfau and Aviana Cavaiola, rank among the elite three of the San Diego Section, with a record of 22-7 overall and 4-2 in the Western League--the only two losses to Bishop's, ranked fifth in the nation, fifth in the state.

All the talk about "physicality" and who pushes who around is really a family feud, local to San Diego. Coach Tom Atwell's squad is still one of the top three teams in the area, and that is attested to by the fact Bishop's is the fourth seed in Division 1 of the Regionals, and Valhalla is the seventh seed.

The cross-town-rival Knights play at home today at 5 p.m., hosting San Marcos of Santa Barbara.

Junior Avery Edstrom, joining classmates Pfau and Cavaiola, has also had a strong season, peppering opponents with key goals and beefing up La Jolla's overall strength. Yet another junior, Taylor Goldstein--making the Class of 2027 very talented--has played effectively in Atwell's rotation.

Coach Tom Atwell trusts Alicia Vargas Lopez (5)

enough to start her and play her during crucial

stretches of games. The "facilitator" has added

more to her game this season.

Probably the unsung hero of the starting lineup is Alicia Lopez Vargas. Yep, you guessed it. She's a junior, as well. Asked her role earlier in the season, the coach responded, "She's a facilitator." Well, she's grown wings and filled a bigger role than that through the second half of the season.

Finally, 11th-grader Sophie Trinidad continues to fulfill a key function in the rotation. She sees a ton of playing time while the outcomes of games are still in question.

Newcomer of the year? Carys Villano, who as a ninth-grader has started most or all of the Vikings' games this season. She started out well, and she continues to get seasoning and see what "life in the big city" is about in facing Bishop's in league and Valhalla in non-league and playoff games. She carries the torch for the freshmen, as Mackenzie Adams and Zoe Griffis continue to see spot playing time. Tall Jane Peay, the fourth freshman, broke fingers on one hand and has a cast on for the last several games.

As the top seed in D2 (Regional divisional assignments never correspond to San Diego Section designation), La Jolla could do very well this week. If they win today, the Vikes face the winner of the Santa Barbara-Carlsbad game on the upper end of the bracket. They can beat Carlsbad, and Santa Barbara would seem to be at a similar level due to seeding--and La Jolla would get the home game again Thursday.

Tezcan and crew beat La Serna, on the lower end of the bracket, twice during the season in tournaments: 15-11 on Jan. 10 in the Troy Tournament, and 17-8 in the Vikings' own tourney, the Beaches  Invitational, on Jan. 16.

LJ baseball: Smith, Eveleth remember

Andy Strasberg (right), former VP of the Padres,

with Viking catcher Carter Strauss after

throwing out the first pitch at the Alumni Game.

Strasberg got married at home plate at

Qualcomm Stadium, with his bride Patty

coming out of the dugout during the ceremony.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Stan Smith, La Jolla High Class of 1960, played the National Anthem on trumpet for the umpteenth time Sat., Feb. 21, before the Alumni Game. As a senior in high school, the catcher--catchers are usually not fast runners--stole home six times. I asked him how he did that. He said, "I was a catcher. I watched players and knew when to go."

The fit, with-enough-breath octogenerian to play a wind instrument, rolled into memory time while his alumni colleagues played the 2026 varsity. He mentioned some names new to this reporter: Butch Van Artsdalen played catcher, then shortstop, an unusual combination.

Regarding the original baseball field, with home plate at the corner of Rushville and Fay and right field extending toward the tennis courts, Smith said Bob Barnhart, a centerfielder, broke his leg in 1961 or 1962. He was attempting to catch a flyball, and he fell backwards over the line of track hurdles set up next to the track to line the outfield perimeter.

"You had to watch your a-- in left field and centerfield," said Stan. In left field, the raised curb on the track presented a hazard. In right field, the fence limited how far back a fielder could go to try for a flyball.

Rick Eveleth, Coach-Athletic Director Emeritus and public address announcer for the Alumni Game, recounted the "Tudor house story". Bob Skinner, an LJHS graduate and LJHS Baseball Hall of Famer, played in the Major Leagues for the Pirates and Phillies. He was a lefthanded hitter. (I have his baseball card. I only found out he went to La Jolla High well after I collected his baseball card as a youth.)

Skinner is said to have hit a home run to right that went over outfield fence, over the tennis courts and onto the Tudor house beyond them. Quite a shot.

Eveleth, a Coaching Legend with his wife Vicki (no "e" at the end), mentioned Vikings from the early 50's: Bud Relyea, Art Lapino, and Charlie Wray; and later in the 50's, Bob Skinner and Eddie Olsen.

*  *  *

"Andy (Strasberg) has been a mentor/coach for Gary Frank for over 40 years," Howard Frank, the Viking head coach's father, told me at the Alumni Game.

Strasberg, who threw out the first pitch, served as Padres VP from 1975-1996. He has written seven books, and his eighth one, his memoirs, comes out Nov. 1. Andy, who wrote a book 1961 about Roger Maris' breaking of Babe Ruth's 60 home runs the summer Strasberg turned 13, was married at home plate at Qualcomm Stadium. His bride, Patty (they're still married), came out of the dugout during the ceremony.

What connected for me was that the former Padres exec represented the following baseball personages--some from my era: Harmon Killebrew, the Twins slugger; Nolan Ryan; Jerry Coleman; Doug Harvey (an umpire from San Diego); Ozzie Smith, a Hall of Fame shortstop; and the San Diego Chicken, among others.

I asked Strasberg, who headed the Padres' marketing and promotions, to what level he played baseball. He said he reached the junior varsity at White Plains, New York, in 1965.

LJ wrestling: Roman first divisional weight-class champ in history of LJHS

LJ's Grace Roman (top, 115 pounds) quickly moves

to pin her first-round opponent, Savanna Diaz

of Ramona, at the CIF Masters meet Sat., Feb. 21.

Roman is the first Viking--boy or girl--to win

her divisional weight class in the 124-year history

of La Jolla High. (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Attending the boys' CIF Masters competition at Olympian High Fri., Feb. 20, with the Vikings' three qualifiers and others, 115-pound senior Grace Roman shared with Coach Emeritus Walter Fairley, Jr., "I was told I am the first wrestler (boy or girl) in the history of La Jolla High to win my weight class at the division finals" (which she did two weeks before).

Fairley was listening, and affirming, as he sat with Grace and other members of the La Jolla group who had made the trip to the South Bay.

Roman continued: "I wish it had been harder, though," she said. There were five other competitors in her weight class at the Division 4 finals.

Fairley, always the coach, always the teacher, responded. "It was a great accomplishment," he said. She didn't need to apologize for winning her weight class and qualifying for girls Masters Feb. 21 at Eastlake High.

To put the record into perspective, La Jolla High was founded in 1922. Early records aren't known, but some wrestling stalwarts' names have come up, particularly through the Holtville Annual Rotary Invitational, which publishes the top-six finishers in each weight class each year in its program.

Paul Schon, said to be the last Viking to go to the state meet (this coming weekend, Feb. 27-28), and his brother Dan were top-six placers at Holtville from 2000-2003 (Paul at 147 and 162, Dan at 152 and 163).

A more recent name in Viking annals, Elliot Austin (this reporter saw his bouts), won at 128 pounds at Holtville in 2017-18. Others who never won their division's weight class include Wade Green (277 pounds), a Holtville top-six back-to-back winner in 1998-99; Matt Legler (153 and 162), 1997-98; Miki Kunitake (103 and 122) and Naiche Kennedy (275 and heavyweight), both in 1994-95. Holtville only publishes records back to 1992; the tourney started in 1964.

At this point in girls' wrestling, the numbers are still lower, as the sport gains in popularity and one girl talks to another girl, and they both become workout partners and give other girls the courage to go out for wrestling.

It's not bad to be physical. As senior Maddie Quach learned to get over the hump this season, "I choose violence--within the legal limits" of the sport. Associate head coach Kellen Delaney "leaned into that" with her, and Quach qualified for the Masters meet as well to top off her high school career.

It is fine for a girl to be aggressive and excel in wrestling. She can still be a girl and keep her femininity.

LJ wrestling: Siscon teaches 'power and one'

LJ coaches Scott Christy (rear, center left) and

Ryan Lennard (center right) give counsel

to Becka Durst (near, center left, kneeling) and

Maddie Quach (next to her) before the

CIF Masters meet at Eastlake High

Sat., Feb. 21. (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Dale Siscon, 74 years young, long-time wrestling referee and coach, teaches "power and one" to his young charges at Mater Dei Catholic.

Siscon, still coaching after all his years--we met when he was refereeing at local high school tournaments almost 15 years ago--is well-versed in introducing the sport to young people.

"Three skills you introduce to a student-athlete who has never tried wrestling: teach the sprawl (legs shooting back to avoid being taken down), then how to shoot (lunging to attack your opponent), then 'stay off your back'." Obviously, the last, a precarious position that can lead to being pinned.

The mini-clinic continued as Siscon, his brother John a regular companion to refereeing meets until more recently, and I sat on the front row of the bleachers at CIF girls Masters at Eastlake High, me with pad ready, the assistant coach keeping an eye out for his athletes to begin matches on the three matches shortly after 9 a.m. Sat., Feb. 21.

Three further rules:

"Never get taken down; never get reversed; never get on your back/get pinned. That's the sign of a good wrestler."

Now, with the girls' side exploding in numbers, testified to by the entire floor of the Eastlake gym being covered with Masters qualifiers warming up with a partner, Dale can pass his experience and knowledge on to even more eager young people.

"A true champion," Siscon said, "has these things: endurance (running included); flexibility (so you don't get hurt); every exercise to develop every part of the body; basic skills; and commitment, pride, determination, defiance."

"We teach (crossing his forearms over his chest) 'power and one"--pointing up, "up above", God's power.

"Power and respect. Maintaining humility."

LJ FB: Roach: 'The guys in the building'

By Ed Piper

"We will roll with the guys in the building!" Tyler Roach, La Jolla head football coach, texted Sat., Feb. 21, when asked about the quarterback position for fall 2026.

"Emerson (Rota) and Ty (Tortorice) will compete this spring and summer for the job," the eight-year HC veteran coach.

Rota and Tortorice steadied the ship as much as they could when returning senior starter Hudson Smith went down with injuries and concussions early in the 2025 season, then midway through the season. Huddy, going through concussion symptoms wearing sunglasses at one point, ending up sitting out the last part of the season.

Roach, who played middle linebacker at University City as a student-athlete, then later developed an imaginative coaching approach to offense, showed his creativity once again last season in using safety/wide receiver Carson Diehl in the shotgun, in addition to rotating Tortorice, a freshman, in a traditional dropback QB role with Rota, a lefthanded slinger--none of the three had ever started a varsity game as a quarterback.

Senior linebacker Charlie Martin even got thrown in there at shotgun at one point.

After Huddy began to miss games, the Vikings still went 2-2 in the Eastern League, 4-4 overall before the playoffs.

The La Jolla coach brought in Hudson Smith as a transfer from the Scripps Ranch area two years ago. Before that, he helped develop Jackson Diehl, Carson's older brother and an unknown quantity, into an All-CIF quarterback who was an equal threat as a ball-carrier and an effective passer in 2023.

Going way back to the start of his eight years as head coach (a previous year spent as an assistant coach under Jason Carter), Roach became something of a "quarterback whisperer" to another Jackson, Jackson Stratton, who had blonde, flowing locks coming down from under his helmet. Stratton put up big numbers as a drop-back passer, and helped lead La Jolla to the 2019 Southern California Regional title after the CIF San Diego Section championship, with a 10-5 record.

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.

Maddie Quach (L) of La Jolla battles her first-

round opponent, Elyza De Guzman of Olympian,

before a growing crowd at CIF Masters meet

at Eastlake High Sat., Feb. 21.

Becka Durst (R) tries to maneuver against

Lauren Zaragoza of Brawley in her first bout.

LJ baseball 7, Alumni 6 - 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

In better days, Viking junior Avery Edstrom (2)

launches against Cathedral's Ella Meathe (7,

far left) in La Jolla's 12-8 win in their Western

League opener Jan. 5. (Photo by Ed Piper)

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

In the Jan. 20 match that really separated Bishop's

from the Vikings, Aviana Cavaiola (left) of LJHS

is forced way out as she looks for a pass on offense

against senior Katie Johnson (6) of the Knights.

The game was played in the Bishop's home pool.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

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

In the second quarter, Alicia Lopez Vargas (top, 5)

struggles to find a passing lane against Valhalla's

Gia Jacob (8, black cap) and Audrena Talia (11)

in La Jolla's heart-breaking 15-14 loss in the semis.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

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

Viking goalie Lucia Vega (far right, top) guards

the cage as lefty Ava Mammo (7) of Valhalla

takes aim.

Alicia Lopez Vargas (top) looks for an open

teammate against the Norsemens' Gia Jacob (8).

LJ coach Tom Atwell (black jacket) tries to exhort

his troops in the second quarter. At the time,

the game was tied, 9-9.

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.