LJ g water polo: Jennings' view from poolside

Sophomore attacker Natalie Dimeo (black cap #11) 
faces pressure from a Valhalla defender
in 8-3 scrimmage win. 
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

On a 59-degree, blustery and dark day, La Jolla's girls went through the machinations of an 8-3 win in a non-official scrimmage against visiting Valhalla.

Three-year starter Shauna Franke in goal for the Vikings for the first half meant no Norsewomen were able to break through for a goal. That's reassuring.

Jess Newell, a fellow senior, on attack for fourth-year coach Amy Jennings is another welcome sign. The weaponized perimeter player dipped in for a goal late in the third quarter, but by then La Jolla, unpolished but striving, led by a dominant 6-1.

"I saw a lot of potential," said Jennings, working with "super assistant" Tom Atwell over from the boys' program at poolside this year. She acknowledged that the rough form of the offense and defense can be pretty normal at this stage of the preseason.

The Vikings, with another scrimmage Sat., Nov. 23 against West Hills at home, don't play a real game until Dec. 6, so there is a lot of time to go.

"We're still (in the stage) of playing everyone, and getting different mixes of girls and positions," she said, heavy jacket and baseball cap keeping her somewhat warm on a chilly day.

Going through her roster mentally--she said she will keep 16 athletes on the varsity, "because of the talent"--Jennings counted seven seniors and seven sophomores, with two juniors. A visitor called it a "sandwich team".

La Jolla, 17-11 last year, most of their matches against top teams, defeated Cathedral Catholic 8-5 in the Open Division quarterfinals Feb. 7. The Vikings fell to Bishop's, the eventual CIF champion, 14-10 in the semifinals.

Western League play was bruising, with only three opponents, playing two rounds. Jennings' troops were 1-6 for that slate of games. The win in the playoffs over the Dons brought some vindication. Bishop's, their cabinet not bare, gave no ground.

In the scrimmage against Valhalla, senior Paige Olson scored back-to-back goals in the first period for a 3-0 lead. Gavin Olson, whose boys team plays Fri., Nov. 22, in the Southern California Regionals against Westview (but up in Huntington Beach), said, "That's my sister," as he kept score under the protective white tarp still set up on the pool deck from the San Diego Section boys playoffs.

Lulu Hirschfield, a returning sophomore, then scored consecutive goals in the second and third quarters.

Another one of the seven sophomores, Stella Chopskie, showed her offensive chops with goals for 7-2 and 8-2 leads in mop-up time late in the unofficial game.

"Jess Newell, a four-time varsity player, is going to be one of our leaders," said Jennings. "We had some strong players last year (Katy Koenig was a forceful team leader the last two years) and Jess was kind of support to them. Now she'll be more out front as a leader.

"Shauna will be a leader, returning in goal. She's a senior, starting for her third season.

"They (both Newell and Franke) are also looking at playing at the next level (in college), which adds to the motivation," said Jennings.

"The sophomores' role? Half were on varsity last year--four of them are coming back as returners. Their contribution to the team is going to be significant (despite their age). Even though they're sophomores, they're going to be expected to 'play up'."

The winter sports season is now compacted more with an earlier start to accommodate state playoffs. "We're squeezing our cross-league games in. We have three games one week. We have to fit our cross-league games in where we can. In January we play in three tournaments, and we play league games (so that doesn't provide any leeway).

"In cross-league games, we play Torrey Pines, Clairemont, Vista, El Camino, and Westview. I try to hit up some other good teams, then other Division 1 teams not in our league. Also, those coaches and programs who have respect for our team, I like to work out a game for them."

Jennings coached at Miramar College for 12 years. She has coached for a total of 21 years. She played water polo at San Pasqual High, graduating in 1998. She went on to play at Palomar College, then club ball while a student at San Diego State. She still plays for Darkside Water Polo.

LJ wrestling: Roster

By Ed Piper

Head Coach Kellen Delaney, in his fifth year at the helm of the Vikings wrestling program, released a roster of the 2019-2020 wrestlers, both varsity and junior varsity.

Among the returners is senior Joshua Jasso, who was Eastern League champion at 197 pounds last year. Jasso, a 5'10" lineman, plays for the La Jolla High football team at 205 pounds. As a result, he is presently busy with preparation with the rest of the football squad for their Division 3 semifinal match at home against Brawley Fri., Nov. 22.

Other returners include junior Keegan Leonard, who placed sixth at 134 pounds last year in the Division 4 finals, as well as sophomore Buzzy Bomberger, a third-place finisher at 115 pounds in the finals.

The roster, including year in school:

Aarstol	Alexander 9
Banda	Victor 9
Bomberger	Buzzy 10
Deatherage	Binks 9
Dixon	Jake 9
Escobar	Diego 10
Feinberg	Edwin 10
Gamez	Samuel 9
Glenister	Brendan 9
Goss	Elliot 9
Heft	Sebastian 10
Henegar	Andrew 10
Jasso	Joshua 12
Kasendorf	Benjamin 9
Kestler	Caden 9
Kourajian	Ben 9
Lavinsky	Koji 9
Leonard	Keegan 10
Long	Charles 9
Maisel	Chase 11
McKay	Phoenix 9
Meyerov	Allen 9
Naitoh	Steve 9
Najera	Javier 9
Pearl	Zeke 10
Perry	Wallace 9
Pluma	Chris 9
Rickards	Easton 9
Rooney	Jack 9
Tomasulo	Quinn 9
Torres	Benjamin 11
Truscott	Tyler 9
Turecek	Matthew 9
Valeriano	Jesus 10
Von Mueller	Alex 10

LJ g water polo 8, Valhalla 3 - Photos 11/20 - scrimmage

By Ed Piper

LJ Cheer: Photos 11/15 @ LJ FB playoff

By Ed Piper

LJ FB: Timeline since 1924

By Ed Piper

La Jolla High first fielded a football team in 1924. (The school opened in 1922). The following is a timeline of the antecedents of the present 2019 Eastern League champions.

          Head Coach               Years           No. of Seasons
  1. Clarence Johnson      1924-1926               3 
  2. George Dotson          1927-1928               2
  3. Clair Seely                1929-1931               3
  4. Lawrence Carr          1932-1935               4
  5. Percy Allen                    1936                   1
  6. Marvin Clark            1937-1940               4
  7. Charlie McEuen       1941-1942               2
  8. Larry Hanson           1943-1946               4
  9. Charlie McEuen       1947-1949               3   (5 total, with earlier stint)
10. Walt Harvey             1950-1952               3
11. Frank Smith             1953-1955               3
12. Shan Deniston              1956                    1
13. Harry West               1957-1960               4   (became coach at City College)
14. Gene Edwards          1961-1989              29
15. Dick Huddleston      1990-1997               8
16. Dave Ponsford         1998-2008              11
17. Rey Hernandez        2009-2012               4
18. Jason Carter             2013-2015               3
19. Matt Morrison              2016                   1
20. Tyler Roach             2017-2019               3

Source: partletonsports.com

I asked Rick Eveleth, LJHS alumnus and former Athletic Director/coach, his theory on why no coach until Gene Edwards in 1961 served as head football coach for more than four years (except for Charlie McEuen, who had two stints). Rick's response was that many of the coaches were also administrators or had some other role, and they juggled coaching with those responsibilities; also. World War II came in (1941-1945), affecting coaching during those years.

I told him that my high school, Camarillo, which opened in 1957, had relatively long-term coaches in football, including Jack Lercari, Carl Thompson, and Ken Wilhite. (I was a student there from 1967-1971.) Each head coach, I believe, without checking the records, served more than four years; in Lercari's case, over a decade. What was the difference?

Rick said that in earlier days, the principal had some ability to choose the football coach. Sometimes, however, the principal has only been able to hire a classroom teacher in a particular subject--he (or she) hasn't had the power to hire a person specifically to coach. Eveleth said that when he began teaching (about 1971), P.E. teachers all coached at least two teams. There were no walk-on (non-staff) coaches. There was no teachers union at that time. After a teachers union was established, the written/unwritten rules changed, and P.E. teachers no longer had to coach after-school sports teams. That opened the way for walk-on coaches, now a common practice.

LJ FB: Timeline - Tyler Roach through the years

Tyler Roach, in his third year as LJ
football head coach, plugs in
the video replay board before
the Vikings' 28-14 win over
Mater Dei Nov. 15
in the D3 quarterfinals.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Here is a timeline for Tyler Roach, La Jolla High's 20th football coach since 1924:

Prior to 2000

His mother Laura says he was so big as a kid, he wasn't allowed to play youth tackle football one year against boys the same age. He exceeded the maximum allowable weight for the league. So he played flag football for a year. He was allowed to play tackle one other year. He later (2019) starts a youth flag football league in La Jolla.

2000-2003

In his high school years, Roach plays football at University City High under Coach Ollie Matson. He is an all-league center and middle linebacker, playing both ways his junior and senior years as a team captain. He is the team's MVP. He is also named Academic All-CIF. Tyler also plays baseball in high school. (He graduates from UC in June 2004.)

2004-2005

Tyler plays football at West Virginia State University his freshman and sophomore years. He transfers to Azusa Pacific University in L.A County, back on the West Coast.

2006-2007

Roach transfers to Azusa Pacific University in L.A. County, back on the West Coast. He is listed at 6'0", 240 pounds in his junior and senior years, and is named a 2007 All-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. A fullback and halfback, he graduates with an undergraduate degree in Sociology in 2008.

2009-2010

After returning to the area following graduation, Roach serves as an assistant coach at his alma mater, University City High.

2012

Roach serves as Defensive Coordinator for one year at Scripps Ranch, his wife Leslie's alma mater.

2013

Jason Carter, named LJHS head coach after the retirement of Rey Hernandez, names Roach his Offensive Coordinator whom he will share play-calling duties with. Carter, a quarterback and receiver in his playing days, including at Texas A&M and in the NFL, institutes a no-huddle, spread offense with junior quarterback Colin Rugg as his centerpiece. With a mandate to resurrect a program that has seen the number of athletes going out for football annually dwindling, Carter names several former Division 1 college players as assistant coaches, and begins a new fund-raising emphasis to purchase the inflatable tunnel for players to enter the field through, and other items.

The Vikings immediately begin scoring big, in a way the team hasn't for years, if ever, as a result of Rugg's prolific aerials in the speed-up offense. There are challenges, too, that come with Carter not being on campus as a staff member at LJHS or Muirlands, and it being his first head coaching job. 

2014

Fall

Roach serves his second season as OC. Rugg, in his senior year, sets a CIF San Diego Section record with 46 touchdown passes, his favorite targets being fellow seniors Carlton O'Neal, who sets a school record for receptions, and Brandon Bonham, setting a school record for reception yardage.

October 16

Trey Enloe, a player on the junior varsity, reportedly suffers a concussion after a hard hit in a game. He and his family file a lawsuit a year later (in October 2015) against the San Diego Unified School District claiming that, despite displaying signs of a concussion, he was told to "suck it up" and keep playing by a JV assistant coach. The suit claims he suffered another hit when he returned to the game and had to be taken to a hospital. Trey is unable to attend school regularly due to continuing headaches, sensitivity to light, and other symptoms. This situation puts Carter in a difficult position, first denying to a reporter from Voice of San Diego that an incident occurred, then changing his story. VOSD published a story Jan. 5, 2015.

This has nothing to do with Roach, but it creates a cloud over the program that is noticeable in the reticence of coaches and staff at the school to making statements of any kind to media (including to me).

The LJHS football "family", which includes team physician Dr. Steve Hayden, respond by declaring the priority they place on students' health, and detailing the concussion protocol in place. 

2015

Fall

Roach completes his third season as OC under Carter. In the post-Colin Rugg era, La Jolla's offense struggles, with up to five losses ending under a running clock. Adding to the challenges, the Vikings play all their games away, as reconstruction on Edwards Stadium and other athletic facilities continues. This necessitates practices at Muirlands Middle School, with equipment kept in a storage container next to the field.

2016

January

Jason Carter belatedly resigns after three seasons as La Jolla head coach, later going on to serve as Offensive Coordinator at Mission Bay, before moving over in the same role at Lincoln.

John McColl, Operations Manager, provides continuity by ensuring that athletes have an opportunity to do weight training in the offseason, even before a new head coach is named.

Spring

Matt Morrison, an assistant at La Costa Canyon, is hired as the new Vikings head coach.

Fall

Roach serves one year as Offensive Coordinator for La Jolla Country Day School's record-setting offense with Braxton "Cole" Burmeister at quarterback. Burmeister sets several CIF San Diego Section records, then goes on to start at quarterback for a brief spell as a freshman at the University of Oregon. He later transfers in pursuit of more playing opportunities.

Meanwhile, Morrison, an elementary school teacher at a parochial school in Ocean Beach, pays attention to detail and guides the LJHS program through the slate of games in his lone season at LJHS. Players and coaches are able to move into the newly remodeled and updated athletic facilities on campus, the first group to use them after almost two years of working out of storage containers on the practice field at Muirlands.

2017

Early 2017

After the turn of the year, Matt Morrison accepts the head coaching position at Francis Parker, his alma mater where his father John coached him to CIF championships and CIF Player of the Year awards as the Lancers' quarterback--his dream job, one he can't turn down. His father, since retired, agrees to come back and serve as an assistant coach to his son.

McColl again provides continuity between head coaches with support of offseason weight training and the like.

February/March

With the hiring away of Morrison after the New Year, Roach is hired as head coach with a shortened offseason to prepare for the 2017 season. He had applied for the position when Morrison was hired the year before. He holds Spring Practice at the end of May and early June.

August

Roach institutes a new tradition, Family Day, a Saturday barbecue and public workout designed to bring families of team members together for food and bonding. A tour of the facilities is given parents.

November

La Jolla completes its first season under Roach as head coach, reaching the Division 3 playoffs.

2018

October

La Jolla completes its second season under Roach as head coach, missing the playoffs.

2019

August

Roach announces a new youth flag football league for boys and girls, affiliated with future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. Brees comes to LJHS and speaks to 35 youth who have registered by that time.

Nov. 1 - La Jolla downs Christian, 20-19, to win the Eastern League championship outright. It is the Vikings' first league title since 1995.

Nov. 15 - La Jolla defeats Mater Dei Catholic 28-14 in the Division 3 quarterfinals, reaching a spot in the CIF semifinals against Brawley.

LJ FB: Game-by-game season recap

By Ed Piper

A recap of La Jolla High's football season (4-0, Eastern League champs, 7-4 overall) in its march to the Division 3 semifinals:

Week 0 - The Vikings, in a preseason scrimmage, travelled to Hilltop to defeat the Lancers, who were embarking on their third straight South Bay League championship. Sophomore quarterback Jackson Stratton threw a touchdown reception. Not many people paid attention, because the tilt wasn't an official game.

Week 1 - Bishop's 18, La Jolla 7 - A huge student crowd for the season opener Aug. 23 saw the Viking defense hold quarterback Ty Buchner, a Notre Dame commit, and the Knights offense to two touchdowns. This was a Bishop's offense that has gone on to score 70 points three times, 60 points once, and 50 points four times--never less than 40. Vikings Head Coach Tyler Roach said he intentionally slowed his offense down, to help prevent a high-scoring game by Buchner and company. Stratton was 16 of 32 for 142 yards, but had five interceptions and a fumble. Max Smith intercepted Buchner twice, scored the Vikings' only TD on a 64-yard run, and totaled 138 rushing yards on 12 carries. Luke Brunette caught six passes for 69 yards. (0-1 record)

Week 2 - La Jolla 34, Mission Bay 13 - Another big, big whiteout crowd on Blast Off watched the visiting Buccaneers, whose head coach apparently took his own life just before official practice began in the fall, play with heart. Roach met with his team Wednesday to give them the news and prepare them emotionally. In a mistake-filled game, Jackson Stratton completed 15 of 23 passes for 189 yards and two TD's, including one to Cooper McNally. (1-1)

Week 3 - La Jolla 28, Santa Fe Christian 14 - Linebackers Max Smith, Jack Wiese, and Dirk Germon were physical in wearing down big Eagle running back Stephen Britton, who in the fourth quarter looked tired and resigned to the final result. Observers were surprised at the Vikings defeating a team from a good program, though this season's edition isn't as strong as in some previous seasons. (2-1)

Week 4 - Del Norte 15, La Jolla 7 - The Vikings ended up disappointed, having expected that their two straight victories pointed to a good result against the visiting Nighthawks. DN Coach Leigh Cole's offense methodically marched down the field on its opening drive to score first, setting a pattern that was repeated later by Morse and Mater Dei Catholic. (2-2)

Week 5 - Scripps Ranch 17, La Jolla 7 - Max Smith intercepted a pass and ran it back 75 yards, the Vikings' only score against the eventual City League champion Falcons, whose defense was giving up only two points a game. La Jolla's offense never got started. Roach, not for the first time, said, "We knew  with our young offense that we would have a learning curve this year." (2-3)

Week 6 - Bye week.

Week 7 - La Jolla 15, Mira Mesa 7 - In a "boring" game, the Vikings ground out an Eastern League win against the Marauders in Mira Mesa, a team in a down year. (1-0 Eastern League, 3-3 overall)

Week 8 - La Jolla 35, Morse 12 - Two-way senior back Finn Rice was crowned "Homecoming Queen" (jokingly) at halftime. Against an admittedly beaten-up Morse, missing five starters due to injury in a 56-0 loss to highly-ranked St. Augustine the week before, the Vikings went 2-0 in league play. Defensive Coordinator Charles Bussey made adjustments after Morse cut through the LJ defense to score on its opening drive. (2-0 Eastern League, to everyone's surprise; 4-3 overall)

Week 9 - Lincoln 32, La Jolla 7 - In a new home-and-away series that started last year with the Hornets, a renowned football program in San Diego, the Vikings, with their physical defense, stayed with a bigger, stronger Lincoln team for the first half. Then the floodgates opened. (a non-league encounter; 4-4 overall)

Week 10 - La Jolla 39, University City 21 -  The Vikings, loose and a little rowdy, licked their chops at going to battle against a weak (1-9) Centurion squad. They made mistakes early, but finally piled up points in the second half to spoil UC's Senior Night. (3-0 to gain at least part of the Eastern League title, 5-4 overall)

Week 11 - La Jolla 20, Christian 19 - In, by far, the most emotional game of the season, the Vikings, facing a 49-0 victor last year on the Patriots' home field at Granite Hills High, where brothers Gabe and Diego Solis went out in successive quarters with triple collarbone fractures, earned sole possession of the league title they would have shared with Christian (2-2) in the event of a loss. Christian coach Matt Oliver wondered before the game, "How did a (La Jolla) team with the same players as last year get so good?" They answered that question with the win. (4-0, league championship; 6-4 overall)

CIF playoffs - First round - Bye. San Diego High got upset by Kearny, moving the Vikings up from a number-four seed in the Division 3 bracket to number three. The top four seeds received a bye.

CIF playoffs - Quarterfinals - La Jolla 28, Mater Dei Catholic 14 - The Crusaders, a bigger, stronger team like Lincoln, led early, 7-0, before Max Smith (two rushing TD's, one passing from Jackson Stratton) and Diego Solis scored 28 unanswered points in the final three quarters. Smith and Jack Wiese punished bruising running back Aiden Calvert, who had an outstanding game, and backup quarterback Raymond Romero. (7-4; advance to D3 semifinals at home Nov. 22 against Brawley, which upset second-seed Hilltop, 34-33)