Top 10 Sports Stories of 2017: St. Francis football reaches DIII final
Chosen by the La Cañada Valley Sun sports staff, here are the top 10 sports stories of 2017.
1 St. Francis football advances to CIF Southern Section Division III title game: There was no more of a historic season in the 17-year coaching career of Jim Bonds than what took place in 2017.
Led by dynamic standouts such as quarterback Darius Perrantes, receiver Greg Dulcich, linemen Matt Barriga and Gabriel Grbavac and running back Elijah Washington, St. Francis marched to a CIF championship game for the first time since 1964.
“Fifty-three years is a long wait,” Washington said.
Bonds’ Golden Knights finished with a 12-2 record, which included winning streaks of nine and three games. One of those setbacks was a 28-16 loss to Cathedral in an Angelus Leauge championship game at Friedman Field on Nov. 3.
St. Francis recovered from that loss and was ranked seventh headed into the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs and made a historic run.
St. Francis defeated La Serna, 31-27, in the first round of the playoffs to exorcise some demons versus the Lancers, who ousted the Golden Knights in the postseason in 2014 and 2015.
That victory was followed by a 30-20 upset over second-seeded host Citrus Hill in the quarterfinals.
After years of frustration in the semifinal round and a 0-5 record for Bonds, the Golden Knights enjoyed a special evening at Friedman Field on Nov. 24.
On that night, St. Francis defeated El Toro, 52-17, in the semifinals to advance to the program’s first championship game in 53 years.
“I think it always takes a little bit of luck and we’ve been on the other end of that a few years,” said Bonds, whose team lost to Palos Verdes, 38-37, in the Division III first round the year prior. “And also, I think, a great work ethic and team chemistry. I think those things improved over the year.
“It just started to click.”
St. Francis’ magical season ended via a 44-42 loss to Rancho Verde in the championship at Friedman Field on Dec. 1 on a last-second 37-yard field goal.
2 Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer turns in greatest season: There was no denying the talent on the Rebels and the team turned in a season of historic proportions.
Scoring more than 100 goals for the first time in school history, the Rebels traveled further in the playoffs than ever before, led by the likes of All-Area Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year Helen Schaefer, former player of the year Julia Gonzalez and other All-Area all-stars such as Mona Cesario and Mikaela Celeste.
Flintridge Prep posted a 23-5-3 mark that included an eight-game winning streak all via shutouts.
The Rebels posted an 8-1-1 mark within the Prep League, which clinched the Rebels an undisputed league title for the first time since 2012.
Flintridge Prep advanced to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Southern Section Division III semifinals for the first time in 15 years.
Unfortunately, for the Rebels, they ran into an unbeatable obstacle in South Torrance. The visiting squad defeated Flintridge Prep, 5-2, on Feb. 28 in the semifinals.
Flintridge Prep earned a postseason berth to the CIF Southern California Regional Division III playoffs, where it went on the road and topped Tulare Mission Oak, 2-1, for the program’s first-ever SoCal victory.
The win sent the Rebels into the semifinals, where this time they traveled to South Torrance. Again, South Torrance won by a smaller margin, 3-1, on March 9.
3 Flintridge Prep girls’ cross-country keeps rolling: There was a question as to how the Rebels would preform after the retirement of co-coach Mike Roffina and the graduation of top runner Natalie O’Brien.
Head coach Jill Henry also missed an early part of the season due to maternity leave.
Yet, despite those concerns, the Rebels still turned in another season of dominance.
Though the squad losts its Prep League title, it rebounded with postseason dominance that has become a standard.
Flintridge Prep claimed a fifth straight CIF Southern Section Division V Championship via a 55-101 victory at the Riverside City Cross-County Course on Nov. 18.
Then the Rebels closed out the season by capturing a fourth straight state title, 74-120, at Fresno’s Woodward Park on Nov. 25 with standouts such as Sophie Gitlin and Sasha Codiga.
“They ran with a lot of heart and they ran composed,” Henry said.
4 Evan Pattinelli goes above and beyond: Expectations were sky high for the Rebels senior and he turned in another spectacular season in his swansong. Pattinelli finished with five victories, culminating with the ultimate prizes of CIF Southern Section and CIF State championships to end his year and his career in the highest fashion.
Pattinelli won the Clovis Invitational Small Schools championship on the state course of Woodward Park in a time of 15 minutes, 31.3 seconds. He also captured the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational Division IV and V Sweepstakes (14:49).
While Pattinelli lost the individual Prep League title on Oct. 28 at Pierce College, his Rebels still captured the team championship.
Like Jack Van Scoter, arguably Flintridge Prep’s greatest runner, Pattinelli won a second CIF Southern Section Division V Championship in 14:51.9 in Riverside on Nov. 18. Pattinelli then topped Van Scoter and joined Alah Yoho in winning a rare CIF State championship by claiming the Division V title in 15:38.7 in Fresno on Oct. 25.
“I’m glad I could carry on the legacy Prep has of really strong top runners, like Alan Yoho and Jack Van Scoter, to really push myself and go out there for the win,” Pattinelli said.
5 La Cañada boys’ soccer turns in impressive season: There was a bit of turnover for the Spartans following the departure of coach Alex Harrison. The Spartans brought in Bruno Costa as Harrison’s replacement.
Though La Cañada began its season 3-4-3, it turned things around quickly in Rio Hondo League play. La Cañada surprised everybody by going 7-0-3 in league and winning the league title for the first time since 2013. La Cañada advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division VI semifinals for the second time in three seasons.
The Spartans recorded playoff wins versus La Salle, Webb and Nogales before falling to Dunn, 0-0 (4-1 on penalty kicks).
For good measure, the Spartans appeared in the CIF Southern California Regional Division V Tournament, losing in the first round to Mendota.
The Spartans were led by defenders Jack Meeker and Sam Adida, midfielder Luke Bonham, forward Jake Tolkin and goalkeeper Jorge Landa. Costa was selected as the All-Area Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year.
“I’m very happy and very proud with this season,” Costa said.
6 La Cañada baseball instantly thrives under new coach: La Cañada turned to arguably its best baseball player in school history to pilot the team. The Spartans brought in Matt Whisenant, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, to turn the program around.
Whisenant did exactly that, guiding the Spartans to their first Rio Hondo League crown since 2013 before an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinals.
Whisenant led the Spartans to a 13-win turnaround to go 23-6, 12-0 in league. He was selected as the All-Area Baseball Coach of the Year.
As the second seed in the playoffs, La Cañada defeated Lompoc (6-3) and Templeton (6-0). The Spartans saw their playoff journey wrap up with a 2-1 defeat against Campbell Hall. It marked the first time in four years that the Spartans advanced past the first round of the playoffs.
Among those to shine included pitchers Ryan Graves and Connor Buchanan and infielders Connor Schulz and Tristan Kalnins along with do-it-all standout Matthew Sox.
“These boys can’t hang their heads,” Whisenant said. “They had an incredible season considering the season prior.
“I was telling the boys that they have now set a standard with his program and they left their legacy in a big way.”
7 Claire Murray hurdles to excellence: Despite a late start to the season, the La Cañada junior still thrived, winning league and Southern Section titles in one of the greatest seasons in Spartans track chronicle.
Murray captured the Rio Hondo League 100-meter hurdles title in 14.98 seconds.
On that day, the team player also helped the Spartans finish second in the 1,600-meter relays (4:12.99) and third in the 400-meter relays (51.09).
Ten days after league finals, Murray showed she was a contender for the CIF Southern Section Division III title by finishing first at the 100-meter hurdles preliminaries in a division-best time and school record of 14.60.
The following week, Murray etched her name into the La Cañada history books at the division finals back at Cerritos College.
Despite strong winds, Murray captured the 100 hurdles title in 14.71. The victory made Murray her school’s first girls’ hurdles champion, while she clinched a spot to the Masters Meet.
Her fantastic season had a tough ending as Murray kicked a hurdle and fell at the Masters Meet and did not advance to state.
8 La Cañada girls’ volleyball returns to prominence: After a few rough seasons, the Spartans produced a stellar 2017 campaign.
La Cañada posted a 22-7 record that included a 9-1 mark in the Rio Hondo League for the program’s 23rd league title, but first since 2012. The championship ended the second-longest title drought in program history.
Among regular season highlights, the Spartans defeated Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 3-2, in the Dig Pink match for the program’s first victory over its crosstown rival in five years.
La Cañada also picked up a 3-2 victory at Monrovia for its first road victory versus its league rival in three years.
In the CIF Southern Section Division IV postseason, the Spartans defeated Burbank (3-0) before defeating Oxnard Rio Mesa, 3-2.
The Spartans capped their season with a 3-0 loss to No. 3 seed Santa Monica in the quarterfinals. The postseason run was the deepest for the team since 2012.
9 La Cañada High boys’ basketball team shines again: After the CIF Southern Section realigned its divisions, La Cañada was moved up from Division IV-AA to I-A.
Despite being elevated, the Spartans still found the type of success they’re accustomed to under veteran coach Tom Hofman. They won an undefeated Rio Hondo League championship and reached the quarterfinals before losing at Loyola.
Sean Estes was selected the All-Area Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 20 points per game. He also received All-CIF honors and was named the league’s co-most valuable player.
The Spartans earned a first-round bye before beginning the playoffs with a 60-52 win against San Clemente. La Cañada then fell, 71-63 to Loyola.
10 Sophie McKenzie wins league title, has another lengthy CIF run: It was another spectacular season for the La Cañada High junior singles player.
McKenzie won her first Rio Hondo League singles title and earned a return trip to the CIF Individual Tournament.
McKenzie finished 32-4, 16-1 in league and reached the round of 32 at the CIF Tournament. She also helped the Spartans take second in league and reach the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.
McKenzie, who was runner-up in singles in league last season, came back more polished and determined to win league. Earning the top seed in the league tournament, McKenzie coasted to a 6-1, 6-1 victory against second-seeded Libby Chang of San Marino at Arcadia Tennis Center to win the championship.
McKenzie became the first Spartans singles player to win the league title since her sister, Ally, in 2013.
In the CIF tournament, McKenzie had advanced to the third round in singles in 2016 and the doubles semifnals with sister Cassie in 2015.
Honorable mention: La Cañada girls’ cross-country wins Rio Hondo League, places third in CIF State Division IV; La Cañada football finishes 0-10 on season; St. Francis tennis brothers Jack and Ian Freer advance to semifinals in CIF Individual Tournament.