Breakers look for more success in 2012
The 2012 season got underway this week for the Laguna Beach High boys’ golf, boys’ and girls’ swim, and boys’ and girls’ track and field teams.
Below is a capsule look at each of the Breakers teams for 2012.
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Boys’ Golf
Head coach: Scott Finn (ninth year)
The roster: Tim Peterson (all-league, All-CIF qualifier, Sr.); Beau Bourne (returning starter, Sr.); Anthony Klimek (returning starter, Sr.); Sundance Severino (Jr.); Tyler Metez (Soph.); Mitchell Wills (Jr.); John Grayden (Fr.).
Coach’s take: “I’m looking forward to a great season and have high expectations for the returning players and am expecting great things out of the new varsity players. The boys are dedicated to improving their games and playing well in matches.”
Season opener: Lost, 197-224, to Aliso Niguel on Tuesday.
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Boys’ Swimming
Head coach: Kari Johnson (fourth year)
2011 season: Won third straight Orange Coast League title
2011 CIF season: Finished fifth in Division 3.
Key returning swimmers: Samer Alkateb (200/500 freestyle; 2011 CIF: 200, 500 free, Sr.); Billy Wild (200 IM/100 fly; 2011 CIF: 100 butterfly, school record 500 free, 100 butterfly; 500 free, 200 IM, Sr.); Tommy Renner (200 IM/100 breast; 2011 CIF: 200 medley relay, Sr.); Erik Henrikson (50 free/100 breast; 2011 CIF: 200 medley relay, school record, Sr.); Caleb Scott (200 IM/100 breaststroke, Jr.).
Season opener: def. Pacifica, 104-66, on Wednesday.
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Girls’ Swimming
Head coach: Kari Johnson (fourth year)
2011 league season: Won fourth straight Orange Coast League title
2011 CIF season: Finished second in Division 3
Key returning swimmers: Yoshi Andersen (200 IM/100 fly/100 free/50 free; 2011CIF 200 IM, champion 400 free relay, Sr.); Melena Masson (500 free/50 free/100 free/200 free; 2011CIF: 200 free, 500 IM, champion 400 free relay, Sr.); Lila Vera (200 IM/100 fly/100 back; 2011 CIF: champion 100 fly, second-place 100 back, champion 400 free relay).
Coach’s take: “I am looking forward to a great season. We have a young team this year and I know they will improve tremendously throughout the season. Our goal is to have as many athletes make it to CIF as possible (and) place in the top five.”
Season opener: def. Pacifica, 87-76, on Wednesday.
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Boys’ Track and Field
Head coach: Scott Wittkop (sixth year)
Key returning performers: 100, 300 hurdles (Cristian Menes, Sr.; Kevin Ulibarri, Sr.; Spencer Anderson, Jr.); 100 , 200 meters (Reece Barton, 2011 CIF Div. 4 performer, Jr.); 400 meters (Kevin Tovar, 2011 CIF Div. 4 performer, Jr.); 800 meters (Tyler Nichols, 2011 CIF Div. 4 finalist, Sr.); 1,600, 3,200 meters (Jeff White, 10th-place 3,200 meters 2011 CIF Div. 4 Meet); Shot put: Ricky Delatorre (defending league champion); Cameron Bilbrey; Jumps: Nicholas Keith Bevilaqua (Sr.).
Team notes: Laguna finished second in the Orange Coast League standings and reached the CIF Southern Section Division 4 finals last year...More than 30 teams, including five schools that have won a State title over the last five years, will compete March 17 at the Laguna Trophy Invite.
Coach’s take: “We should have a strong team,” Wittkop said of a squad that returns several 2011 CIF performers.
Season opener: Thursday vs. La Sierra (score wasn’t available at press time).
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Girls’ Track and Field
Head coach: Steve Lalim (sixth year)
2011 season: Orange Coast League champion
Key returning performers: Natasha Strickland (league champion 1,600, 3,200; 2011 CIF qualifier 1,600, 3,200, school record and 2011 CIF finalist in 3,200, Sr.); Brielle Budroe (2011 CIF qualifier 1,600, Soph.); Marisa Merchant (2011 CIF qualifier 1,600, Sr.); Grace Clark (2011 CIF qualifier 3,200, Jr.); Marlee Grosher (2011 CIF qualifier, jumps, Soph.). Lola Cant (2011 CIF qualifier, 400, Soph.); Tori Toma (sprints, Sr.); Monica White (hurdles, Soph.); Darby Winson (hurdles, Soph.); Tessa Hopper (Soph.).
Coach’s take: Lalim says his team “should challenge” for the 2012 Orange Coast League title and noted that Godinez is a program “on the rise” in what should be an interesting league race.
Season opener: Thursday vs. La Sierra (score wasn’t available at press time).
Twitter: @MikeSciacca