HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS : Esparza Races to 2nd League Title in a Row

For Mike Esparza of Newbury Park High, Friday’s Marmonte League cross-country finals at Moorpark College meant a chance for redemption.

Two weeks ago at the Ventura County Championships at Moorpark, Esparza was one of the favorites. He ran poorly, however, placing fourth behind winner Bryan Dameworth of Agoura. The loss was a case of Esparza’s mental mistakes more than Dameworth’s physical superiority.

“He psyched out,” Newbury Park Coach Mike Stewart said. “He let the leaders get too far ahead of him. If you want to win the big races, you’ve got to go out with the leaders.”

Esparza took Stewart’s words to heart Friday and won his second consecutive league title, running a personal best of 15 minutes, 23 seconds over the three-mile course.

Camarillo, behind the second- and third-place finishes of sophomores Shawn Goetzinger (15:38) and Abe Valdez (15:40), won the team title with 28 points.

Defending champion Thousand Oaks placed second with 60 points, followed by Westlake (92) and Newbury Park (94).

Esparza, Goetzinger and Valdez ran the first mile in 5:07 before the Panther junior broke open the race at the 1 1/2-mile mark.

“I felt revitalized going up the big hill,” Esparza said, “So I just decided to make a move.”

When Goetzinger and Valdez couldn’t respond to his move, Esparza had a lead of 10 seconds after two miles (10:12) and opened his lead at the finish to 15 seconds.

His time of 15:23 was 14 seconds faster than last year, when he had to surge past Travis Briggs of Simi Valley in the last half-mile of the race.

“This year was much easier,” Esparza said. “During the race, I just kept telling myself--and I’m not trying to sound conceited--that I was better than these guys, that I should be ahead of them.”

Camarillo, the No. 4-ranked team in the Southern Section 4-A Division, dominated the team race to win its first league title. Besides Goetzinger and Valdez, the Scorpions placed 6th (Erik Counseller), 8th (Joel Gonzalez), 9th (Chad Malesich), 10th (Matt Aukstkalnis), and 11th (Keith Thomas). The gap between Goetzinger and Thomas was only 48 seconds, indicative of superb grouping.

“This may be the best performance ever by a Camarillo team,” Coach Mike Smith said. “We really ran well, especially Shawn Goetzinger. That’s the best race he’s ever run.”

The race for the girls team title was considerably closer.

Thousand Oaks, led by winner Jena Haggenmiller (18:28), scored 42 points to Newbury Park’s 55. Simi Valley (93) finished third and Westlake was fourth (96).

The Lancers have won or shared the past four Marmonte League titles.

The top three teams and individuals advance to the Southern Section preliminaries at Mt. SAC next Saturday.

Loyola 43, St. Francis 83, Alemany 85, St. John Bosco 92, Crespi 104, Notre Dame 106, Bosco Tech 177--Mike Glaze of Notre Dame won his second consecutive title in the Del Rey League meet at Pierce College.

Glaze, who placed third in the 1,600 meters at the Southern Section 2-A track championships in May, ran the first mile in 5:08 and was not challenged thereafter, cruising to a 14:56 time over the three-mile course.

“I was surprised with the time,” Glaze said. “Before the race, I didn’t even think about breaking 15 minutes. I didn’t think I could run that fast over this course.”

Loyola placed three runners in the top seven to win the team title. The Cubs were led by Rene Rigal, who finished fourth in 15:38.

Alemany’s Mike Thomas placed third (15:31) to qualify for next week’s Southern Section preliminaries at Mt. SAC. His team, however, won’t be running there even though the Indians placed third in Friday’s meet.

Del Rey League standings are based on a combination of dual-meet record and league-meet finish, and Crespi had a better combined total than Alemany to finish third overall.

GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY

Alemany 54, Chaminade 58, Notre Dame 59, Bell-Jeff 65, Louisville 74--Sisters Vicki and Lynn Hosek of Notre Dame placed first and third. The Knights, however, could not match Alemany’s depth in the San Fernando Valley League meet at Pierce College.

Vicki Hosek, a sophomore, took the lead early in the race and was never challenged. Her time of 18:45 over the three-mile course was more than 1 1/2 minutes faster than runner-up Angela Brady of Alemany (20:21). Lynn Hosek, a senior, ran 20:32.

Kathy Crespo placed fifth (21:05) for Chaminade.

WATER POLO

Westlake 16, Newbury Park 6--Led by Rob Douglas’ six goals, Westlake clinched third place in the Marmonte League and a berth in the Southern Section 3-A playoffs with a win at Newbury Park. Rusty Rudolph and Bob Winhorst each added four goals for Westlake (7-13, 4-4). Newbury Park’s Branden Jensen scored two goals.

Royal and Thousand Oaks also have clinched playoff berths.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Grace Community d. Highland Hall, 15-10, 8-15, 15-7, 15-12--Grace Community completed an undefeated Westside League schedule with the win.