HIGH SCHOOLS : In Field Hockey, Teams Head East to Get Exposure

On the West Coast, girls field hockey isn’t as popular as in other regions of the country and doesn’t gain as much notoriety.

But area coaches have found a way to gain national exposure for not only for their teams but to expose seniors to college coaches.

This year, the National Field Hockey Festival will be in Cocoa, Fla., Thursday through Saturday. Area teams attending will be Serra, Mira Mesa, Torrey Pines, San Marcos and a squad consisting of players from Fallbrook and San Pasqual.

“Colleges are ending their season now also, so coaches know what they’ll need next year,” Mira Mesa Coach Jean Palmer said. “The college coaches go to the see the high school teams play. They can get a list of all the seniors so they have an idea who to watch. If someone is outstanding, the coach will contact them, usually by letter later on.”

On Saturday night, after the tournament is over, there is a college night designed specifically for the seniors. The seniors are able to meet and talk with college coaches.

“We got a little spoiled the first year we went,” said Palmer, who has taken her team the past two years. “Two of our girls got scholarships. Last year, we had a couple offers, but the girls have to be willing to go where there are scholarships and that is usually far away. Only one school in California gives scholarships, and that’s the University of Pacific.”

Coronado Coach Randy Burgess arrived just 30 minutes before his team was set play Poway for the 3-A water polo championship Saturday.

But how could his team be angry? Burgess’ wife, Claire, had just given birth to their first child, Alana Marie, at Scripps Hospital. Alana Marie wasn’t expected to arrive for at least another week.

“My assistants were all ready to coach the team,” Burgess said. “I wasn’t going to come, but my wife told me everything was OK and that I should go. Both her and the baby were asleep when I left.”

Coronado claimed its fourth consecutive title, but the excitement over Alana showed in the Islanders’ play the first half.

“They played us tough, but I felt our kids weren’t really focused on the game,” Burgess said. “This may be the best ever water polo team in San Diego County. They really didn’t need a coach here.”

After West Hills scored on a 98-yard punt return while playing Mt. Miguel two weeks ago, West Hills’ kicker Nathan Vail grabbed what he tought was his helmet and ran out on the field. It wasn’t until he was fastening the strap that he realized it wasn’t his.

“The touchdown was unexpected and he was in a hurry to get onto the field,” West Hills’ Coach Steve Sutton said. “When he realized he had the wrong helmet, he couldn’t do anything about it. Then he had to stick some other guy’s mouth piece in his mouth.”

What followed was the only extra point Vail missed all season. Could it have been a lack of concentration?

The raucous atmosphere at Kit Carson Park for the Section individual and doubles tennis championships last week didn’t rival a Davis Cup match, but it did unnerve some players and coaches.

The stir was created by a small group of Poway fans, who loudly cheered almost every point scored by the Titans’ doubles team of Katie Heyden and Leah Splavec. Bishop’s players Janine Schiess and Isabel Schoeplfin commented after their semifinal loss to Heyden and Splavec that the cheering bothered them.

During the finals’ match, Coronado Coach Robbin Adair shouted to the Poway supporters that they should only cheer after winners by their team, not poor shots by Coronado players’ Summer Redondo and Marni Hunt.

“Let’s have some class,” Adair yelled.

The outburst quieted the Poway crowd some, but it didn’t help Redondo and Hunt as they lost to Heyden and Splavec in three sets.

Times staff writer Dave McKibben contributed to this story.