El Camino Real Strings Titles

The dynasty continued for the Woodland Hills El Camino Real boys’ tennis team Friday afternoon at the Balboa Tennis Center in Encino.

Motivated by the Lakers’ elimination loss to San Antonio the night before, the top-seeded Conquistadores won eight of nine doubles sets and 14 of 16 singles sets to rout second-seeded Palisades, 26-3 1/2, and win their fourth consecutive City Championship title.

“Everyone was starting to compare us to the Lakers because we were trying to four-peat like they were,” Coach Marvin Jones said. “You saw what happened to them, and we didn’t want the same thing to happen to us.”

El Camino Real, which has won 50 consecutive matches and 61 of its last 62, needs one more championship to equal Palisades’ record run of five in a row, which the Dolphins accomplished twice, the last time from 1995-99.

Palisades (20-2) has won 24 City titles in all but was dealt a blow in a bid for its 25th when top singles player, sophomore Chris Ko, sprained his right ankle during his second set against Troy Aiken and had to retire. Ko couldn’t continue and had to default his last two round-robin sets.

“It’s disappointing not to be there for my teammates,” said Ko, who won the boys’ 16 division at the Ojai tournament in April. “I don’t know if we could have won even if I had played, but I think we could have made it a lot closer.”

Senior captain Bruce Aiken lost one game in four sets at No. 1 singles, and his younger brother, Troy, lost five games in his four victories for El Camino Real (16-0). Nick Kogan and Dan Escobedo swept, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles to finish the season undefeated.

In the City Invitational final, top-seeded Reseda Cleveland defeated second-seeded Van Nuys, 19-10 1/2. Andrew Ong, Calvin Chan and Brian Kim each won three out of four singles sets for Cleveland (7-9). Kirill Mikhilov swept, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0, in singles for the Wolves (11-5).

-- Steve Galluzzo

Amy Burlingham, a forward for Newport Harbor, and Shannon Foley, a defender for Santa Margarita, have been selected for the second consecutive year to Parade magazine’s 35-member High School All-America girls’ soccer team.

Also on this year’s team is Shari Summers, a midfielder from Valencia, who is headed to Stanford in the fall.

The Southern California Girls’ Lacrosse Assn. will hold its championship tournament beginning at 8:30 a.m. today at Newport Harbor High.

Ojai Thacher, Carpinteria Cate, San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s, Newport Harbor, San Gabriel Valley and Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula/Palos Verdes will compete in the championship bracket. Tustin, Santa Margarita, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa and Conejo Valley/Thousand Oaks will compete in the invitational bracket.

The final is scheduled for 6:30. Information: (714) 264-8907.

Football Coach Rudy Lugo of Canoga Park, track athlete Belen Mendoza of Sun Valley Poly and Athletic Director Ruth Knapp of Verdugo Hills will be among the individuals honored at the Sportsmanship Recognition Dinner on Monday at Dodger Stadium.

Sponsored by the City Section and L.A. Parks and Recreation, the Character Counts partnership honors individuals and organizations for making contributions to the cause of Pursing Victory with Honor.

Also being recognized will be Gina Quintana, a parent from USC-MAST, the L.A. Baseball Officials, North Hills Monroe High and Hollywood’s football team.

Crescenta Valley’s David Mendoza has been selected the national assistant coach of the year for baseball by Scholastic Coach and Athletic Director magazine. Mendoza helped Coach Phil Torres lead the Falcons to four Pacific League titles and the 1998 Southern Section Division I championship in his seven years on the job.