Wood gains Artists’ MVP honor

-- Mike Sciacca

Honors, handshakes and high-fives were part of the program at the

Emerald Bay Club as the Laguna Beach High boys’ volleyball program

recently celebrated its successful 2002 season with a team banquet.

Senior defensive specialist James Wood was named MVP by his teammates.

“He’s my first defensive specialist to win the MVP award,” said coach

Shawn Patchell, who just concluded his sixth year with the boys’ program.

“James had an outstanding year.”

Senior Reid Anderson earned the team’s most consistent player award.

Anderson displayed those characteristics in Laguna Beach’s final game

of the season, a CIF Southern Section Division IV quarterfinal loss to

Bishop Montgomery. He came up with 13 kills in a performance that led

Patchell to call Anderson “our player of the match.”

“Reid was consistent throughout the season and came up with clutch

play for us in many matches,” he said.

Patchell also revealed the Laguna Beach All-Pacific Coast League 2002

players: Named to the first team were Wood, senior Ben Dyer and junior

Matt Anderson.

Second team members included Reid Anderson, senior Spencer Samuelian

and sophomore Trey Chapel.

Senior Paul Brinkman and junior Mike Chiaverini were given Honorable

Mention.

Laguna Beach finished the season 14-7 overall and was runner-up to the

Pacific Coast League crown.

“We had a good bunch of seniors lead this team, and that leadership

will be missed,” Patchell said.