Dries, Lawler honored

Annika Dries and Ryan Lawler earned Athlete of the Year honors as the Laguna Beach High athletic boosters recently announced their award winners for the 2008-09 season.

The Stanford-bound Dries, a water polo and swimming standout, helped the Breakers girls’ water polo team to Orange Coast League and CIF Southern Section Division II titles this year.

She also was a key member of the girls’ swim team that also repeated as league champs and finished second at the CIF Southern Section Division III finals, the best swimming finish in school history.

The Orange Coast League and CIF Division II Player of the Year in water polo, Dries has been playing matches with the U.S. women’s senior national water polo team.

The United States won the FINA World League Super Final Sunday with a 9-5 victory over Canada in Kirishi, Russia.

Lawler was the co-MVP of the Orange Coast League in boys’ basketball with his teammate, Dylan Roley.

Lawler averaged just over 15 points per game for the Breakers, who won the league with a perfect 8-0 record. It was the first time since 1953 that the boys’ basketball team went undefeated in league play.

Casey Finnerty and Holden Penney earned the Male and Female Athlete of Character awards, respectively.

Jake Sganga earned the award for the athlete with the highest grade-point average, and girls’ and boys’ water polo coach Ethan Damato earned Coach of the Year recognition.