Aquatic teams earn high marks

Editor’s note: The Coastline Pilot looks back on the 2011-2012 high school season. This is the second of two parts and includes highlights from the winter and spring seasons.

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Winter

The Laguna Beach High girls’ water polo team completed another undefeated run through Orange Coast League competition and entered the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs with a No. 3 ranking. The Breakers scored postseason wins over Beckman and Santa Barbara to reach the semifinals. There, they fell against Newport Harbor for the fourth time this year, this time by a 7-6 score.

Seniors Yoshi Andersen and Melena Masson were named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 first team.

In girls’ soccer, Laguna turned in a record season. Coach Bill Rolfing’s Breakers (10-7-6) put together a 14-game unbeaten streak midway through the season and didn’t lose a Orange Coast League match in winning its first league championship. Laguna had its season end in a first-round loss to Santa Monica in the Division 4 playoffs.

Senior midfielder Marina Paul was selected to the All-CIF Division 4 team. The team’s leading scorer, Paul also was named the OCL MVP.

In boys’ soccer, Laguna entered the CIF Division 4 playoffs as a wild-card entry. The Breakers won a wild-card road game at El Segundo and then played third-ranked Crescenta Valley to overtime in a first-round road game before falling, 3-2. Laguna ended the year 9-7-3.

Senior forward Joe Rousseau and junior forward Reece Barton, made the first-team All-Orange Coast League Team.

Laguna’s boys’ basketball team won the Orange Coast League title for the sixth straight year and reached the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA playoffs. The Breakers ended the year 16-11 after dropping a first-round game to JSerra.

Juniors Cole Kesler and Jake Dalke were named co-MVP for the All-Orange Coast League.

In girls’ basketball, Laguna nearly broke into the win column on several occasions, but ended the season 0-18.

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Spring

The boys’ and girls’ swimming teams nearly rose to the top of Division 3 at the CIF Southern Section Swimming and Division Championships at Riverside Community College in May. The boys’ team finished runner-up to the division title, and the girls’ team placed third.

“I am very proud of what our teams accomplished this year,” Laguna Coach Kari Johnson said. “We had the best combined finish at CIF in our school’s history. Every member of our team did an excellent job. We all did our best and it paid off.”

The boys’ team won CIF event titles on two fronts. The Breakers’ 200-meter relay team of freshman Erik Juliusson, junior Caleb Scott and seniors Billy Wild and Erik Henrikson won in a school-record time of 1 minute, 37.82 seconds. Wild also won the 100 butterfly in 51.66 to set a school record, which he previously held.

Laguna previously had claimed Orange Coast League in the boys’ and girls’ competition. It was the fifth consecutive league crown for the girls, and fourth for the boys.

The baseball team was under new direction in 2012 as first-year Coach Mike Bair took over the program. The Breakers posted an 18-9 season that included a second-place finish in the Orange Coast League. They also won a game in the CIF Division 4 playoffs before they were eliminated in the second-round by second-ranked La Salle of Pasadena.

Seven Breakers made the all-league team, including sophomore Grant Wilhelm, who was named Pitcher of the Year.

On the softball diamond, Laguna turned in a season that included several firsts. First-year Coach Alan Ludloff’s young squad finished in third place in the Orange Coast League and made the CIF Division 5 playoffs. The Breakers went 15-8, the 15 wins setting a program single-season record. They also played the first home playoff game in program history. Their season ended in a wild-card game loss to Silverado of Victorville. Ludloff said the team also set 12 school records during the season.

Junior pitcher Haley Putnam was named to the All-CIF Division 5 team and became just the third Breaker to receive Southern Section honors.

In boys’ volleyball, Scott Panaro’s first season as coach featured an undefeated (10-0) Orange Coast League season and a trip to the quarterfinal round of the CIF Division 2 playoffs. The Breakers increased their winning streak in league games to 86 and league matches to 38.

“It is awesome to win league in my first year,” said Panaro, whose No. 3-seeded Breakers defeated Malibu and Santiago of Corona in postseason play before being eliminated by West Ranch.

Senior setter Jack Winn was named MVP of the OCL and also earned a coveted spot on the All-CIF Division 2 team.

In boys’ tennis, Coach Don Davis saw his initial season capped by an undefeated (8-0) Orange Coast League run. At the league’s postseason tournament, it was an all-Laguna singles final where No. 1-player Teague Hamilton turned back No. 2-player Morgan Lebby in the title match.

Second-ranked Laguna reached the quarterfinal round of the Division 4 playoffs, where they fell to La Quinta of Westminster.

On the golf course, Breakers senior Tim Peterson competed at CIF Southern Section Individual Regional Tournament at Skylinks, where he shot a 77 and missed advancing by just three shots. He was the lone Breaker to qualify for the tournament.

Laguna track and field athletes turned in outstanding performances in 2012. The boys’ team won the Orange Coast League title and the girls’ team finished runner-up. Senior Natasha Strickland capped a banner four-year varsity career at the league finals by winning the girls’ 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Strickland won both events at league finals in each of her four years.

Three Breakers — Strickland (girls’ 1,600 meters), Spencer Anderson (boys’ 110 hurdles) and Ricky Delatorre (shot put) — reached the CIF- Southern Section Division 4 Track and Field finals at Mt. San Antonio College in May. Strickland finished in eighth place, Anderson was ninth and Delatorre placed sixth.

michael.sciacca@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeSciacca