High School Roundup: Breakers stand out in Hawaii

A trip last week to Hawaii was a successful one for the Laguna Beach High cross-country program at the 15th annual Iolani Invitational on the island of Oahu.

The boys’ team placed second among 18 teams in the varsity team standings. The Breakers finished behind winner Glacier Peak, a Division 1 team from Washington, and finished ahead of defending Hawaii state champion, Kamehameha.

“The trip was amazing the kids had a great time and ran really well,” Laguna boys’ coach Scott Wittkop said.

Senior Casiano Koprowski turned in the top time for Laguna at 16 minutes, 3 seconds. He was followed by: Cameron Zuziak (16:19); Drake Butler (16:25.4); Grant Barton (16:25.9); Mason Pitz (16:41); Liam Corrigan (17:15); Ian Ring (17:21); Veda Rebollar (17:47); Penn Nelson (17:17:49); Carter Fraser (17:55); Tim Andrews (18:26); Jake Mangus (18:42); Zack Spitz (18:45); James Marshall (18:48), and Stirling Marshall (19:08).

The Breakers returned to Laguna late Sunday.

“It was an incredible bonding experience for our team and despite the travel and the weather, they preformed very well,” Wittkop said. “The team ran over four minutes faster than our team did two years ago on the same course.”

The Laguna girls’ team took third in its division, which also was won by Glacier Peak. Freshman Bailey Shoemaker (19:58.8) of the Breakers won the Open race and teammate, senior Audrey Rodriguez (20:59.21) finished 10th.

“We had a great trip,” girls’ coach Steve Lalim said. “The kids were amazing, the race went great. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on with a team.”

Both Laguna teams showed no let up Wednesday at the Orange Coast League Cluster Meet, as each finished first in their respective final team standings at Irvine Park in Orange.

Five Breakers finished among the top 10 in the girls’ three-mile run led by freshman Kirsten Landseidel in second place at 18:53.05. Sophomore Pearl Shoemaker was third (19:04.12), junior Janie Crawford fifth (19:25.18), Bailey Shoemaker sixth (19:29.36), and senior Brielle Budroe was ninth (19:40.39).

Four Breakers had top-10 times in the boys’ three-mile run. Koprowski led the way with a 15:50.87. Junior Grant Barton was seventh (16:20.48), sophomore Cale Airey eighth (16:31.80), and sophomore Mason Pitz was ninth (16:35.42).

The Laguna boys are ranked third, and the girls’ team is No. 8, in this week’s CIF Southern Section Division 4 cross-country polls.

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Girls’ Volleyball

The Breakers, ranked No. 6 in CIF Southern Section Division 2, won four of seven matches last weekend at the 19th annual Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas.

Laguna defeated Rim of the World and McQueen (Reno, Nev.) but lost to Torrey Pines on Sept. 20, the first day of the tournament. The Breakers defeated Thousands Oaks and El Dorado and lost to Los Angeles Marymount and Pleasant Grove Saturday.

The Breakers previously were swept by Corona del Mar in a nonleague match Sept. 16.

The Breakers have played without Alyse Wallace-Ford since the Dave Mohs Tournament (Sept. 13-16). Laguna Coach Raul Papaleo said the junior outside hitter left the team Sept. 16.

Wallace-Ford was the team leader in kills.

“She wanted to concentrate on club volleyball,” Papaleo said. “She’s a great athlete and has a bright future. I wish her well.”

Papaleo said he has been pleased with the way his team has played in the past week, saying it gained valuable experience in Las Vegas.

“It was a good trip and I thought we grew as a team,” he said. “We had several players step up. At times, we had four or five sophomores out on the court. Without Alyse, we have needed to distribute the ball more and I think we have done that.

“There has been room for improvement, and I think we have been doing that especially since the Durango tournament. We have a few more tough, nonleague matches ahead, and then we start league. Our goal is to win league again.”

The Breakers took on Dana Hills Thursday in a nonleague match. The score wasn’t available at press time. They play host to Mira Costa at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, and begin Orange Coast League play at home Thursday at 5:30 p.m. against Saddleback.

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Girls’ Golf

The Breakers began their Orange Coast League season Wednesday at Mile Square Park (par 32) in Fountain Valley, and were edged, 261-268, by host Calvary Chapel. MaryKate Quellmalz scored 44 to lead Laguna.

The Breakers (1-4) also dropped two recent nonleague matches against Dana Hills and Aliso Niguel.

On Monday, Dana Hills took a 186-257 match from Laguna at Aliso Creek Golf Course (par 32). Quellmalz turned into another strong performance and led the Breakers with a score of 45. Leslie Dwight was next at 51, followed by Jackie McMahon (52), Murphy Thompson (54), Audrey Curtis (55) and Jamie Hendrickson (56).

Aliso Niguel scored a 185-236 win against the Breakers Sept. 19 at Aliso Creek (par 32). McMahon had the top score for Laguna with a 45, Quellmalz and Hendrickson shot 46, Dwight shot 48, Curtis a 51, and Thompson 55.

Laguna Assistant Coach Sean Quigley said Hendrickson and Dwight “really stepped it up,” and shot their lowest scores of the year.

“Although we lost the match, the team continues to improve,” Quigley said. “This was the best team score of the year on our home course. As coaches, both [head coach] Scott [Finn] and I are happy to see that.”

The Breakers face Costa Mesa in a 3 p.m. Orange Coast League match Monday at Mesa Linda Golf Course in Costa Mesa.

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Boys’ Water Polo

The Breakers are competing in the South Coast Tournament, which started Thursday . The event continues through Saturday. Thirty-two teams are divided into four, eight-team pool brackets. Games will be played at pools at Newport Harbor, Corona del Mar, Santa Margarita and Foothill.

Laguna is the No. 3 seed in the Newport Harbor pool bracket, behind No. 1-seeded Agoura and second-seeded Newport Harbor. The bracket also includes Servite, Santa Barbara, La Canada, Long Beach Poly and Tesoro.

The Breakers, the No. 4-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division 2, are coming off an eighth-place finish Saturday at the Santa Barbara Tournament. They defeated Dos Pueblos (11-8) to reach the top eight bracket, lost to both Mater Dei (16-6) and Los Osos (13-8), and defeated Murrieta Valley (11-5).

Before the start of the tournament, Laguna defeated Santa Barbara, 14-6, in nonleague play. Jack Dodson and Cade Baldridge scored four and three goals, respectively, and Garret Hartley had 11 saves for the Breakers.

“It was really big for us to be able to go to Santa Barbara and get wins over Santa Barbara and Dos Pueblos at their pools,” Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said. “Our win against Dos Pueblos was a hard-fought win over the No. 5 team in the division, and one the best players in the division in Blake Parrish. I was really proud of the guys in the way they played in that game and getting our team to the top eight of such a prestigious tournament.

“We knew that if we won that first game, than the rest of the tournament would be really tough. While we did not have the record we would have liked, we got to play all the top teams and that will make us better in the long run.”

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Girls’ Tennis

Injuries have been tough on the Breakers, ranked fourth in CIF Southern Section Division 2, who split recent matches against Corona del Mar and Saddleback

Laguna’s top singles player Brooke Michaels, last year’s Orange Coast League singles champion, has a fracture in her spine and is out indefinitely. Kira Michaels, playing No. 1 doubles for the Breakers, suffered Achilles tendon and knee injuries in a 15-3 loss Sept. 19 at Corona del Mar and also is sidelined.

Ashley Shelton (No. 2 singles) and Bailey Jaeger (No. 3 singles) also are injured.

Defending champion Laguna was able to win its Orange Coast League opener Tuesday against Saddleback and did so with ease, blanking the visiting Roadrunners, 18-0. Sweeping in singles were No. 1 Anna Heitman (6-1, (6-0, 6-1), No. 2 Nicole Doiron (6-1, 6-0, 6-0), and No. 3 Nina Bo (6-0, 6-0, 6-0).

Doubles sweeps were recorded by Madeline Loomis/Olivia Morrison (6-0) and Shawna Yang/Olivia Morrison (6-0, 6-0) at No. 1, Sarah Nederlander/Natasha Keces (6-0) and Malia Helms/Iman Berri (6-0, 6-0) at No. 2, and Ashley Fair/Stephanie Tat (6-1) and Kathleen Kimball/Josie Goson (6-2, 6-0) at No. 3.

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Girls’ Water Polo

The Breakers have added two more players to their 2013-14 roster.

The recent additions are Cara Borkovec, a senior from Chicago, and Mia Salvini, a sophomore from Mater Dei, who have transferred to Laguna Beach and are enrolled at the school, Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said.

Damato said Borkovec, an attacker, was a second-team All-American player at Fenwick High last year.

Taylor Julson, a junior attacker who transferred from El Toro, joined and played with the Laguna program during the summer season.

The trio adds another strong dimension to an already talented roster.

“We have a great core group of girls who played a lot as young players last year and with a couple really good incoming freshman,” Damato said. “The addition of these players will add a lot of depth and versatility to our team.

“On top of that, they are great kids and are fitting in really well with the team so far.”

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CIF Weekly Rankings

Football: Laguna Beach (No. 4, Southern Division).

Boys’ Water Polo: Laguna Beach (No. 4, Division 2).

Girls’ Tennis: Laguna Beach (No. 4, Division 2).

Girls’ Volleyball: Laguna Beach (No. 6, Division 2).

Boys’ Cross-Country: Laguna Beach (No. 3, Division 4).

Girls’ Cross-Country: Laguna Beach (No. 8, Division 4).