Laguna on track for title

The 2014 Orange Coast League track and field season is winding down, and Laguna Beach High is running toward a possible league championship.

The Laguna boys’ team went to 4-0 in league meet competition by securing wins April 3 against Estancia and Calvary Chapel during a tri-meet held at Laguna. The Breakers defeated Estancia, 100-13, and Calvary Chapel, 103-22.

The Laguna girls’ team also posted wins against Estancia and Calvary Chapel by scores of 83-23 and 94-11, respectively.

The Breakers resume league competition April 24 hosting Godinez, their final regular-season league meet. The Orange Coast League prelims are May 5 and finals are May 8, both at the Laguna track.

The Breakers also competed Saturday at the Trabuco Hills Invitational. Cameron Zuziak (9:47) won the boys’ 3,200 meters in an event where teammate Casey Kowproski (9:51) finished third. Liam Corrigan (4:44) won the boys’ 1,600, finishing ahead of Nathan Sweet (4:44), who placed second.

“Most of the boys that raced had their seasons best times,” Laguna boys’ Coach Scott Wittkop said.

Laguna is scheduled to compete at the 47th annual Arcadia Invitational. The meet starts Friday and runs through Saturday. Wittkop said the Laguna foursome of Zuziak (1,200 meters), Nathan Lancaster (400 meters), Drake Butler (800 meters) and Kowproski (1,600 meters), will compete in the boys’ distance medley relay.

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Boys’ Volleyball

The Breakers upped their Orange Coast League record to 4-0 Tuesday by sweeping visiting Cost Mesa, 25-13, 25-17, 25-21.

Junior opposite Jack Burgi had 13 kills, senior setter JP Wollam 14 digs, and senior setter Alec Wulff had 25 assists.

Laguna, ranked third in CIF Southern Section Division 2, improved to 8-3 overall.

Laguna Coach Darren Utterback called the Breakers’ blocking effort the “key highlight” of Tuesday’s win.

“I’m really happy with the progress we have made in our offense,” Utterback said. “We are a much more offensively balanced team than we were at the beginning of the season.”

The Breakers took on Calvary Chapel in league play Thursday. The score wasn’t available at press time.

Following spring break next week, the Breakers return to OCL play April 22, hosting Saddleback at 5:30 p.m.

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Boys’ Tennis

The Breakers hosted El Toro in a nonleague match Tuesday, and edged the Chargers, 10-8.

In a tight match, the score was tied, 3-3, after the first round, and 6-6 after the second round.

Senior Alex Duong and freshman Ethan Gee earned a sweep at No. 1 doubles, winning by scores of 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. Also in doubles, Laguna’s No. 3 team of Stuart Webb/Jeff Spitz won two of three sets, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-0.

Adrian Azera, at No. 1 singles, also won two sets for the Breakers, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-0.

Laguna improved to 6-5 overall.

“It was a close match the entire way, yet the boys competed hard and won several close sets, to ultimately prevail,” Laguna Coach Don Davis said.

Laguna plays host to Laguna Hills Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time.

The Breakers are back in action April 22 for a 3:15 p.m. league road match at Estancia.

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Swimming

The Breakers competed Saturday at the Mission Viejo Invitational, and turned in some top performances.

Erik Juliusson swam to a first-place finish in the boys’ 100-yard butterfly, setting a new Laguna Beach program record time with a swim of 51.35 seconds. Juliusson earned another school record, and first-place finish, by winning the boys’ 200 individual medley. His winning time of 1:53.83 bettered his own previous school record time.

Also in the boys’ 200 individual medley, Laguna’s Cameron Karkoska took sixth with a CIF automatic qualifying time of 1:58.76. Karkoska also qualified for CIF in the boys’ 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:03.03, good for 11th-place.

Max Morgan qualified for CIF in the boys’ 50 free with a 22.40 which put him in 11th-place.

Laguna’s boys’ 200 medley relay team of Juliusson, Karkoska, Morgan and Cade Baldridge, took third in the event with a time of 1:40.81.

Aria Fischer placed fifth, overall, in the girls’ 500 free with a CIF automatic qualifying time of 5:23.25. The freshman also qualified for CIF in the girls’ 200 free with a personal-best time of 2:01.83 in the prelims race. She finished ninth in the 200 free finals.

Kirra Nash took 10th-place in the girls’ 500 free with a time of 5:36.99.

“This meet was a great opportunity for my swimmers to compete against some larger, faster teams in preparation for CIF in May,” Laguna Coach Beth Weber said. “I’m very proud of how well they swam last Saturday. They now have some good momentum leading in to these last few weeks of training before league championships and CIF.”

The Breakers have two league meets remaining, starting with a April 23 date with Godinez at Santa Ana Valley High.

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CIF Weekly Rankings

Boys’ volleyball: Laguna Beach (No. 3, Division 2).