Something for everyone

Mirjam Swanson

GLENDALE -- So there’s not much of a common theme here.

Six different boys’ track and field programs. Six very different

scenarios.

At Flintridge Prep, Coach Kenny Fisher has his squad eyeing a

particular set of T-shirts.

The ones that read: A decade of excellence.

As in a 10th straight undefeated Prep League championship.

“We’re hoping we get to make those shirts,” said Joe McCullough, a

hurdler who is one of the Rebels top returners.

It’s very doable. Besides McCullough, the Rebels are deep. Included

among their speedsters: senior Omar Dittu and junior Alfred Yi. Leading

their distance core: junior Seth Horwitz. And racking up points in the

field events: sophomore pole vaulter Jesse Fleece, sophomore shot putter

Jeff Soulek.

Over at Glendale High, there have been some adjustments to a a

coaching staff that has actually remained relatively intact.

What’s happened is this: last season’s throws coach and 2000 Glendale

High grad Edgar Torosyan has been given the reigns of a talented,

potentially explosive group.

Leading the Nitros’ charge toward the Pacific League title are senior

middle distance standout Argishti Beglaryan, (who finished second -- 1:57

-- in the 880-meter run at Saturday’s L.A. Indoor Invitational). He’s

joined by senior sprinter Riley Van Patten, senior hurdler Ebony Henry,

senior distance runner Oshin Nazarian and junior Vladimir Paniouchkine,

already the school-record holder in the shot putt.

Crescenta Valley is rebuilding -- in a CV kind of way.

Even with the graduation of top Pacific League sprinter Jason Hogan

and CIF Final-qualifying shot putter Mike Beerer, this won’t be your

typical build-from-scratch year. Not when the Falcons’ distance core

features Pacific League standouts Chris Snyder and C.J. Howard, proven

sinter Brent Smith and between, oh, 80 and 100 other athletes who are

working hard every day.

St. Francis is going to be so good it’ll be scary... in two years.

This year, expect the Golden Knights, who’ll field at least 53

sophomores on a still-growing team of 115, will be formidable -- and

fast, led by football players Kevin Herron and Kenny Patton. St. Francis

will do its best to knock Sherman Oaks Notre Dame out of second place and

not to let powerhouse Loyola run too far ahead.

At Hoover, there are more coaches on hand to assist longtime Coach

Greg Switzer out than in recent years, so the Tornadoes are operating in

a more organized and efficient fashion -- helped also by the fact that

the team is the smallest that Switzer’s coached.

Nonetheless, the Tornadoes are hoping to surprise some people -- no

matter how exhausting it might be for the less than 30 athletes who will

have to double-, triple- and, often, quadruple-up, on scoring events.

“We’re going to be the underdogs in every meet we go to,” said Sam

Kim, Hoover’s top hurdler. “But we’re going to do our best to give other

teams a run for their money.”

Unlike Hoover, and more like, say, CV and St. Francis, La Canada’s

squad is going through its growing stages. Growth in numbers.

Meaning, with some exceptions -- such as senior distance runner

Michael Collins and senior hurdler Mark Moore -- the 50-plus Spartan

athletes are still sorting themselves out. But when everyone’s in his

right spot, La Canada could be good.

FLINTRIDGE PREP

COACH: Kenny Fisher, 10th year.

LEAGUE: Prep.

LAST SEASON: First in league.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Joe McCullough, senior, 200/400; Omar Dittu,

senior, sprints; Alfred Yi, junior, sprints/hurdles; Seth Horwitz,

junior, distances; Jesse Fleece, sophomore, pole vault; Jeff Soulek,

sophomore, throws.

FISHER’S QUOTE: “We’re excited about [the opportunity to win 10th

straight undefeated league title] -- and none of the boys want to be the

group that loses one in league.”

GLENDALE

COACH: Edgar Torosyan, first year

LEAGUE: Pacific.

LAST SEASON: Fourth in league.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Argishti Beglaryan, senior, middle distance/relay;

Ebony Henry, senior, hurdles/relays; Riley Van Patten, senior,

sprints/relays; Oshin Nazarian, senior, distances; Vladimir Paniouchkine,

junior, throws; Phi Le, sophomore, jumps.

TOROSYAN’S QUOTE: “This is going to be a very interesting year -- but

that’s all I’m going to say, because I don’t want to jinx it.:

CRESCENTA VALLEY

COACH: Mark Evans, fifth year.

LEAGUE: Pacific.

LAST SEASON: Second in league.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Chris Snyder, junior, distances; C.J. Howard,

senior, distances; Brent Smith, senior, sprints; Nick Becerra, junior,

jumps; Aaron Ausherman, senior, jumps; Doug Wolff, junior, throws; Allan

Morehard, senior, pole vault.

EVANS’ QUOTE: “We’re doing OK, we had a lot of really strong people

who graduated last year, so we’re kind of rebuilding but we have a huge

group.”

HOOVER

COACH: Greg Switzer, 10th year.

LEAGUE: Pacific.

LAST SEASON: Sixth in league.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Miguel Ochoa, junior, distances; James Rohrig,

senior, hurdles; Sam Kim, senior, sprints; Mher Alaverdyan, junior, pole

vault; Rohin Deb, junior, middle distances.

SWITZER’S QUOTE: “We may have the appearance of a dysfunctional

family, but God likes us. That fact is, God is always going to give us

something really interesting to work with.”

LA CANADA

COACH: Shannon Goods, second year.

LEAGUE: Rio Hondo.

LAST SEASON: Third in league.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Mark Moore, senior, hurdles; Nick Sinclitico,

junior, shot put; Charlie Porter, junior, jumps/sprints; Tommy

McGuinness, senior, sprints/jumps.

GOODS’ QUOTE: “Last year was a successful one as far as the kids

enjoying themselves, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

ST. FRANCIS

COACH: Joe Monarrez, fifth year.

LEAGUE: Mission.

LAST SEASON: Third in league.

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Kevin Herron, senior, sprints; Kenny Patton,

sophomore, sprints; Marc Tarzia, senior, pole vault; Scott Burton,

sophomore, sprints; Branden Izumi, sophomore, sprints.

MONARREZ’S QUOTE: “We actually have the most kids we’ve had out since

I’ve been here -- 115 of them -- and 53 are sophomores. And we’re looking

good.”