Valley Sun Sports Roundup: La Cañada wrestling advances 14 to CIF Tournament
WRESTLING
La Cañada in Rio Hondo League Tournament: La Cañada wrestling has accomplished two of its three goals this season after winning the Rio Hondo League title and advancing to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division III Dual Meet Wrestling Championships.
At the Rio Hondo League finals at Monrovia High on Wednesday, the Spartans accomplished another feat by advancing all 14 wrestlers to the CIF Southern Section Individual Wrestling Championships.
“I’m very proud of the boys,” La Cañada coach Justin Luthey said. “A lot of those matches to get qualification happened in the semifinal round. There were tough matchups and they all come through.”
The Spartans had six wrestlers win league championships and eight finish runner-up.
La Cañada 138-pound sophomore Alex Mykalo, 160-pound Ian Phillips, 170-pound senior Ryan Lee, 195-pound senior David Martoff, 220-pound senior Ken Kim and heavyweight senior Adam Burnstine won championships in their respective weight classes.
Spartan runner-ups were sophomore Cameron Fernando (106), junior Ryan Kuo (113), sophomore Nick Wu (120), sophomore Chris Toomey-Severino (126), sophomore Junya Ishida (132), junior Iman Behshid (145), sophomore Nolan Forshager (152) and senior Anthony Duffy (182).
“It’s really exciting to see 14 La Cañada guys in La Cañada warmups in the handshake line for the finals,” Luthey said. “It kind of felt like a duel and our guys encouraging each other. Out of the 14, we had six that won and eight got second. We’re happy that we’re bringing a full team to CIF.”
The CIF Southern Section Individual Wrestling Champions will take place at 11 a.m. Feb. 14 at Brea Olinda High.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
La Cañada 57, Temple City 53: The visiting Spartans finished Rio Hondo League action Thursday with a victory.
The league-champion Spartans ended the regular season 18-10, 8-0 in league.
Flintridge Prep 74, Rio Hondo Prep 28: Host Flintridge Prep coasted to a Prep League win Thursday.
Kaitlyn Chen recorded 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Flintridge Prep, which received 21 points from Sofia Gonzalez and 13 from Ashlyn Zhang.
The league-champion Rebels finished the regular season 22-4- 12-0 in league and have won 56 straight league games.
Immaculate Heart 43, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy 30: The visiting Tologs fell Thursday in a Sunshine League game.
The Tologs are 9-13, 3-5 in league and are tied with Marymount for third place.
Flintridge Sacred Heart and Marymount will compete in a play-in game at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Marymount.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Temple City 1, La Cañada 0: The host Spartans suffered a Rio Hondo League defeat Thursday.
La Cañada finished 5-1-2 in league for second place behind Temple City.
Chaminade 1, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy 0: The Tologs wrapped up the regular season Wednesday with a Mission League road loss.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Flintridge Prep 54, Rio Hondo Prep 49 (overtime): The host Rebels concluded the regular season Thursday with a Prep League win.
Flintridge Prep improved to 12-13, 4-4 in league for third place.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Flintridge Prep 8, Chadwick 3: Silas Chavez had five goals Wednesday to lift host Flintridge Prep to a Prep League victory.
The Rebels closed out the regular season at 10-3-6, 3-1-2 in league for second place.
St. Francis 1, Crespi 0: St. Francis posted a Mission League road win Wednesday in a regular-season finale and clinched a playoff berth.
The Golden Knights (4-5-3 in league for fourth place) received a first-half goal from Cole Bender and goalkeeper Luis Granados stopped a penalty shot late in the second half.
GIRLS’ WATER POLO
Temple City 9, La Cañada 8: Visiting La Cañada fell Wednesday in a Rio Hondo League match.
The Spartans went 14-10, 6-2 for second in league behind Temple City.