Track and Field Season Preview: Growth in program setting foundation for La Cañada
There have been a lot of changes around the La Cañada High track and field program, and there are two eye-popping differences from the squads last season.
First, the team has grown exponentially in size to more than 100 athletes.
Second, with such a big team, the Spartans welcomed two new head coaches, with the boys led by Andy Rodemich and the girls guided by Chris Matarese. Alongside the two will be 13 assistants.
The duo head coaches hope to bring popularity back into the sport and to lead the Spartans back to the top of their game in hopes of toppling Rio Hondo League powerhouse South Pasadena.
Flintridge Prep will have a new coach, while Flintridge Sacred Heart has enjoyed an influx of athletes. St. Francis moves on after the departure of it most successful athlete.
Here is a closer look at the teams.
LA CAÑADA
“We’re co-doing this,” Rodemich said. “Our goal this year is to make it fun for everybody and to be a lot more competitive. As our numbers have increased, that means our depth has increased, which means that we will have a lot stronger relay teams. We should be stronger in every area.”
Rodemich and Matarese took over the program from cross-country coach Andy Di Conti, who remains on as an assistant. Rodemich served as an assistant under Di Conti last season.
“We’re new, so building a program, I think, starts with getting kids in,” Matarese said. “We’re trying to make it fun with a lot of activities. We brought in a lot of coaches, so we have 13 assistant coaches, so we have a coach in every event, which is a big deal. I think the kids are buying in. We’ve gotten a lot of equipment and a lot of new stuff for them. They’re buying in so far, so we’ll see how it goes.”
The boys’ side boasts reigning CIF Southern Section Division III pole vault champion David Miketta, who can also provide assistance in the jumps and relays. Miketta recently broke the school record in pole vault with a 15- foot-7 effort,
Along with Miketta will be senior Michael Gray, who will help in the pole vault and will add depth in the hurdles.
La Cañada senior Kirk Fungo, senior Luke Johnson and senior Ryan Johnsen will be top athletes in jumps and hurdles.
The Spartans will turn to cross-country athletes in senior Sheldon Watanabe and sophomore Ethan Lee as potential top league contenders in the middle- and long-distances races.
Crossing over from football is junior Jacob Hardy and sibling Matthew Hardy, who will help in sprints and throws. Also looking to make an impact on sprints will be sophomore Ryan Armijo.
“We had minimal people leave last year,” Rodemich said. “We’re building off of that and, with the amount of numbers we got, we don’t want to say this because we don’t want to jinx it, but we have a shot of winning league in different divisions.
“Last year, we had South Pasadena beat us in every division, but I think we can at least take one or two of those.”
Two-time league champion Ellaney Matarese will spearhead the girls’ team in the middle-distance events. The junior won the league title in the 800- and 1,600-meter races two seasons in a row and holds the school record in the 800 and a league record in the 1,600.
Alongside Matarese will be returning three-time defending league champion in the 3,200 in senior Sarah Auther, a UC Santa Barbara commit.
Cross-country athletes also contributing in the middle- and long-distance events will be sophomore Jenna Milbrodt, who is a frosh-soph record holder in the 1,600, and sophomore Sophia Ponce. Freshman Caitlin Roehmholdt and freshman Catherine Mispagel will also play key roles as underclassmen in the squad.
Spartans junior Haley Decker and junior Artis Phillips (third in league in the 400), will help lead the team in sprints, while senior Samantha Mayer will bolster the squad in sprints and hurdle events.
La Cañada could also have a chance to win titles in shot put behind Brooke Gilchrest and Daisy Cushenberry.
ST. FRANCIS
Over the past several seasons, Matthew Molina led the charge for the Golden Knights. Last season, Molina won Mission League titles in the 110 hurdles (14.87) and the high jump at 6 feet, 5 inches before winning the CIF Division III championship in the high jump (6-6).
With Molina now at UC Santa Barbara, the Golden Knights turn to their next crop of talent to keep the program heading in the right direction.
“It will be a bit of a younger team, which is good,” St. Francis coach Mike Russell said. “It’s huge because we can develop the younger guys and the older guys can provide leadership.
“It will be strange not having Matthew here and he really meant a lot to the team. It’s now going to be a chance for others to step up and see what they can do.”
Looking to lead the way for the Golden Knights will be senior Stuart Serventi (distance), senior Matthew Beeve (relays), senior Bryson Reeves (sprints/jumps), sophomore Dario Rock (hurdles/jumps) and sophomore Andrew Howard (sprints/relays).
FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART ACADEMY
Flintridge Sacred Heart will field a squad of about 25 athletes, including a core of key returners under coach Johnathan Keys.
Keys said the Tologs have some goals they would like to achieve in 2020.
“We think we have some people who can win or at least contend for league championships and then go on and do well at CIF,” Keys said. “I like the commitment and work ethic and they are finding their space.”
Flintridge Sacred Heart brings back senior Lauren Nettels (distance), senior Campbell Sullivan (middle distance), junior Alexandra Christodoulou (distance), junior Abby Martinez (jumps) and sophomore Ella Venne (jumps).
Nettels won a Sunshine League title in the 3,200 (11:44.40) and took second in the 1,600 (5:32.03) last season. Martinez took second in league in the high jump at 4-6 and Venne finished third in the triple jump in 33-75.
FLINTRIDGE PREP
The Rebels will have a new coach as Russell White replaces Scott Jung, who will now serve as an assistant. White is also the school’s football coach.
“It’s something new for me since I’ve never coached track and field,” said White, whose teams compete in the Prep League. “I think it will be enjoyable to coach the kids and we are getting used to each other.”
“We’ve got a lot of numbers for the girls’ team and we have a lot of young talent. We’ll see who will emerge. With the boys’ team, we’ll have a lot of distance runners who should do well.”
The girls’ team will rely on senior Liana Morrissey (middle distance) and junior Chase Sullivan (jumps). Sullivan finished fifth in the triple jump at the CIF Southern Section Division IV finals last season with a mark of 34-9.
For the boys’ squad, it will be anchored by junior Bennett Oakes (distance) and junior Andrew Odom (middle distance).