Irony is a literary device often deployed in fiction, but there may just be a bit of real or imagined mockery directed from the Coronado Lacrosse programs toward the general direction of the CIF San Diego Section office these days. The same season the CIF decided to place Coronado in Division II in both Boys and Girls Lacrosse due to school enrollment size, without hope for appeal to play up a division, both teams are ranked No. 1. That’s No. 1 in the state of California, across all divisions.

Think those CIF San Diego Section Division II playoffs might be a little one-sided come May? Do you suppose CHS Head Girls Lacrosse Coach Jessica Battle and CHS Boys Head Coach Alex Cade are using that issue to motivate their respective teams? Think I can run out of annoying rhetorical questions? The short answers are yes, yes and that’s not possible.

CHS Boys Lacrosse Wins Three Times Last Week

Islander Boys Lacrosse entered the last week already atop the state rankings, so in the internet age of instant information, you can assume they didn’t sneak up on anybody going into their three games last week. Tuesday Mullen High School from Colorado invaded Coronado and the Islanders emerged with an 11-8 victory.

According to Coach Cade, attack Alex Bookout began a nice scoring streak against Mullen, which continued through the week. “Bookout is our leading scorer and to score four goals in each of three games is pretty big. Kyle Runyon is certainly a catalyst of the offense and adds composure to our offensive play. He calms things down and really helps a lot.”

Thursday Coronado completed the Colorado portion of their schedule with an 11-6 victory over Columbine High School. Saturday, to change things up, the Islanders traveled to Foothill High School in Tustin and emerged with a 10-8 win. “Foothill has a very aggressive style,” Cade said. “Their whole style is to get you into a street ball game. We played three tough games this week and we gutted out a game against a talented team. They have a great program and I respect a lot of what they do. I was happy to get out of Orange County with a win. It was a character check for our kids.”

Despite holding a spiffy 6-0 record, Cade knows the best is yet to come. “As a team we haven’t scratched the surface yet with what we can do. We have a couple of guys injured. Nobody is satisfied including the kids. In some of our wins, we dug deep and gutted it out. You can’t teach toughness. These are tough kids and once they start playing well, they will be smart and tough. A lot of our seniors are progressing and leading the team by example.”

Cade spoke about two of the important roles on a lacrosse team, the faceoff specialist and the goalie. “Andrew Woolf handles our face-offs. He is a super dedicated kid and the emotional leader of our team at this point. I couldn’t be prouder of him. He has worked his way into becoming an outstanding lacrosse player. Another specialty position that has turned out well is our goaltending with Reis Stanley. A lot of people think you can win games on those two elements alone. We have a lot of pieces to add. We’re a dangerous team, but we’re not close to hitting our stride yet.”

Also receiving praise from Cade were midfielders Sergio Flores, George Bailey and Jacob Lujan. “Our toughness comes from our midfielders, who run like stallions up and down the field. They stick their noses down and run through anyone in front of them. They all have been performing well, getting groundballs and getting up and down the field. Flores, Bailey and Lujan have been doing really well. The midfielders are the unsung heroes. They are just tough. If I didn’t stop them, they would run until they passed out.”

Cade explained why games this season are being played in bunches, often with three games in the same week. “The conferences have gotten pretty large and we are locked into a bunch of games. We have to pack the games in because they cut a week off of the lacrosse season. Our schedule is by far, the toughest in the West. The kids have to focus and really dig deep. We don’t have a chance to mentally take the day off in a game or a practice. We don’t back down from anyone who wants to play our boys.”

This week Coronado travels to Torrey Pines Wednesday for a 7:30 pm game and then hosts Cathedral Catholic Friday at 7 pm. “Both teams are very talented,” Cade said. “They are our biggest league rival and the top team historically in the section over the past eight years. The challenge continues.”

CHS Girls Lacrosse Bests Defending CIF Champion Torrey Pines

Back in the days when there was one CIF Division in Lacrosse, as in last year, Coronado and Torrey Pines played in the CIF finals. Torrey Pines won 9-8 in a really well-played game that the Islanders had a chance to tie in the final seconds. It seems as though some of the Islanders remembered last year’s final game with extreme clarity.

“Every single one of those girls remembered last year’s championship game,” said Coronado Head Coach Jessica Battle, who you sense remembers the Torrey Pines game at least as well as her players. “Torrey Pines wasn’t going to win that game. I wasn’t ever truly nervous throughout the game and they never took the lead. We were up five goals in the first half. They came back to get to within one goal, but we knew what we needed to do. I called a timeout and we scored three straight goals. It was a nice game from start to finish.”

You have probably figured out by now that the Islanders won the road game, but for the record the final score was 12-10. Coronado was led by Lauren Maack’s four goals. Michaela Guerrera and Kaitlyn Couture scored three goals each, with single goals coming from Alex Reidy and Martha Byrne. Reidy and Brianne Clifford both had assists and goalie Meganne Weissenfels had seven saves in goal.

“Lauren Maack was a standout in that game,” Battle continued. “I saw the look in her eyes. She wanted to get it done and she did. Meganne Weissenfels did really well. The other team scoring doesn’t get in her head as much as it did last year. It’s a maturity thing. A good team will score on you, so you just have to do your best to keep the shots out of the goal. I’ve been really proud of her and we have her for another year.”

Battle had some plaudits for the defense as well. “It was a defensive game. My defense played so well. Our freshman defender Sarah Andersen got pummeled by (Falcons senior midfielder) Katie Trees, but Sarah took the charging foul and just kept going. We’ve been focusing on a lot of defensive strategy in practice, working on sliding and double teams on different players. Each player marked up and did what they had to do against Torrey Pines. This year has been such a joy to have these girls. They get along so well on and off the field. Every one of them brings something to the table.”

This Tuesday the Islanders host a team from England, with the game scheduled for 7 pm. The Girls Lacrosse program will treat the visitors to dinner, as has become the tradition when international teams visit and play Coronado.

Islander Boys Golf Posts Team Score of 192

If you’re not used to scoring in prep golf, it’s a little different than most sports. Six players play the course, with the five best scoring rounds added together to determine the team score. In golf, the low score wins. Last Thursday the Islanders put together a memorable round at Rancho Bernardo Country Club where they shot a 192, which is a very fine team score.

Head Coach Randy Coutts, who has been at the helm of the program for three seasons, said it was the best round shot by a CHS team in his time with the team. According to Coutts, with a little luck the score could have been better, as three shots went out of bounds and cost the team a total of six strokes. Andrew Lister carded a 34 to earn medalist honors, and was followed closely by Brian Turley with a round of 35.

Coronado won their two earlier matches in the week, but shot rather pedestrian scores. Tuesday they beat Madison at Doubletree 217-261, with Nick Spear the medalist with a 35. Wednesday Coronado beat Christian 218-224, but the return home from Cottonwood wasn’t cheerful, according to Coutts. “Wednesday was probably the worst day we have had overall. It was a sad bus ride home. I’ve got six grinders (hard workers) on the team who are tough on themselves. They have to be loose to play better golf.”

Proving loose is good, the next day the Islanders shot their round of 192. “Rancho Bernardo is also Crawford’s home course,” said Coutts of Coronado’s Central League opponent. “In another week we play Crawford twice, first at Coronado and then at their place.”

This week the Islanders face Bonita Vista Monday, a team they defeated earlier in the season by three shots at Salt Creek. This week’s match against the Barons is at Coronado.

CHS Freshmen Girls Perform Well in Track and Field

Islander Head Track and Field Coach George Green relates his team’s exploits from last week. “I've always wanted a jumper on our team named “Jack Flash,” but the top girl in our long and triple jump events has a surname that is fast becoming her moniker.

In our dual meet with Christian last Wednesday, freshman Maddy Hopson bested the school triple jump record, an event that for decades was called the hop, step and jump, with a mark of 33 feet, 7.5 inches. This effort eclipsed the 33 feet, 6.5 inch mark set by Beth Wittry in 2004 by one inch. Since this was only the second meet in which she's tried this event, stay tuned… she'll get a lot better.

While we're on the subject of freshmen girls, Abigail Callahan high jumped 5 feet, 3 inches and Lauren Bartsch pole vaulted 8 foot, 9 inches. Both girls now top the county's frosh best marks list in their respective events. As usual freshman Ale Bruyere smoked the 100 and 200 dashes (26.87 in the 200) with Samantha Kirk and Kendall Cromartie supplying the second place points respectively.

Nicole Davies has been out since the fall Cross Country season with various injuries, but she looked great in her first meet of the season with a league-leading mark of 2:27 in the 800 meters.  Our girl's 400 meter crew is coming into shape with Sadie Gimber, Elise Umansky and freshman Taylor Ramos all posting times in the low 60's.  Meg Sweeney, Ashley Engelman, and Cristina DeScisciolo swept the 1600 meters. Halfway through the season the girls are now 3-0 with their biggest challenge coming next Wednesday against Clairemont. 

For the boys Aryan Shay leads the league in the 800 and Logan Lister, is one of the top frosh prospects in the shot put in San Diego County. Will Bartsch, one of the top returning pole vaulters in the section, is mending from a hamstring pull and could be vaulting again as soon as this week.

Pompa Twirls Perfecto Against Hoover

Taken together, two Islander softball pitchers yielded a total of one hit over two games last week. As you might expect with that level of pitching, the Islanders won both of their Central League contests. Tuesday Coronado hosted Crawford and hurler Lakota Abdalla-Kane toed the rubber for the Islanders. Kane pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout as Coronado cruised by Crawford 14-0. Kane struck out four Colt hitters and did not issue a walk.

Offensively, there were several stars including Kane herself, who was 2-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Olivia Nebo was 1-2 with two walks and four RBIs, while Nicole Aguilar was 1-1 with a homer, three walks and two RBIs. Brooke Gensler was 2-3 with two RBIs. Head Coach Tony Isabella said in somewhat of an understatement, “We’re starting to play some good defense and the pitching is starting to come around.”

Thursday Hoover came to town and the Cardinals apparently left their hitting shoes in their lockers. Senior Alanna Pompa proceeded to pitch a perfect game, with seven strikeouts. Isabella noted, “The defense gave her great support. Hali Danna had three assists at second base. In the third inning Alanna struck out the side on 11 pitches. It’s nice to see her step up and be our No. 3 pitcher now.” Coronado won by the score of 11-0.

Nebo had another big day at the plate, going 2-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Liza-Jean Logan was 1-1 with one run driven in. Kayla Englehart was 2-3 with a walk and three runs scored. Aguilar was 3-4 with a triple and three RBIs. Jodi Adair was 1-2 with her hit being a homer and she drove in two.

“We’re playing some good softball,” said Isabella of his squad. We’re 3-0 in league and 4-3 overall. We hope to continue the season on a high note.”

The Islander softball team is off next week, because all of their Central League opponents are on spring break. The week following, Coronado plays the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, Mountain Empire and San Diego High. The first and third of those games are Central League contests.

Islander Boys Volleyball Has 2-0 Week

The dominant team on the Boys Volleyball side of things in the Central League has long been Clairemont High School. According to Islander Head Coach Shawn Patchell, the Chieftains have won the league title in eight of the last 10 years.

However, that was then and this is now and Coronado defeated Clairemont in three straight games last Thursday, on the road no less. That result pairs nicely with a three set victory over Christian at home on Tuesday. Or as Patchell said of the week’s results, “We did great.”

“The guys are coming along nicely and getting better,” Patchell continued. “Tyler Webb had two very good matches, as did Josh Abrantes. Webb plays opposite the setter and hits on the right side while Abrantes is an outside hitter. Jason Fielder, who is one of our seniors, served the ball well and played well for us. Setter Jake Nicholson and middle blocker Andrew Orozco continue to get better together every day. Johnny Fisher had a good week coming off the bench and he contributed well. He played the front row and got a couple of kills, which was good to see. John Nettleton is playing well at the net and passing well.”

The bad news is that Coronado is off this week because the balance of the Central League is on spring break. That’s not a problem according to Patchell. “We’ll have a nice week of practice. We need it. We didn’t have a chance to practice before we started the season. We’ve been doing everything on the fly. We have a match the first part of next week with Madison. We’re rescheduling our game with Hoover, because of spring break. Our guys are pretty focused on winning our league.”

CHS Swimming News

Head Swim Coach Dave Throop reports on the results of last week’s swim meet against Bishop’s. “This is a good group, with outstanding attitudes and while they may lack some of the talent of previous teams, their enthusiasm is second to none. Our training phase is a point where we are increasing our workload and breaking events down into individual race strategies.  We're asking the group to focus on doing the little things the correct way while fatigued and they've been responding to the demands well.  

Thursday, March 31st, the Boys and Girls Swim Teams travelled to Bishop’s for a dual meet.  The swimming side of the rivalry between the two programs is the antithesis of what it is during water polo seasons, which makes for a more relaxed atmosphere.  Just as with prior dual meets, we continue to move swimmers around in different events to find options for the team, so the outcome of the dual meet is a little skewed.  

For the boys team in the 200 freestyle, David Carroll led all of the Islanders with a 2:01.61, with Joe Kusters (2:04.03) and Kyle Schaff (2:04.91) all swimming well to establish themselves in the event.  Garrett Sabesky swam a 2:09.67 in the individual medley, a season best. Drew Findley (2:20.93) posted a fine time for his training.  In the 50 free, Tommy Grall swam a nice 24.20, holding off teammate Putnam Browne (24.22) by a fraction of a second.  John Hill (1:00.38), Josh Williams (1:00.85) and Patrick Mayles (1:02.27) continue to show the team’s depth in the 100 fly, while Patrick Geer (52.42) and Garrett Eyer (53.86) provide some freestyle depth.  

Van Burgess had a nice 500 freestyle time of 5:06.97 to pace Israel Dedina (5:27.03) and Christian Dudley (5:33.04).  In the 100 Breaststroke, Braydon Hummeldorf swam a 1:08.01, while Nick Wiley (1:12.00) and Eyer (1:13.69) established themselves as reliable options in the event.  

On the girls side, Chantilly Otto-Smith led the team with a 2:11.91 in the 200 freestyle, while Rebecca Bayer 2:29.10 held off teammate and classmate Madeline Hoshko with a time of 2:30.91.  Co-Captain Cathy White swam a 2:28.48 in the 200 individual medley, while Katy Gauvin swam a 2:36.07.  In the 50 free, Kendall Martin raced to a 27.34 while fellow classmate and team Co-Captain Shelby Couture swam a 29.49.  Morgan Karney swam the 100 fly in a 1:08.99, right around her season best time, while Kaitlin Seay (1:18.62) and Cassie Scott (1:18.87) finished out the field for the Islanders.  

Otto-Smith (59.49), Jaicey Tyler (1:02.72) and Noni Jones (1:03.48) all scored in the top five of the 100 freestyle. Gauvin finished second in the 500 free with a time of 6:00.01 and Kendall Hoshko swam a 6:31.93. White led all Islanders with a 1:08.12 in the 100 back, while Madison Willett and Madeline Hoshko finished to a 1:15.63 and 1:17.34 respectively.  Gabie Darlak 1:21.66, Heidi Jonson 1:23.78, and Jones 1:23.80 earned third, fourth and fifth place points in the 100 breaststroke.  

Coronado Boys Tennis Bests Cathedral Catholic

Coronado Boys Tennis Head Coach Leslie Koshland succinctly summarized her team’s 12-6 victory over Cathedral Catholic by saying, “Everyone won two sets.” That included singles players Greg Lyon, Sean Lee and Ricardo Gonzalez-Diaz and the doubles pairings of Grey Halpin/Shaun Koshland, Kyle Koshland/Luke Hoffman and Brad Mathews/Cort Dalton.

The rollercoaster ride of sports followed two days later when Coronado lost to Scripps Ranch 10-8. “We lost two 7-6 sets, which would have made the difference,” said Coach Koshland. “It was a bummer we couldn’t pull it out.” Lyon won three singles matches, Lee won two and each of the doubles teams listed above won one set each.

One of the better efforts of the young season occurred two weeks ago when Lyon, a sophomore, won all three of his matches against perennial tennis power La Jolla. Currently Coronado is 5-2 overall and 1-2 in Western League play. This week the Islanders host Santa Fe Christian Wednesday and Thursday they travel to Cathedral Catholic for a return match.

Islander Baseball Splits a Pair in City Conference Tourney

It was a bit of a roller coaster ride also for the Islander Baseball Team as they competed in their final games in the 2011 City Conference Tournament. Their first game was at Christian Tuesday, which turned out to be an 11-5 victory. That was followed two days later by a 7-2 home loss to Scripps Ranch.

“Against Christian we came out with a lot of enthusiasm,” said Head Coach Sam Ceci. “We swung the bat really well. They didn’t throw their ace, who is one of the best pitchers in the county. The pitchers we saw were okay, but we swung the bat aggressively. We were able to steal several bases and put pressure on them. And it worked for us.”

The winning pitcher for the Islanders was Luke Gillingham, who gave up three earned runs in five innings. Austin Denson pitched the final two frames and didn’t yield an earned run.

Offensively Tyler Brownell and Garrett Smerdon both had three hits for the Islanders. Brownell also had four RBIs in the contest. Ten of the 13 Islanders that went to the plate scored a run, with Brownell scoring twice. Jake Meloche had two hits and two RBIs.

Meloche took to the mound to face Scripps Ranch and gave up four earned runs in five innings. Dylan Campbell pitched the final two innings and gave up one earned run. Ceci said of the game, “They swung the bat and were able to handle our good pitching. That day they were the better team. That game could have been a real big one for us.”

Kyle Teachout was 3-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI. Jack Mikesell was 2-3. The Coronado runs were scored by Colin Clark and Denson. Gillingham accounted for the other Islander RBI.

This week Coronado (7-5) begins play in the Western League, with Point Loma as their opponent for two consecutive contests. Tuesday the Islanders are on the road and Thursday they host Point Loma. “They are a good team with real strong pitching,” said Ceci of the Pointers. “They have had a tougher schedule than we have had, including playing against some North County schools. It’s going to be a dog fight. I’m hoping for a split at least and if we get lucky we could take two.”

Ceci considers Cathedral Catholic to be the favorite to take the Western League crown, with Point Loma also in the running due to their seasoned pitching staff. The next group includes Coronado, Mission Bay and University City. La Jolla and Madison, based on their results in the early part of the season, will need to tune up their play to compete for the title.

Islander Girls Soccer Awards

The Coronado Girls Soccer Team, which won the San Diego CIF Division IV title and were also Southern Region Division II champions, held their post season banquet at the Coronado Yacht Club last week. As you might imagine, there were awards aplenty.

Starting with the team awards, which were presented by Head Coach Kiko Medina. Coaches Award – Kaitlyn Couture; Most Inspirational – Mallory Mitchell; Most Improved – Olivia Nebo; Best Defensive Player – Brianne Clifford; Best Offensive Player – Stephanie Hamilton; ISF Award – Mitchell; Team MVP – Cassie Callahan; Team Captains – Mitchell and Callahan.

All-Western League First Team honors went to Mitchell, Hamilton and Olivia Lillegraven. Second Team All-Western League members included Couture, and Cory De Marco. Callahan was the Western League Player of the Year.

Division IV First Team members included Mitchell and Callahan. The Second Team included De Marco, Clifford and Couture. Hamilton was the Division IV Player of the Year.

All CIF Honors, which includes all of the high school soccer programs in the county, went to Mitchell for the Second Team and Callahan on the First Team. Callahan repeated as the All-CIF Player of the Year.

The banquet concluded with a karaoke performance by Medina, who promised to sing at the affair if the team won Regionals. The good news is he kept his promise to his team. The bad news was the performance was reminiscent of Sanjaya from American Idol’s Season Six. However, everyone present enjoyed and appreciated Medina’s musical effort and the thought behind it.