Crossing paths

Mike Sciacca

Henry and Stephanie Morgan aren’t the first pair of siblings to

run cross-country for Laguna Beach High, but the duo may be one of

the first brother and sister combos to compete at the same time for

the Breakers.

Last year, sisters Alexis and Natania Sampietro ran for the Laguna

Beach program. One has since graduated, the other went to Norway as a

foreign exchange student.

Roxanne Sanchez, a four-year varsity runner, also graduated last

June. This school year, her younger brother, Tim, is considered by

Coach Dave Brobeck as the program’s top freshman runner and might be

a regular varsity contributor.

“To my knowledge there isn’t much tradition involved here with

siblings in our program,” Brobeck said.

But the Morgan siblings, Henry and Stephanie, have both

contributed to the varsity squads in the same year.

Henry Morgan, a 17-year-old senior, has run four years with the

Breakers’ program and is Brobeck’s No. 3 senior runner and is

considered by Brobeck as a “very strong” No. 5 or 6 runner on the

boys’ varsity team.

A 4.47 GPA student and member of the National Honor Society,

Morgan has been an alternate to the CIF Meet the past two years and

is a key leader on this year’s Laguna Beach boys’ team.

“He is often overshadowed by senior standouts Brendan Bowler and

Nathan Greene, but Henry still plays a very important role on our

team,” Brobeck said. “There are few other teams who have the luxury

of having such a strong runner at the No. 5 or 6 position.

“Not only does he add depth to our team, but Henry is also a

natural leader. It’s safe to say that everyone on our team respects

him greatly.”

Morgan is a smart runner not only on the course, but in knowing --

and accepting -- his role on the team.

Chalk that up to senior maturity.

“Coach took us up to Big Bear toward the end of summer and we all

really bonded as a team,” Morgan said. “We all talked about team and

individual goals, and one of my goals was to lead the lower classmen

by example. There would be no skipping practices and you had to just

be there for the team. Showing respect to the coaches and your

teammates was something very important to me.”

Because of Morgan’s talent and potential, Brobeck bestowed Morgan

the “Coaches Award” in his freshman year and again at the end of his

sophomore campaign. Morgan, in turn, lived up to the accolades by

earning the “Most Valuable Runner” award as a junior.

Stephanie Morgan, 15, a sophomore, is in her first year running

cross-country with the girls’ program. In Laguna’s first three meets

of the season, she has run with the sophomore team, the junior

varsity, and ran with the varsity in last Thursday’s meet against

Tesoro.

“When I found out that Henry had a younger sister it was very

important to me to get her into the loop as well,” Brobeck said.

“Having a good genetic code is probably more important in running

than any other sport.

“Although Stephanie has only run in four races so far, she already

is showing her talent. In fact, in the girls’ varsity competition

against Tesoro, she ran well and really held her own.”

Morgan said at first try, she wasn’t quite sure how she’d like the

sport.

“I enjoy it now but at first, I really didn’t think I was a

runner,” said Stephanie Morgan, who, like her brother, is a National

Honor Society member with a 4.3 GPA. “Those first few workouts were

pretty tough but once I got in shape, it got to be easier.

“I think the thing I like most about running cross-country is the

camaraderie you build with your teammates.”

Bailey Monahan, who runs for the girls’ program, noticed a

similarity in style between the brother and sister duo, Henry Morgan

said.

Like most siblings, the elder Morgan offered brotherly advice to

his younger sister.

Stephanie Morgan listened.

“His tip was telling me to run on my toes, that you use less

energy that way. That’s the way I run,” she said.

Not only do the Morgans run together, they also play together in

the Laguna Beach High band: Henry plays clarinet, Stephanie, the

flute.

“We see each other all the time,” Henry Morgan said. “We’re really

close. We each run at different times during our meets, so we each

get the chance to watch one another. We’re there to root each other

on.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. He can be reached at 494-4321 or by e-mail at

michael.sciacca@latimes.com.