We’ve got spirit

For exemplifying outstanding standards in the playing arena and on

the sidelines, Laguna Beach High this past week was honored with two

major awards.

Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, Laguna Beach was named as a

Kenny Fagins CIF-Southern Section-TOYOTA Shake for Sportsmanship

Award winner for the 2002-03 school year.

Last weekend at UC Irvine, Laguna’s competition cheer squad won a

national championship in the Medium Varsity Division at America’s

Best West Coast Open National Championships.

“It’s been quite a week here at the school and the administration

is very proud of our student body,” said Mario Morales, the school’s

athletic director.

Laguna Beach athletic teams were honored as the top school in the

Pacific Coast League to best represent the spirit of sportsmanship.

At a March 10 meeting of the league’s principals and athletic

directors, the selection of the school that would win the league’s

sportsmanship title was brought before a vote.

Those casting ballots voted, 5-1, in favor of Laguna Beach.

“It was based upon which school the athletic directors felt best

exhibited the highest level of sportsmanship during the year,”

Morales said. “We’re absolutely thrilled with this award. I’m very

happy that our coaches, players and the community has been recognized

for their sportsmanship at all levels.

Senior Nic McConnell, who plays water polo and swims for the

Breakers, represented Laguna Beach Wednesday night during a 15-minute

pre-game ceremony prior to the start of the Dodgers-Padres game.

McConnell was asked to attend the game after his name was drawn

out of a hat, Morales said.

“I asked every coach on every team to nominate a player who they

thought best reflected the sportsmanship award,” he explained. “Those

names were then placed into a hat, and Nic’s name was drawn. “He’s a

great kid and a very deserving person to accept this award.”

CHEER CHAMPS

Nora Wiederspahn knew she was taking a talented squad to America’s

Best West Coast Open National Championships at the Bren Center, but

winning the Medium Varsity Division title took she and the team by

surprise.

It was the first competition for the Laguna Beach squad and it

came against teams who had begun practicing last May, some even

competing as early as last September.

“We thought we’d place up there but we were not expecting first

place,” Wiederspahn said. “The girls just went above and beyond and

gave 110% effort. They amazed not only me with their performance, but

everyone who saw them perform.

“They just learned their routine a month ago. That’s amazing.”

When the screaming and crying had subsided, the squad collected

itself and accepted a five-foot high trophy and national championship

banner, said Wiederspahn.

Laguna Beach’s 14-member competition cheer squad, comprised of 13

pep squad members and one student not a member of that pep squad,

includes Michelle Burkhardt, Ashley Carmichael, Sara Claypool,

Hillary Converse, Michelle Faber, Ali Hawthorne, Kendall Hellman,

Kiri Kirk, Melissa Magana, Rachael Marcus, Paige Nichols, Katie

Olsen, Meghan Rowe and Amantha Writer.

* 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.