Facing challenges

Mike Sciacca

Despite school being out this week and next for winter break, there

is no rest for the winter athletic teams at Laguna Beach, several of

whom resume play today in various holiday season tournaments.

This past year in the athletic arena presented many challenges to

Laguna athletes -- as well as in the school’s coaching ranks.

Three new head coaches were hired for the school’s boys’ programs,

another coach resigned following an illustrious career and the role

of athletic director went to a newcomer. .

Here’s a look back at some of the key moments in Laguna Beach High

athletics dating to last January:

WINTER

Laguna gained notice out at the pool, as its girls’ water polo

team turned in a standout season.

Led by all-CIF and all-Pacific Coast League performer Annie

Preble, who set county and school records for goals scored in a

season, the Breakers reached the semifinal round of the CIF Division

II semifinals, where they were defeated by Villa Park.

The winter also would be the last year that Rob Cullinan would

coach boys’ basketball, as he would announce his resignation

effective at the end of the 2002-03 season, on Feb. 10.

Laguna just missed a CIF playoff berth.

“Although we were not happy about not getting our 11 wins and not

going to the playoffs, much was accomplished this season, both

individually and as a team,” Cullinan said.

Mark Hill, who won three Sunset League championship while at

Esperanza, officially was hired on April 15 to replace Cullinan.

SPRING

Again, Laguna athletes proved to be formidable in the water.

The boys’ 200 medley relay teams of Shawn Pfendler, Bret Burge,

Bryan Earley and Dustin Caris, and a second team consisting of

Pfendler, Earley, Caris and Nolan Plant, set school records in the

event.

Pfendler also swam to new school records in the 200-yard

backstroke and the 200-yard individual medley relay.

The boys’ volleyball team advanced to the Division II

quarterfinals for the seventh-straight year where it was eliminated

by eventual champion Valencia.

For the second consecutive year, Laguna standout Matt Anderson was

named to the All-CIF boys’ volleyball Division II team.

Pacific Coast League long jump champion Marc Todd also finished

third at the league’s triple jump final. Addison Doud, who placed

third at the league’s discus event and Brendan Bowler, who ran the

1600, represented Laguna at the CIF Southern Section Division II

prelims.

In softball, all-league selection Hilary Frimond finished as one

of the county’s top hitters with a .574 batting average and seven

home runs.

In baseball, Brian Beck was a First Team all-league selection,

Jonathon Cedeno and Conley Sampson each were named Second Team, and

head coach Mike Schubert resigned after four years at the school.

Schubert, who left to become head coach at new school JSerra High

in Irvine, was replaced by former Capistrano Valley High assistant

coach, Tom Faris.

“I want to bring some success to this program, to make it

competitive and have the kids believe they are winners,” Faris said.

At the end of the school year, Mario Morales, athletic director at

Laguna for two years, resigned to take on a full-time coaching and

teaching position at Long Beach Wilson.

In youth basketball, Cheyne Martin scored a city youth record 70

points in a Community Service Department Junior Basketball League

game. Martin, now a freshman, is the leading scorer on the Laguna

varsity boys’ basketball team.

SUMMER

Lance Stewart, a former multi-athletic standout at Laguna, was

hired as the school’s girls’ volleyball coach.

Stewart was All-CIF in football and a three-year starter at

quarterback while at Laguna, as well as the South Coast League MVP in

1980. He was All-CIF in basketball and won a CIF championship and was

named high school player of the year in boys’ volleyball as a senior.

“It’s nice to be coming back and I’m excited about the

opportunity,” he said.

Ron Schwartz was hired as the new athletic director at Laguna,

replacing Mario Morales.

Schwartz came to Laguna after having held the same position the

previous two years at La Costa Canyon High in Carlsbad.

Schwartz’s first hire was Rick McKee, who was named new Breakers’

boys’ water polo coach.

McKee, who came to Laguna from Tustin High, later would be named

as head coach of the girls’ varsity team.

“I know about the rich tradition associated with the Laguna Beach

water polo program and my goal is to help carry on that tradition,”

McKee said.

FALL

For the second consecutive year, Laguna’s girls’ tennis team

turned in another outstanding season and reached the semifinal round

of the CIF-SS Division I playoffs.

The Breakers’ team of sophomores Lorren Butterwick and Katie

Ochwat won the Pacific Coast League doubles championship, defeating

teammates Jackie Reed and Kellie Ammerman in an all-Laguna final.

The 2003 season became memorable for the Laguna cross country

program, as its boys’ squad won its first Pacific Coast League

championship since 1989, and both the boys’ and girls’ teams

qualified for the CIF State Championships.

It was the first time since 1989 for the boys and 1995, for the

girls, that Laguna teams had qualified for the state meet.

Although Laguna failed to reach the CIF-SS playoffs in football,

two squad members, quarterback Alex Wilson and receiver Jake Wheeler,

became multiple owners of school single-game, season and career

records.

Wilson set a school single-game records for touchdown passes in a

game and career records for passes attempted and touchdown passes.

Wheeler set a single-game record for touchdown receptions and

interception returns for touchdowns, and season records for

receptions and touchdown receptions.

As a team, the Laguna offense set a single-season record for

touchdown passes with 17.

The end of the football season marked the end of a long coaching

career for Dave Holland, who announced his retirement.

“I’ve had a great time here, met some outstanding people and was

surrounded by some really talented and dedicated kids,” Holland said

upon his retirement announcement. “This was one of my most enjoyable

years as a head coach.”