BREAKERS ROUNDUP: Breakers are third at Masters

The Laguna Beach High girls’ water polo team finished third at the CIF Southern Section Masters Tournament last weekend at El Toro High.

The Division II champion Breakers dominated Foothill in the third-place match, 16-9, after suffering a tough 16-15 loss to Newport Harbor in the semifinals.

An instant classic, the semifinal game went to double sudden-death overtime before Newport’s Kaleigh Gilchrist finally scored the game-winner.

“That was a pretty crazy game,” Laguna Beach Coach Ethan Damato said. “We went up early on them and they battled back. Both teams were playing at a real high level. It was a really fun game to be a part of.

“We also beat Foothill for the third time this season. We were really excited about the way our season ended. Our seniors went out and played really, really tough.”

Stanford-bound center Annika Dries scored six goals against Newport, Cal-bound Taylor Dodson scored three goals with four assists and Jessie Holechek and Melena Masson both scored twice.

In the third-place match, Dries scored five goals, while Dodson and junior Lexie Ross each scored four.

Laguna Beach got to the semifinals by beating Arroyo Grande, 18-1, and Los Alamitos, 7-2.

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BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

The Breakers, ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division II, have been busy in the preseason.

They had three matches in three days earlier this week. Laguna Beach lost to Newport Harbor on Monday, before beating JSerra on Tuesday and Woodbridge on Wednesday.

Laguna is now 4-1.

“We’ve got to be mentally stronger to beat a team of that caliber,” Coach Lance Stewart said of his team’s 18-25, 25-23, 21-25, 19-25 loss to the Sailors, ranked No. 7 in Division I. “We can play with a team of that caliber, but mentally we have to get tougher.”

Laguna Beach rebounded for a 25-23, 25-17, 21-25, 25-15 victory over Dana Hills. Scotty Chapel had 20 kills, Seth Morris had 20 digs and Robbie McKnight tallied 33 assists.

The Breakers then swept Woodbridge, 25-16, 25-18, 25-23. Chapel had a team-high 12 kills, and Harrison Phelps added 10. Travis Woloson finished with seven kills, four blocks and 17 assists.

Laguna Beach now prepares for the Foothill Tournament this Saturday. The top-seeded Breakers play their pool games at Irvine High.

Stewart said it’s a good tournament, partially because the Breakers will get to see Division II competition such as Royal (ranked No. 3) and Thousand Oaks (No. 4).

“We want to win the tournament,” said Stewart, whose Breakers lost in the first round last year.

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BOYS’ TENNIS

Laguna Beach has started its season 0-2. After a tough 10-8 loss to Irvine last week, the Breakers suffered a humbling 16-2 loss to Corona del Mar on Tuesday.

Sophomore Jake Michaels and the doubles team of senior Rex Miller and junior Mike Rubel won the two sets for Laguna Beach.

But the Breakers are also short-handed now, with freshman McKenna Hutton out injured, as well as sophomore Benito Romeo (wrist).

“We’ve got a bunch of guys who can play tennis,” Coach Aaron Talarico said. “Experience-wise, in terms of tournaments, we’re working on that.”

The Breakers won the Orange Coast League last year but lost three starters. Among other contributors this year are freshman Aaron Fong and junior Christian O’Conner in singles, and the doubles teams of junior Alex Gromet and sophomore Hunter Moscow, as well as the team of juniors Cameron Cornell and Paul Solomon.

“We’ll only lose one starter next year,” Talarico said. “This year will be a good year once we get everybody healthy, and I’m also looking forward to next year.”

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BOYS’ GOLF

The defending Orange Coast League champion Breakers are out to retain their title.

Laguna won its league opener over Costa Mesa, 190-272, on Monday. Senior Duane Hewlett and junior Mike Cannon shared medalist honors with an even-par round of 36.

Those players, along with senior Skylar Perkins and sophomore Andrew Palmer, figure to be key contributors for Coach Scott Finn’s team.

“They’re playing pretty well,” Finn said. “There’s been a lot of improvement. Five out of the seven players are members at Aliso Viejo Country Club. They practice a lot.”

Laguna Beach (2-1) lost one top player from last year, Bret McGaughey, but the rest of the team has remained intact.

TRACK AND FIELD

The Breakers had a scrimmage against La Sierra on March 5 and began their season against La Quinta and El Dorado on Thursday after press time.

Laguna boys’ Coach Scott Wittkop said his squad will be led in sprinting by senior Graham Harris and junior Sean Pigden.

Junior Brett Linkletter and seniors Andre Parker and Matt Karam will lead the Breakers’ jumping crew, and distance runners include senior Casey Finnerty, junior Blake Hofmeister and sophomore Matt Neev, who was sixth in the CIF Southern Section Division IV meet in the 1,600 meters last year.

Senior Mitch McMullin is the defending league champ in the shot put.

“We won league last year,” Wittkop said. “We’re expecting to do the same this year. We have almost the whole team returning, although we moved up a division (to Division III). Last year we didn’t lose any dual meets, and I think we have a good chance to do it again.”

On the girls’ side, Coach Steve Lalim said the addition of senior soccer star Holden Penney, who is in her first year running track, should bolster the club. She is a sprinter and long jumper, as are juniors Sabina Seyster and Jessica Good Man.

Distance runners include junior Kativa Strickland and her little sister Natasha Strickland, who were the cross-country tri-MVPs in the fall with junior Parker Yamasaki.

“Overall, I’d say we’ve got a pretty good shot at giving Costa Mesa a challenge for the Orange Coast League title,” said Lalim, whose team finished second to the Mustangs last year.