‘Simpo’ simply amazing

There were two CIF team titles won in 2009 in Huntington Beach — by the Ocean View High boys’ basketball team and Edison girls’ swimming team, respectively. A year that included four other CIF finalist squads ensured a special year for Surf City in prep sports.

Yet the top sports story of the year involved a Huntington Beach High graduate who literally conquered the world’s best in his own backyard.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 sports stories of 2009, as reported by the Independent.

1 Simpson’s big yearSimpson’s big year

This year truly was a breakout surfing year for local Brett Simpson. On July 26, Simpson won the men’s title at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing in front of his hometown crowd. The payout was a record $100,000.

“I felt this was my chance,” said Simpson, who bested former world champ Mick Fanning in the final. “You don’t get a lot of chances. It’s the highest prize money ever, and to win it’s a dream come true.”

Simpson, a Huntington Beach High grad, wasn’t done there. He placed 10th in this year’s World Qualifying Series, good enough to make the 2010 Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Tour.

Simpson is still young; he turns 25 on Monday. But wherever he goes from here, he will likely remember 2009 as his big breakthrough.

2 Edison football’s special yearEdison football’s special year

A disappointing end to the season, but that doesn’t negate all of the special things that happened before it.

Coach Dave White’s Chargers won their first 13 games of the season, including a fifth straight Sunset League title, and earned a spot in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division title game before falling to Servite at a rain-drenched Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Edison beat Servite and Mater Dei in its nonleague schedule and went 5-0 in league, including a 24-0 victory over rival Fountain Valley to retain the bell for the fifth straight year.

“I’m just proud of these kids,” White said after the bell game at Cal State Fullerton. “The senior class is something special. They deserve this league championship and they deserve to win the bell.”

Senior quarterback Matt Viles, the league Most Valuable Player, led a precision passing attack that also featured seniors Jeff Trojan, Micahel Rivera, Luke Eddy and Dylan Leener. Senior Jordan Zumwalt, a two-time league Defensive Player of the Year, headed the defense.

3 Ocean View boys’ basketballOcean View boys’ basketball

The Seahawks were a young team, starting one senior in guard Mason Jones. Yet they never stopped winning, clinching Golden West League and CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA titles and making it all the way to the CIF State Division III championship game March 21 before falling to Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Juniors Anthony Brown, Avery Johnson, Ryan Okwudibonye, Aaron Delgado and sophomore Billy Keller all played big roles for Ocean View, which finished 27-8. They’re also all back for coaches Jim and Jimmy Harris this year, and the Seahawks — ranked in the top 10 in Southern California — expect more big things.

Last year’s run was the first time Ocean View had advanced to the state championship. Jim Harris also won his 600th career game at the school in January.

“I’m on a great ride with these young men, and we’re enjoying the heck out of it,” Harris said after beating Harvard-Westlake in a Southern California Regional final at UCLA. “I think that’s kind of why we’re confident. We’re not looking at it as pressure. We’re just looking at it as pure enjoyment. That’s how we should look at it. These are young guys, and they make me feel young.”

4 Big runs for baseballBig runs for baseball

The 2008-09 season was capped off by a big day at Angel Stadium of Anaheim for two local squads. Although Edison lost in the Division I final to Capo Valley and Huntington Beach fell in the Division II final to Crespi in back-to-back games June 6, both teams could relish the journey.

For the Chargers, it was an exciting Sunset League campaign filled with three epic showdowns with Marina, but Edison emerged as champion. Pitching from Arizona-bound senior Kurt Heyer and sophomore lefty Henry Owens helped Coach Steve Lambright’s Chargers advance to the final after a tension-filled 2-1 semifinal victory over Mater Dei.

“These guys, they shouldn’t hang their heads,” Lambright said. “They might not be CIF Division I champions, but they’re champions in life. I think that’s more important.”

The Oilers, meanwhile, finished third in the Sea View League but got hot at the right time. Behind pitching from seniors Blake Cestr and Barry Luke, as well as offense from players like UCLA-bound Beau Amaral, their playoff run included a victory over the state’s top- ranked team Yucaipa. Coach Benji Medure’s team advanced to the CIF title game for the first time in the program’s 105-year history.

5 Golden West squads make ‘statements’Golden West squads make ‘statements’

Nov. 21 was a big day for Golden West aquatics. First, the men’s water polo team captured the state title at the Rustlers’ home pool by beating Long Beach City College, 7-5. Then, the Golden West women also won state by topping LBCC, 6-5.

The Rustlers men won their 17th state title and second straight. Sophomore Nate Castillo was named MVP of the state tournament and was joined on the all-tournament team by Rex Learmouth, Matt Venner and goalie Robby Poynton.

“It’s very difficult to go back-to-back, and I talked to the team about that throughout the year,” Coach Scott Taylor said. “Winning two championships in a row is one of the most difficult things to do in any sport. I’m just proud that the guys showed up today and battled and played great defense.”

For the Golden West women, it was their sixth state title, but first since 2002. Freshman Annika Bergeson was named state tournament MVP and was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Andrea Artukovich, Molly Andoe and goalie Amy Carlson.

Coach Kyle Kopp, in his second year, guided the team to the title. Golden West won despite being seeded third from Southern California at state.

6 Edison girls make historyEdison girls make history

A local high school team brought home the “bling” in the pool, as well. On May 15, Edison’s girls’ swimming won the CIF Southern Section Division I title, which was the first in school aquatics (swimming or water polo) history.

Junior Cindy Tran placed first in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke at CIF finals. Edison also set a meet record in the 200 medley relay, as Tran, Sarah Moss, Ellie Morrissey and Kierstin Colesen touched in 1 minute 43.60 seconds.

Morrissey and Moss placed fifth and seventh, respectively, in the 200 individual medley.

“We saw some superstars really emerge, not just with our club depth but with straight-up water polo players who really bought into the whole team and believed,” Edison Coach Keith Ryan said. “It’s incredible.”

Fountain Valley’s girls placed third at CIF finals, paced by junior Cynthia Fascella’s wins in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.

7 Shields goes out on topShields goes out on top

A superb four-year career for Edison’s Tom Shields concluded at the CIF Southern Section Division I meet, and Shields went out in style two days after breaking the national high school record in the 200 freestyle (1:33.83). He won the event again at finals, then broke his own meet record in the 100 butterfly.

Then, in the meet-ending 400 free relay, he anchored a come-from-behind win for the team of Josh Smith, Michael Hauss, Kenny Bray and Shields. Shields’ split was a blazing 42.88.

“I just feel very sentimental,” said Shields, who moved on to Cal. “I love this sport, and I love everything the CIF has done for me. I’ve got so much experience, but I’m ready to move on. I really am.”

8 Middlebrooks’ big yearMiddlebrooks’ big year

The track or the football field, it didn’t matter much to Fountain Valley High senior Kyle Middlebrooks this year. He was blazing fast on any surface.

Middlebrooks finished second at the CIF State Track and Field Championships in the 100 meters, clocking in at 10.57 seconds. A couple of months later, he began his assault on the gridiron, where the Barons started 8-0 and finished tied for second in the Sunset League.

For the year in football, Middlebrooks — the league’s Offensive Player of the Year — tallied 1,875 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground. Both marks broke his own single-season school records.

“He’s a special talent,” Fountain Valley Coach John Shipp said. “He has the football IQ to do things that not many people can do. It’s great for him [to get Offensive Player of the Year] because he earned it. He’s a class act and he’s got a bright future.”

9 Futbolito fever Futbolito fever

A group of girls from Seacliff Elementary won the international title in “futbolito,” six-on-six indoor soccer, July 4.

Seacliff had to advance past regional and national championship games earlier in the summer before topping Costa Rica, 4-2, for the international Futbolito Bimbo title at the NYTEX Sports Center in North Richland Hills, Texas.

“Of all the championship teams I’ve ever coached, this is one of the most talented,” Coach Bobby Bruch said. “They have what I call the ‘it’ factor, or the gift. We were able to overcome adversity ... this team has that ability.”

The Seacliff roster included Darcy Weiser, McKenna Doe, Mikaela Doe, Maddie Anderson, McKenzie Elliott, Hailey Stenberg, Savannah Knight, Hannah Howell and goalie Kate Hart.

“I don’t think we ever thought that a bunch of little Huntington Beach girls would take it all the way,” Stenberg said. “It’s so exciting.”

10 McElroy stands out McElroy stands out

Edison senior Matt McElroy still has the track and field season to look forward to in 2010. But, he also had quite a 2009.

McElroy finished fifth at June’s CIF State Track and Field Championships in the 3,200 meters, crossing the line in a personal-best 8:56.44. But in the cross-country season, he really shined.

He finished third at the CIF Southern Section Division II championships and second in Division II at state. Then, he surprised even himself by finishing second at the prestigious Foot Locker Cross-Country National Championships in San Diego.

“It was a perfect race for me,” McElroy said. “Just to have all my team down there, my coaches and my family, it was great.”