Laguna hopes to come back

LAGUNA BEACH “” This wasn’t quite the season that Laguna Beach High junior tennis player Benito Romeo had envisioned.

“It’s just a weird situation,” Romeo said after the Breakers fell at home to Dana Hills, 13-5, in a nonleague match Wednesday. “I can’t really describe it.”

The Breakers lost just one senior, Rex Miller, to graduation. But three other players decided not to come back to the squad and one was ineligible, meaning this year’s Breakers don’t really resemble the Division IV finalists of a year ago.

At least not yet.

“It’s just been rough because we lost a lot of guys who should have been here,” Romeo said. “This really tough schedule was set up for most of our top guys from last year, but we’ve lost that. We haven’t really recovered form those big losses yet, but we’re still working hard and trying to regroup. We’re trying to do the best we can with this team.

“Right now it’s just a time to put your head down and work really hard. Gradually, we’ll start improving. Results will start coming.”

Laguna (3-10) was hurt Wednesday against Division I Dana Hills as its three doubles teams couldn’t hold first-round leads.

They lost by scores of 7-5, 7-5 and 6-4, putting the Breakers in a 5-1 hole.

The No. 1 doubles team of Romeo and senior Mikey Rubel did come back to win a set, as did the No. 2 team of senior Paul Solomon and freshman Morgan Lebby.

In singles, freshmen Teague Hamilton and Owen Weber, along with sophomore Hutton McKenna, each won a single set.

Coach Aaron Talarico said his team is still struggling, despite its No. 2 ranking in Division IV.

“They’re still figuring it out,” Talarico said.

“We’ve taken so many tough losses this year, just teams that are too good for us We have three freshmen and a sophomore starting, but also one junior and four seniors. I’m just waiting for those seniors to step it up and say, ‘Hey, it’s time to start winning.’ “

The Breakers played their second Orange Coast League match at Estancia on Thursday and are now off until they

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SWIMMING

The Laguna boys’ and girls’ swimming teams went to the Mission Viejo Invitational on Saturday and emerged with some fast times.

On the girls’ side, Taylor Capobianco made an automatic CIF cut in her first time swimming the 500 free (5 minutes 33.71 seconds). Yoshi Andersen had her best times in both the 50 free (26.65 seconds) and 100 free (57.97).

On the boys’ side, Spencer Dodson (1:57.84), Samer Alkateb (1:58.80) and Alex Shapero (2:02.86) had some solid swims in the 200 free.

It was Alkateb’s first time breaking two minutes.

Sean Mulville went under a minute for the first time in the 100 fly (58.77) and Nile Koegel was fast in the 100 free (51.66). Diver Lena Kardos placed fourth.

“It was a competitive meet and I’m so happy Laguna Beach was there this year,” Coach Kari Johnson said. “I swam for Mission Viejo High and competed in the MVHS Invitational every year. It’s nice to be a part of it once again as a coach.”

The Breakers’ next meet is April 14, the Orange Coast League opener against Godinez.

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BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

Laguna eased past Godinez in its Orange Coast League opener Tuesday, 25-12, 25-8, 25-16.

The Breakers (12-7), ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division II coaches’ poll, were home against Calvary Chapel on Thursday and don’t play again until April 15 at Estancia.

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TRACK AND FIELD

The Breakers dispatched of Calvary Chapel in an Orange Coast League meet March 25, as both the boys’ and girls’ teams improved to 2-0 in league. Scores were 76-51 on the boys’ side and 87-31 on the girls’ side.

Event winners for the Breakers boys included Tommy Newton-Neal (800 meters), Blake Hofmeister (1,600 and 3,200), Ricky De la Torre (shot put), Alex Masakawa (long jump and triple jump), Charles Jackson (110 hurdles) and Kevin Ulibarri (300 hurdles).

Girls’ winners included Alex DeGarmo (200 meters), Alex Kempler (400 meters), Natasha Strickland (1,600), Lo Montgomery (300 hurdles), Sabrina Seyster (triple jump), Katherine Winn (long jump), Christianne Kinder (high jump), Sam Garner (shot put) and Emily Writer (discus).

The Breakers also had some impressive performances at the Laguna Hills Hawk Invitational on March 27. Coach Scott Wittkop said Sean Pigden’s 1:59.68 in the 800 meters was one of the best times in the past 10 years at the school.

Laguna is at the Trabuco Hills Invitational on Saturday. Wittkop said the team should fare well in the distance medley relay with Brett Linkletter, Newton-Neal, Sean Pigden and Hofmeister running.

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BASEBALL

The Breakers improved to 2-1 in league after winning at Estancia, 8-0, on Tuesday. Senior pitcher Casey Miller excelled, throwing a two-hit shutout. He struck out two and walked one.

Keaton Jones was two for four with run batted in and Stevie Contursi went two for two for Laguna Beach.

“We executed twice with runners on first and second with nobody out,” Coach Jeff Sears said. “When you execute, good things happen.”

The Breakers also swept a doubleheader from Ramona on March 27, including a standout start from junior Chris Paul in the second game.

Laguna (8-4) had a key league game at home against defending champion Costa Mesa on Thursday and now prepares for the Lions Tournament, beginning Saturday.

The Breakers open the tournament at 10 a.m. at Brookhurst Park against Anaheim.