High School Roundup: Laguna golf team sews up title
With a championship already in hand, the Laguna Beach High boys’ golf team is one victory away from completing an undefeated run through Orange Coast League competition.
The Breakers went to 8-0 in league play and clinched the title Wednesday by getting past Estancia, 212-215, par 37 on the back nine at Aliso Viejo Country Club.
John Grayden continued his outstanding play. His even-par 37, which earned him medalist honors, was important, Coach Scott Finn said.
Laguna improved to 8-3 overall.
“Everybody had to play well to get the win today, as Estancia is always a tough opponent,” Finn said. “I’m so proud of our entire golf program in that we set out to win the league championship and we did among tough competition.”
Laguna and Estancia previously met late last week, and the Breakers won, 206-217, at Mesa Verde Country Club. Grayden also was low medalist with an even-par 36, and Drake Dvorak scored 4 over 40.
Wednesday’s win came on the heels of a 194-265 league victory Tuesday over Costa Mesa at Mesa Linda Golf Course (par 35). Grayden was low medalist with a 1-under 34. Finn said Dvorak “played great” and was Laguna’s next top scorer at 1-over 36. Dvorak was followed by Max Brown with a 4-over 39.
The Breakers play their final league match of the regular season next week, hosting Costa Mesa at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ben Brown’s Golf Course.
The OCL individual finals are May 4-5 at Skylinks Golf Course in Long Beach.
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Boys’ Volleyball
One streak lived on but another came to an end on the same night for Laguna. The Breakers extended their Orange Coast League winning streak to 64 matches by turning back visiting Costa Mesa, which put up a stiff challenge Tuesday at Dugger Gym.
There were two hiccups in the victory. The first came in the opening set, a 25-22 Costa Mesa win that snapped Laguna’s consecutive sets winning steak at 161. The Breakers, however, rebounded to win the next two sets, dropped the fourth, and won the fifth to emerge with a 22-25, 25-12, 25-14, 23-25, 15-10 win.
Senior outside hitter Dane Olson led the Laguna charge with 27 kills and 14 digs. Senior opposite Nick Rieckhoff had 15 kills and 13 digs, sophomore outside hitter Pete Obradovich 14 kills and 10 digs, senior libero Reed Donenfeld 13 digs, and junior setter Isaac Wulff 58 assists and six kills.
In defeating the Mustangs for the 66th time in 67 meetings between the programs, the top-rated team in CIF Southern Section Division 2 improved to 6-0 in league and 10-3 overall.
Costa Mesa, looking for a win Tuesday to move into a share of first place, was dropped to 4-2 in league and 11-5 overall.
In a league match April 16, the Breakers upended visiting Godinez, 25-14, 25-9, 25-20. Olson had 14 kills and eight digs, junior middle blocker Tyler Alter 11 kills and six digs, senior opposite Jack Burgi eight kills and four digs, sophomore defensive specialist Cole Paxson 10 digs, and Wulff 35 assists.
Laguna steps away from league play to take on Dana Hills in a 5:45 p.m. nonleague match Friday.
The Dolphins are ranked sixth in CIF-SS Division 1.
The Breakers are on the road twice next week for a pair of OCL matches starting with a 5:15 p.m. match Tuesday at Estancia. They also play at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Chapel.
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Boys’ Tennis
Behind eight wins in nine sets of doubles play Wednesday, the Breakers, ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 4, were able to come away with a 12-6 nonleague victory over visiting Laguna Hills.
At the No. 1 line, the team of Ryan Gee/Hayden Seitz swept (6-0, 6-0, 6-0). The team of Tristan Krogius/Ethan Gee also earned a sweep at No. 3 (6-2, 6-1, 7-5). At No. 2, Zack Washer/Sterling Dudley-Bowen bounced back from an opening set loss to win two of three (5-7, 6-4, 6-3).
In singles, No. 1 Charles Keller (4-6, 6-0, 7-5) and No. 3 Stuart Webb (1-6, 7-5, 6-4) picked up two points each.
Laguna improved to 12-2 overall.
“These are the teams that we work hard to prepare against,” Laguna Coach Don Davis said of the win over the CIF-SS Division 1 Hawks.
A day earlier, the Breakers shut down visiting Estancia, 18-0, to run their Orange Coast League record to 5-0.
Laguna, which repeated as OCL champion, closes out its league slate with a 3:15 p.m. home match next Thursday against Godinez. The Breakers also host Palm Springs in a 3 p.m. nonleague match May 1.
They close out the regular season with a May 4 home nonleague match against Sage Hill.
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Swimming
The Breakers won their fourth Orange Coast League meet Wednesday with victories over visiting Calvary Chapel. The Laguna boys (4-0) won, 95-72, the girls (4-0) by 129-36. The JV Breakers also posted wins (boys 108-19, girls 113-31).
Erik Juliusson swam a new CIF cut time (1 minute 46.11) in the boys’ varsity 200-freestyle. Juliusson also won the 100 butterfly in 51.76, and Max Morgan (2:01.74) took second in the boys’ 200 individual medley.
The Breakers also came up with a 1-2-3 finish in the following varsity events:
Girls’ 200 free (Mia Salvini, 2:09.52, first; Sophia Lucas, Kirra Nash); Girls’ 200 IM (Kasey Karkoska, 2:16.54, first; Haley Evans, Olivia Vera); Girls’ 100 butterfly (Harper Dix, 1:06.43, first; Natalie Selin, Isabel Riches); Boys’ 100 free (Cameron Karkoska, 48.65, first; Cade Baldridge, Billy Renner); Girls’ 100 free (Abby Cohn, 1:01.97, first, Sophia Lucas, Evan Tingler).
Laguna goes after a perfect league record when the Breakers swim their final OCL regular season meet next Wednesday when they host Godinez at 3:15 p.m. The league prelims meet is May 5.
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Track and Field
The Laguna boys’ team went to 4-0 in Orange Coast League competition April 16 by defeating host Estancia, 95-27. For the Breakers, Cameron Zuziak won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters, Callan Cochran won the 100 and 200, Brody Seabass won the 300 hurdles, and Charlie Warner won the 110 hurdles and high jump.
The Breakers will compete Saturday at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High.
The Breakers can complete a perfect league meet season with a win next Thursday over Godinez. The teams meet at 3 p.m. at Laguna.
Laguna will host the OCL prelims and finals meets May 5 and May 7.
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Girls’ Sand Volleyball
The Breakers dropped a 2-1 match Tuesday to Saddleback Valley Christian. The team of Kendyl Brennan/Lauren LaMontagne scored the Laguna point by defeating the team of Skyler Stratton/Celine Hoyle, 21-13, 21-15.
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CIF Weekly Rankings
Boys’ volleyball: Laguna Beach (No. 1, Division 2).
Boys’ tennis: Laguna Beach (No. 1, Division 4).
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca