The Foothill boys lacrosse team heads into spring break with a 12-0 record. The Knights will not be resting on their laurels this week.
Coach John Fox and the Knights head to Boston this week for a trio of games against some of the top teams in the area. Foothill will face Lincoln-Sudbury (Wednesday), Cohasset (Thursday) and Medfield (Saturday).
“We want to get our kids some east coast exposure and we want to play some top-level teams out there and to have some team bonding time,” Fox said. “A little combination of playing some great talent and getting better as a team.
“Tough road trip … (it will) really test these guys’ fortitude and desire, and hopefully (we) come back ready to finish out the season.”
Corona del Mar (8-0) and St. Margaret’s (10-1) are also hitting the road this week. The Sea Kings, who defeated Torrey Pines (13-4) on Friday, visit Bellarmine (today) and Marin Catholic (Thursday). The Tartans have games against Campolindo (Thursday) and a doubleheader against San Ramon Valley and Bellarmine (Saturday).
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
SWIMMING
La Quinta’s girls swimming team burst onto the Orange County scene last May at the CIF-SS finals, and the Aztecs haven’t let up despite the transfer of their best swimmer.
Last week in the Grove League League, La Quinta defeated defending champion Garden Grove, 105-65, to surface as contenders for its first league title since 1994.
The Aztecs (5-0, 2-0) have plenty of racing left, including league finals at Garden Grove in early May, but they’re off to an encouraging start.
“(The program) has come along,” first-year girls coach Jason Mills said.
La Quinta has showed its resolve after losing sophomore Samantha Le, who transfered to Edison. Le captured the 200-yard freestyle at the CIF-SS Division 4 finals last season, helping La Quinta surprise by tying for eighth place with 105 points.
The arrival of Catherine Tran, a standout freshman, has helped La Quinta stay competitive. Tran is a club swimmer from the Irvine-based JCC Waves and she has already recorded automatic Division 4 qualifying times in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke.
The Aztecs also return two key members from last year’s team: Le’s sister, Ashley, and Dominica Cao. Both have clocked consideration times in Division 4.
La Quinta also has developed junior Michelle Le into a strong swimmer.
The Aztecs’ list of contributors is growing. They finished first-second in the 200 medley relay against Garden Grove and almost placed first-second in the 200 free relay.
“We’re pretty deep in a lot of events,” said Mills, a former Los Alamitos assistant who also coaches girls water polo at La Quinta. “It’s definitely a team sport.”
Mills credits assistant coach John Vu for helping develop several of the school’s swimmers. Mills also believes building an aquatics culture has helped La Quinta succeed.
“It’s great,” he said, “to see the support from the (swimmers’) fellow students and the girls to take pride.” …
Several teams aren’t competing this week because of spring break, but defending Freeway League girls champion Troy plays host to Sonora on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Santa Margarita and Mater Dei race Saturday at the Catholic State Challenge at Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton. …
Northwood freestyler Judson Balding has committed to Boston University, Timberwolves coach Alex Nieto confirmed.
– DAN ALBANO
TRACK AND FIELD
Two freshmen have helped El Toro stand out in the competive South Coast League, which has four of the teams in the county top 10.
Chargers freshman Kaitlynn Johnson took over the county lead in the long jump with a mark of 18 feet, ½ inch against the wind at the Trabuco Hills Invitational on Saturday. Freshman Maliyah Medley ranks second in the county in the 200 meters. She also contributes to the Chargers’ 1,600 relay, which is one of four teams in the county to reach the sub four-minute mark this year.
Chargers coach Jon Stewart believes the most important thing for his young team is it continues to grow.
“We want to make sure they’re going against some of the very best, and they absolutely are,” he said. “We’re very fortunate for the area that we live in. Our competitors are outstanding.”
Dana Hills’ Mason Coppi (9:14.67) moved up to fourth in the county in the 3,200.
Also performing well at Trabuco Hills was Blair Robinson of Kennedy, who produced a mark of 43-3 in the triple jump, which is second in the county this year.
Hilary Ojinnaka (Cypress) moved ahead of Medley for the county lead in the 200. The senior surpassed Medley’s mark (25.13) with a time of 24.7 at the UCLA Legends Meet on Saturday.
In the Covina Invitational, Servite sophomore Ian Ward ran a 38.39 in the 300 hurdles, which is good for second in the county. Connor Meech of San Juan Hills posted the county’s fastest time (37.84) at the Trabuco Hills Invitational. The time is second in the state this year.
– ANDREW TURNER, Contributing writer
GOLF
Foothill’s Brennan Hellmers carded the rarest score in golf – a double eagle – last week during a match against Yorba Linda.
He holed out with his second shot on the 490-yard, par-5 No. 6 at Black Gold Golf Club. He finished with an even-par 36, but the Mustangs edged Foothill, 196-202. …
No. 1 Servite posted its lowest round of the season – a 5-under-par 175 – last week for an 18-stroke victory against Trinity League rival Santa Margarita at Tijeras Creek Golf Club.
Freshman Kyle Kinnane led the Friars with a 4-under-par 32, and senior Matt Wilson added a 2-under-par 34. …
Fountain Valley senior Lilia Vu finished at even-par 213 to tie for third in the girls division of the AJGA Heather Farr Classic in Mesa, Ariz., on Sunday. Vu posted scores of 2-under-par 69 during her first two rounds at Longbow Golf Club. Yorba Linda senior Brooke Graebe finished a shot behind in sixth.
– DAMIAN DOTTORE
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Sage Hill coach Dan Thomassen was selected as an assistant coach for the World University Games in July in South Korea.
Thomassen was the Register’s girls volleyball coach of the year in 2012 and has led Sage Hill to three CIF-SS titles.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
