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Rebels Down San Marino; La Salle Defeats FSHA in Tourney Final

Flintridge Prep’s Alex Kyriakakis had seven kills in a victory over San Marino.
Photos courtesy Eric Danielson
Flintridge Prep’s Alex Kyriakakis had seven kills in a victory over San Marino.

The Flintridge Prep varsity girls’ volleyball team didn’t get off to the best start at San Marino High School on Monday.
The Rebels committed errors on serves and gave up the first game against the Titans in a nonleague match but battled back and came away with a four-set victory, 19-25, 25-21, 25-10, 25-14.
“I call it a Monday wake-up call,” said Prep head coach Sean Beattie. “San Marino is a good team, and we strolled in thinking we were a better team, maybe? We got smacked in the face and woke up. They served very well in the first game and we did not.”
Flintridge Prep (12-3 overall record, 4-3 in league) trailed in the third game, 5-2, and responded with a 17-2 run, the biggest of the match. The Rebels cruised to a nonleague victory following the run.
“We served better as the match went on and passed better,” Beattie said. “Once we pass better, we’re able to use our middles, and once we use them, it opens up the outside.” Continue reading “Rebels Down San Marino; La Salle Defeats FSHA in Tourney Final”

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St. Francis Edges Mira Costa, 23-21

SFHS quarterback Jack Clougherty threw two touchdowns in his debut.
Photo courtesy Eric Danielson
SFHS quarterback Jack Clougherty threw two touchdowns in his debut.

By Alexander Payne
The Outlook

The St. Francis varsity football team opened its season by winning a nail biter, 23-21, over Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach last Friday.
In his first start with the Golden Knights, junior quarterback Jack Clougherty, completed 20 of 32 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Kevin Armstead rushed for 71 yards on 20 carries and one score. Junior receiver Bryson Reeves finished with 10 receptions for 128 yards and one key interception. Sophomore Max Garrison also made his presence known through big hits, hard runs and a couple of big-time catches. Continue reading “St. Francis Edges Mira Costa, 23-21”

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Local Athlete Sprints to 3rd Place in Pan American Games

Cravon Gillespie
Cravon Gillespie

Pasadena native Cravon Gillespie accomplished just about everything he could at the University of Oregon, earning him the George Scharpf Outstanding Athlete Award that is given to a male track and field athlete with outstanding athletic achievement.
The local sprinter added another accolade as a 23-year-old professional at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, last Friday. Gillespie won a bronze medal by helping Team USA post a time of 38.79 seconds in the 4×100-meter relay along with Jaret Eaton, Bryce Robinson and Michael Rodgers.
“He’s been doing what he needs to do,” said Gillespie’s father Tommy. “He’s been working so hard in all the races he’s been in. I think he’ll get better after he rests in the fall and comes back in 2020.” Continue reading “Local Athlete Sprints to 3rd Place in Pan American Games”

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Knights’ Tale: Bonds Marks 2 Decades as Head Coach

Jim Bonds
Photo courtesy UCLA Athletics
After winning a CIF title with Newhall Hart, Jim Bonds went on to play quarterback at UCLA.

Much has changed in the area since 2000, with local football programs having their ups and downs and coaches on the move. The sport of football and its players have certainly evolved in the past two decades, but there remains one constant in St. Francis High School football.
The Golden Knights are a consistent power in the football world, with 18 CIF Southern Section playoff appearances in the last 19 years — a remarkable feat for Jim Bonds, who is entering his 20th season as St. Francis’ head coach.
“A few people had asked me about how many years, and I had to go back and do the math,” he said. “I saw that it’s going to be 20. I can’t believe it.”
That kind of loyalty to one school is rare nowadays, and Principal Tom Moran is glad Bonds chose St. Francis in 2000.
“It’s remarkable,” Moran said. “I’m sure he has had opportunities and will continue to have them. We’re very blessed he’s decided to make St. Francis his home.” Continue reading “Knights’ Tale: Bonds Marks 2 Decades as Head Coach”

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Mayfield Senior Standout Running Toward Her Goals

Audrey Suarez
Photos courtesy Kevin Morris
Mayfield Senior runner Audrey Suarez had a memorable year and became the first Cub to win a CIF State championship.

The CIF State Track and Field Championships at the end of May are usually the conclusion of the spring season for runners after a grueling month that includes league races, CIF Southern Section finals and the Masters Meet.
For Audrey Suarez, it didn’t end until June 16. Continue reading “Mayfield Senior Standout Running Toward Her Goals”

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Local Tennis Standout to Play for Prestigious College Program

Ian Freer
Ian Freer

Ian Freer concluded his final year at St. Francis the best way he possibly could. The Golden Knight defeated Tyler Pham of Newport Beach Corona del Mar, 6-2, 6-3, to win the CIF Southern Section Individual Singles Championship, and he looks to gain more accolades over the next four years as he begins playing tennis for Claremont McKenna College in the fall.
“It was definitely special for me,” said Freer. “It was big because tennis is such an individual sport. I’ve played tournaments my whole life, but what made this special was having the support of all my friends, family and St. Francis community.”
Members of the St. Francis community reached out to Freer prior to his accomplishment, including alumni and SFHS President Father Tony Marti, who traveled to Seal Beach to watch the tennis standout play. Continue reading “Local Tennis Standout to Play for Prestigious College Program”

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Four Softball Players Considered For All-State

Vivian Wheeler
Polytechnic’s Vivian Wheeler is nominated for All-State honors.

Softball athletes from Polytechnic, Maranatha High School, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Westridge were among those nominated by Cal-Hi Sports for All-State honors.
Cal-Hi Sports, an online publication that covers major high school athletics in California, recognizes athletes by releasing an All-State list at the end of the season. Continue reading “Four Softball Players Considered For All-State”

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Polytechnic Denied Second Straight Baseball Title

Polytechnic varsity baseball team f
Photo courtesy Polytechnic School
The Polytechnic varsity baseball team fell to Palm Desert Xavier Prep, 3-0, in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 championship at the Riverside Sports Complex last Saturday. The squad, guided by head coach Nicholas Wagner and assistant coaches Stephen Gleason and Kyle Murray, includes Franco Alonso, Maxi Alsoufiev, Van Fichtner, Thibeaux Hirsh, Samuel Howell, Edward Konjoyan, David Mathias, Jason Mayo, Sean McTigue, Jacob Shafia, Jacob Sherwindt, Trent Steele and Robert Wilson.

The Polytechnic varsity baseball team found itself in familiar territory at the Riverside Sports Complex last Saturday. The Panthers were playing in the same field where they captured their CIF Southern Section Division 6 title one year ago. Continue reading “Polytechnic Denied Second Straight Baseball Title”

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Westridge’s Historic Season Ends In Defeat

Westridge varsity softball team
Photo by Oscar Areliz / OUTLOOK
The Westridge varsity softball team fell to Upland Western Christian, 3-0, in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 championship at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine last Friday. The squad, which brought home its first runner-up plaque, includes Olivia Bulow (front row), Sophie Haydon-Khan, Hailey Lam, Franny Chilton, Paloma Salseda, Mina Alvarado Goldberg, Sonaya Vazquez-Wright and Ava Ferrante. Middle: Natalie Vandergriff, Nica Kinser, Zelia Mauro, Kaley Penichet-Khaw and Julia Valenzuela. Back: Hailey Yoshida, Corina Dunn, Sosi Day, Deijah Bradley, Celeste Teran , Molly Morgan, Claire Coffman, Annie Gold, assistant coaches Ginny Garofalo and Allison Clark, head coach Karen Hanselman and assistant coach Christine Valenzuela.

The Westridge varsity softball team entered Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine last Friday having already made history. The squad earned a spot in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 championship game, a feat no other has accomplished in the program’s history.
Unfortunately, the Tigers were unable to control the nerves that came with playing on a big stage, and Upland Western Christian took advantage of Westridge’s mistakes to claim the CIF championship with a 3-0 victory.
The Tigers (13-8 overall record) committed eight errors in the game, which allowed the Fighting Lancers (22-7 overall) to score unearned runs in the second, third and fifth innings. Continue reading “Westridge’s Historic Season Ends In Defeat”

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Flintridge Prep Edges Top-Seeded Maranatha, 10-8

Flintridge Prep varsity boys’ tennis team
Photo by Oscar Areliz / OUTLOOK
The Flintridge Prep varsity boys’ tennis team downed Maranatha, 10-8, to claim the first CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship in the history of the program. The historic squad includes David Kim (front row, from left) Leon Liao, Will Lanstra and Patrick Hastings. Back: Neel Sadda, Matin Bagheri, Derek Tran, Gillis Linde, Andrew Megerdichian, Alec Guthrie, Loran Baxter, Owen Smith, Noah Igler, Tim Zhang and Alec Bernardi.

The Flintridge Prep and Maranatha High School varsity boys’ tennis team both overcame great adversity en route to the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship, but it was the No. 3-seeded Rebels who proved to be more battle-tested as they defeated the top-seeded Minutemen, 10-8, at the Claremont Club last Friday. Continue reading “Flintridge Prep Edges Top-Seeded Maranatha, 10-8”