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Titans Remain Perfect in League, Off to Best Start in 12 Years

Photo courtesy Eric Danielson
Hanna Wang has been a standout setter for San Marino this season.

The San Marino High School varsity girls’ volleyball team rallied from a two-game deficit and edged defending Rio Hondo League champion La Cañada in five sets, 19-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-7, at the LCHS Hotchkin Family Gymnasium last Thursday.
With the win, the Titans (15-5 overall record) took sole possession of first place with a perfect 4-0 record in the Rio Hondo League standings.
“I would attribute it to their work ethic,” said SMHS head coach Joseph Rios. “As far as attendance goes, this is the best attendance I’ve had at practice. These girls are showing up and doing the work. Also, I think it’s just chemistry. Things are a lot better with the girls and they’re a lot friendlier. They stay positive.”
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San Marino Scores Big Win Over League Rival

Photo courtesy San Marino High School
The Titans defeated Rio Hondo League rival La Cañada last week and won the First Serve Tennis Tournament on Saturday. The winning squad includes head coach Melwin Pereira (front row, from left) Camdyn Wu, Rakel Ang, Katie Kirkendall and Kayla Chen. Middle: Anna Moller, Alyssa Luff and Elaine Wu. Back: Caitlin Mguyen and Grace Carter.

With only one player who consistently plays tournaments and is ranked in her age group, San Marino varsity girls’ tennis coach Melwin Pereira was unsure if his team could compete with the Rio Hondo League this season.
“Just look at La Cañada,” Pereira said. “They have two freshmen who are four stars. You can’t compare this season. I don’t have those players. My freshmen don’t play in tournaments and are unranked.”
The team’s chemistry and resiliency made up for its lack of experience last Thursday as San Marino defeated Rio Hondo League rival La Cañada on the road, 11-7.
Continue reading “San Marino Scores Big Win Over League Rival”

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San Marino Ready to Surprise League Opponents

OUTLOOK photo
Taylor Suetsugu is one of the more experienced players on the roster, which includes two freshmen and two sophomores.

The San Marino High School program graduated 10 of its 12 players from last year’s roster, making this season a difficult one to predict for everyone, even head coach Robert Zirovich.
Despite not knowing what to expect, Zirovich is enjoying a group that includes two freshmen and two sophomores.
“The exciting thing is I don’t know what this group’s potential is yet,” said Zirovich, who is in his fourth season with the Titans. “I know it’s big, but the question is how fast are we going to learn and improve? We lost 10 of 12 players from last year. That’s a big deal, but we’re completely reworking things and I’m very excited.”
Continue reading “San Marino Ready to Surprise League Opponents”

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San Marino’s DuNah Awarded CIF-SS Champions for Character

Photo courtesy Eric Danielson
The CIF Southern Section announced San Marino High School senior Sierra DuNah as a recipient of the Champions for Character Award on Monday.

San Marino High School softball standout Sierra DuNah was one of 14 athletes to earn the CIF Southern Section Champions for Character award.
“We are so proud of her,” said SMHS Athletic Director David Irie. “I actually had her in class this summer and know her as a student. She’s the kind of kid you want to have in your school. She is hardworking and dedicated, which is everything you want in a student.”
Athletes, coaches administrators, officials, athletic trainers and media members who demonstrate “six pillars of character” —trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, fairness, caring and citizenship — will be honored at The Grand in Long Beach.
Former San Marino Athletic Director Nicholas Sale nominated DuNah and will be attending the ceremony.
Continue reading “San Marino’s DuNah Awarded CIF-SS Champions for Character”

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SMHS Grad’s ‘Gooool’: Attract World Cup Viewers

Photo courtesy Andres Cantor’s Instagram Emmy-winning soccer broadcaster Andrés Cantor will call his first FIFA World Cup match on television since 1998.
Photo courtesy Andres Cantor’s Instagram
Emmy-winning soccer broadcaster Andrés Cantor will call his first FIFA World Cup match on television since 1998.

Legendary soccer broadcaster Andrés Cantor has one of the most recognizable calls in all of sports with his famous, passionate “Goooooooool!” that has been heard by millions on the radio network, Fútbol de Primera, during the past four World Cups. Continue reading “SMHS Grad’s ‘Gooool’: Attract World Cup Viewers”

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Local Sports Photographer to Be Honored in Basketball Hall of Fame

Photo courtesy Andy Bernstein San Marino resident Andy Bernstein (right) made a name for himself in basketball as the official photographer of both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, capturing images from “every moment of Kobe [Bryant’s] career,” he said.
Photo courtesy Andy Bernstein
San Marino resident Andy Bernstein (right) made a name for himself in basketball as the official photographer of both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, capturing images from “every moment of Kobe [Bryant’s] career,” he said.
San Marino resident Andy Bernstein was recently announced as one of the two Curt Gowdy Media Award recipients this year in recognition of his career as a prolific Los Angeles-area sports photographer.
According to an NBA news release, Bernstein will be honored during the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremonies Sept. 6-8 in Springfield, Massachusetts, alongside fellow recipient Doris Burke, an ESPN basketball analyst. Continue reading “Local Sports Photographer to Be Honored in Basketball Hall of Fame”

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San Marino Downs Viewpoint, Extends Win Streak

Photo by Raymond Quan / OUTLOOK
Jacob Leftwich (player with the ball) recovers a fumble and gives the offense good field position during the Titans’ 41-12 victory over visiting Viewpoint of Calabasas.

San Marino High School varsity football coach Mike Hobbie wasn’t satisfied with his team’s performance despite building a five-point lead at the half against visiting Calabasas Viewpoint last Friday, and gathered his players in the locker room to ask a simple question.
“He came in very calm, which we weren’t expecting,” said senior quarterback Blake Cabot. “He asked, ‘Do you want to win?’ We said yes, and he told us that if we wanted to win, we need to [execute the game plan] or else we’d lose. I think that motivated all of us. We’re not losing this game, and we got our act together.”
The motivated Titans responded with a dominant second half, running away with a 41-12 victory over the Patriots in a nonleague contest. Continue reading “San Marino Downs Viewpoint, Extends Win Streak”

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San Marino’s Chemistry Key to Winning League

San Marino High School water polo assistant coach Bilal Elgabalawy and head coach Robert Zirovich

San Marino High School varsity boys’ water polo coach Robert Zirovich lost key players to transfer and graduation, including Rio Hondo League MVP Alessio Brunochelli, but the third-year coach is starting the season with more optimism than ever.
“We lost Aaron Wilson, who transferred to [La Verne] Damien, and Alessio to graduation,” Zirovich said. “On paper, we have less talent, but in terms of what we’re doing in the pool, we’re just playing more of a team game than we were last year. Our defense in particular has taken a step forward in the right direction.”
Returning players such as Charles Wong, Jacob Yee, Blake Castleman and Dillon Goldsmith showed a dedication to the program during the offseason, and now the Titans are off to a 5-1 start to the season. Continue reading “San Marino’s Chemistry Key to Winning League”

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San Marino Shows Potential After Season Opener

Photo courtesy Angus Leung Olivia Ruiz enters the year as the Rio Hondo League’s top runner. She placed second in the junior race at the Rosemead Invitational.

In his third year at the helm, San Marino High School cross-country coach Angus Leung is starting to notice something he had not seen with his program.
“This team is big,” said Leung. “We have nearly 60 runners this year compared last year’s 40.”
The increase in numbers gives the Titans a lot more than depth. Having more athletes only gives San Marino more potential this season, and the runners noticed that after their first race last weekend.
“A lot of them didn’t know what they were capable of until after Friday,” said Leung, whose teams competed in the Rosemead Invitational last week. “The course was a little longer than 3 miles. They now know what they’re capable of and they were more committed. I could see it. The season is still early, and it was a good start. They are not where I want them to be right now, but so far so good.” Continue reading “San Marino Shows Potential After Season Opener”

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San Marino Falls to Los Altos in Season Opener

Photo by Raymond Quan / OUTLOOK
Blake Cabot completed 15 of 24 passes for 138 yards and two interceptions in a 42-28 loss at Los Altos of Hacienda Heights last Friday. The senior quarterback also led the Titans on the ground with 79 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

The San Marino High School varsity football team showed what it is capable of at Hacienda Heights Los Altos last Friday with two scores in the first quarter. However, the Titans also displayed their inexperience with key mistakes down the stretch, allowing the Conquerors to come away with a 42-28 victory in the teams’ season opener.
“A few mistakes,” said SMHS head coach Mike Hobbie. “That’s it. A few mistakes turned into a lot of mistakes. They gave us a hard time. We’re very inexperienced, especially on the offensive line. Once they stopped doing what we practiced and started doing something else, we fell apart. That killed us. It killed our running game.”
San Marino will look to bounce back in a nonleague game against Dominguez High School at Compton College this Friday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m. Continue reading “San Marino Falls to Los Altos in Season Opener”