“We lost 13 seniors so this team is still finding its identity as a unit,” Jewett said. “We have a strong group of seniors who I am counting on to be solid leaders and role models for the younger guys.”
Jewett said his key players will be his senior captains. He is relying on attackers Dakota Randall and Chris O’Brien, midfielders Austin Hafdell and Alec Weaver and goalkeeper Johnny Goodlad to lead the Mustangs this season.
In his first season as head coach of the Mustangs, Jewett led his team to a 17-4 record that included the Bay League title, L.A. County Championship and an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Finals where Mira Costa fell to five-time champion Foothill 19-5. Jewett was selected 2011 Bay League Coach of the Year.
Jewett realizes it will be difficult to defend the Bay League crown. Palos Verdes is listed No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section in the LAX Power rankings. Mira Costa is ranked No. 18 and Redondo is at No. 35.
Mira Costa defeated Downey 11-5 Monday and hosts rival Redondo at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Following a road game at Beverly Hills Friday, Mira Costa hosts Tesoro (No. 22 in CIF-SS) Saturday at 3 p.m., Culver City Monday at 7 p.m. and then travels to Downey for a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday.
Redondo continues Bay League action when the Sea Hawks host Peninsula on Friday and Culver City on Wednesday. Both games are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
While competition in the Bay League continues to get stronger, Jewett feels it may be a few years before local teams can compete with those from Orange County whose programs have been running for a much longer period of time.
“I believe as a whole L.A. County and the Bay League has a ways to go to consistently compete year in and year out with the Orange County teams,” Jewett said. “The key is to properly develop our youth programs, similar to what is being cultivated in the OC and other parts of the country. I see a lot of positive growth at the youth level in L.A. County. I believe the playing field will start to level out as the 5th through 8th graders get to high school.”
Jewett has coached youth through high school club teams since 2008 and taught basic fundamental lacrosse classes to elementary school boys and girls through out the South Bay. He is the President of Leverage Lacrosse, a Not-For-Profit Lacrosse Organization. The sole purpose of this NPO is to foster the growth of lacrosse while creating a learning environment where South Bay kids can grow their Lacrosse skills and knowledge.
