South Bay Surf League 2012 preview
Mira Costa’s depth will be
Hard to beat this winter
by John Joseph
South Bay Surf League director
The finals of the 17th Annual South Bay Surf League Classic was held in a bumpy wind swell at the Hermosa Beach Pier on Saturday, November 10. As expected, Mira Costa proved it is the team to beat this year. Fourteen of the 30 finalists were from Costa and its surfers took first in three of the five divisions. Costa arguably has the deepest, most talented team in league history. Palos Verdes surfers finished first in two divisions.
Top finishers: Boys short board Mike Willingrad, Palos Verdes. Boys longboard: Josh Perch (Mira Costa), Body board: Jackson Casady, Mira Costa. Girls short board Sara Kohrogi (Mira Costa). Girls long board Jessica Dustin, Palos Verdes.
Palos Verdes also has plenty of talent but lacks Mira Costa’s depth. Redondo will be competitive as usual but, again, depth will be an issue. South has a young but much improved team. El Segundo, as usual, will have several of the league’s top surfers, but with the lowest enrollment of any of the schools in the league, depth is always an issue.
San Pedro, North, West and Bishop Montgomery, with their smaller teams, will compete against one another in division 2.Santa Monicamay join division 2.
Here’s how the team’s respective coaches view the upcoming season.
Mira Costa
By coach Tracy Geller
Our short board team is one of the best ever in SBSL history. League Champion Sophomore Noah Collins leads the pack of outstanding surfers, which include seniors Josh Perch, Nathan Quinn and Juniors Jared Boyd, Kyle Brown and Codee Stamis. Each one of them is capable of winning anytime they enter the water.
Our girls are unquestionably the best and deepest, leas by previous SBSL champions junior Jordan Wible and sophomore Rachael Tominaga.
Dillon St Germain and Andrew Vander mark head up a competitive long board group. Jackson and Braden Cassidy along with Nick Coons lead this year’s talented body board team.
Palos Verdes
By coach Keith Whitmer
Captains Mike Willingrad, Zac Klein, Jessie Rowan and Jessica Dustin lead this year’s talented team. We have lots of short board experience in seniors Will Borzi and Joe Marian and talented freshmen Will Reid, Peter Healey and Jack Rowan.
Past league champions Jessica Dustin and Jessica Rowan will challenge Costa for dominance in the girls divisions.
Brendan Hefferman and Justin Jones will lead the way in longboard, but as is the case with us every year, we’re not sure what we have in the way of body boarders.
Redondo Union High
By coach Avery Duncan
Sophomore Trevor La Sure will be competing for the all around title this year as he steps up to replace two-time league MVP Connor Beatty. Luke Meyers in short board and David Fillman in long board will keep Redondo competitive. In any other era Sara Curran, Ele Enscore and Alidah Sheldon would be odds on favorites to dominate the girls division. But this year they will have to be at their best to win.
South Torrance
By coach Leigh McArthur
This year’s team is young and improved. Dillon Ragone, Dan Clark, Blake Ito Jack and Will Meyer will double up on both long and short board. Jon Senesac will compete with anybody in the body board. Chloe Dimitrew will head up our girls team.
El Segundo
By coach Craig Cousins
This year’s young squad is lead by Corey O’Neil, Richard Bennett and Micah Zask. Samantha Vizon and Kirston Bucher bring experience to the girls’ side. Cody Martin heads up a strong body board group.
San Pedro High
By coach Richard Wagoner
AJ Morales and Jeremy Diaz on short board with Jake Bergersen and Alex Valentine on long boards will lead the boys’ team. Cassidy Feltenberger will keep our girls’ team competitive.
North and West Torrance Highs
By coach Barbra St. John
Returning surfers Alex Evans, Kai Zimmerman, Marcus Viscari, Daniel Okomoto and Mike Lawrence have the experience to make us competitive.
Bishop Montgomery
By coach Kevin Bateman
Jimmy Grove and Natalie D’Angelo will lead the Knights.
Peninsula:
Once one of the strongest programs in the league, Peninsula is sitting out this year due to lack of participation. DZ
All Photos
