Sporting highlights of 2011
It was an exciting year in the South Bay sports world where athletes of all ages met and exceeded expectations and two local events celebrated their Golden Anniversaries. Following are highlights of 2011 and the issue date they appeared in the Easy Reader.
January
6 – In a rare pre-league meeting, Redondo’s boys basketball team beat rival Mira Costa 66-54 in the 7th-place game of the Sea Hawk Classic tournament.
20 – Mira Costa defensive lineman J.R. Tavai was named the Bay League’s Most Valuable Player and teammate Derek Largent was selected as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Mustangs to their third consecutive league title.
Redondo's girls cross country team ran to success. Photo
20 – Redondo’s girls basketball team snapped Mira Costa’s 21-game league winning streak with a 48-31 road win.
27 – Redondo head football coach Gene Simon coached the White Team to a 7-7 tie in the West Torrance Lions club Senior All-Star Game. It was Simon’s third time coaching in the annual event. Mira Costa’s J.R. Tavai was named Defensive Player of the Game.
February
3 – For the first time since 2007, both basketball teams from Redondo swept rival Mira Costa in the same season.
3 – Seven players from the Bay League were named to the All-CIF Northern Division team. Mira Costa was represented by defensive lineman J.R. Tavai (Northern Division Defensive Player of the Year), linebacker Derek Largent, lineman Brett Darragh and kicker Brendan Sofen. Redondo lineman John Miller also earned All-CIF honors.
10 – Heavy fog failed to dampen the spirits of more than 8,000 participants competing in the 33rd Annual Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K. Luis Ibarra won the 10K race and Juan Valencia took top honors in the 5K. Beth Hodgkiss and Tania Fischer won the 10K and 5K races, respectively.
10 – Fourteen wrestlers from Mira Costa and Redondo qualified for competition in the CIF Central Division Individual Championships.
17 – Mira Costa’s girls water polo team earned a share of the Bay League title with Palos Verdes.
17 – Redondo’s girls basketball team were crowned Bay League championship after going 10-0 in league play.
24 – The South Bay’s USTA Junior Team from Alta Vista (Redondo Beach) captured the Southern California Sectional tennis championship.
South Bay athletes dominated local AAU beach volleyball tournaments. Photo
March
3 – Nearly 700 participants braved cold weather to compete in the 31st Annual American Martyrs School 5K Run/Walk. Kristoffer Chacon, of Lomita, won the race with a time of 17 minutes, 59 seconds.
10 – Hermosa Beach Little League celebrated its 60th Anniversary with the opening of a newly reconditioned East Field.
10 – Redondo’s boys volleyball team won its own Redondo Varsity Pre-Season Tournament with a 25-22, 26-24 win over Long Beach Poly.
17 – Mira Costa’s baseball team hosted El Segundo in a doubleheader that honored DUI victims and former Mustang players Henry Pearson and Jon Wilhite and their fellow passengers Nick Adenhart and Courtney Stewart.
17 – Nike sponsored the inaugural Redondo Nike Track Festival at Redondo Union High School.
24 – New Redondo High baseball coach Jeff Baumback sets out to rebuild the Sea Hawk’s struggling program.
31 – Mira Costa girls track and field team dominated the Mustang Relays while the girls distance team from Redondo excelled at the Azusa Pacific Meet of Champions.
31 – Averaging more than 20 points per game, Mira Costa guard Elliott Ozer was named to the All-CIF Division 2A Basketball Team.
April
14 – Redondo’s girls basketball duo of Michelle Lowery and Shayna Stuart were selected Co-Most Valuable Players in the Bay League. Mira Costa’s Kylie Nakamine, the nation’s best free throw shooter, was named as the league’s Most Outstanding Player. On the boys side, Redondo senior guard Martyre Demarco was named Co-Most Outstanding Player after leading Redondo to a second-place tie with Leuzinger.
The International Surf Festival celebrated its 50th year in 2011. Photo
21 – Youth volleyball players from Manhattan Beach captured 18 medals, including nine gold, as local athletes dominated the AAU Spring Classic beach volleyball tournament held at Dockweiler State Beach.
21 – More than 500 runners and walkers participated in the fifth annual Hermosa Beach 5000 5K. Former Azusa Pacific distance runner Tim Ramirez outpaced Hermosa Beach’s Rick Weis for the title with a time of 15 minutes, 56 seconds, narrowly missing David Williams’ event record of 15:52 set in 2009. In the women’s division, 26-year-old Adrienne Schumm won with a time of 18:43.
May
5 – Mira Costa’s boys volleyball team won the Bay League championship with a four-set victory over rival Redondo.
12 – Manhattan Beach athletes dominate local AAU beach volleyball tournaments.
12 – Coming off a share of its 10th consecutive Bay League championship, Mira Costa’s boys golf team placed third in the CIF Southern Section Team Divisional playoffs
12 – The Mira Costa girls swimming team won its first Bay League championship. The Mustangs were led by senior and captain Marisa Purcell in the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle and junior Natalie Lavinsky in the 50 freestyle.
12 – Redondo’s girls track team qualified 17 individuals plus two relay teams for the CIF Southern Section Division 2 prelims, while Mira Costa’s Ashlee Dotson’s was a four-time winner at the Bay League track and field finals.
19 – Sixty three-year-old Manhattan Beach resident Bob Wyler completed his 1 ?-year journey of running or walking every paved roadway in his hometown.
19 – After winning North Division championships, Mira Costa’s boys team and the girls from Redondo suffered losses to Orange Country champions in the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section Division 1 championships held at Redondo Union High School.
19 – Mira Costa’s boys volleyball team had its dream of a CIF and National championship vanish host Mater Dei upset the top ranked Mustangs in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section-Ford Division 1 championships. Mira Costa finished the season with an impressive 33-2 record.
26 – Redondo Beach trainer Ken Vick and his staff helped prepare standout college football players for the NFL Combines.
26 – Local athletes won titles at the National Volleyball League’s inaugural tournament held in the infield of the Pimlico Race Course prior to the Preakness Stakes near Baltimore. Sean Scott (Redondo Beach) and John Hyden (Sherman Oaks) won the men’s title while Tealle Hunkus (El Segundo) and Heather Lowe (Redondo Beach) battled back from a second-round loss to capture the first women’s championship.
June
9 – Manhattan Beach native Patrick Sweeney won the Grandview Gator 5K, besting 922 runners with a time of 17:18.7.
16 – With almost a half hour to spare, 32-year-old Patrick Sweeney accomplished his goal of becoming the Guinness World Records© holder for Greatest Distance Run On Sand in 24 Hours. His 87.36 miles broke the record of 83.04 miles set during the 2010 Labor Day weekend by his friend Christian Burke, who had shattered the previous record of 62.14 miles while using the attempt as a fundraiser for Hermosa Beach schools.
The Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix held its Golden Anniversary event in June. Photo
23 – With an added mile on a new course, Palos Verdes native Jared Vargas won the Rock 2 Rock paddleboard race on his unlimited SUP. In the unlimited paddleboard division, Los Angeles County Lifeguard Anthony Vela took top honors.
30 – The Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix cycling race celebrated its 50th year as thousands of spectators cheered on competitors in eight races plus a number of community kids’ races. Colombia’s Carlos Alzate Escobar won the Pro 1 race. Seventeen-year-old Jennifer Valente beat a field of riders at least seven years older to win the Women’s Cat 1-3 competition.
30 – Sponsored by South Bay Surf Baseball, eight-time batting champion and Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn held two batting clinics at local fields.
July
7 – Working out of Hermosa Beach offices, USAV beach volleyball director Dave Williams keeps a watchful eye on the sport – attempting to rebuild the professional circuit while grooming future Olympic medalists.
7 – A pair of Warriors returned to the South Bay to win the 18th annual Village Runner 4th of July 5K Run/Walk. David Cardona (North Torrance, El Camino College) won the event with a time of 15 minutes, 19.4 seconds. Alison Kielty (West Torrance, Arizona State) held off Redondo’s Nathalie Higley to capture the women’s title with a time of 17:17.0.
14 – Senior outside hitters D.J. White (Mira Costa) and Ryan Olson (Redondo) were selected to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 boys volleyball team. White was named MVP of the Bay League while Olson earn Most Outstanding Player honors and Mira Costa’s Tony Ensbury was voted the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. White earned a spot on the USA Boy’s youth National Team (U-19) which competed in the Pan American Cup in Mexico and the Youth World Championships in Argentina. Manhattan Beach’s Michael Mullahey (Loyola) was selected as an alternate.
14 – In his first year as head coach of Mira Costa’s boys lacrosse team, Chris Jewett was named Bay League Coach of the Year. Mustang midfielder Thomas Farrell was selected MVP while teammate Cody Smith was named Defensive Player of the Year. On the girls side, Redondo coach Tom Borgia earned Coach of the Year honors. Sea Hawk midfielder Julia Denney was named MVP of the Bay League.
21 – Jim Martineau, of Rancho Palos Verdes, won his second Manhattan Beach Open Tennis Tournament Men’s Singles title with a 7-3, 6-3 victory over defending champion Andrew Eklov.
21 – Local players and coaches enjoyed success at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships. Chris Orenic, of Manhattan Beach, was named MVP after leading the SCVC 17 QS team to a thrilling gold medal victory over the Manhattan Beach Surf team in the 17 Open Gold Division.
Nathalie Higley, of Redondo Beach, captured her 10th women's title at the Manhattan Beach 10K. Photo
28 – Thirteen-year-old wrestler Hunter Ladnier won the California USA Dave Schultz KIDS Freestyle State Championship held in Fresno. The Hermosa Valley Middle School student plans to bring his talents to the Mira Costa High School program.
28 – Hermosa Beach residents Marty Salokas and Donny Young became the first US Open of Beach Tennis champions.
August
4 – Local athletes excelled at the 50th International Surf Festival including Dave Cartlidge (Redondo Beach) and Tom Seth (Manhattan Beach) who won the Lifeguard Dory Race. More than 60,000 people gathered in Manhattan Beach for the Charlie Saikley 6-Man Volleyball Tournament. Team Smack Magnum won its fourth consecutive title, besting a field of more than 120 teams.
11 – Copa Cabana Beach Soccer brought its tour to the sands of Hermosa Beach where 51 teams in 11 divisions competed in the two-day event.
18 – Former Manhattan Beach mayor Russ Lesser completed more than 50,000 miles of running with a ceremony at the Manhattan Beach Pier where the 70-year-old was presented a plaque by family and friends.
18 – Redondo Beach thrill seeker Howard Cohen turned in a fifth-place performance while battling rocky terrain and extreme heat in the dangerous Elfego Baca Golf Shoot in New Mexico.
25 – London Chow, of Redondo Beach, won her sixth beach volleyball title of the summer (all with different partners) when the 16-year-old teamed with Sara Hughes to capture the AAU Best of the Beach tournament held in Hermosa Beach.
September
1 – Redondo Beach doctor Brad Thomas captured the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race. Australian firefighter Jo Ambrosi won the women’s division.
1 – New names were added to the Manhattan Beach Pier after Sean Scott (Redondo Beach) and partner John Hyden won the coveted championship at the Manhattan Beach Open defeating Billy Allen and Brad Keenan. The women’s competition also produced new members who earned their plaques on the hallowed walk. Jenny Kropp (Hollyglen) and Whitney Pavlik defeated Bristen Batt and Brooke Sweat for the crown.
15 – Mira Costa’s varsity girls volleyball team taught their elders a lesson, winning the annual Alumni match against a Who’s Who of form Mustang players.
22 – The Manhattan Beach Little League Senior All-Stars fell one game short of returning to the World Series in Bangor. ME.
29 – Hermosa Beach resident Casey Jennings impressed the hometown crowd, teaming with Brazil’s Pedro Salgado to win the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach National Championships. Top seeded April Ross and Jen Kessy captured the women’s title.
October
6 – Redondo Beach distance runner Nathalie Higley, 41, captured her 10th women’s title at the Manhattan Beach 10K with a time of 36:51, outpacing Alison Atkinson (Manhattan Beach, 37:44) and Emily Anderson, (El Segundo, 38:41). Competing in the race for only the second time, Jose “Tito” Lezama, 21, of Lawndale won the 34th annual race with a time of 31:56, besting Erik Steffens (Sherman Oaks, 32:34), Matthew Miller (Manhattan Beach, 32:49) and more than 3,450 other runners.
6 – Mira Costa won the boys and girls cross country team championships at the 10th running of the South Bay Cup held at Columbia Park in Torrance. Adam Perez (15:01) and Kelli Sugimoto (17:41) led the Mustang boys and girls teams, respectively, on the 2.8-mile course.
13 – Manhattan Beach’s Jennifer Temperley regained her winning ways, besting her 2009 winning time by 15 seconds to capture the 2011 women’s title with a mark of 57 minutes, 43 seconds at the Day At The Beach Triathlon in Hermosa Beach. Tyler Willingham, of Venice, was the overall winner with a time of 50:36.
20 – John Featherstone won his 200th game as head football coach at El Camino College.
20 – Redondo Beach paddling champion Danny Ching returned to the winner’s podium at the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle in Dana Point, taking first in a field of 230 racers in the 10-mile stand-up paddle (SUP) race. The previous day, Ching beat Australian Jamie Mitchell – a 10-time prone paddleboard champion – for second place in the Elite race.
20 – Former Mira Costa standout Stevi Robinson (Hermosa Beach) became the all-time leader in digs for Pepperdine’s women’s volleyball team, breaking Christina Hinds’ record of 1,404 set in 2004.
27 – Mira Costa alum Lane Carico was one of 10 NCAA women’s volleyball student-athletes named finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®) Award. An outside hitter at the University of Miami, Carico is the first player in school history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.
November
10 – Ranked third in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 poll, Redondo’s girls cross country team ran away with the Bay League title.
17 – Redondo’s football team claimed second place in the Bay League after a 21-7 win at rival Mira Costa.
17 – Four Mira Costa alumni were honored by the Southern California Football Association for their achievements while playing for El Camino College this season. Jordan Tavai was named Defensive Most Valuable Player in the National Northern Conference. Freshman linebacker Derek Largent was selected to the Northern Conference All-Defense first team while sophomore linebacker Kellen Lockwood earned second team honors. Tight end Mike Miller was named to the All-Offense second team.
17 – Mira Costa sophomore golfer Megan Kim competed against the top prep golfers at the CIF-CGA State Championships held at Poppy Hills Golf Course at Pebble Beach, finishing tied for 22nd place after shooting a 78.
24 – More than 40 of the 64 members of the Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame attended a kick-off party to celebrate the establishment of a hall of fame home at the Hermosa Beach Historical Museum. Established in 1992, the CBVA Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame paid special honors to legend Ron Von Hagen, Gene Selznick, Ron Lang and Miki McFadden. The Class of 2011 – Holly McPeak, John Hanley, Brian Lewis and Arthur “Artie” Couvillion – were inducted during the evening’s festivities.
December
1 – Local cross country teams capped off successful seasons in CIF postseason meets. After placing third in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 competition, Redondo’s girls team placed third in the State Championships. Mira Costa’s Kelli Sugimoto finished fourth in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 meet leading the Mustangs to a 9th-place finish. In boy’s competition, Mira Costa advanced to the state competition for the first time since 2007 with a 5th-place team finish at the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championships. The Mustangs had a respectively 13-place finish in the state meet. Redondo’s boys team finished 11th in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 finals.
8 – Gene Simon abruptly resigned as head football coach at Redondo Union High School after serving 16 years at the helm of the Sea Hawk’s gridiron program.
8 – Completing an undefeated 32-0 season, Mira Costa junior Maegan Manasse captured the CIF Southern Section Individual Tennis Championship becoming the first Mustang girls tennis player to win a CIF individual crown.
8 – Redondo turned in the best performance by a California girls cross country team finishing 10th at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, OR. Rachel Bush placed 39th with a time of 18 minutes, 37 seconds.
15 – Eight-year-old Manhattan Beach quarterback Sam Whitney was selected to represent the Los Angeles area in the Offense-Defense Youth All-American Bowl at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.
22 – Mira Costa’s girls soccer team captured the prestigious South Holiday Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Bay League rival Peninsula. The Mustang’s Kimby Keever was named Tournament MVP.