LBHS girls basketball secures two more wins to open season

The Laguna Beach High School girls basketball team had a busy week, battling for wins against Orange High School and St. Monica’s Catholic High School, with a disappointing loss to Century High School.

On Wednesday, the team played Century High School.

Coach Matthew Tietz says, “We were without two starters [Madi Garwal and Sophie Marriner both injured] and once again got off to a rough start. We struggled to make shots, hitting only 2 of 21 three-point attempts and turned the ball over too often in the game.” 

The girls battled, but in the end lost 36-43. Anna Cheng led in scoring with 14 points. Kenna Rudolph had 8 points and 19 rebounds, Clarice Curras and Julia Henry had 6 points each, and Sabrina Yang scored 2 points.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Scott Brashier

Coach Tietz talks to team during game against Orange High School

On Thursday, the team played Orange High School, who had beaten Century just a few days before. The team was still without Madi Garwal and Sophie Marriner. 

Coach Tietz says, “The game was back and forth from beginning to end. The girls’ persistence paid off and they came up big in the 4th quarter outscoring Orange High School 13-7 in the quarter. For the game, Kenna Rudolph led us in scoring with 14 points, including 4 three-pointers and added 15 rebounds. Anna Cheng scored 9 points, Julia Henry had 5 points and 9 rebounds, Sabrina Yang had 3 points, and Autumn Moreland 1 point, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals.” 

The final score was Laguna 32, Orange 28.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Scott Brashier

LBHS girls battle it out against Orange High School

The JV team played its first game of the season against Orange High School. Coach Tietz reports, “They played extremely well but in the end lost 17-20.” Laila Hassan was the leading scorer with 10 points including 3 three-pointers. Brisa Campos scored 4 points and had 9 rebounds and 6 steals, Evelyn Alonso scored 2 points, Laura Mandala scored 1 point and had 5 assists, and Sophia Seidensticker had 10 rebounds. 

Friday’s games against Pomona High School were cancelled.

The team travelled to St. Monica’s Catholic High School for a game on Saturday and a team bonding trip to the Santa Monica Pier. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of LBHS

Team at Santa Monica Beach celebrating victory 

This was another tough game. Coach Tietz says, “We trailed by 6 early in the second quarter but finished with a flurry as Anna Cheng hit 2 three-pointers and Kenna Rudolph hit one of her own and went into halftime up 20-18. We held a small lead for much of the second half until Julia Henry scored three times in just a couple of minutes to pull us away.” 

From there the team cruised to a 42-30 victory and headed off the Santa Monica Pier to celebrate. For the game, the leading scorer was Anna Cheng with 19 points. Kenna Rudolph had 9 points, Julia Henry had 7 points and 11 rebounds, Sophia Seidensticker had 2 points, and Sabrina Yang had 1 point. Madi Garwal returned from her injury with a bang, filling up the stat sheet with 4 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocked shots.

LBUSD seeks parent, staff, and community input in development of three-year, district-level plan

On Monday, Nov 25, the Laguna Beach Unified School District began administration of a survey to gather community feedback to inform the development of the District’s three-year Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). 

Administered by Hanover Research, the survey asks students, staff, families, and community members to provide feedback regarding the programs and services offered to the district to serve all students. The survey is online now and will be open through Friday, Dec 13. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Mary Hurlbut

New LBUSD survey asks for community participation in survey 

The LCAP is an important part of California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), established in 2014. It describes how school districts intend to meet annual goals for all students, with specific activities to address state and local priorities. 

“The LCAP survey provides key insight into the goals and priorities of our school community. The survey outcomes also help measure progress on academic achievement, school climate, and engagement of students, staff, and families,” said Director of Assessment and Accountability Dr. Chad Mabery. 

The survey is one of many different forums the District is using to seek input from the community to offer multiple ways, including the most recent conversation using Thoughtexchange, for the public to take in active role in helping to develop the next LCAP. 

Parent, staff, and community input via the survey is vital to the development of data-informed goals and the evaluation of outcomes. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. The 2020-2023 LCAP will be presented to the Board for approval in June 2020.

To take the survey, click here.

LBHS student saves life of mother & son caught in rip current after taking lifeguard SALT class

By SUZIE HARRISON

Laguna Beach High School sophomore Gavin Pike, 15, had no idea that his routine after school chill time in the surf would turn into a heroic rescue when he went to Thalia Street Beach on Thursday, Nov 14. 

“My mom picks me up from the beach around 3:30 p.m. So I just walk down there after school,” Gavin said. “I just got ready and into my swim trunks. I like to stop there for a little bit to enjoy time after a long day of school.”

Soon after arriving to the beach last Thursday, Gavin looked out and saw a mom with her son go out in the water. 

“First, they seem like they’re fine, that they’re kind of inside the water area. But suddenly, I notice they started getting sucked out in a rip current,” Gavin said.

He attributes his life-saving acumen to what he learned from Laguna Beach Marine Safety Surfers Awareness and Lifeguard Training (SALT) in lifeguard techniques a few weeks prior, as part of the LBHS surf team.

“Through SALT, they taught us how rip currents are, how you can identify them, and how to see when someone is caught in one,” Gavin said.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Jesse Pike

LBHS sophomore Gavin Pike saves a mother and son caught in rip tide

The situation in the water that day grew more dire. Gavin, as well as people on the beach, also seemed to notice the mother and son were getting sucked out too far.

“They were showing signs of getting caught in a rip,” Gavin said. “They were trying to swim in, but every single time they tried to swim in, they were getting sucked out farther.”

The mom’s oldest son, approximately in his 20s, ran out from the beach because he saw his mom needed help. 

“So he ran out to try and help them. As he was going out, the younger brother [approximately 13] was also getting sucked out, but was able to get in on his own,” Gavin said. “So, the older brother, he swam out to his mom, which was probably a good 40 yards out. And they kept getting stuck out farther in the rip.”

That’s when Gavin started walking down toward the water to see what was going on.

“People started getting up from the beach because they saw it started turning into an actual drowning situation,” Gavin said. 

“That’s when I jumped in and swam out to them.

“By the time he got out there, the son was barely able to keep her head out of the water,” Gavin said. “The most important thing is just keeping their mouth, nose, and head above water, so they don’t drown and suffocate in the water.”

“When I got out to her, she was hyperventilating and he was in a state of shock seeing his mom drowning,” Gavin said. “He probably would have drowned himself just trying to keep his mom alive because he wasn’t a strong enough swimmer to save her on his own.”

Gavin tried to calm her down and helped keep her head above water. 

“When I was out there, I was able to grab her and support her, and I was able to keep her up. So the son was able to get his breath back,” Gavin said. 

He instructed the son to grab one side of her while he grabbed the other side, and they started pulling her in. 

“We kind of just pulled her in together,” Gavin said. “I was transporting her, calming her down, telling her that everything was going to be ok, and that she needed to breathe. When we finally got to the shore, she just collapsed and fell onto the sand face first.”

That’s when the lifeguards showed up and provided medical aid.

From his SALT training, Gavin had a clearer picture of the situation at hand. He discerned the tide was already very low, which can be deceiving. 

“What kind of happens then is that people that don’t know the ocean very well will think that they can walk out farther than they usually can because the water is at a lower level,” Gavin said. “But once you get past a certain point, suddenly it drops, where you can’t touch the ocean floor anymore.”

He said once someone loses their ability to touch their feet to the floor they can get in trouble.

Gavin explained, “The current comes from two sides of the ocean coming onto the shore. They collide and suck in together when they get on the shore. So instead of a normal amount of water coming in and sucking out, it’s double the strength sucking back out.”

Gavin said he’s grateful for what he learned during the LBHS surf team’s SALT training. He knew it would come in handy.

“Mostly because I am out in the surf a lot. Just having those tips, that if a situation does come, and you do end up needing to help someone, it was a lot of good information to know,” Gavin said.

The keys are to know how to handle the situation, calm down the person who is drowning, know how to bring them in, and notice when someone is in trouble.

“Before, I never understood what a rip current was either. It helped me notice one and see when someone’s caught in one,” Gavin said.

His brother Gordon is a Laguna Beach Lifeguard and started when he was a junior in high school. Now he’s a junior in college. Gavin said he wants to follow in his brother’s footsteps.

“I was planning on trying out this year. It’s something I’m definitely interested in,” Gavin said. “During the save, I realized that I like to help people.”

His family is proud of him, as is his brother Gordon. 

“He’s super proud of me. He didn’t realize I had it in me,” Gavin said.

LBHS girls basketball season kicks off with victory

Basketball season is once again upon us, and the Laguna Beach High School (LBHS) girls basketball team played its first game yesterday, securing a hard-fought victory on the road, 35-14, over Santa Rosa Academy.

“The game started out rough for us with bad shooting and first game jitters. We were down 2-11 midway through the second quarter. We finally got a little something going to end the quarter with a 9-0 run and finish the first half tied 11-11. In the second half we settled down and took control with a 16-2 third quarter and 24-3 second half,” said LBHS girls basketball Coach Matthew Tietz.

It was a balanced scoring effort: Kenna Rudolph finished with 11 points, Madi Garwal with 5, Julia Henry with 5, Anna Cheng with 4, Sabrina Yang with 4, Autumn Moreland with 4, and Laila Hassan with 2.

Coach Matthew Tietz, who is in his fourth year of coaching the girls team, says, “We have home games on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday against Century HS, Orange HS, and Pomona HS. This season’s schedule is much more difficult than last as we try to take our team to the next level.” 

As reported in Stu News last year, Laguna Beach High School may be the smallest public high school in Orange County, but its successful athletics program belies its size. The LBHS Breakers compete with teams from schools with much larger student bodies. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Mary Hurlbut

Coach Tietz and Assistant Coach Brianna, his daughter, during last year’s season

Coach Tietz says, “As a refresher, we’re coming off last season where we were ranked number eight in CIF-SS 5A and had a record of 17-11. We went 17-1 against other division 5A opponents but struggled against our much bigger league opponents. This season we are hoping to build upon that success. We hope to even improve our CIF ranking and be competitive within our league.”

Although the team lost two players who graduated, the LBHS girls team is growing in size and adding a full-time JV squad.

“This year’s program has the most players in school history with 21, and we’ll be fielding a full-time JV squad for the first time. The team lost two starters from last year’s team – point guard and two-time team MVP Mia Pitz graduated and is now playing overseas in Ireland at University College Dublin and power forward Hana Ford,” says Coach Tietz. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Mary Hurlbut 

The 2018 LBHS Girls Basketball team: (L-R in front) Rebecca Sanchez, Mia Pitz, Anna Cheng, Alia Hassan; (L-R in back) Autumn Moreland, Claire Smithers, Julia Henry, and Madi Garwal

“Although both will be missed, we are excited about the team we have this season. The varsity team boasts returning starters Julia Henry, Madi Garwal, Anna Cheng, and Autumn Moreland, with returning subs Clarice Curras and Zoe Payne Carter. The varsity squad will also feature three freshmen: Sophie Marriner, Kenna Rudolph, and Sabrina Yang. All will be playing important roles in our success this season.

“We are very excited to be fielding a JV team this season. It is a sign of the growth of our program and it gives our less experienced players an environment to play, improve, and grow. The JV team will start their season on Thursday against Orange HS.” 

The JV roster includes Sophia Seidensticker, Laila Hassan, Brisa Campos, and Laura Mandala, who will all get some playing time on varsity this season too, reports Coach Tietz; Miella Caouette, Sarah Balian, Zoe Holmes, Melisa Javier, Maryana Wollam, and Evelyn Alonso; with Grace Clark-Alexander and Yodi Carrucciu, who are currently injured and unable to play.

LBHS boys and girls cross country teams cruise through CIF Prelims

In a comfortable and predictable fashion, both the Laguna Beach High School (LBHS) boys and girls cross country teams easily qualified for next weekend’s CIF Finals race. Racing in hot, dry, and windy conditions this past Saturday in Riverside, both Breakers teams produced measured race efforts, with their goals set simply to advance through their preliminary races. 

Choosing to strategically rest two of their top five runners, the boys fielded an undermanned team of just six racers (three of whom were freshmen) in their controlled effort. Ranked third overall in the CIF, the boys successfully saved their energy and settled into a very controlled race, executing a sixth place team finish. Their measured performance now sets the boys up nicely for next week’s championship race. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo 

The Team: Top Row: (L-R) Mateo Bianchi, Tanner Burton, Logan Brooks, Mael Metis, Chris Drews, Owen va ES; Bottom Row: (L-R) Will Goodwin, Gabe Neff, Alex Boyd, and Luke Anderton

Led by freshman phenom Nina Rogers (4th overall) and senior anchor Morgan Falkowski (9th), the CIF fourth-ranked Lady Breakers finished second in their heat of 23 teams. The girls also successfully executed their race plan, with the Breakers systematically moving through the large field of racers to secure a non-dramatic race. Junior Sydney Schaefgen (32nd), frosh Hannah Williams (46th), and senior Sierra Read (49th) rounded out a solid set of performances for the Breakers.

Head Coach Scott Wittkop says, “Both storied programs return this weekend to the familiar grounds of the CIF Finals. Now that their tactical qualification performance is over, the Breakers are ready to unleash all-out efforts in their pursuits of more CIF and State Championship titles.”