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More Cal-Hi Sports’ Schools of the Year
By Mark Tennis & Harold Abend
07/05/11
For single gender sports, Cali’s best for 2010-11 were De La Salle, Torrey Pines
Archbishop Mitty’s seventh straight D2 selection tops divisional picks while Buchanan leads group of seven special mention schools
Contributing: Paul Muyskens
Girls Sports Only:
Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.)
It was close between the girls from State School of the Year Long Beach Poly and Torrey Pines, but the Falcons’ girls had ultra-strong showings in five sports to Poly’s three to snag the honors in this category. The Falcons’ golf team, led by Hee-Wook Choi, was the CIF state champion while the cross country team, led by Alli Billmeyer, was sixth in the state. The track team had a solid meet in Clovis to finish eighth while the soccer team finished 23-2-4 and was the Southern Regional Div. I champion while landing at No. 6 in the ESPNHS POWERADE FAB 50 final rankings. The Falcons also were 22-3 in lacrosse to win a second-straight CIF San Diego Section championship. Also, in addition to those five sports, the softball team had a 23-win season and made it to the second round of the CIFSDS D1 playoffs. The volleyball team also had a 20-win season after making it to the SDS D1 semifinals. Note: Torrey Pines’ boys also won a CIF state title in golf, finished ninth in the cross country state meet and ranked 23rd in the FAB 50 in boys track.
Boys Sports Only:
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Although they’ve won it three times (1995-96, 1999-00, 2003-04), the Spartans are at a disadvantage in the overall State School of the Year judging because they’re boys only. After beating out Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.) this year, the boys only award is something De La Salle has now won for the sixth time since its inception in 1984-85. Earlier boys sports honors are for 1990-91, 1995-96, 1999-00, 2003-04 and 2005-06. Although it wasn’t a very good year in track and field, Sparta excelled in virtually every other sport. The highlight was a CIF Division I State Bowl Game title in football, the school’s third bowl game title in the five years of the modern era. The golf team also added a fourth-place tie showing at the state championship to its NorCal title. In other state championship sports, DLS was the Div. I state runner-up in boys basketball and was fourth in the state in wrestling. In non-state championship sports, the 42-2 Spartans were the NCS champions and No. 15 in the nation in volleyball. They also were NCS Div. I champions in cross country and winter soccer with second-place showings in baseball and lacrosse.
Division I:
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
The Jackrabbits also have been chosen as the overall State School of the Year for the 17th time.
Division II:
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
For the seventh straight year, the Monarchs have taken the prize for CIF Div. II enrollment level schools. The Aaron Gordon-led basketball team was the CIF Div. II state champion, a first boys state title in school history. The team also finished No. 5 in the state and No. 39 in the nation. The girls’ softball team won its 10th CCS Div. II championship and sixth in seven years. The Monarchs’ girls were No. 4 in the state and No. 16 in the nation. In girls soccer, Mitty was the West Catholic Athletic League and CCS Div. II champions. The baseball team was a CCS Div. I semifinalist and finished No. 15 in the final state rankings. The football team was only 6-4-1, but lost by just 13-10 in the CCS Open Division playoffs to eventual state champion Palo Alto. The girls basketball team also lost in the NorCal playoffs to an eventual state champ. In that case, it was 67-64 in the D2 NorCal playoffs to St. Mary’s of Stockton.
Division III:
Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.)
The Cougars are the Div. III School of the Year for the second time since the award’s inception in 1996-97, winning previously for the 2004-05 school year. This past year, the girls cross country team led the way. With junior Carrie Verdon blowing away the field with a 21-second victory, Campolindo was the Div. III state champion by an almost two-minute margin. The Cougars then became the only school in the state to snag two girls state titles when they followed up the cross country championship with a four-game victory over Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in the CIF Div. III state volleyball championships. The baseball team did its part after winning a second straight CIF North Coast Section baseball championship, as did the volleyball team with a 30-win season and the NCS Div. II championship. The boys soccer team went 20-1-6 and was the NCS Div. II winter soccer champions. In basketball, the girls team won 25 games before bowing out 58-54 to Sacramento in the Northern Regional D3 semifinals.
Division IV:
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
The Lions collect their first state school of the year honor, which is surprising considering how strong they’ve been in multiple sports since opening a little more than 10 years ago. The trick for this honor wasn’t that Oaks Christian was deserving, but which division should the school be placed. By enrollment and by basketball, Division IV works so Division IV it is and no other school did better. The football team’s dramatic win over Westlake of Westlake Village in the CIFSS Northern Division championship got things going. This was followed by high placings in both boys and girls hoops, a CIF SoCal D3 title in girls soccer and then top 10 state rankings in both baseball and softball. The softball team’s 30-5 record also included a CIFSS divisional crown.
Division V:
Poly (Pasadena, Calif.)
Led by the state’s top scorer, Michelle Miller (33.0 ppg), the Panthers’ girls basketball team went 27-3 before a loss in the Southern Regional quarterfinals. The boys team, meanwhile, finished 24-3 and made it to the CIFSS Div. 5A semifinals. The baseball team, led by 6-foot-5, 220-pound senior Hunter Merryman (.512 average, nine home runs, 42 RBIs), went 25-2-1 to win the CIFSS Div. VI championship and was No. 2 in the state. In football, Poly finished 9-4 before bowing out in the CIFSS Northeast Division semifinals. The boys water polo team also went 22-4 and finished as the runner up in the CIFSS Div. V playoffs. This is Pasadena Poly’s first-ever State School of the Year selection.
Special Mention School
Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.)
The Bears also should finish high in the POWERADE FAB 50 All-Sports Rankings. Buchanan’s huge spring, which was culminated with a No. 1 national finish in baseball and a No. 2 finish in boys volleyball, accounted for a bulk of its FAB 50 points. But the Bears also were nationally ranked in three other sports. They were third in the CIF D1 finals in girls cross country, placed fifth in the boys race and also made the finals in the CIF Southern California Div. I boys soccer playoffs. Buchanan’s boys track team also was No. 43 in the final FAB 50 in that sport.
Special Mention School
Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.)
A controversial disqualification helped prevent the Cubs from winning the team title at the CIF state track meet, but they came through two weeks later and won a team title at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Loyola earlier won a CIF state crown in D2 boys cross country, went 25-6 and won a CIFSS title in basketball and was No. 9 in the nation in volleyball. Just like De La Salle, Loyola is boys sports only and two years ago did win the boys sports only statewide honor.
Special Mention School
Palo Alto (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Like State School of the Year Long Beach Poly, the Vikings snagged a boys and girls state championship, albeit in different sports. The boys pulled off a shocker after a 15-13 win in the quagmire at Carson over Corona Centennial in the CIF Division I State Bowl Game gave the football team a perfect 14-0 season. Two weeks before the football victory, the girls volleyball team won a thrilling five-game victory over Long Beach Poly to capture the CIF Division I state championship while finishing with a 41-1 record. Besides the two state titles, the baseball team won its first ever CIF Central Coast Section baseball title with a rain-delayed 5-4 victory over San Benito (Hollister) in the D1 title game. With the victory, Paly ended up No. 1 in its Cal-Hi Sports divisional ranking (D2) for the first time ever in the over 100-year history of the school. In basketball, the girls were CCS D1 champions before losing in the NorCal D1 quarterfinals. The boys were CIF CCS D2 semifinalists before losing to eventual state champion Archbishop Mitty of San Jose.
Special Mention School
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
A sweep of CIF Division I state championships in boys and girls basketball was the highlight of the school year for the Monarchs. Head coach Kevin Kiernan and Ms. Basketball USA winner Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis also helped the girls end No. 1 in the nation. Mater Dei won a CIFSS title as well in boys water polo and boys volleyball and picked up a fourth section crown in girls track. The school was No. 3 in the final FAB 50 in volleyball and also went 24-5 with a high state ranking in baseball.
Special Mention School
Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.)
While district rival Buchanan was much higher in the POWERADE FAB 50 All-Sports rankings, the Golden Eagles edged the Bears for the supremacy award in the highly-regarded Tri-River Athletic Conference. Clovis West was especially strong in the fall with CIF Central Section titles in football and girls volleyball. The Golden Eagles also were seventh in team scoring at the state wrestling meet and were No. 9 in the final FAB 50 national rankings for girls track. The final count of section titles, in fact, showed Clovis West with seven and Buchanan with six.
Special Mention School
Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.)
The State School of the Year for the 2009-10 campaign was followed up by another more than solid showing for 2010-11. Although the Cavaliers didn’t win any CIF state titles this time, they were in a CIF state bowl game in football and they were 27-6 in girls basketball. On the track, Serra was one of just a handful of school nationally to be top 15 in both boys and girls events. The boys were No. 11 in the final FAB 50 while the girls were No. 7.
Special Mention School
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.}
The Dons were basically second behind Campolindo for Div. III schools, which means had they won and not lost to the Cougars in the D3 state final in girls volleyball that the school of the year pick probably would have gone to them. Cathedral Catholic also was No. 4 in the state in girls cross country, placed fifth on the boys side and went 30-4 in baseball. The baseball team not only won the section title, but was No. 2 in the state in final overall rankings.
Special Mention School
St. Margaret’s (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
After gaining top honors for Division V last year, the Tartans were moved up to Division IV for this year and were close to D4 winner Oaks Christian. The highlight was the boys cross country team claiming the CIF Division IV state title. The girls’ harriers checked in with a seventh-place finish while the girls’ volleyball team made it to the regional semis. A 9-4 record in football, a CIFSS title in girls tennis and a semifinal appearance in the CIF SoCal D3 girls soccer playoffs were additional highlights.
Corrections or comments? Email mark@studentsports.com.
Girls Sports Only:
Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.)
It was close between the girls from State School of the Year Long Beach Poly and Torrey Pines, but the Falcons’ girls had ultra-strong showings in five sports to Poly’s three to snag the honors in this category. The Falcons’ golf team, led by Hee-Wook Choi, was the CIF state champion while the cross country team, led by Alli Billmeyer, was sixth in the state. The track team had a solid meet in Clovis to finish eighth while the soccer team finished 23-2-4 and was the Southern Regional Div. I champion while landing at No. 6 in the ESPNHS POWERADE FAB 50 final rankings. The Falcons also were 22-3 in lacrosse to win a second-straight CIF San Diego Section championship. Also, in addition to those five sports, the softball team had a 23-win season and made it to the second round of the CIFSDS D1 playoffs. The volleyball team also had a 20-win season after making it to the SDS D1 semifinals. Note: Torrey Pines’ boys also won a CIF state title in golf, finished ninth in the cross country state meet and ranked 23rd in the FAB 50 in boys track.
Boys Sports Only:
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)
Although they’ve won it three times (1995-96, 1999-00, 2003-04), the Spartans are at a disadvantage in the overall State School of the Year judging because they’re boys only. After beating out Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.) this year, the boys only award is something De La Salle has now won for the sixth time since its inception in 1984-85. Earlier boys sports honors are for 1990-91, 1995-96, 1999-00, 2003-04 and 2005-06. Although it wasn’t a very good year in track and field, Sparta excelled in virtually every other sport. The highlight was a CIF Division I State Bowl Game title in football, the school’s third bowl game title in the five years of the modern era. The golf team also added a fourth-place tie showing at the state championship to its NorCal title. In other state championship sports, DLS was the Div. I state runner-up in boys basketball and was fourth in the state in wrestling. In non-state championship sports, the 42-2 Spartans were the NCS champions and No. 15 in the nation in volleyball. They also were NCS Div. I champions in cross country and winter soccer with second-place showings in baseball and lacrosse.
Division I:
 |
Aaron Gordon skies for a rebound during D2 state title run by Archbishop Mitty. |
Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.)
The Jackrabbits also have been chosen as the overall State School of the Year for the 17th time.
Division II:
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
For the seventh straight year, the Monarchs have taken the prize for CIF Div. II enrollment level schools. The Aaron Gordon-led basketball team was the CIF Div. II state champion, a first boys state title in school history. The team also finished No. 5 in the state and No. 39 in the nation. The girls’ softball team won its 10th CCS Div. II championship and sixth in seven years. The Monarchs’ girls were No. 4 in the state and No. 16 in the nation. In girls soccer, Mitty was the West Catholic Athletic League and CCS Div. II champions. The baseball team was a CCS Div. I semifinalist and finished No. 15 in the final state rankings. The football team was only 6-4-1, but lost by just 13-10 in the CCS Open Division playoffs to eventual state champion Palo Alto. The girls basketball team also lost in the NorCal playoffs to an eventual state champ. In that case, it was 67-64 in the D2 NorCal playoffs to St. Mary’s of Stockton.
Division III:
Campolindo (Moraga, Calif.)
The Cougars are the Div. III School of the Year for the second time since the award’s inception in 1996-97, winning previously for the 2004-05 school year. This past year, the girls cross country team led the way. With junior Carrie Verdon blowing away the field with a 21-second victory, Campolindo was the Div. III state champion by an almost two-minute margin. The Cougars then became the only school in the state to snag two girls state titles when they followed up the cross country championship with a four-game victory over Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) in the CIF Div. III state volleyball championships. The baseball team did its part after winning a second straight CIF North Coast Section baseball championship, as did the volleyball team with a 30-win season and the NCS Div. II championship. The boys soccer team went 20-1-6 and was the NCS Div. II winter soccer champions. In basketball, the girls team won 25 games before bowing out 58-54 to Sacramento in the Northern Regional D3 semifinals.
Division IV:
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
The Lions collect their first state school of the year honor, which is surprising considering how strong they’ve been in multiple sports since opening a little more than 10 years ago. The trick for this honor wasn’t that Oaks Christian was deserving, but which division should the school be placed. By enrollment and by basketball, Division IV works so Division IV it is and no other school did better. The football team’s dramatic win over Westlake of Westlake Village in the CIFSS Northern Division championship got things going. This was followed by high placings in both boys and girls hoops, a CIF SoCal D3 title in girls soccer and then top 10 state rankings in both baseball and softball. The softball team’s 30-5 record also included a CIFSS divisional crown.
Division V:
Poly (Pasadena, Calif.)
Led by the state’s top scorer, Michelle Miller (33.0 ppg), the Panthers’ girls basketball team went 27-3 before a loss in the Southern Regional quarterfinals. The boys team, meanwhile, finished 24-3 and made it to the CIFSS Div. 5A semifinals. The baseball team, led by 6-foot-5, 220-pound senior Hunter Merryman (.512 average, nine home runs, 42 RBIs), went 25-2-1 to win the CIFSS Div. VI championship and was No. 2 in the state. In football, Poly finished 9-4 before bowing out in the CIFSS Northeast Division semifinals. The boys water polo team also went 22-4 and finished as the runner up in the CIFSS Div. V playoffs. This is Pasadena Poly’s first-ever State School of the Year selection.
Special Mention School
Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.)
The Bears also should finish high in the POWERADE FAB 50 All-Sports Rankings. Buchanan’s huge spring, which was culminated with a No. 1 national finish in baseball and a No. 2 finish in boys volleyball, accounted for a bulk of its FAB 50 points. But the Bears also were nationally ranked in three other sports. They were third in the CIF D1 finals in girls cross country, placed fifth in the boys race and also made the finals in the CIF Southern California Div. I boys soccer playoffs. Buchanan’s boys track team also was No. 43 in the final FAB 50 in that sport.
Special Mention School
Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.)
A controversial disqualification helped prevent the Cubs from winning the team title at the CIF state track meet, but they came through two weeks later and won a team title at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Loyola earlier won a CIF state crown in D2 boys cross country, went 25-6 and won a CIFSS title in basketball and was No. 9 in the nation in volleyball. Just like De La Salle, Loyola is boys sports only and two years ago did win the boys sports only statewide honor.
Special Mention School
Palo Alto (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Like State School of the Year Long Beach Poly, the Vikings snagged a boys and girls state championship, albeit in different sports. The boys pulled off a shocker after a 15-13 win in the quagmire at Carson over Corona Centennial in the CIF Division I State Bowl Game gave the football team a perfect 14-0 season. Two weeks before the football victory, the girls volleyball team won a thrilling five-game victory over Long Beach Poly to capture the CIF Division I state championship while finishing with a 41-1 record. Besides the two state titles, the baseball team won its first ever CIF Central Coast Section baseball title with a rain-delayed 5-4 victory over San Benito (Hollister) in the D1 title game. With the victory, Paly ended up No. 1 in its Cal-Hi Sports divisional ranking (D2) for the first time ever in the over 100-year history of the school. In basketball, the girls were CCS D1 champions before losing in the NorCal D1 quarterfinals. The boys were CIF CCS D2 semifinalists before losing to eventual state champion Archbishop Mitty of San Jose.
Special Mention School
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
A sweep of CIF Division I state championships in boys and girls basketball was the highlight of the school year for the Monarchs. Head coach Kevin Kiernan and Ms. Basketball USA winner Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis also helped the girls end No. 1 in the nation. Mater Dei won a CIFSS title as well in boys water polo and boys volleyball and picked up a fourth section crown in girls track. The school was No. 3 in the final FAB 50 in volleyball and also went 24-5 with a high state ranking in baseball.
Special Mention School
Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.)
While district rival Buchanan was much higher in the POWERADE FAB 50 All-Sports rankings, the Golden Eagles edged the Bears for the supremacy award in the highly-regarded Tri-River Athletic Conference. Clovis West was especially strong in the fall with CIF Central Section titles in football and girls volleyball. The Golden Eagles also were seventh in team scoring at the state wrestling meet and were No. 9 in the final FAB 50 national rankings for girls track. The final count of section titles, in fact, showed Clovis West with seven and Buchanan with six.
Special Mention School
Junipero Serra (Gardena, Calif.)
The State School of the Year for the 2009-10 campaign was followed up by another more than solid showing for 2010-11. Although the Cavaliers didn’t win any CIF state titles this time, they were in a CIF state bowl game in football and they were 27-6 in girls basketball. On the track, Serra was one of just a handful of school nationally to be top 15 in both boys and girls events. The boys were No. 11 in the final FAB 50 while the girls were No. 7.
Special Mention School
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.}
The Dons were basically second behind Campolindo for Div. III schools, which means had they won and not lost to the Cougars in the D3 state final in girls volleyball that the school of the year pick probably would have gone to them. Cathedral Catholic also was No. 4 in the state in girls cross country, placed fifth on the boys side and went 30-4 in baseball. The baseball team not only won the section title, but was No. 2 in the state in final overall rankings.
Special Mention School
St. Margaret’s (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
After gaining top honors for Division V last year, the Tartans were moved up to Division IV for this year and were close to D4 winner Oaks Christian. The highlight was the boys cross country team claiming the CIF Division IV state title. The girls’ harriers checked in with a seventh-place finish while the girls’ volleyball team made it to the regional semis. A 9-4 record in football, a CIFSS title in girls tennis and a semifinal appearance in the CIF SoCal D3 girls soccer playoffs were additional highlights.
Corrections or comments? Email mark@studentsports.com.