Inside the VALT: March 2 – 8

Inside+the+VALT%3A+March+2+-+8

Colin Beazley, Staff Writer

     It was another action packed week for Viewpoint Athletics, including the end of a magical season, the beginning of two more, some hardware for the Volleyball team, and success all around. Next week looks set up for more success as well, so good luck to everyone competing!

Girls Basketball

            The Girls Basketball team had their magical season come to an end in the CIF State Regional Semifinals last week, beating Poway 59-25 and Westchester 46-44, but losing to Peninsula 40-60. State playoffs started Tuesday at home against Poway, and the Patriots came out swinging, jumping to an 8-0 lead behind two threes from Katie Topacio (’20). Katie hit three more threes to finish with 15 points, Kayla Keshmeshian (’22) added 17, and Viewpoint never looked back, scoring 24 points in the third to clinch the blowout victory. Thursday was much different, as the game was chippy and extremely competitive, to say the least. The game was truly the Kayla Show, as the sophomore guard scored 26 of the team’s 46 points. The herculean effort looked as if it was going to be in vain as the Patriots trailed by two with two minutes left, but Kayla showed ice in her veins with four clutch free throws for the win. Karlee White (’23) scored 11 in the victory. Saturday’s game was the first away game of the State campaign for the Patriots, but a slow start and a tough third quarter doomed the team to a 60-40 loss, and a difficult end of the season. Kayla scored 19 in the loss.

            Although the loss hurts, this season was an incredible success for the Patriots. Advancing to the quarterfinals of State playoffs is an amazing accomplishment, and the team can be so proud of all that they achieved this season. The team finishes with a 20-10 record, and can either look back at their season with pride or look forward to next year with incredible optimism. This team did great things, and is geared to continue to do so for years to come.

Baseball

            A third of the way through the season, the Baseball team entered this week with a 5-1 record, but left with two losses in league play to Paraclete and a major gut check. Statistics have been officially posted a third of the way through the season. Offensively, Niko Candido (’20) leads the team with a .667 batting average, also leading the team in hits, runs, doubles, and triples. Sophomore Lucas Herman leads the team in RBIs with eight. On the mound, Colin Beazley (’20) and Treye Meadows (’21) have nearly identical statistics, with 3.29 ERAs in 17 innings each. Next week, we play three times, starting with a home game against Northridge Academy. The game starts at 3:30 at West Hills Little League, instead of our usual home, Birmingham. On Wednesday, we return to our true home field, with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 against Sierra Canyon. We wrap the Sierra series on Friday at Sierra, so come out to any of our games and help us return to winning ways! Friday’s game also starts at 4:00.

Boys Tennis

            The Boys Tennis team annihilated Oak Park 15-3 on Tuesday, before competing in the California Tennis Classic in Fresno over the weekend. Tuesday was a doubles clinic, as all three teams swept all three of their games, to clinch an easy victory for the Patriots. The weekend’s California Tennis Classic was much more challenging, as the Patriots were entered in Division One for the tournament. Despite the difficulty, the team still had great success, sweeping Liberty High 6-0, and beating San Francisco High 4-2 to advance to the semifinals. Although the team dropped their Semifinal match to Jesuit High School, they rebounded to beat Harker High 4-2, finishing third in the tournament. Next week, the team begins league play, starting on Tuesday against Crossroads, before continuing with a meeting with Windward at Pepperdine on Thursday, starting at 2:30. Good luck to the Pats!

Boys Volleyball

            The Boys Volleyball team had an incredible, action packed week, starting with their first win of the season on Tuesday, and wrapping it up with some hardware over the weekend. Tuesday’s match was at home against Bishop Diego, and the Patriots won in three sets (25-20, 25-18, 25-11). Ollie Davidorf (’20) led the team with 10 kills, Jack Conlin (’21) had five, and setter Shane Bunting (’21) had three aces. Thursday brought a bigger challenge on the road at Calabasas, but the team battled, dropping the match in four sets. On Saturday, the team woke up early and hungry for results at the Antelope Valley Tournament, and they started winning and couldn’t stop themselves. Viewpoint played ten sets in the tournament, winning all of them, all the way to the championship game. They started with two 25-15 wins over Desert Christian, then followed with a win over Antelope Valley (25-18, 26-24). The third game against Aerospace Academy was a 25-10, 25-19 win, and the game against Vazquez was more of the same, with a Patriot win in two sets (25-12, 25-15). The Championship was a rematch against Aerospace Academy, and the Patriots won by a nearly identical score, winning the first set 25-10 and the second 25-20. The Boys Volleyball team was incredibly excited about winning the tournament, but they still have bigger goals for the season. Senior Trevor Hylen spoke for the entire team, saying “The plaque’s nice, but I’m looking for something that fits better on my finger.”

Girls Beach Volleyball

            The Girls Beach Volleyball team competed in a tournament over the weekend, emerging victorious against Gahr and Wildwood despite chaotic windy weather on the beach. The team of Deja Bickers (’20) and Gracie Schecter (’21) won both of their matches, and Trinity Stanger (’21) and Ava Gronemeyer (’23) were undefeated as well to beat Gahr 3-0 and Wildwood 2-1. The team returns to the beach on Thursday against Louisville High School, competing at Zuma Beach. Good luck to the Pats!

Golf

            The Golf team competed twice last week, starting with a half squad competition at the Glendora Invitational, and finishing with a Wednesday meeting with Crossroads. However, the entire team was rusty from a long offseason, and neither match went the Patriots’ way. The team will turn its attention to two matches next week, starting by travelling to face Heritage Christian at Hansen Dam on Tuesday. Thursday’s match is another league meeting, as Viewpoint faces Campbell Hall at our home course, Woodland Hills Country Club. Good luck to the team!

Lacrosse

            Viewpoint’s Lacrosse team opened their season with two games last week, obliterating Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences 23-0 on Tuesday, before falling short on Friday against Calabasas, 20-16. The Vipers simply had no answers for our offense, conceding 18 times in the first half, and the Patriot defense kept the shutout intact until the final buzzer. Friday’s game was another incredible effort, as despite the team’s low numbers, they kept it close and extremely competitive. Thursday brings another home game for the Patriots, as Crescenta Valley High School travels to face the Patriots at 3:30 at RIng Family Field. Good luck to the boys, keep up the success!

Softball

            The Softball team played in their last tuneup before entering league play, travelling to Malibu High to play the Sharks, and emerging with an 11-3 victory. Sophomore Natalie Campos had two hits and a run, and Bianca Gomez (’22) had three RBIs. Pitcher Peyton Rohr (’23) hit a home run, had three hits, scored twice, and struck out 12 in seven innings in the circle. Next week brings the start of league play, as the Patriots start against Campbell Hall Tuesday at 3:30 at Robertson Field. Thursday is another game in league, as the team travels to face Sierra Canyon, starting at 4:00. Good luck, and let’s go Pats!

Swim

            The Swim team officially kicked off their season with a fifth placed finish at the Spartan Relays, only finishing behind some of the top schools in the region. The Boys team of Ethan Schreier (’21), Edan Klier (’20), Pierce Downs (’23), and Sekander Ali (’21) combined to win the 4 x 50 Butterfly, and Ethan, Pierce, Sekander, and Tariq Stack (’20) won the 400 Free relay as well. The Swim team is in action again on Tuesday, travelling to Camarillo to compete with the Scorpions. Good luck to the entire team!

Track and Field

            The Track and Field team competed in the Oaks Christian Invitational over the weekend, setting two school records and winning medals in nine events. Both the Boys and Girls teams set records in the Medley Relay, as Colette Samek (’22), Jadyn Danese (’23), Amanda Hogan (’20), and Lizzie Scott (’20) combined for a time of 14:14.02, and the Boys team of Max Wolff (’20), Max James (’21), Thomas Matthew (’20) and Ronnie Orosky (’20) ran it in 11:35.47. Both teams finished in second place overall. Lizzie also won gold in the 1500m, and the team of Olivia Diaz (’22), Ashley Beal (’22), Colette, and Sofia Tapia won gold in the Frosh/Soph 4×400 relay. On the Boys side of the same event, a team comprised of Joseph Habis (’23), Ade Egberongbe (’22), Olai Egberongbe (’23), and Ori Egberongbe (’23) finished in second with a time of 3:50.57. Finally, Val Devoto (’22) finished in third in the long jump, with a distance of 17-02.75. Congratulations to all who competed, and good luck to the distance runners on Friday as they compete at the Simi Valley High School Invitational!

Congratulations to everyone, and good luck next week!