The recently concluded fall sports season at Point Loma High School (PLHS) produced a CIF champion, three All-CIF team members and a trio of league Players of the Year, while two sports made runs to the CIF semifinals. Leading the way was girls’ tennis star Carley Cooke, the No. 1 singles player on the Pointer team, who was undefeated (33-0) in match play this year and was named Eastern League Player of the Year and earned All-CIF First Team honors. In girls’ cross country, it was Megan Breadmore’s time to shine, as she captured the Eastern League championship and was named Runner of the Year. Later, she added a CIF championship title and was named to the Second Team All-CIF list. Football player Christian Heyward made his mark, earning First Team All-Western League defensive team honors. He was selected Defensive Player of the Year and also named to the First Team All-CIF roster. The following is a summary of each fall sport’s season: GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Record: 15-16 overall (3-7, fifth place in Western League) CIF matches: Defeated Hilltop (3-0), Steele Canyon (3-0) in quarterfinals, lost to eventual champion Scripps Ranch (3-1) in semifinals. All-League: Second team — Sierra Brown, senior. While the overall record might not seem impressive, the team made great gains by winning nearly three times as many matches as its 2009 counterparts. The team captured the hearts of Pointer students and its late-season run to the CIF semifinals was testimony to improvements made through the season under first-year coach Davis Ransom. BOYS’ WATER POLO
Record: 14-17 overall (0-8, fifth place in Eastern League). CIF matches: Defeated Valhalla 10-9, lost to Serra 17-13. All-League: First team — Bryan Valone, senior; Second team: Graham Scribner, senior. A young Pointer team found rough going in league matches, but fared well against non-league foes. Under head coaches Jerry Rich and Jeff Hunt, the team carried a number of underclassmen and looks to improve next season. Top scorer: Valone with 113 goals, 26 assists; Scribner with 57 goals, 31 assists. Goaltender Thomas Penney recorded a 10.6 goals against average. GIRLS’ FIELD HOCKEY
Record: Western League, N/A CIF matches: Did not qualify. All-League: none. Field hockey also finds itself on the rise at PLHS. Coach Mary Ellen Brancheau and her squad learned from Rheannin Sherrick, a former Australian national team member with professional experience. With 43 girls (19 of them freshmen) playing varsity and junior varsity, Brancheau plans to start a program at Correia Middle School to give future players experience. BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Record: 10-2 overall, (5-1, second place in Eastern League). All-League: Tom Witkowski, senior; Angel Sauceda, junior. CIF finals: Placed fourth overall as a team, a very strong showing. Top runners: Seniors Witkowski, Duncan Swain, Hector Ramirez-Ramos, Hector Lopez; Juniors Sauceda, Taylor Boswell and Sophomore Ricky Sweet. Long-distance runners made coach Keith Delong proud with their strong team showing. Top six runners were only 47 seconds apart at CIF Division II finals, led by Witkowski with time of 17:01 for the 3.04-mile course. GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Record: 10-2 overall (5-1, second place in Eastern League). All-League: Meghan Breadmore, Ella Verhees, Ashley Brady. League Runner of the Year: Meghan Breadmore. All-CIF: Second team — Meghan Breadmore. CIF finals: Placed ninth overall as a team, a strong showing by seniors Meghan Breadmore, Ashley Brady; junior Laurel Haas; sophomores Ella Verhees, Katherine Hardisty; freshmen Johana Walker, Kiara Breadmore. While Meghan Breadmore ran away with numerous honors and awards (ninth at the state finals and twelfth at the western regional Foot Locker meet), this is a team with great potential, listing five underclassmen among its top seven runners. Delong said he looks forward to the 2011 season. GIRLS’ TENNIS
Record: 6-9 overall, (6-4, fourth place in Eastern League). League champion: Singles — Carley Cooke, senior. League Player of the Year: Cooke. All-CIF: First team — Cooke. The Pointers were hoping for a higher league finish. When Cooke, who missed some matches, needed a replacement as the No. 1 singles player, that role was taken by Kate Schabarum, who had an outstanding freshman season, compiling an 18-14 overall record. Coaches Shannon Collins and Mark Truver will count on returning players next season such as doubles partners Jasmin Zepeda and Lindsey McKay, who won two-thirds of their 38 matches. FOOTBALL
Record: 9-4 overall, (4-1, second place in Western League) CIF: Defeated Mar Vista 21-7, Mt. Miguel 34-10 (quarterfinals), lost to Cathedral Catholic 51-14 (semifinals). All-League: First team offense — seniors Sean McKaveney, Martin Gelenter; junior Jaivon Griffin. Second Team offense — Johnny Castaneda, senior; juniors Matt Magers, Eric Bueno. First team defense — Seniors Christian Heyward, Thomas Bell. Second Team defense: Josh Sakover, senior; Tevin Heyward, junior. Defensive Player of the Year: Christian Heyward. First Team All-CIF defense: Christian Heyward. Once again, head coach Mike Hastings took his team deep into the playoffs before being derailed by eventual champion and perennial PLHS nemesis Cathedral Catholic. This year’s Pointer squad was young, and Hastings praised his regular staff, including Dave Aros (“the best defensive mind in all San Diego County”), Tommy Kamfonik, Manuel Diaz and Joe Radovich. He also credited a number of young coaches who have returned as Pointer graduates to lead Pointer JV and freshman teams to frequent league titles, preparing players to assume varsity roles.