Hundreds of student-athletes helped Point Loma High School (PLHS) reach CIF playoffs in every fall sport. Athletic Director John Murphy praised the team members and coaches, calling the school’s showing “a remarkable feat.” With football season still under way, here is a brief look at all other teams’ performances: Cross country (boys) Under third-year coach Keith DeLong, the distance runners were unbeaten (5-0) in all meets and Eastern League (4-0). They finished second, however, to Patrick Henry at the league championship meet and were declared co-champions with the Patriots. Running for the league title Nov. 10 on a 3-mile course over rolling hills on dirt and grass at Morley Field, junior Ricky Sweet (3rd place, 15:57) and senior Taylor Boswell (4th place, 16:09) led all Pointers.  Other top finishers in a field of 38 runners were seniors Angel Sauceda (7th, 16:24) and David Flores (12th, 16:39), freshman Cooper Bates (14th, 16:47), junior Brenden Zounes (19th, 16:57), senior Matthew Demesnil (23rd, 17:13) and junior Trenton Saunders (25th, 17:16). The CIF championship meet on Nov. 19 was also run at Morley Field on a slightly longer 3.04-mile course. Top PLHS finishers among 604 entrants were Boswell (36th, 16:37), Sweet (77th, 17:04), Saunders (122nd, 17:24), Bates (155th, 17:36), Flores (161st, 17:40) and Sauceda (180th, 17:49). Cross country (girls) DeLong’s Lady Pointers compiled an overall record of 3-2 (2-2 and third place in Eastern League). A number of top runners were freshmen and sophomores, providing a bright outlook for next year. Top finishers at the league finals from 34 total runners were sophomore Sara Bagnell (4th place, 19:32), junior Katherine Hardisty (9th, 20:14), sophomores Kiara Breadmore (12th, 20:28), Johanna Walker (15th, 20:36), junior Jewell Roth (21st, 21:10), seniors Samantha Rutherford (22nd, 21:11), Laurel Haas (26th, 21:32) and freshman Kaitlyn Lund (27th, 21:46). In the CIF championship meet, on a 2.75-mile course with 525 runners, top Pointer finishers were junior Ella Verhees (77th, 17:38), Bagnell (161st, 18:31), Breadmore (165th, 18:32), Walker (221st, 19:00) and Rutherford (240th, 19:08). DeLong will coach many of his runners during spring track season as the girls’ head coach. Field hockey Head coach Mary Ellen Brancheau’s squad made big gains during her third year at the helm, finishing the regular season with a record of 11-8-1 (2-4 in Western League).  The Lady Pointers lost a hard-fought CIF playoff match to Del Norte by a 2-0 score Nov. 12. The outlook for the future is bright, as the vast majority of this year’s young varsity team will return in 2012 to take advantage of the experience and skills gained this season. Water polo (boys) Veteran coach Jerry Rich, now in his 18th season, led a young group of water Dogs to an overall record of 6-24. In a tough Eastern League, the Pointers lost all eight matches against eventual CIF champ Serra and runner-up University City, Scripps Ranch and Patrick Henry. Westview defeated the Dogs 14-5 in a first-round CIF playoff match. Senior Nate Ellison led scorers with 66 goals and 23 assists. Junior Kye Miranda (52, 15) and senior Ryan Shoemaker (31, 10) had strong seasons. Ellison and Miranda also led the team in steals. In goal, Brett Stewart recorded a 10.3 goals-against average. Senior Olin Paine added nine goals, eight assists and 11 steals.  Golf (girls) Volunteer head coach Fred Fogerty, now in his sixth year, is one of the most dedicated Pointer coaches, also coaching the boys’ team during spring. With every practice and match requiring a long drive and time commitment, Fogerty somehow juggles coaching and his own work. This year’s team finished with a record of 8-9 in match play. However, team members recorded the lowest overall average score in PLHS girls’ golf history. And Fogerty will also welcome back nine underclass golfers next season. Team captains Wendy Eifert and Melissa Nou were the team’s only seniors, and Fogerty notes all players recorded personal best scores to make the season a great success.  Individually, Melissa Nou led all golfers and qualified for individual CIF playoffs. Tennis (girls) Mark Truver, who has coached PLHS boys’ tennis for a number of years, assumed the reins of the girls’ program. Following a 5-12 regular season, the team was defeated by a strong Mt. Carmel team (16-2) in early CIF playoff action. In doubles play, senior Jasmin Zepeda and sophomore Kate Schabarum qualified for CIF playoffs. The No. 1 doubles team of Zepeda and team captain/senior Lindsey McKay had a regular season record or 27-17, while the No. 2 doubles team of senior Sara Fisher and junior Alexa Rowland were 26-19. Senior Katherine Riley had an 8-1 record while junior Sidney Ganem was 5-1, both in doubles. Sophomore Taylor Phillips, playing No. 3 singles, had a 12-19 record. At the team banquet this week, Schabarum was named Most Valuable Player, McKay received Most Inspirational Player and junior Breanna Gabriel was judged Most Improved Player. Rookie of the Year honors went to freshman Halea Holasek, who recorded a 15-18 record as No. 2 singles player, and the Sportsmanship Award went to sophomores Rochelle Mooney and Marlee Horwitz, both doubles players. With many talented underclass members, the Pointers should be much-improved next year.  Volleyball (girls) Behind football, second-year coach Davis Ransom’s girls were the biggest draw on the PLHS campus as they fought to a 20-14 overall record, which included a wild CIF playoff win against Steele Canyon in a deafening Pointer gym. Scores against Steele Canyon showed the back-and-forth intensity of the two-hour battle: 21-25, 27-25, 25-22, 9-25 and 15-11.  The Pointer ladies finished at 4-4 in the Western League, clearly the county’s toughest. Both teams ahead of them in the standings (Cathedral Catholic and Scripps Ranch) are perennial volleyball powers. This year, the Dons won the CIF title again over runner-up La Jolla, whom the Pointers defeated twice. Seniors Taryn Smith led the team with 75 kills with Brianna Smith adding 30. Elise Waelder had 25 blocks, while junior Caroline Wade (14) and senior Christina King (13) followed.  Seniors Diana Jellison had 13 aces, with Olivia Wilson (12) and Waelder (11) close behind. Wilson also led in digs (62) with Smith (47) and Jellison (43) also made big contributions.