La Costa Canyon Mavericks

January 24th, 2011CIF-SAN DIEGO SECTION BOYS

The Team to Beat: La Costa Canyon

Though La Costa Canyon has a new head coach, it is still the favorite to repeat as CIF-San Diego Section champions in 2011. And many coaches around the state say the Mavericks are the best team in California. La Costa Canyon shouldn’t see any drop off with long-time assistant Jesse Foss replacing Dallas Hartley, who have moved on to take over the head coaching position at Chapman University. La Costa Canyon was undefeated last season and finished ranked No. 2 in the West. In an effort to keep his team on its toes, Foss has scheduled out-of-conference games with top teams throughout California, as well as in Colorado and New York.

Success will hinge on the play of a strong group of returning players, including All-American goalie Eric Sanschagrin, who will play collegiately at Princeton, defenseman Michael Riis, who was ranked the No. 8 senior in the West and has committed to Denver, and middie Blaine Wetherald.

Contenders: Coronado, Torrey Pines, Rancho Bernardo

Coronado won the CIF-San Diego Section in 2009 and won the City League in 2010. The Islanders return 17 seniors and should make a run deep into the playoffs behind senior attackman Kyle Runyon, who has already signed a national letter of intent to play at NCAA Division I Notre Dame, attackman Alexander Bookout, middies Chris Banks and Sergio Flores and long-stick middie Dane Farguson. The Islanders are the only one of the top three-ranked teams in the San Diego Section to return their head coach, Alex Cade.

Torrey Pines is always a player when it comes to the post-season. Jon Zissi, former Cathedral Catholic head coach and Bishop’s offensive coordinator, takes over for John Principi, who led Torrey Pines to the CIF-San Diego Section final in 2010. Zissi has experience on his side, as well as a strong junior class. He’ll build the team around standout attackman Sean Doyle, who has committed to NCAA Division I Cornell, and attackman Lucas Gradinger, while Willie Mort (defenseman) and returning goalie Jake Kennedy will anchor the defense.

A lot will be expected this season of Rancho Bernardo, which boasts some of the Western United States’ most hyped players. Leading the way is University of Denver-bound senior middie Tyler Ekeroth, ranked the No. 1 senior in the West. Mesa State-bound senior goalie Zach Weaver is a wall and, along with Vermont-bound senior defenseman Jeremy Hutchens, will make it difficult for the opposition to score.

Sleeper: Poway

Preseason Top 10: 1. La Costa Canyon, 2. Torrey Pines, 3. Coronado, 4. Rancho Bernardo, 5. Poway, 6. Cathedral Catholic, 7. Patrick Henry, 8. La Jolla, 9. Bishops, 10. Santa Fe Christian

Returning 2010 First-Team All-Americans: Kyle Runyon, Att., Coronado; Eric Sanschagrin, G, La Costa Canyon

NCAA Division I Recruits: Dustin Beacon, Mid., Grossmont (Hofstra); Sean Doyle, Att., Torrey Pines (Cornell); Tyler Ekeroth, Mid., Rancho Bernardo (Denver); Jeremy Hutchens, Def., Rancho Bernardo (Vermont); Michael Riis, Def., La Costa Canyon (Denver); Kyle Runyon, Att., Coronado (Notre Dame); Eric Sanschagrin, G, La Costa Canyon (Princeton); Andrew Sayer, G, Scripps Ranch (Providence).

Players to Watch: Luke Arnell, Mid., Bishop’s; Chris Banks, Mid., Coronado; Nicholai Bolam, Mid., Helix Charter; Alexander Bookout, Att., Coronado (Denison); Travis Brown, Def., Rancho Bernardo (Aurora); Patrick Butler, Mid., La Jolla Country Day (Dominican); Austin Coleman, G, San Marcos (Norwich); Denny Crenshaw, LSM, Helix Charter; Tyler Dennis, Att., Helix Charter; Henry Donahue, Att., Poway; Dane Farguson, Def., Coronado (Dominican); Brian Farley, Def., Patrick Henry; Eddy Glazener, Def., Bishop’s; Alex Fischer, Mid., Bishop’s; Sergio Flores, Mid., Coronado; Michael Henry, G, Cathedral Catholic; Lucas Gradinger, Att., Torrey Pines; Kevin Hurt, Att., Torrey Pines; Matthew Landon, Mid., Poway (New York Institute of Technology); Alex Lecko, Att., Helix Charter; Willie Mort, Def., Torrey Pines; Matthew OHara, Att., La Jolla (Skidmore); Grey Owen, Def., Patrick Henry; Jake Kennedy, G, Torrey Pines; Ruben Pena, Def., Rancho Bernardo; Zach Rice, Def., Patrick Henry; Thomas Ripberger, Mid., Grossmont; Connor Sanit, Att., Poway; Billy Schmitt, Def., Coronado (Lenoir Rhyne); Tim Schwartz, Mid., Grossmont; Robby Stiefler, Mid., Bishop’s (Trinity); Sam Stowe, G, Helix Charter; Seth Stowell, Att., El Capitan; James Turner, Def., Grossmont; Zach Weaver, G, Rancho Bernardo (Mesa State); Blaine Wetherald, Mid., La Costa Canyon; John Wilson, Mid., Torrey Pines.

Notes: The City League has been split into two conferences. Coronado, La Jolla, Patrick Henry, Scripps Ranch and Cathedral Catholic are in the Eastern Conference and Point Loma, Serra, University City, St. Augustine and Mira Mesa are in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference is for more established programs, and the Western Conference is where the newer programs will play….The North League will include Carlsbad, Fallbrook, La Costa Canyon, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, San Dieguito Academy, San Marcos and Torrey Pines….Five CIF-San Diego Section players were included in the most recent WSL Boys Elite Top 25 Rankings – No. 1 Tyler Ekeroth (Mid., Rancho Bernardo); No. 2 Kyle Runyon (Att., Coronado); No. 8 Michael Riis (Def., La Costa Canyon); No. 12 Zach Weaver (G, Rancho Bernardo) and No. 18 Jeremy Hutchens (Def., Rancho Bernardo)….Coronado’s Alex Bookout, Torrey Pines’ Max Myrick, La Costa Canyon’s Eric Sanschagrin, Coronado’s Dane Farguson, Rancho Bernardo’s Ruben Pena (Def.), and La Costa Canyon’s Blaine Wetherald (Mid.) were all honorable mentions….La Costa Canyon beat Torrey Pines, 12-6, in the CIF championship game in 2010….Bishop’s graduated only four seniors from last season’s 13-6 team and has 35 players in its varsity and JV programs combined. How the underclassmen step up and the freshmen transition to the high school game will be critical to its success….Grossmont made its fifth consecutive playoff appearance in 2010 and returns its entire defense and goalie. The team graduated only four players….Jon Zissi is the new head coach at Torrey Pines. He replaces John Principi, who led the team to the CIF-San Diego Section championship in 2007 and to the championship game in 2010.
Lacrosse Season: 2011