JC Football: SMC’s Rico Wright commits to Gannon University (PA)
Rico Wright / Courtesy of SMC
Santa Monica College defensive back Rico Wright has committed to Division II Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania for the upcoming 2013 season
The 5’10, 180 lbs sophomore from Mira Costa High was a two-year starter for the Corsairs, leading them to back-to-back conference titles for the first time in thirty years. Wright had 57 tackles along with four interceptions and recovering two fumbles. He was named All-Pacific Conference Second Team in 2012.
Gannon is a private catholic university with an enrollment of about 4,200 students. The Golden Knights were 3-8 and 1-6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
Other schools that showed interest were Morehouse College and Eastern Illinois.
Boys Volleyball: Palisades upset by Granada Hills in D1 finals; Venice and LACES lose in D2 and D3
Things did not Things did not go the way Palisades wanted to against Granada Hills the second time around.
After beating the Highlanders earlier this season and in last year’s finals, the Dolphins had another lackluster playoffs performance getting swept for the LA City Division 1 title (25-20, 25-19, 25-20) at the Roybal Learning Center.
Palisades had struggled in five-set matches versus Van Nuys in the quarterfinals and San Pedro in the semifinals.
‘It is very disappointing to get to the finals and lose the way we did,” said Palisades head coach Randy Stoklos.
The Dolphins had earlier defeated Granada Hills in four sets in March to open the season, but trailed almost the entire contest. Palisades’ only lead in match was a 3-1 advantage in the first set.
Grant Pugatch had 11 kills for the Dolphins.
Stoklos also announced after the game that he would not return as Palisades coach next season.
The Western League seemed poised to sweep all three of the boys Volleyball city titles, but came away empty handed.
In the Division 2 finals, Venice was the on the verge of losing the first set to Eagle Rock before a run of eight straight points gave the Gondoliers set one at 26-24. That would be the only highlight as the Eagles took the next three sets to take home the city title (24-26, 25-21, 25-18, 25-21).
Steven Glaza had 15 kills for Venice.
Northridge Academy defeated LACES 3-1 (25-18, 25-12, 17-25, 25-18) for the Division 3 title.
Baseball: Windward runs their way right out of the playoffs.
Windward came up a run short in their first round game of the CIF Division 6 playoffs, losing to The Webb Schools 4-3 on Friday afternoon despite some terrific pitching by senior Kirav Patel.
Junior Max Schrage hit a RBI single that brought in Tanner Savitsky. A few pitches later, Tyler McMorrow hit a two-run double bringing home Schrage and Jason Lurie. Patel held the Gauls to one run while his teammates provided run support taking a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
The lead would not last however.
The Gauls started their rally after Ryan Whithorn scored on a Ian Henry’s fly out to right field. On a controversial call, Josh Hartman hit a grounder to shortstop, on what appeared to be an out at first base was ruled safe.
One batter later, Aaron Digiamarino hit a two-run double to right center field bringing home Ian Chavez and Josh Hartman giving them a 4-3 lead.
Boys Volleyball: Palisades’ Randy Stoklos resigns as coach after losing in the City Finals
Palisades boys volleyball head coach Randy Stoklos announced his resignation after one season during the post game interview minutes after his team was swept 3-0 by Granada Hills in the LA City Division I finals at Royal High.
“It had nothing to do with the outcome of this game right now, but I’m not going to back as coach next year at Palisades High,” said Stoklos. “I have had some other opporunities that have come up in the college ranks. Also going to the Olympic games with beach volleyball, I’m going to take advantage of. I have never gone to the Olympic games.”
Stoklos did not state what college he may end up at, but did say that the opporunity to coach in the 2016 Olympic Games is with Team USA.
In addition, he expressed frustration of with the adminstration for the lack of playing time that his team was allowed to practice in the gym compared to the basketball program as well as his dislike for the lack of stability in a the position with a yearly review.
“I did what need to do for a team and now one was stepping to the plate, after they had been without a coach for so long. I will always enjoy my high school experience and would be open to returning to it,” said Stoklos.
He went 27-8-1 in his single season at Palisades, winning a Western League title.
Swimming: Palisades sweeps Boys and Girls City Titles [updated]
Palisades assistant coach Peter Fishler is pushed into the pool during the celebration of winning LA City Section Boys and Girls Swimming Titles at East LA College on Friday. / Michael Yanow
With a trio of dominating performances, Palisades’ Allie Vituous, and Mardell Ramirez each won four events, while Brandon Yong won three at the LA City Swimming Finals to lead the Dolphins to sweep both the boys and girls team titles on Friday.
Palisades’ strength could be felt in every race at East Los Angeles College as they won 11 out of 21 individual and team events and failed to reach the top three in only two events.
“So relieved, it’s finally time. This has been my career goal in the last ten years to have all four teams to go undefeated in the city and we finally did it,” said Palisades coach Maggie Nance. “The boys have been trying really hard for the last few years [to win city], but they got it.”
The Dolphins set the tone in the first race of the meet when the team of Natalia Hernandez, Lily Carthan, Jayme Rossie, and Ramirez easily won the 200 yard medley relay by five seconds over Granada Hills.
Softball Roundup: Westchester rallies to advance to D-2 semis
Fresh off an opening round upset of Wilson, Westchester had two rally twice in order to knock off 15th seed Maywood 8-7 to advance to the LA City Division II semifinals.
Veranae Woods had three RBI’s and Sharnitra Woods scored and drove in a run for the Comets.
Westchester trailed 2-0 in the first and 5-4 after the third inning of play.
The 10th-seeded will travel to No. 6 Arleta on Tuesday.
In other games…
Venice bats get hot early in win
Baseball Roundup: Santa Monica’s lack of offense sends them out of the playoffs
Santa Monica managed only two hits and once again could not get past the first round as they lost at home to Knight 8-3, knocking them out of the Division 3 playoffs.
Despite struggling at the plate, the Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Mason Landis scored from third on a wild pitch.
That advanted was short lived when Knight grabbed four runs in the top half of the fifth led by an Edgar Cabral homerun and two more runs in each of the final two innings.
Santa Monica (20-11) has not advance to the second round since the 2008-2009 season.
Other scores…
