
A spectacular spring showing by Point Loma High School (PLHS) athletes resulted in a national championship, two league titles and individual CIF honors for a number of local students. The Pointers’ sailing team defeated 11 other qualifiers in bringing home the Baker Cup last month during a Seattle sail-off to claim the national high school championship. Coach Steve Hunt matched his skippers and crew to sea and wind conditions, his strategy resulting in a 15-3 record in overall races followed by 4-2 in the final series. Skippering the FJ class boats were Kevin Laube, Jake LaDow and Olin Paine. Crew members included Will Herrin, Shone Bowman, Jake Reynolds, Reece Bernet, Claire Bagg and Kyle Sutter. The full team lists 24 members. The Lady Pointers’ swim team stroked to a 7-1 season, going undefeated (6-0) to claim the Eastern League crown. Coach Jerry Rich’s girls were strongest in relay events. Junior Erin Cox (200M Freestyle and 100M Butterfly) was named league Swimmer of the Year and was undefeated in all league events she swam in. Other all-league first team members were Hannah Robertson (200M individual medley, 100M breaststroke) and Cristina Colloca (500M freestyle). Cox and Robertson joined Karin Davila and Evie Monreal on the all-league 200M medley relay team while Cox, Robertson, Monreal and Monica Longworth teamed on the all-league 200M freestyle relay. The 400M freestyle relay team also went to CIF. It included Longworth, Monreal, Colloca and Sam Pugh. Both Cox and Robertson met qualifying times for the CIF championship meet, where they were permitted to swim only two events, according to CIF rules. Cox reached the event finals, setting personal-best times as she finished third in the 200M individual medley and fifth-place finish in the 100M butterfly. Her times were 2:09.22 and 59.01 seconds, respectively. Robertson placed eighth in the 100M breaststroke and 14th in the 200M individual medley. Made up of many first-year swimmers, coach Rich’s boys’ swim team had only one senior and two juniors. They did not win any of their meets but their 400M freestyle relay team qualified for the CIF meet. Members included Carlton Bartlett, Graham Scribner, Cole Holderman and Myles Hopkins. Meanwhile, another league championship was clinched by the boys’ tennis team. After a 16-3 season (12-0 in Eastern League), coach Mark Truver’s group nearly won a third consecutive CIF Division II title, losing a close (11-7) championship match to No. 1 seed Westview. Forging ahead, Point Loma swept the Eastern League individual meet. Corey Smith won the singles championship, while teammates Nathaniel Johnson and Avery Cramer took the doubles title. Dominic Gareri (third) and Axel Cramer (fourth) also placed in the individual event. All five players qualified for the CIF finals. There, Smith took eventual champion Alex Bouillin to three sets before a semi-final loss. Later, Smith, Johnson and Axel Cramer were selected to represent San Diego in the 110th Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament. Smith also was named to the All-CIF Tennis Team (the only Division II player named). The Pointer girls’ softball team finished as the fourth-place team in the Western League. The Lady Pointers’ season ended with defeat in a CIF Division II play-in game. Coach Tom Kamfonik’s team produced several all-league players, including first team members Jill Duran and Ashley Nelson. Kaci Lorts and Marissa Reyes were named to the second team. Boys’ volleyball, under coach Michel Bevis, also landed in fourth place in the Eastern League. The team compiled a 1-8 record, despite some close matches. Boys’ golf produced impressive wins in matches at several local courses and underclass girls’ track and field members turned in improved sprint and relay times. The badminton squad showed promise, as did boys’ track and field, although neither qualified for post-season playoffs.
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