Loyola athletics - 2016-2017 sees Cubs notch a National Championship, US LAX title, CIF championship - Coaches' salute
Another banner year in Loyola athletics comes to close
The 2016-2017 school year at Loyola is officially in the books, and once again the Cubs did themselves proud, posting a number of remarkable accomplishments on the field, on the pitch, on the links, on running courses, on the court and in the water. Here is a salute to each Loyola sport and the talented coaches who toiled with uncommon commitment to make the year so successful.
FALL SPORTS
Cross Country
Head coach Dr. EDUARDO "LALO" DIAZ and his longtime corps of dedicated assistants oversaw another excellent campaign that saw the Cubs win the Mission League title going away. Loyola placed fourth in the CIF Southern Section Division II finals, but grabbed the runner-up spot in the state D-II finals. The perennially talented Cub cross country squad won first place trophies at the Cerritos Invitational, Rosemead Invitational, Mt. Carmel Invitational and Bell-Jeff Invitational.
Dr. Diaz's assistants were FRANK MEZA, M.D., PHIL BLAND, M.D., MICKEY DePALO and WAYNE BRANDT.
Football
The Cub varsity football squad faced adversity before the season began with the departure of arguably its best player. The Cubs persevered nonetheless. Their 3-7 record does not accurately reflect the character with which they competed. The highlight of the campaign was the dramatic 24-23 victory over long time rival Bishop Amat in which Loyola scord 10 points in the final 20 seconds of the contest.
Head coach MARVIN SANDERS was assisted by current interim head coach Dr. RICK PEDROARIAS '84 (OL), CASEY QUEDENFELD (OC/QB), MARTIN MAYS (Co-DC/DB), CHRISTIAN GASCOU '93 (DL), MIKE GILHOOLY '88 ((LB), ZACH MURRAY (RB) and JORGE TORRES '99 (TE). ANDRE WOODERT served as the strength and conditioning coach. Two of the team's players were named National football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar athletes and eight players will go on to play college football, including six at FBS programs.
The Cub sophomore team, under the tutelage of head coach RIC FLORES, had an excellent campaign, finishing second in the Mission League and compiling an 8-2 overall record. Among the decisive victories were a 27-6 triumph over Serra and a 31-14 demolition of Chaminade. Flores' assistants were P.J. PASCALE '78 (OC/OL), FERNIE HERNANDEZ (RB/DL) and GIFFORD IRVINE '82 (WR/DB).
Loyola's freshman squad went 6-4 with two of the losses coming in the final moments of the contests. Among the high points of the season were a 31-21 non-league road victory over Santa Margarita and the 41-14 league win over Notre Dame in the Mission league finale. Head coach LEVI LINEwas assisted by FRED SAINZ '83 (OC/LB), MIKE LEW '86 (WR/DC) LEON ALLEN (WR/DB) and JOSH AHN (OL/DL).
Water Polo
Head coach ERIK HEALY guided the Loyola varsity water polo squad to a 23-7 record and a trip to the ultra competitive CIF Southern Section Division I playoff semifinals. One of the highlights of the campaign was the Cubs' 6-4 triumph over arch rival Harvard-Westlake to lock up the Mission League crown.
Healy was assisted by coaches STEFAN MENGIM and TRISTEN REINHARDT.
Loyola's JV club finished the season with an 18-7 overall record and won the Agoura Tournament Championship. The Cubs were coached by ALEX FORTIS. The freshman water polo club completed the campaign with a 10-7 record. The team was coached by MATT SCHAEFFER.
WINTER SPORTS
Basketball
Head coach JAMAL ADAMS' '89 varsity hoop team made it to the CIF Southern Section Division 1A semifinals in one of the veteran mentor's best coaching efforts. Loyola completed the season with a 19-10 overall record. Adams was assisted by CHAD YATES, GEOFF WALKER, Cub grad JUSTIN THOMAS and TERRENCE ROBERTS.
The Cub JV squad compiled an impressive 22-4 record under head coach THOMAS PICHOTTA and assistant ROGER STEWART. Loyola won the L.B. Millikan Tournament and was the Los Alamitos Tournament champion.
An undefeated (12-0) freshman Mission League title march was spearheaded by head Coach FRANK PETERS. Peters was assisted by JALAL HAZZARD and TOCHI OTI. Among the other highlights for the Cub freshman were winning the City of Angels Tournament championship and the Redondo Tournament title. The Frosh finished the season with a 20-4 overall record.
Soccer
Varsity Head Coach and Loyola grad CHRIS WALTER's varsity soccer club amassed a 14-9-5 overall record after being named state champs the previous season. Walter was assisted by BRAD LEGANT and Cub grad TREVOR MUTCH.
The Cub JV team went 9-1 in the Mission League to capture the loop crown, and compiled a 15-1-2 overall record, which included winning the Westside Tournament championship. Loyola was mentored by head coach ROBERT BAHEDRY and assistant BRIAN HALEY.
The Cub freshman squad (17-3-3) was tutored by head coach JORGE TORRES '99 and assistant LARRY GARCIA.
SPRING SPORTS
Baseball
First year varsity head coach SEAN BULLER saw his Loyola baseball team come up just short of making the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. The Cubs went 6-2-1 in their last nine games to end the season on a high note. Loyola was 12-15-1 overall, which was not all bad given that one of the team's top two pitchers was sidelined all season with an injury. Buller's assistants were MIKE BARNHILL and SCOTT EGAN.
The Cub JV baseball squad finished second in the Mission League with a 9-3 record (16-8 overall), under the reins of head coach KEVIN JENKINS and assitant ROGER STEWART.
Loyola's freshman club completed the campaign with a 17-5-2 overall record (7-3-2 in the Misssion League) under head coach and Cub alum TOM PECK and assistant BENJAMIN SWINFORD. The Cubs outscored their final two league opponents, St. Francis and Crespi, by the combined score of 48-16 in four games.
Golf
Under the guidance of head coach ROBB GORR Loyola's varsity golf squad added a sixth consecutive CIF Southern Section Central Divison title to the trophy case to tie the record of six consecutive CIF championships won by the track & field team under veteran head man MIKE PORTERFIELD '72. The Cub links men were Mission League champs and compiled a 14-1 overall record.
The Cub JV team finished the season with a 13-3 record under the guidance of head coach LEE JACKSON and assistant JASON SCHMIDT. Loyola won the Mission League Tournament but dropped two league matches to Chaminade by one point each.
Lacrosse
Loyola's varsity lacrosse team won a second consecutive US Lacrosse Southern Section tile under the guidance of US Lacrosse Southern Section Coach-of-the-Year SETH COHEN. Assisting Cohen were BRAD TIETJEN and MIKE GROZDEN. The Cubs decisively defeated Palos Verdes, 11-5, in the Los Angeles Regional before dominating Orange County champion Foothill, 13-4 in the Southern Section title game. Loyola was ranked 24th in the nation at the conclusion of the campaign and number four in the West by US Lacrosse. The Mission League champion Cubs (9-1) put Loyola on the national prep lacrosse map. Six of the school's players earned All-American honors and one was named an Academic All-American.
The Cub JV lacrosse club put together a spectacular run, finishing 19-1-1 under head coach JOHN DAVID WHALEN and assistant CARL MUELLER. Loyola's JVs closed out the 2017 season by winning the Nathan Powell Southwest Invitational, outscoring their five foes by an incredible combined score of 135-11.
Swimming & Dive
Loyola came close to winning a second consecutive CIF Southern Section Division I swimming & dive championship before barely getting outpaced in the finals by champion Dana Hills. The Cubs had a record-setting squad under the reins of veteran head coach KEVIN MANN, who was assisted by CHRIS GIBSON, ANDREW MULLER and dive coach RACHEL BAUGHMAN. Loyola was undefeated in Mission League dual meets and took first place in the Justin Carr Relays.
The Cub JV squad ended the season as undefeated (6-0) Mission League champions under head coach JAMES BANKS and assistants ANDREW MULLER, ALEX FORTIS and RACHEL BAUGHMAN.
Tennis
The 2016-2017 school year at Loyola is officially in the books, and once again the Cubs did themselves proud, posting a number of remarkable accomplishments on the field, on the pitch, on the links, on running courses, on the court and in the water. Here is a salute to each Loyola sport and the talented coaches who toiled with uncommon commitment to make the year so successful.
FALL SPORTS
Cross Country
Head coach Dr. EDUARDO "LALO" DIAZ and his longtime corps of dedicated assistants oversaw another excellent campaign that saw the Cubs win the Mission League title going away. Loyola placed fourth in the CIF Southern Section Division II finals, but grabbed the runner-up spot in the state D-II finals. The perennially talented Cub cross country squad won first place trophies at the Cerritos Invitational, Rosemead Invitational, Mt. Carmel Invitational and Bell-Jeff Invitational.
Dr. Diaz's assistants were FRANK MEZA, M.D., PHIL BLAND, M.D., MICKEY DePALO and WAYNE BRANDT.
Football
The Cub varsity football squad faced adversity before the season began with the departure of arguably its best player. The Cubs persevered nonetheless. Their 3-7 record does not accurately reflect the character with which they competed. The highlight of the campaign was the dramatic 24-23 victory over long time rival Bishop Amat in which Loyola scord 10 points in the final 20 seconds of the contest.
Head coach MARVIN SANDERS was assisted by current interim head coach Dr. RICK PEDROARIAS '84 (OL), CASEY QUEDENFELD (OC/QB), MARTIN MAYS (Co-DC/DB), CHRISTIAN GASCOU '93 (DL), MIKE GILHOOLY '88 ((LB), ZACH MURRAY (RB) and JORGE TORRES '99 (TE). ANDRE WOODERT served as the strength and conditioning coach. Two of the team's players were named National football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar athletes and eight players will go on to play college football, including six at FBS programs.
The Cub sophomore team, under the tutelage of head coach RIC FLORES, had an excellent campaign, finishing second in the Mission League and compiling an 8-2 overall record. Among the decisive victories were a 27-6 triumph over Serra and a 31-14 demolition of Chaminade. Flores' assistants were P.J. PASCALE '78 (OC/OL), FERNIE HERNANDEZ (RB/DL) and GIFFORD IRVINE '82 (WR/DB).
Loyola's freshman squad went 6-4 with two of the losses coming in the final moments of the contests. Among the high points of the season were a 31-21 non-league road victory over Santa Margarita and the 41-14 league win over Notre Dame in the Mission league finale. Head coach LEVI LINEwas assisted by FRED SAINZ '83 (OC/LB), MIKE LEW '86 (WR/DC) LEON ALLEN (WR/DB) and JOSH AHN (OL/DL).
Water Polo
Head coach ERIK HEALY guided the Loyola varsity water polo squad to a 23-7 record and a trip to the ultra competitive CIF Southern Section Division I playoff semifinals. One of the highlights of the campaign was the Cubs' 6-4 triumph over arch rival Harvard-Westlake to lock up the Mission League crown.
Healy was assisted by coaches STEFAN MENGIM and TRISTEN REINHARDT.
Loyola's JV club finished the season with an 18-7 overall record and won the Agoura Tournament Championship. The Cubs were coached by ALEX FORTIS. The freshman water polo club completed the campaign with a 10-7 record. The team was coached by MATT SCHAEFFER.
WINTER SPORTS
Basketball
Head coach JAMAL ADAMS' '89 varsity hoop team made it to the CIF Southern Section Division 1A semifinals in one of the veteran mentor's best coaching efforts. Loyola completed the season with a 19-10 overall record. Adams was assisted by CHAD YATES, GEOFF WALKER, Cub grad JUSTIN THOMAS and TERRENCE ROBERTS.
The Cub JV squad compiled an impressive 22-4 record under head coach THOMAS PICHOTTA and assistant ROGER STEWART. Loyola won the L.B. Millikan Tournament and was the Los Alamitos Tournament champion.
An undefeated (12-0) freshman Mission League title march was spearheaded by head Coach FRANK PETERS. Peters was assisted by JALAL HAZZARD and TOCHI OTI. Among the other highlights for the Cub freshman were winning the City of Angels Tournament championship and the Redondo Tournament title. The Frosh finished the season with a 20-4 overall record.
Soccer
Varsity Head Coach and Loyola grad CHRIS WALTER's varsity soccer club amassed a 14-9-5 overall record after being named state champs the previous season. Walter was assisted by BRAD LEGANT and Cub grad TREVOR MUTCH.
The Cub JV team went 9-1 in the Mission League to capture the loop crown, and compiled a 15-1-2 overall record, which included winning the Westside Tournament championship. Loyola was mentored by head coach ROBERT BAHEDRY and assistant BRIAN HALEY.
The Cub freshman squad (17-3-3) was tutored by head coach JORGE TORRES '99 and assistant LARRY GARCIA.
SPRING SPORTS
Baseball
First year varsity head coach SEAN BULLER saw his Loyola baseball team come up just short of making the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. The Cubs went 6-2-1 in their last nine games to end the season on a high note. Loyola was 12-15-1 overall, which was not all bad given that one of the team's top two pitchers was sidelined all season with an injury. Buller's assistants were MIKE BARNHILL and SCOTT EGAN.
The Cub JV baseball squad finished second in the Mission League with a 9-3 record (16-8 overall), under the reins of head coach KEVIN JENKINS and assitant ROGER STEWART.
Loyola's freshman club completed the campaign with a 17-5-2 overall record (7-3-2 in the Misssion League) under head coach and Cub alum TOM PECK and assistant BENJAMIN SWINFORD. The Cubs outscored their final two league opponents, St. Francis and Crespi, by the combined score of 48-16 in four games.
Golf
Under the guidance of head coach ROBB GORR Loyola's varsity golf squad added a sixth consecutive CIF Southern Section Central Divison title to the trophy case to tie the record of six consecutive CIF championships won by the track & field team under veteran head man MIKE PORTERFIELD '72. The Cub links men were Mission League champs and compiled a 14-1 overall record.
The Cub JV team finished the season with a 13-3 record under the guidance of head coach LEE JACKSON and assistant JASON SCHMIDT. Loyola won the Mission League Tournament but dropped two league matches to Chaminade by one point each.
Lacrosse
Loyola's varsity lacrosse team won a second consecutive US Lacrosse Southern Section tile under the guidance of US Lacrosse Southern Section Coach-of-the-Year SETH COHEN. Assisting Cohen were BRAD TIETJEN and MIKE GROZDEN. The Cubs decisively defeated Palos Verdes, 11-5, in the Los Angeles Regional before dominating Orange County champion Foothill, 13-4 in the Southern Section title game. Loyola was ranked 24th in the nation at the conclusion of the campaign and number four in the West by US Lacrosse. The Mission League champion Cubs (9-1) put Loyola on the national prep lacrosse map. Six of the school's players earned All-American honors and one was named an Academic All-American.
The Cub JV lacrosse club put together a spectacular run, finishing 19-1-1 under head coach JOHN DAVID WHALEN and assistant CARL MUELLER. Loyola's JVs closed out the 2017 season by winning the Nathan Powell Southwest Invitational, outscoring their five foes by an incredible combined score of 135-11.
Swimming & Dive
Loyola came close to winning a second consecutive CIF Southern Section Division I swimming & dive championship before barely getting outpaced in the finals by champion Dana Hills. The Cubs had a record-setting squad under the reins of veteran head coach KEVIN MANN, who was assisted by CHRIS GIBSON, ANDREW MULLER and dive coach RACHEL BAUGHMAN. Loyola was undefeated in Mission League dual meets and took first place in the Justin Carr Relays.
The Cub JV squad ended the season as undefeated (6-0) Mission League champions under head coach JAMES BANKS and assistants ANDREW MULLER, ALEX FORTIS and RACHEL BAUGHMAN.
Tennis
Varsity tennis head coach BRIAN HELD guided Loyola's tennis team to a second place finish in the Mission League behind conference champ Harvard-Westlake. The Cubs completed the 2017 season with a 13-6 overall record and a trip to the CIF D-I playoffs.
The Loyola JV tennis squad finished 6-4 under head coach KELLY FARLAND.
Track & Field
The Loyola JV tennis squad finished 6-4 under head coach KELLY FARLAND.
Track & Field
Long time head coach MICHAEL PORTERFIELD '72 and his staff helped steer the Cub varsity track &field team to yet another undefeated Mission League season. In the state championship prelims the 4 X 400 team ran a 3:16.80 to record one of the best times in the event in school history.
Loyola's assistant coaches were Dr. LALO DIAZ (distances), NICK GERLITS, ED HAIRSTON (Sprints), FERNIE HERNANDEZ (Pole Vault), PHILLIP MOLEBASH (Pole Vault), MATT PENTECOST '95 (Throws), Dr. RICK PEDROARIAS '84 (High Jump),AL SANFORD '76 (Hurdles) and Cub alumnus DOUG SCHERER (Horizontal Jumps).
Volleyball
Veteran head coach MICHAEL BOEHLE '84 helped guid the Cubs to the National championship by defeating Corona del Mar for the second time in three matches in the CIF State Southern California Regional finals. In the semifinal round of the state regional playoffs Loyola avenged its only other loss of the season by defeating Oak Park in four sets. The Cubs finished the 2017 campaign with an overall record of 30-2. Loyola did not lose a single match in Mission League play, winning 36 consecutive sets. Assisting Boehle this season were long time UCLA assistant BRIAN ROFER and Cub alum ALEX SLAUGHT.
Under the guidance of head coach LARRY ROJAS and his assistants KYLE KNOLL and KAITLIN COLLINS, Loyola's JV squad was undefeated in the Mission League, won 24 consecutive Mission League sets, won two Redondo Tournament titles and compiled a 29-1 record.
The Cub freshman team won the Mission League title, going undefeated (10-0) in conference play and winning 20 straight sets in conference competition. LARRY ROJAS was the head coach of the freshman squad as well and was assisted by KYLE KNOLL.
HIGHLIGHTS
The two biggest achievements in Loyola sports during the 2016-2017 school year were the National Championship in volleyball and the US Lacrosse Southern Section title which enabled the lacrosse team to finish the campaign ranked 24th in the nation.
Not far behind those august accomplishments were the cross country team's number two placement at the CIF State meet, the golf team winning a sixth consecutive CIF Central Division championship, the CIF Division I runner-up in swimming, the CIF Southern Section semifinal runs in basketball and water polo, and varsity league championships in cross country, water polo, swimming, track & field and volleyball.
The following teams amassed a combined undefeated Mission League game/match record of 34-0: cross country (6-0), golf (6-0), swimming (6-0), track & field (6-0), volleyball (6-0) and water polo (4-0).
The varsity, JV and freshman volleyball teams amassed overall records of 76-6 and went a combined 80-0 in league set victories.
The varsity and JV lacrosse teams combined for an overall record of 39-5-1 . The JV and freshmen basketball squads achieved a combined record of 44-8. The track program went 18-0 in dual meets at the varsity, JV and frosh/soph levels.
It was another great year for Loyola athletics, especially considering the fact that the school is the number one ranked boys Catholic high school in the state.
A great deal of credit goes to athletic director CHRIS O'DONNELL '88, who will be entering his twentieth year next fall as the director of Loyola's athletics.
Loyola's assistant coaches were Dr. LALO DIAZ (distances), NICK GERLITS, ED HAIRSTON (Sprints), FERNIE HERNANDEZ (Pole Vault), PHILLIP MOLEBASH (Pole Vault), MATT PENTECOST '95 (Throws), Dr. RICK PEDROARIAS '84 (High Jump),AL SANFORD '76 (Hurdles) and Cub alumnus DOUG SCHERER (Horizontal Jumps).
Volleyball
Veteran head coach MICHAEL BOEHLE '84 helped guid the Cubs to the National championship by defeating Corona del Mar for the second time in three matches in the CIF State Southern California Regional finals. In the semifinal round of the state regional playoffs Loyola avenged its only other loss of the season by defeating Oak Park in four sets. The Cubs finished the 2017 campaign with an overall record of 30-2. Loyola did not lose a single match in Mission League play, winning 36 consecutive sets. Assisting Boehle this season were long time UCLA assistant BRIAN ROFER and Cub alum ALEX SLAUGHT.
Under the guidance of head coach LARRY ROJAS and his assistants KYLE KNOLL and KAITLIN COLLINS, Loyola's JV squad was undefeated in the Mission League, won 24 consecutive Mission League sets, won two Redondo Tournament titles and compiled a 29-1 record.
The Cub freshman team won the Mission League title, going undefeated (10-0) in conference play and winning 20 straight sets in conference competition. LARRY ROJAS was the head coach of the freshman squad as well and was assisted by KYLE KNOLL.
HIGHLIGHTS
The two biggest achievements in Loyola sports during the 2016-2017 school year were the National Championship in volleyball and the US Lacrosse Southern Section title which enabled the lacrosse team to finish the campaign ranked 24th in the nation.
Not far behind those august accomplishments were the cross country team's number two placement at the CIF State meet, the golf team winning a sixth consecutive CIF Central Division championship, the CIF Division I runner-up in swimming, the CIF Southern Section semifinal runs in basketball and water polo, and varsity league championships in cross country, water polo, swimming, track & field and volleyball.
The following teams amassed a combined undefeated Mission League game/match record of 34-0: cross country (6-0), golf (6-0), swimming (6-0), track & field (6-0), volleyball (6-0) and water polo (4-0).
The varsity, JV and freshman volleyball teams amassed overall records of 76-6 and went a combined 80-0 in league set victories.
The varsity and JV lacrosse teams combined for an overall record of 39-5-1 . The JV and freshmen basketball squads achieved a combined record of 44-8. The track program went 18-0 in dual meets at the varsity, JV and frosh/soph levels.
It was another great year for Loyola athletics, especially considering the fact that the school is the number one ranked boys Catholic high school in the state.
A great deal of credit goes to athletic director CHRIS O'DONNELL '88, who will be entering his twentieth year next fall as the director of Loyola's athletics.
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