Sports

Breakers Run Into History

Why you should look to dry land to find one of Laguna Beach High's best teams.

From assistant coach and Laguna Beach High School English teacher Jon Hendrickson:

Not a known sport throughout the surfing community of Laguna Beach, the high school cross country team (both boys and girls) is starting to create waves.  

Last year, both teams competed for a state title and both finished second in Division 4.  

"There is not a high school in the state in our division that put both teams on the podium. As of today, in Division 4, we are the No. 1 cross country program in the state," said Scott Wittkop, head coach of the boys' team. 

In the Laguna Beach community, there is a lot of excitement shown toward volleyball and water polo and that's to be expected due to their accomplishments every year. But the cross country has had some historical success as well.  

Dave Brobeck, the former head coach, led the boys' team in two different years to state titles. Eric Holst (in the 1970s), was considered one of the fastest runners in the country. He used to run 130 miles a week and his best time of 8 minutes 44.6 seconds, clocked as a senior in 1976, ranks him as the sixth-fastest prep two-miler in U.S. history.  

After finishing second in state this past year, expectations are high, but both coaches wouldn't have it any other way. As Steve Lalim, head girls' coach, calmly puts it: "We aren't afraid of expectations. It is actually very encouraging. It means people are starting to take notice and they not only want us to be successful, they expect us to be successful. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Both teams have begun their summer training and head into the season with great optimism due to the runners that are returning. Among the returnees for the boys are All-CIF and All-Orange Coast League performer Cameron Zuziak and all-leaguers Mason Pitz, Drake Butler and Grant Barton.  

The girls return All-league champion Natalie Kimball and first team All-Leaguers Brenna Merchant, Janie Crawford, Kirsten Landsiedel and Pearl Shoemaker.  

Not only do both the boys' and girls' teams excel on the track but they are also among the top students in the classroom. Wittkop and Lalim's goals are not only limited to athletic achievements but stretch into the classroom as well.

"If our runners were only successful athletically, then we haven't done our job. Year in and year out, the cross country runners combine for the highest GPAs in the school," Wittkop said. "To us, this is more important than state titles. Athleticism goes away as you get older but intelligence remains."  

This is evident as just recently as last weekend, seven boys piled into a van and headed up to Big Bear. Not to run and compete but to learn how to be leaders on their team and in their community.  

They were asked in advance to read "Unbroken," a best selling true story about Louis Zamperini and his unbelievable fortitude and strength in overcoming long odds to just stay alive.  

Assistant coach and English teacher at the high school Jon Hendrickson led the discussion.  

"The boys not only loved the book, they learned a valuable lesson. When times are tough and they don't want to run on those hot days after school, they will remember Louis Zamperini. They will remember his story and they will push each other beyond what they think they are capable of achieving."  T

he girls will have a similar experience when they head to Mammoth on July 30.

"Our trip to Mammoth is all about creating a culture of preparation, dedication, hard work, and team unity," Lalim said. "We have a lot of fun doing so."

The Breakers run in their first invitational of the 2014 season Sept. 6 at the Mt. SAC Fastback Shootout in Walnut. Don't be surprised if not only they are on the podium once again when the state meet rolls around but are being crowned state champions.  

"We don't just want to make waves in our community, we want to be a tsunami," Wittkop said. With the way things are heading, he might just get his wish.



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