It has been a long and successful season for the Poway boys volleyball team. After placing second in the Palo-mar League with an impressive 8-2 record, the Titans breezed through the quarterfi nal and semifi nal rounds of CIF Playoffs. With convincing wins over Mission Hills and Torrey Pines, they earned a CIF championship birth against defending champs, Otay Ranch. The Titans had met the Mustangs during tournament play earlier in the season, losing in three straight games.

Coming into the fi nal game, head coach Charlie Jack-son was aware of the strong competition Poway faced, emphasizing that,

“Whenever you play a defending CIF champion re-turning fi ve out of six starters, you know they are going to be tough.”

The fi rst game of the match started off well, as the Poway boys played, “as well as I’ve seen them all season” according to Jackson. Unfortunately, after leading for the majority of the game, several crucial errors allowed Otay Ranch to capitalize and steal the game away from the Titans to take a 1-0 lead. “Dropping that fi rst game was brutal,” UCLA bound senior setter Jack Hughson said. “We were playing well and had control of the game, but we let it get away. They gained momentum and took over.”

The Otay Ranch Mustangs easily took the second game, putting a disorganized Titan team in a 2-0 hole.

Despite the defi cit, the Titans remained resilient, keeping the third game close. Any opportunity for a comeback, however, was stifl ed by an offi ciating debacle towards the end of the game. Down by only one, with a 19-18 score, the referee made a crucially fl awed call, giv-ing the point and ball to the Mustangs when it was right-fully won by the Titans. Mistakenly claiming that Jack Hughson was out of alignment, the referee attempted to justify his error, switching it to the other players after learning that each one was indeed in the right position. The referee refused to overturn his bad call, increasing the Titan defi cit and stifl ing their momentum.

The result changed the dynamic of the third game, which Otay Ranch proceeded to win. The Mustangs claimed their second consecutive CIF title.

The season did not end there for Poway boys volley-ball, however. Earning a bid to the state tournament as the seventh seed, they matched up on May 22 against the second seed, Loyola.

Despite playing w-ell, the stiff competition over-whelmed the Titans, who lost the match in three straight games.

Despite a disappointing conclusion, the Titan boys volleyball team turned in a solid season.

This senior-led squad capped off their careers with a superb playoff performance, especially from senior

Josh Lake, recently named a Union Tribune athlete of the week. Also, solid playoff performances from se-niors Jordan Morgan, David Aguilar, Matt Spitzley, Jack Hughson, and Vic Porter were crucial to the Titan’s play-off success. Despite losing so many seniors, next year’s team is poised for success with a deep returning junior class who will take on starting roles, complemented by returning freshman starter, Taylor Myers.

14 SPORTS MAY 25, 2012

Iliad

CIF: rain or shine, on land or in water, Titan athletes battle hard in spring season play-offs

Poway High’s gymnasts carried the banner to a strong showing at CIF championships on May 18, where the fi fth-seeded Titans pulled out a 4th-place fi nish.

Boosted by stellar performances from seniors and underclassmen alike, the team came into the fi -nals as an underdog and turned heads with a strong performance en route to a better-than-expected placing.

Confi dent after a fi rst-place fi nish at leagues, where they fended off challenges from Rancho Bernardo, Torrey Pines, Del Norte, and Our Lady of Peace to claim the team gold, Poway posted a team score of 215 at CIF, a school record.

“We had a lot of potential at the beginning of the year, so I’m really happy at how far we’ve come,” said senior Renee Swanberg.

Swanberg, a four-year varsity gymnast, added that she was “extremely proud” of the team’s te-

nacity over the course of the season.Noting a run of bad luck with injuries: sopho-

more Kaity Kirkegaard went down with an ACL tear at the beginning of the season, and two of the team’s key performers at CIF were battling through pain—senior Tori Lockwood, recently re-covered from an ankle fracture, and freshman Elle Pitts, who posted a high score on beam despite se-vere calf pain.

Other standouts included seniors Hayley Zech, Lizzy Porter, and Jordan Castro—the latter of whom posted a score of 9.675 in the fl oor exercise, good for 5th place in all of the San Diego Section.

“We practice six days a week for two hours each day, and I go full out in my practice routines so I can get it down perfectly at meets, so yeah—it feels pretty good,” Castro said of placing.

Despite being the only one on the team to fi n-ish ranked at CIF, Castro also said that all of the team members have enormous talent and should contend for the next few years.

Although seven seniors will be moving on this

year, Swanberg is equally confi dent that the team’s core remains strong and that Poway gymnastics will continue to improve under newly-minted CIF Coach of the Year Dave Moser.

He is credited with not only offering excellent tutelage, but also fostering a supportive atmo-sphere.

“We grew together so much and bonded so much throughout the losses and the wins that we’re really more of a family unit than a team,” Castro said.

“Defi nitely,” agreed Swanberg when asked. “We’re all like sisters.”

There is a sense of both nostalgia and fulfi ll-ment when talking to the team’s seniors—satisfac-tion with what they’ve achieved, and a wistful de-sire to stick around and watch what happens next.

Swanberg, for one, has high hopes that the Ti-tans will continue the tradition of excellence in 2013 and beyond.

“I expect us to only get better next year,” she said.

Sharon J. Friedman M.S.College Admissions Specialist

Helping students and parents solve the puzzle of college applications and admissions

Tel 858.395.7776Email sjfriedman@cox.net

ents solve zle of college

Gymnastics fl ips into CIF

Player prospect: Ryan Metz

Varsity volleyball coach Charlie Jackson said that his player prospects are Ryan Metz and sophomore, Justin Slawson.

According to Jackson, Metz, at a height of 5ft. 6in, has “a high volleyball IQ,” which means that he has plenty of experience playing center and libero.

Slawson, being 6 ft. 5in, was one of the best JV blockers this season.

With many seniors graduating this year, Jackson has high expectations for next year’s team, and be-lieves Metz and Slawson will fi t right in.

DELANIE HAUSNERStaff Writer

LUKE CASTORStaff Writer

On Saturday May 19, the CIF track and fi eld prelims took place, 30 boy and girl Titans quali-fi ed to participate at this meet. Taking place at Mt. Carmel High School, exactly half of the Ti-tans qualifi ed and will be returning to Mt. Carmel next weekend to participate again.

Some of the best events to look out for include the boys 4+100 team. This includes Chris French, Lance Mudd, Nehemiah Gross, and senior Evan Gray with a close school record of 42.30 the school record is 42.21. Gray also qualifi ed in the 100, and 200 sprints, and French was one of 300 hurdlers to make it to the next round.

French said, “Come watch the guys 4+100 race, the more Titans that cheer us on the faster we run.”

The boys hard work has paid off this year. If they do not win CIF then they will be a close second. The biggest competition this year is El Camino and La Costa Canyon.

Cecily Gilson, Tiffany Tate were two shining

senior girls who both stepped up to move on to the next round; Gilson in sprints and Tate in high jump.

Sophomore Drew Griffi n ran with Gilson, Nunez and Murray in the 4+400. Fresh out of middle school, Maddie Murray was the star of girl hurdles.

Although the girls competed well at prelims, they are not in the running to win a CIF title this year.

Derek Babish a well-known name across Po-way sports, jumped 22 feet in the long jump as well as qualifying in the 400 sprints with a time of 49.67.

Babish also ran on the four by four team with Gray, Ozenbaugh and Tansey, making a time of 3:22.77 also close to the school record of 3:20.06.

Keeping a positive attitude, “we [boys] have a legitimate shot at winning the CIF title,” track Coach Phil Burian said.

Despite the low numbers of qualifi ers, the team still had many other very good athletes.

Erich Hayen qualifi ed in the 1600 meter, Chris Tansey in the 800 meter, and Charlie Bush.

TORI MORINSports Editor

Although he is only a freshman Cody Edgington is out to prove he deserves to be part of next year’s varsity sprinting team. Along with running, Edgington is also on the soccer team.

Edgington runs the 400 and 800 sprints with amazing times of 53.26 sec and 2:10.3 min, he is sure to improve and return to run again in the following years.

Track and fi eld Coach Phil Burian said “He’s very talented, and has untapped poten-tial that will shine next year.”

Along with Edgington, freshman Brendan Cassidy, Tyler Couvrette and Quinn Fillmore all have times of sub 5 minutes for the 1600 and sub 11 minutes for the 3200, with these additions to the team it will improve the team score.

Player prospect: Cody EdgingtonTORI MORINSports Editor

Player prospect: Shannon Hamilton

Shannon Hamilton is expected to come through as one of the team’s cornerstones next season.

As one of Poway’s few par-ticipants in the optional fl oor exercise, she fi lls a key need—

and handles it with considerable ability, as evidenced by her high scores all season, including a 9.15 at CIF fi nals.

In addition, Coach Moser calls her an excellent leader thanks to her drive, toughness, and focus. Look for Hamilton to be at the forefront of next year’s team.

LUKE CASTORStaff Writer

Sophomore Cameron Rath has proved himself this season a strong candidate for next year’s varsity swim team.

This past swim season, Rath com-peted in both the 100 freestyle and 100 back. Rath achieved his best time of 57.3 sec for his 100 free and 104.09

sec for his 100 back this past season. In addition to swimming, Rath

competes on Poway’s water polo team as well. After high school, Rath hopes to continue both swimming and water polo in college.

While a scholarship would be an honor, Rath can see himself attend-ing Grossmont Community College to participate in both their swim and water polo programs.

Player prospect: Cameron Rath

LAURA FITZGERALDStaff Writer On Saturday May 19th, Poway swimmers

competed in the CIF fi nals meet at Del Norte High School. Poway placed 8th overall for girls and 9th overall for boys in the fi nals.

Senior Steven Fronczak earned his best time of 22.22 seconds for the 50 freestyle on Saturday according to his coach, Chad Aronen. Additionally, senior Karly Wasung swam in the fi nals for all of her events.

She earned 2nd place in the 100 freestyle.

The boys 100 freestyle relay earned 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at leagues.

“We are considered an underdog team, so I was surprised that we did so well in CIF and leagues. Other coaches referred to us as the ‘green sweep’,” said Fronczak.

Also, the boys 200 freestyle 200 freestyle relay placed 3rd in the championship fi nals as well.

The girls 400 freestyle relay placed 4th in the CIF meet.

The relay team included senior Karly Wa-sung, senior Anna Schwab, freshman Laura

Schwab, and sophomore Lexi Pepin. “This swim season we improved individually and as a team. We had a lot of fun and bonded as a team,” Wasung said.

In addition to swimming, the Poway divers added to Poway’s strong aquatic reputation. Senior Ali Gil placed 1st for female diving in CIF and senior Nathan Borchert placed 1st for male diving in CIF.

“The majority of swimmers got their best times in CIF at some point, whether it was at prelims or fi nals,” said Poway swim coach Chad Aronen.

Splish splash: swim makes it to CIFLAURA FITZGERALDStaff Writer

Fifteen track and fi eld stars advance to CIF

RYAN SULLIVANSenior Sports Writer

Volleyball spiked down by competition in CIF

Sprinting the relay: Governor Evan Gray and Chris French are two of the 15 track stars that went to CIF. They represented Poway at this monumental playoff.

LEAH SARNOFF // The Iliad

Setting the play: Senior Jack Hughson sets the ball for senior Josh Lake leading to a against Mount Carmel. This team spirit helped to carry them up to CIF quaterfi nals. ~Courtesy of Gale Spitzley