By Steve Breazeale
Girls Water Polo
As the reigning five-time South Coast League champions, the Tritons will attempt to make it a sixth consecutive league title this season with a relatively young roster full of underclassmen.
With 10 former starters gone to graduation, head coach Logan Powell has spent the offseason attempting to get a brand new roster all on the same page.
Two key players returning to the lineup will be junior driver Brigette Kimbrough and sophomore utility Cassidy Smithson. Kimbrough was an effective bench player for the Tritons last season while Smithson saw starting time as a freshman.
For a complete girls water polo winter preview log on to www.sanclementetimes.com
Girls Cross Country
After a fourth place team finish at the CIF-SS cross country finals at Mt. SAC on November 17, the Tritons ran their way to an eighth place finish at the CIF state championships on November 24.
Junior Melissa Eisele was the Tritons highest finisher, coming in 24th place with a time of 18:25. Sophomore Gracie Georgi placed 35th with a time of 18:36, sophomore Kelsey Carroll placed 85th (19:18), senior Madison Huffman placed 86th (19:20) and senior Elizabeth Hays placed 93rd (19:30) to round out the top five for the Tritons. Sophomore Katie Carroll placed 120th (19:44) and junior Sydney Szabo placed 147th (20:10).
Boys Soccer
The Tritons (5-0) are off to a hot start to the season and are currently riding a five-game win streak. In the five victories the Tritons have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 19-1.
San Clemente began the season with a 3-1 nonleague victory at home over Corona del Mar on November 27. The Tritons went on to defeat Granite Hills 2-0 on November 28 and Eastlake 5-0 on December 1 as part of the Islanders Invitational. San Clemente then defeated Vista 6-0 on December 1 and University City 3-0 on December 3 in the Coronado Tournament.
Next Match: 12/7 vs. Righetti, San Marcos Tournament, 4 p.m.
Boys Basketball
The San Clemente boys basketball team opened up the regular season on a high note with a 77-69 win over Downey High in the first round of the El Modena tournament on November 26 at El Modena High.
After defeating Downey the Tritons (1-3) went on to lose to Orange Lutheran 77-70 on November 28. The Tritons also played league rival Trabuco Hills in the El Modena Tournament on November 29 and lost 63-50. On December 1 the Tritons lost to Crenshaw 81-76. They also defeated Marina 66-39 on December 4.
Next Game: 12/7 vs. Rancho Buena Vista, at SCHS, 8 p.m.
Girls Basketball
The Tritons (1-1) bounced back from a 69-49 defeat to Woodbridge on November 28 with a 61-60 win over visiting University on December 3. The Tritons were set to play Foothill on December 5. Results were not available at press time.
Next Game: 12/13 vs. Edison, at SCHS, 6 p.m.
Girls Soccer
The Tritons will open their season on December 6 with a match against Westview at 5 p.m.
Wrestling
The Tritons started off their season strong by going undefeated in both their own eight-way tournament and the Millikan 12-way tournament. On November 27, at the eight-way tournament, they defeated Mission Viejo, Irvine and La Costa Canyon. They also went through a talented Los Alamitos team to claim the Millikan tournament championship on December 1.
Next Match: 12/7-8 La Costa Canyon Invitational, TBA.
