By Steve Breazeale
For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the San Clemente High School fall sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.
Cross Country Teams Compete in League Finals
The San Clemente boys and girls cross country teams competed in the Sea View League finals meet at Irvine Regional Park on Nov. 1.
As expected, the varsity girls race was closely contested. El Toro, which is ranked 11th in the CIF-SS Division 1 polls, took the title by packing three runners inside the top-5. Laguna Hills, ranked sixth in Division 3, placed second and narrowly edged out San Clemente, which took third.
The Tritons, ranked eighth in Division 1, were led by junior Chandler Horton. Horton placed third with a time of 17:50.2. Four additional Triton runners placed inside the top-20, including Marina McDonough (sixth), Katelyn McNeal (14th), Lota Jones (16th) and Christina Beaulieu (19th).
Laguna Hills bested the Tritons by a slim 54-58 margin.
The boys team placed fourth in the varsity race, and the team was led by Carlos de Jesus’ eighth-place finish. De Jesus looped the course in a time of 15:39.6. Patrick Riley (16:17) placed 16th and William McNee (16:26.1) took 19th.
Both the boys and girls teams will head to the CIF-SS Prelims at Mt. SAC on Nov. 12.
Tennis Team Heads into Playoffs
The South Coast League champion San Clemente girls tennis team was scheduled to host a first-round playoff match against Sage Hill on Nov. 2. Results were not available at press time.
The Tritons (15-2) will host a talented Sage Hill team that had only one loss all season. Sage Hill finished the regular season with a 14-1 record and won the Academy League title.
The Tritons have been one of the more successful teams on campus in recent years, and 2016 was one of their best efforts ever. San Clemente defeated rival Dana Hills to claim the league title for a second straight year, and they finished the regular season as the No. 7-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 1, which is the highest they have ever been ranked at season’s end.
The winner of the San Clemente-Sage Hill match will face the winner of Villa Park-Northwood in the CIF-SS Division 1 second round on Nov. 4.
El Toro Holds off Triton Water Polo in League Showdown
In its penultimate South Coast League game of the season, the San Clemente boys water polo team could not overcome an early deficit in a 14-11 loss to El Toro.
The Tritons (12-15, 0-5) got off to a slow start against the first-place Chargers on Nov. 1, and trailed 6-4 at the half. San Clemente was able to mount a second-half comeback and keep the game close, but it was not enough. El Toro outscored the Tritons 8-7 during the final two quarters to hold on for the win. El Toro’s Trent Rivers scored a team-high five goals.
San Clemente will wrap up its season on the road against Capistrano Valley on Nov. 3.
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