By Steve Breazeale
For in-game updates, scores, news and more for all of the San Clemente High School winter sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports.
Meisinger, Marshall Dominant on the Mats for Triton Wrestling Team
San Clemente wrestlers Tyler Meisinger and Kyle Marshall had a December to remember and one, according to head coach Mark Calentino, which will stand out in the school record books.
Meisinger won five tournament championships in one calendar month and was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler in three of them.
Meisinger’s dominant stretch began at the San Clemente 8-Way Tournament on Dec. 1. Three days later, at the El Dorado Invitational, Meisinger won four matches en route to the 152-pound title. Meisinger continued his winning ways at the La Costa Canyon Invitational, Brea Olinda Invitational and, most recently, at the Central Coast Classic on Dec. 29.
“We’ve had some great wrestlers in the program over the years, but have never had a kid with a run like that in the month of December,” Calentino said in an email.
San Clemente junior Kyle Marshall won his weight division title at the El Dorado Invitational, La Costa Canyon Invitational, Brea Olinda Invitational and Central Coast Classic, respectively. Marshall is currently undefeated this season.
Both Marshall and Meisinger are ranked in the top-10 in the state in their respective weight classes, according to Calentino.
Both wrestlers will make the trip to Fresno on Jan. 8 for the Doc Buchanan Invitational, an invite-only tournament that features some of the top wrestling talent on the West Coast.
The Triton wrestling team will continue league play on Jan. 12 with a road match against Laguna Hills.
Boys Hoops Loses Late in Tustin Classic Championship Game, Readies for Title Defense
In the championship game of the Tustin Classic, the San Clemente boys basketball team lost to Clovis West on a layup with just over two seconds left on the clock that sealed a 51-50 victory for the Golden Eagles.
Cole Fotheringham led San Clemente with 11 points, Dillon Waikle poured in 10 while Blake Birmingham and Jake Cameron each added eight.
Birmingham and Fotheringham were each named to the all-tournament team.
San Clemente (11-5) suffered a 66-63 overtime loss to Troy on Jan. 5 to close out its nonleague schedule. Senior guard Gage Shelmidine led San Clemente with 15 points but fouled out in the overtime period with just under three minutes to go. Waikle scored 12 points and Fotheringham scored 11. Fotheringham also secured 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
The Tritons will open their run through South Coast League play on the road against Dana Hills (7-9) on Jan. 8. San Clemente is the defending league champion. The Dolphins will enter the game riding a two-game win streak.
Triton Girls Soccer Falls to Titans in Excalibur Tournament
After an opening round loss to Temecula Valley in the Excalibur Tournament on Dec. 28, the San Clemente girls soccer team rattled off consecutive wins to reach the finals of the tournament’s consolation bracket, where they lost to Tesoro 3-0. Tesoro’s Ally Cook scored all three goals for the Titans. San Clemente goalkeeper Lauren Brzykcy made 12 saves.
San Clemente (6-3-4) was set to open South Coast League play against Aliso Niguel on Jan. 7. Results were not available at press time. The Wolverines are the No. 2 team in the CIF-SS Division 1 rankings and the Tritons are ranked eighth. The Tritons will continue league play on Jan. 12 with a match against Capistrano Valley.
Boys Soccer Set for Match With Cougars
The San Clemente boys soccer team will open South Coast League play on the road against Capistrano Valley on Jan. 8. The Tritons (5-7-4) recently competed in the SoCal High School Classic Tournament, where the team went 1-2-1. San Clemente opened its tournament bid with a 3-0 win over South East and drew to a 0-0 tie with Santa Margarita on Dec. 28. San Clemente closed out the tournament with back-to-back losses to Santa Margarita and Huntington Beach on Dec. 29.
Girls Basketball Team Picks Up Back-to-Back Wins
For the first time since early December, the San Clemente girls basketball team won consecutive games while competing in the OC Tournament of Champions.
The Tritons (5-10) defeated Rivera of Los Angeles 80-23 on Dec. 29 and outlasted Woodrow Wilson in a 53-40 victory on Dec. 30. San Clemente led Woodrow Wilson 33-29 after three quarters and outscored them 20-11 in the final quarter to seal the win.
Big Win Propels Girls Water Polo Team into League Play
The San Clemente girls water polo team, the second-ranked squad in the CIF-SS Division 2 rankings, picked up a big nonleague win over Los Alamitos on Dec. 30. The Tritons jumped out to an early lead against the Griffins, the No. 10 team in Division 1, and did not let up in an 8-6 victory.
San Clemente outscored Los Alamitos 4-1 in the first quarter and the Griffins could not catch up. San Clemente’s Amber McCutcheon scored five goals and Marissa Echelberger scored twice.
The Tritons (7-3) were scheduled to open South Coast League play against El Toro on Jan. 7. Results were not available at press time. The Chargers are the No. 1 team in the CIF-SS Division 2 rankings.
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