Damien and St. Lucy’s high schools lost their appeal last Wednesday to stay put in the Sierra League for all sports.
The CIF executive committee outvoted representatives from the single-gender schools, 14-6, and Damien and St. Lucy’s will be forced to move into a parochial league for the 2014-15 sports season.
School representatives say that this is unfair; that the league targeted the only 2 Catholic schools because they thought Damien and St. Lucy’s somehow had an unfair advantage in the sports arena.
South Hills High School’s Robert Martinez slides into home under the tag of Claremont catcher Brandon Ziska on Tuesday during their Sierra League conference game at CHS. The two teams scored a combined 21 runs during the late afternoon game but Claremont came out on top 12-11. Check out our full story with a photo gallery. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
Nick Costello has been lighting up the statistics columns for Claremont Wolfpack baseball all season, but during the last 2 weeks Costello was absolutely unstoppable. The 6’1”, 180-lb senior shortstop is hitting at a .457 clip with 15 runs batted in and almost no errors at the game’s toughest position.
The stage was set for an all-important Sierra League encounter against the good-at-all-sports Damien/St. Lucy’s schools. Wolfpack swimmers took to Damien’s pool Wednesday afternoon and squared off against two well-conditioned squads. The girls team fell at the last couple of hurdles, dropping the meet to the Regents 93-77. Claremont boys were unable to keep it close, and lost to the Spartans 97-73.
Damien came into the meet on the back of only 2 losses in their last 100 swim meets. The Spartans’ consistency has been remarkable considering the competition, with the streak dating back to a decade ago.
Some hardworking kids have given El Roble Intermediate School something to cheer about.
The El Roble Cheerleading Squad recently won the Cheer Pros State Championship at the Ontario Citizens Bank Arena, and then went on to be named Best of the West in the subsequent finals held at Cal State Long Beach.
The proud 7th and 8th grade girls came home from the championship wearing sweatshirts commemorating the competition and carrying a banner to hang in the gym.
“They were very excited. It was a good moment for them,” said cheer advisor Vanessa Mejia-Rapp.
Senior Andrew Guerra clears the bar while competing in the high jump last week during Claremont High School’s track meet versus South Hills in Covina. Guerra came in third in the high jump, but won the long jump at 17 feet 11 inches. The Pack came out on top with the boys scoring, 71-61 and the girls, 93-43. More coverage in our Friday edition. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
Claremont resident James “Jim” Beasom III woke up on the morning of his recent 90th birthday and did what he has done nearly every day for more than a decade: He embarked on a 20-mile ride along the foothills on his bicycle. He finished his exercise before many Claremonters were even out of their beds.
Picking up speed around the local hills has become a staple for the nonagenarian, who was one of the founding members of the Claremont Senior Bike Group (CSBG). The retired surgeon may be growing older, but he has no plan to change his routine. Where some fear age, Dr. Beasom welcomes it.
“It keeps me young,” he said of staying active and riding alongside his CSBG cohorts. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
Wolfpack baseball dropped the first league game of the season, a 6-2 loss to South Hills. Claremont then rode a 10-run first inning to beat Arlington, 21-3. Finally, on Tuesday the Pack travelled to Damien for their second league game. After putting up 2 runs, Claremont eventually lost the game 10-4. The Wolfpack will travel to Charter Oak on Tuesday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m. for another tough Sierra League encounter. Check out how all high school teams farred inside.
The “Ides of March” provided a warm, sunny day for boys tennis. The Wolfpack took on the Palm Springs Indians in a final tune up match before league play. Claremont took all but one singles match to win a close one, 10-8. CHS freshman Andrew Leahy returns a shot during his match against Andrew Nelson from Palm Springs High School on Friday at CHS. Leahy and his older brother Alan are standout singles players for the Wolfpack, both of whom are undefeated in pre-season play. Check out our complete story. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
Claremont continued its 2013 softball season on Monday after a week off, with newly promoted head coach Vince Hernandez and a young team hoping to get back to winning ways in the Charter Oak Tournament at Big League Dreams West Covina. The Wolfpack struggled to put bat to ball, and their frustration reflected itself in a 5-0 loss to La Habra. Check out coverage on all high school sports this week including a softball photo gallery.
This weekend, March 16-17, the Claremont Stars Soccer Club will host open tryouts for girls and boys aged 13-17. Conducting the tryouts will be Carlos Juarez, who is the US Men’s National Team Assistant Coach and Stars Club Director. Stars hopefuls aged 13-14 will tryout in the mornings on both days, from 8:30-10:00 a.m. Players aged 15-17 will tryout after those sessions, from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Please contact cstarsdirector@gmail.com or visit www.claremontstars.com for more information.
Coming off of an 11th place performance out of 21 teams in CIF Team Divisional playoffs last year, the boys golf team returns a number of important upperclassmen to the squad. At the helm is 3rd year coach Octavio Hernandez, who also coaches the girls team. “The team works well together at the driving range and during conditioning. We have to work together to reach our common goals of finishing high in the Sierra League and make it to CIF,” said Hernandez.
It's that time of year again. Claremont Police Chief Paul Cooper throws out the first pitch to his son Cole at Claremont Little League's Opening Day ceremonies on Saturday morning. The day included the Tortas 2 Die 4 Food Truck, hosted by Claremont Little League parent Zeke Casas, the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and opening remarks by Mayor Larry Schroeder. Photo Randy Scott
Claremont began its baseball season last week with high hopes following a 13-12 overall 2012 record. The Wolfpack started 7 seniors in their second match of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament against Santiago High of Corona. A 4-run second inning propelled the Pack to a 7-4 victory over the Sharks, making it 2 wins on the trot to start the 2013 season.
The Wolfpack left it late to beat Colony in their opening game, coming from behind and scoring 5 unanswered runs for the win. Santiago, on the other hand, had no trouble dispatching Baldwin Park 11-0.
Check out our complete coverage including a photo gallery. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
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