Monte Vista Christian sophomore Anna Conca put on a record-breaking performance at last week’s 4th Annual Fighting Knights’ Joust cross country invitational in Belmont.
The Mustang second-year runner won the sophomore division race in 12 minutes, 48.6 seconds, setting a new record on the 2.13-mile course at Crystal Springs Cross Country Course on Sept. 13.
Santa Cruz’s Isla Roake (13:00.4) took second, followed by Leigh’s Riley Schenone (13:03.5) in third, Iris Noll (13:27.5) in fourth and Mia Cheng (13.34.6) in fifth.
The top four runners all broke the previous course record of 13:31.2 set by Carlmont’s Katherine Peacock in 2022. The meet is set up by student grade levels and gender, and sanctioned by the Central Coast Section.
“I think the team did an amazing job over the weekend,” MVC head coach Erik Beckmen said. “Anna [Conca] and Owen [Beckmen] put in a lot of time during the summer with their training, and it’s really showing in these first three invitationals. I’m very excited to see their progress and the team’s growth throughout the season.”
MVC’s Finley Castro (19:34.2) took second in the 2.95-mile junior division race, finishing behind this year’s winner Gelila Hailu (18:15.7) of Leigh. Hailu’s teammate Ashlyn Garner (19:45.6) took third, followed by Harker’s Ava Alvarez (20:22.8) in fourth and San Mateo’s Simran Thakur (20:55.1) in fifth.
At Aptos 15, San Lorenzo Valley 43: Aptos senior Maya Schiro was the top finisher for the Mariners in their win against the Cougars in the teams’ Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League opener Sept. 11.
Schiro won the race in 18:09 on the 2.95-mile course at Pinto Lake County Park in Watsonville. Teammate junior Kenzie Culbertson took second in 20:05, followed by junior Bella Hartnett (20:06) in third, freshman Pierce Culbertson (20:10) in fourth and junior Mata Overby (20:14) to round off the top-5.
Next up, Aptos and SLV will compete at the 2nd Annual Tom Leikam Invitational also at Pinto Lake Park on Saturday starting at 8am.
Boys cross country
Aptos 19, San Lorenzo Valley 40: Aptos junior Sam Hansen edged teammate senior Brady Bliesner to help the Mariners defeat the Cougars in the teams’ Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League opener Sept. 11.
Hansen won the league dual meet race in 15 minutes, 45 seconds, while Bliesner took second in 15:46 on the 2.95-mile course at Pinto Lake County Park in Watsonville.
Teammate junior Anthony Sandford-Carroll (16:19) placed third for Aptos, followed by SLV juniors Jonathan Santi (16:31) in fourth and Colton Ryssemus (17:00) in fifth.
Next up, Aptos and SLV will compete at the 2nd Annual Tom Leikam Invitational also at Pinto Lake Park on Saturday starting at 8am.
MVC’s Beckmen wins at Knights’ Joust invite: MVC freshman Owen Beckmen won the freshman division race in 11:25.5 seconds at the 4th Annual Fighting Knights’ Joust cross country meet Sept. 13.
The Mustang first-year runner set a new freshman record on the 2.13-mile course at Crystal Springs Cross Country Course in Belmont.
Beckmen was six seconds shy of breaking the overall course record of 11:19.7 set by Leigh’s Timothy Sandholm at last year’s Joust.
Beckmen’s teammate Joseph Palacios (11:57.5) took second, followed by Leigh freshman Johathan Peri (12:07.7) in third, Del Mar’s Gael Hernandez (12:08.4) in fourth and Carlmont’s Isaac Metzler (12:29.9) in fifth.
High school football
At Monterey 33, Aptos 14: Aptos senior Gavin McDonald finished with a team-best 95 rushing yards and one touchdown, and the Mariners fell to the Toreadores in Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division action Sept. 12.
Teammate senior Scott Catesi had 30 rushing yards and one touchdown, while junior Caden Bogle contributed 50 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Aptos (1-2, 0-1) hosts defending PCAL Gabilan champion Soquel (3-0, 1-0) in league play Friday at 7:30pm.
Monte Vista Christian 40, at Carlmont 37: MVC’s Max Arce and Reece Walker each had a pair of rushing touchdowns, and the Mustangs defeated the Scots in non-league action Sept. 13.
Arce finished with 47 rushing yards on 15 carries, while teammate senior Boston Ashe hauled in a team-best 198 receiving yards and one touchdown on nine receptions.
MVC junior quarterback Evan Vessey completed 24-of-37 pass attempts for 433 yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions.
On defense, junior Johnny Finney contributed a team-best eight tackles, while junior Kai Bergthold recorded one interception for the Mustangs (1-1), who plays at Soledad (0-2) on Friday at 7:30pm.
Denair 41, at Pajaro Valley 0: The Grizzlies dropped to 1-2 on the season following a loss to the Coyotes in non-league play Sept. 13. Pajaro Valley plays at Marina (2-0) on Saturday at 7:30pm.
Flag football
Watsonville 13, Alisal 12: Watsonville sophomore quarterback Aaliyah Arellano connected twice with senior receiver Stephanie Martinez for touchdowns in the second half, and the Wildcatz edged the Spartans in PCAL Gabilan Division action Monday evening.
Teammate sophomore Ashley Mendoza hauled in the game-winning extra point to complete the comeback after trailing 12-0 going into halftime. Junior rusher Taylor Alves, who has recorded three-plus sacks in each of the past six games, had one sack against Alisal to end the game.
Next up, Watsonville (2-5, 1-5) hosts Carmel (4-0, 4-0) on Sept. 22 at 5:45pm.
Girls golf
At Watsonville 274, Palma 346, Alvarez 351: Watsonville sophomores Abigail Sanchez and Allyson Sandoval West each shot a 52 to earn medalist honors, and the Wildcatz defeated the Chieftains and Eagles at Spring Hills Golf Course in Watsonville in PCAL Mission Division play Monday afternoon.
Other finishers for Watsonville included sophomore Olivia Sanchez (54), senior Jessie Arellano (59), junior Daniela Rodriguez (57) and senior Ava Jaurigi (68).
Next up, Watsonville (3-0) will play against Alisal and Gonzales at Salinas Fairways Golf Course on Wednesday at 3:30pm.
Girls’ volleyball
Aptos 3, at Soquel 1: Aptos senior outside hitter Kenzie Smith led in scoring with four aces and 17 kills, and the Mariners defeated the Knights in four sets 25-23, 25-18, 25-27, 25-17 in SCCAL action Sept. 11.
“We’ve taken Soquel to five [sets] multiple times over the last four years but have always come up a few points short,” Aptos head coach Hunter Zeng said in an email. “Thursday night’s dominant victory over the Knights with standout performances all around puts us back in the conversation.”
Junior outside hitter Ella Dueck finished with 15 kills, 14 digs and a pair of blocks, while sophomore right side Sienna Fozzati added five kills and two blocks for the Mariners, who improved to 1-1 in league play this season.
Teammate sophomore middle blocker Caitlin Lavelle hit a season high .380 percent with three kills on eight attempts.
Aptos placed third with a 3-1 record at the Menlo-Atherton Bay Area Classic on Sept. 13. They defeated Jefferson and Gunn in the morning bracket, but fell to Dougherty Valley in three sets in the semifinals.
The Mariners bounced back with a win over Leigh in three sets to capture the third place championship match.
“This was a great outing for our team,” Zeng said. “We played consistent, high level volleyball and faced tough competition all day.”
Aptos (5-4, 1-1) hosts Scotts Valley (6-1, 2-0) in SCCAL play on Tuesday at 6:30pm.
Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to submit results and highlights to jr****@*****ys.com. Follow sports editor Juan Reyes (@jmreyes831) on Twitter for scores and news updates.
