A championship for Village Christian basketball, CV football makes history,
and a decorated high school runner ends his career in style

January

The defending CIF Southern Section Division 1A basketball champion Crescenta Valley Lady Falcons, who now play in Division 1AA, opened their league schedule with a 41-33 victory over the Burbank Bulldogs at CVHS. It was a back-and-forth battle, but the Falcons turned to guard Caity Bouchard down the stretch for some key baskets, and received a three-point play from center Senayt Tassew late in the fourth quarter to pull away. CV outscored Burbank 13-2 in the fourth quarter, and five of those points were from Tassew.

The CV girls’ soccer team defeated Burbank 2-0 on the Falcons’ home in early January. As usual, it was the play of sophomore Brianna McReynolds that propelled the team to victory. McReynolds scored in the 14th minute of the second half, off of a rebound on the left side, breaking a scoreless game. She also earned an assist from a corner kick late in the match when Nikki Collins scored from10 feet out off of McReynolds’ kick.

The Village Christian girls basketball team beat Oaks Christian 52-47 in a game that saw Village’s center Mercy Odima leave the game in the second half. It was later discovered Odima suffered a hairline fracture on her left leg. The injury would sideline the senior, one of the key players on the team, for the rest of the season. Fewer than two months later, though, her team would be celebrating big time.

This would be the last season for VCS boys’ basketball coach Jon Shaw, who resigned at the end of the season. During his time at Village, Shaw had a 166-54 record, won a state title and two Southern Section titles. In his resignation letter, he said he is leaving to “pursue other professional opportunities.”

The Rosemont Middle School flag football and girls’ volleyball teams were dominant in capturing district championships. The football team was led by eighth-grade quarterback Brendan Pehar, and the volleyball team had leaders in Bee Marnell and Sydey Postalwait.

February

Caity Bouchard scored 16 points and Rachel Dayag scored 10 as the Falcon girls’ basketball team defeated Arcadia in early February 49-44, which clinched the team’s first Pacific League championship since 2004. Bouchard scored eight points in the final quarter. “This was really important to us, and we all really wanted it. So when we won, we accomplished our goal. It was exciting,” said Bouchard.

The CV girls’ soccer team went 16-5-1 this season, and its 11-2-1 record earned them a second-place finish in the Pacific League, behind longtime reigning champion Arcadia. The Falcons’ playoff run was short; they lost in the first round for the second straight season, falling to Royal, 2-1.

A night of cold shooting doomed the Crescenta Valley High boys’ basketball team on Feb. 15, eliminating the Falcons in the first round of the CIF playoffs. The 64-40 home loss to Whittier ended another successful season for CV, which won 18 games and claimed third place in the Pacific League. The Falcons were at least able to provide a thrilling finish to the regular season, when senior Koko Kechichian made a layup with seconds left to pull out a win over rival Arcadia.

The Falcon girls’ basketball team suffered the same fate as the boys, losing in the first round to St. Anthony 64-38 at home on Feb. 16. CV went 17-9 I the regular season and won the Pacific League outright for the first time since 2004. Unfortunately for Head Coach Jason Perez and his team, the Falcons won’t have the same kind of postseason as they did last year, when they won a CIF championship, and participated in the state tournament.

The CV boys’ soccer team finished second in league with a 9-1-4 record, losing out to Burroughs High School. CV was 18-4-4 overall, and lost in the first round of the CIF Division III playoffs to Camarillo, 2-0.

March

Last year, the Village Christian High School girls’ basketball team made history by winning its first ever regional championship in the state playoffs. This year, the team fell short in that round, but it didn’t go home empty handed from the season – far from it. Head Coach Jon Sampang, a CVHS alumni, led his girls to another Olympic League championship, and, for the time ever, a CIF championship. That was achieved on March 3 at Godinez High School, when the Crusaders beat Valley Christian 49-29 to win the Division 4AA title. Leslie Aguilar had 18 points, and freshman Alexia Mark had a Division 4AA playoff record 19 rebounds. “For them to be so unselfish, with so much talent on that team, man … they really love each other,” Sampang said.

In the spring, Village Christian School hired Michael Westphal as its new director of boys’ basketball and assistant athletic director. He replaced Jon Shaw, who compiled a stellar coaching career at VCS. Last season Westphal coached at Providence High School in Burbank. He led the Pioneers to a 19-9 overall record and an undefeated run in the Independence League. “I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to coach at Village Christian,” Westphal said. “They have rich a history in their basketball program. I am honored to be part of the future of Village Christian basketball and to build it from the inside and maintain a high standard of success both on and off the court.”

April

The 2017 CV girls’ lacrosse team was led by the dynamic duo of Abbey Sheklow and Leah Crowther, both seniors. After an 11-7 home win against West Ranch, the Falcons were 12-4 overall and 3-0 in the Pacific League, and Sheklow had racked up 49 goals and 16 assists. Crowther had 26 goals and 13 assists. The two met at tryouts when they were at Rosemont Middle School, and Crowther is credited for helping Sheklow learning to love the sport. “Without Leah, I wouldn’t be playing lacrosse,” Sheklow said. “I’m going to be thankful for that the rest of my life, because lacrosse is my life.”

The Crescenta Valley High softball team won its home game against Burbank on April 11, 5-2, improving its Pacific League mark to 5-0, and 13-5-1 overall record. The Falcons jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Burbank came back and scored a run in the top of the third, but it could have been much worse; the Bulldogs had the bases loaded with only one out. The Falcons broke it open in the bottom of the frame. Leading 3-1, Alyssa Hernandez smashed a two-run homer off of pitcher Alyssa Porras as it sailed over the left field fence. Burbank would score just one more run. Emily Mulcahey pitched a complete game for Crescenta Valley, going seven innings.

The CV baseball team continued to cruise as it defeated Pasadena April11, 8-3. The Falcons were 5-0 in league, and 16-1 overall. Anthony Russo had a home run with three runs batted in against the Bulldogs.

May

After four decades of service to Crescenta Valley High School, the memories are plentiful for Jim Beckenhauer, though a couple stood apart for him as he spoke to a full room at Oakmont Country Club. There was the installation of the synthetic track and field in 2006, which took enormous work from CV CAN, in which Beckenhauer was involved. There was also the time then-principals Gary Talbert and Linda Evans asked him to represent the school in Washington, D.C. for the National Blue Ribbon ceremony in 2000. CVHS was given the honor, and “Beck,” as everyone knows him, asked Talbert why he chose him. “You would be representing CV athletics,” Beckenhauer remembered Talbert saying, “which is always important to the success of the school.” The 2017 Hall of Fame Induction Class for Falcon athletes was another reminder how intertwined sports, school and character are in La Crescenta. Joining Beckenhauer were inductees Doug English, Thomas Gossard, Allen Holmquist, Adam Jacobsen, Keith Kinsel, Baillie Kirker, Aaron McGuinness, Mike Norseth, Kenny Pritchett and Amanda Peek.

Blue Shadows, a non-profit organization that teaches kids of all ages leadership skills and horsemanship, rode down Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada during the town’s annual Memorial Day Parade. It as part of a “warm-up” to help place the team in the Rose Parade. It was the second consecutive year Blue Shadows performed in this parade, which is part of a more dedicated effort by the parade team to expand its visibility. Blue Shadows has five troops in Lake View Terrace and two troops in Newbury Park. Wreede said the parade team consists of riders who volunteered and have proven themselves worthy of strutting down the parade route.

The Crescenta Valley High School baseball team had its season end May 19 by losing to Capistrano Valley 3-2 in the first round of the CIF playoffs. The Falcons had a stellar regular season, going 25-2 and winning the Pacific League for the second straight season.

CV softball also had a strong regular season with a 20-7-1 record. The Falcons won the Pacific League with a 12-2 posting, and the team won its first playoff game since 2013 by beating Paso Robles 10-0. The girls lost in the second round to Los Altos 8-0.
Village Christian softball made it to the CIF Division 7 championship game by beating Century High on Tuesday 2-0. Mikayla Gay and Ally Melgar had the only two RBIs in the game, which came in the fifth inning. On the mound, Melgar went all seven innings, struck out seven batters and scattered three hits.

The Village baseball team wrapped up a successful season on May 24 when it lost in the second round of the CIF playoffs to Etiwanda 4-3. The Crusaders previously beat Simi Valley in the first round 3-2. First-year Head Coach Chris Casey led his Crusaders Crusaders to a 21-6 record, and won the Olympic League at 10-2. Pitcher Eric Oseguera led the league in wins with 10 and was first in ERA at .65. Teammate Tobias Plotkin was second in ERA at .75. Plotkin was first in league with on-base percentage (.577) and Josh Aragin was second in batting average (.489).

June

The Crescenta Valley girls’ lacrosse team received some high honors for the 2017 season. Abby Sheklow, Leah Crowther, Kimmie Foster and Madeline Heeg picked up All Pacific League First Team selections. Sheklow, a senior attacker, had 53 goals and 17 assists. Crowther, another senior, had 32 goals and 14 assists. Sabrina White, Lexi Ballard, Lizzie Hales, Peyton Marshall and Sierra Marshall were named to second team. CV was 14-5 and won league with a 4-0 record. They lost in the first round of the United States Southern Section North playoffs.

July

It was no surprise that the leader of the pack at Crescenta Valley Park was Colin FitzGerald. The CVHS track and cross-country star sported a blue tank top as he won the 2K race, and half an hour later he was shirtless zooming down the lanes to the finish line in the three-mile race. Of course, the results don’t matter in the summer as this was the weekly All-Comer Meet, put on by CV Coach Mark Evans and the Falcon cross-country program. People of all ages could pay their $5 entry and participate in either or both races, with the setting sun as a backdrop. Most of the runners, though, were from Southland-area high schools looking to keep in shape for the upcoming school year, when the real competition began. This was the fourth year Evans has held the summertime meet, which goes for four weeks and meets every Wednesday. Participating schools included Crescenta Valley, Burbank, Notre Dame, Bell-Jeff, Flintridge Prep and Lincoln. “This is a community race. We try to get everybody involved,” Evans said.

SoCal native Giancarlo Stanton was in the middle of his best season yet, ripping through National League pitching on his way to an MLB-best 59 homeruns. Stanton, who grew up in the SF Valley, dominated as a Miami Marlin, but in the off-season, he would be traded to the Yankees. The sight of him being paired with Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge gave American League opponents nightmares in 2018.

The CVHS basketball program made its way through the summer league season, playing many of its games at Burbank. One of days saw the team split a pair of games against Saugus and Grant high schools. It was there Coach Shawn Zargarian talked about the new players, and the new philosophy the team would incorporate heading into the 2017-18 season. All summer, the Falcons played an up-tempo game, with trapping on defense and more of a free-flowing offense, with less reliance on set plays. “We’re not running any play calls, we’re not making any defensive adjustments,” he said. “Just, offensively, go out and play; keep moving, take good shots, run the floor. And defensively, just be fundamentally sound and rotate.”

August

While the dog days of August may conjure images of baseball under a blazing sun, at Rosemont Middle School it means gearing up for basketball season. Both the boys and girls of Rosemont participated in tryouts in the gym, as eager parents watched from the sidelines. Players wore different colored mesh shirts and scrimmaged against one another. Boys’ coach Brent Ballard said around 70 kids tried out for his team. He would have to cut that number down to 20 for the final roster.

It was a history-making event for the CVHS football team, as the Falcons opened the 2017 football season in Orlando, Florida. With a ton of fundraising, thanks to team booster club president Mary Baldwin, treasurer Steve Norkus, varsity coordinator Heather Dinger and head coach Paul Schilling, the team played at the ESPN Wide World Sports Complex, facing off against Barron Collier High from Naples. The team was there for five days and four nights, and visited several of the Disney theme parks in Orlando. “The trip came about because I always wanted to do something like this. I attended two of the CV basketball teams’ trips to Hawaii in 1992 and 1995,” Schilling said. “They were a blast and I thought it would be a cool thing to do with the football team.” Crescenta Valley won the game, 34-31.

September

Several Falcon players spoke to the Crescenta Valley Town Council to appeal for council’s support for lighting and seating upgrade to the CVHS field. The players, along with CV Principal Linda Junge and resident Alex Stupakis, made their case for council to advocate for funding for extra lighting and permanent seating for the school’s football field. The school has been making a push for GUSD to allocate funds from Measure S to allow the football team to finally use its own field for home games, instead of what it has been doing for years, which is using Glendale High’s Moyse Field. One of the main points for attaining the funding is so the team, the pep squad, the marching band, and fans won’t have to travel so often. “[Residents] will no longer have to drive eight to 10 miles for a home game,” Stupakis said. “In many cases, they can walk. For a home game [currently], you have to travel farther than for an away game in La Cañada.”

After legendary CV football coach Gordy Wornack passed away several years ago, the annual matchup between the CV Falcons and La Cañada Spartans was dedicated to him. Like most years, this one went in CV’s favor as the Falcons went on the road and beat the Spartans 59-20. Quarterback Cole Doyle finished the night with what was the best game of his career thus far. He went 13-17 for 151 yards and four touchdowns – to four different wide receivers.

The Rosemont Middle School girls’ lacrosse team had a great season. The Spartans sent a team to the Santa Barbara Fall Showdown, where they were very competitive in a difficult division. They also hosted the La Cañada team for two games, playing to victories in both. Coach Boz Crowther said an astounding 50 girls participated, which is 10% of the female population of the school. Next year’s captains are Brianne Ballard and Kaitlin Russell.

October

In a Pacific League meet against Arcadia, Colin FitzGerald and his CIF Southern Section Division I No. 5-ranked Falcons were dominant at CV Park, winning 19-53, with a team time of 1:18, which set a school course record. Fitzgerald, a decorated senior, set a new school course record in a winning time of 15:10.3. FitzGerald would later go on to take second at the CIF finals and capture second place at the CIF state cross-country championships.

It was another great year for both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at Rosemont Middle School. Playing in the Glendale District League, the Spartan boys and girls each went undefeated with 6-0 records. Boys’ coach Brent Ballard was joined this year by assistant John Peterson, who played at Crescenta Valley High School in the 1990s. Former assistant Scott Alvarez left the team due to prior commitments. The girls were again coached by Bon Sam.

The Dodgers defeated the Cubs in the National League Championship Series in five games, and earned a spot in the World Series for the first time since 1988. Led by Clayton Kerhsaw, Kenley Jansen, Justin Turner, and future Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger, LA won 104 games, the most since moving to the West Coast in 1958. In the World Series, they battled the Houston Astros in seven thrilling games, ultimately falling short, 5-1, in Game 7. It was Houston’s first-ever championship.

The Falcon football team demolished the Glendale Nitros in late October, 50-7, keeping its hopes alive for a Pacific League championship. The team was led all year by junior quarterback Cole Doyle, who was efficient as a passer, and a huge threat to run. Doyle ran for about 700 yards.

November

No matter which former great shows up to the annual Crescenta Valley Alumni Game, coach John Goffredo always has enough firepower to withstand the energetic varsity squad. This year was no different, as the alumni won a hard-fought contest, 83-72. The varsity jumped out to a nine point lead, and still led at halftime, until the alumni turned things around. “In my mind, it’s very simple. They’re so smart that they make the right adjustments in the second half … they’re not going to make the same mistakes again,” said varsity head coach Shawn Zargarian. This year’s alumni roster looked drastically different. Absent were regulars Matt Oliver and Nathan Sinning, and in came new blood, including 2012 graduate Christian Misi and 2015 grad Arin Ovanessian. Also new to the game was Chris Tarne (2002), who participated in the classic for the first time.

The Crescenta Valley Town Council would formally support CV High School’s push for field upgrades, citing a need to see more concrete plans and to assess the “bigger picture” for the community. President Harry Leon said Council voted 3-3 on the motion to write a letter of support to Glendale Unified School District for the proposed lighting and seating upgrade to the CV field. Leon’s tie-breaking vote swung it in favor of holding off supporting the plans, which take funds from the district and would allow the Falcon football team to host games on Friday nights, instead of traveling to Glendale High, its current designated home field. The motion itself called for support, but stipulated that GUSD do more research into the plans, as well as put time and effort into community outreach. “Everything I hear is how great it’s going to be for the school,” said councilmember Mike Claessens. “I want to know how it’s going to be great for the community.” Councilmember Aram Ordubegian said it is hard to support CV when “plans are not concrete.”

Now three years removed from their undefeated CIF championship season in 2014, the CV football is still searching for another postseason win. It will have to wait until next year, as the Falcons dropped their playoff opener to Mira Costa, 13-12. The Falcons led 12-0 in the first half, but everything stalled in the second half, and Mira Costa made the comeback. CV ended the season losing three of their final four games.

December

The Falcons’ boys’ basketball team won third place in the San Fernando Invitational, defeating Milikin 91-71. Arman Pezeshkian scored 25 points and Chris Arzoumanian tallied 19 points. Both players were named to the All-Tournament team. Earlier in the tournament, in a 92-79, Pezeshkian had six 3-pointers and scored 42 points, and Arzoumanian also made six 3s, and had 23 points.

This week, the Crescenta Valley High School soccer team will host the first annual Crescenta Valley Soccer Classic. Eight teams will be divided into two pools, and each team will play every day. The final day will be cross groups matching each team with the equivalent placing from the other group.

The CV varsity girls’ soccer team kicked off their season. Senior Nicole Yim, who had four goals and six assists last season, will be one of the leaders. Not returning is junior Brianna McReynolds, who had 31 goals 12 assists in the 2016-17 campaign. She is now with the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The Falcons’ roster consists of 11 underclassmen on their 19-player roster, which includes no juniors. Seniors include Alaina Furstenberg and Mallory Hill.

The Verdugo Hills High football team went all the way the Division III championship game, but turnover proved costly against Marshall High School, as it lost 61-26 at El Camino College. Marshall intercepted the Dons twice, and returned two of them for touchdowns. Marshall also returned a fumble for a touchdown. VHH quarterback Mason Van Kempen threw for two touchdowns, as the Dons (8-6 on the year) played in their first City title game since 1979.