XC SEASON IN REVIEW - SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS
Newbury Park boys (from left), Aaron Sahlman, Lex Young, Colin Sahlman and Leo Young set record standards throughout the 2021 fall cross country season. (DeAnna Turner photo)
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SS BOYS 5K LEADERS | SS BOYS 3-MILE LEADERS
A year removed from losing the 2020 season left all of us questioning exactly what we should expect going into the 2021 campaign. After a four-year layoff due to construction, the section returned back to its longtime host, Mt. San Antonio College, to conduct the divisional finals!
The Newbury Park boys cam into the season as heralded as any group in state history and monopolized every headline - and deservingly so! But, we also saw the Division I boys claim the next three spots at the California State Meet and own the stage at the awards podium.
Meanwhile, Mira Costa boys materialized into one of the top teams in the state to run away with the Division 2 CIF-SS title. Ranked as one of our top five squads in the section all throughout the season, West Torrance ran to a convincing title in Division 3 before also earning the State title!
The fight for the Division 4 boys title was, by far, the most unpredictable all season long. In the end, Laguna Hills, a team not on anybody's radar heading into September, earned its first divisional title in school history while a team that had never made the divisional finals emerge as the champion in Division 5 with Providence of Burbank raising the banner!
2021 BOYS TOP TEAM YEAR-END REVIEW
They went on to break their own Woodward Course 5k record, set in October at the Clovis Invite, and scored a minuscule 16 points at the to capture the California State title with a team time of 73:25 for a 14:41 average! To put this in perspective, only five Californians had EVER run faster, individually, than 14:41! In looking to compare what they achieved to the history books, you immediately shrug in disbelief and find yourself simply looking to the future, fascinated with the fact that they will be just as good, if not better, in 2022! Despite longtime head coach, Doug Soles, moving on from the Great Oak program, the Wolfpack boys squad qualified to the State Meet for their eighth consecutive season! Their run of five straight titles ended but first-year head coach Tammy Draughon maintained the high standard as this boys' squad was as good as some of those previous championship teams. Great Oak battled along with Loyola all season as longtime head coach Lalo Diaz had his crew at their best once again, in November, while qualifying for their 14th straight State Meet and 18th trip in the past 19 seasons! Both squads joined Newbury Park on the podium at the State Meet, occupying those second and third spots, respectively.
Crescenta Valley and San Clemente went back and forth all season long in our rankings. The Falcons placed fourth at the divisional finals to qualify for the state meet for a fourth consecutive season. Meanwhile, San Clemente qualified for its first State Meet in the program's history in their fifth-place finish. The Tritons returned a week later with their best race of the season, placing fourth at the State Meet while Crescenta took seventh. Touting the top four and five of the top seven was the best showing of any division for the boys in 2021.
Like in 2019, Vista Murrieta advanced onto the State Meet for a ninth-place finish while Redondo Union advanced for the first time, by one point over Santiago, since 2013.
Heading into the preseason, the race for the Division 2 title was wide open with Hart the slight favorite over Ayala. But, with an early season-ending injury to Hart's top scorer along with Ayala managing its way through two frustrating months, the boys of Mira Costa ascended as a favorite. At the divisional finals, the Mustangs' pack-scoring mentality prevailed with a 92-108 victory over a resurgent Ayala squad to claim their first title and first trip to Fresno since 2016.
In the tightest team battle at the State Meet, Mira Costa advanced on to place third, only 20 points behind the state champion. Meanwhile, Ayala ended a strong November campaign with a fourth-place performance.
Ventura tied with Claremont, taking third on the sixth man tie-breaker. With their fifth-place finish, Hart qualified for the State Meet for the first time since 2011. Claremont placed sixth at the State Meet while Ventura placed eighth. Claremont Head Coach Bill Reeves, in his final season, led his boys to their sixth straight State Meet trip while Ventura made its way north for the first time since 2016.
Meanwhile, Dana Hills punched their ticket once again to the State Meet with their sixth-place finish. Running their best race of the 2021 season, the crew placed seventh at the State Meet. The Dolphins now hold the longest-running streak in the Southern Section of advancing with their 15th straight trip and 20th time in the past 21 postseasons!
Foothill claimed the last spot to the State Meet, advancing on for the first time since 2007.
West Torrance had already been slated as one of the top teams in Division 2 but when news hit the program was moved back to this division, they emerged as the heavy favorites.
Head coach Jason Druten produced one of his top teams in school history, earning the Warriors their fourth divisional 
title in the past six postseasons and by an impressive 87-147 scoring gap. A week later, they went on to claim the state title taking over the race midway through to outlast a tough Campolindo crew, 57-70.
One of the surprises in the section was the Santa Margarita squad that ascended to place second at the divisional finals. With only one senior, and three sophomores leading the way, this was their first trip to the State Meet since 2006. Just behind the Eagles, Capistrano Valley earned the fourth-place nod over St. John Bosco on the sixth runner with both earned 149 points.
At the State Meet, Head coach Tim McIntosh's St. John Bosco group came up with their best team performance of 2021 and placed fifth to rank second amongst the qualifying squads with Santa Margarita at sixth. Qualifying for their first State Meet in school history, Capistrano Valley placed 10th.
With a fifth-place finish, Brea Olinda earned a trip to the State Meet for the 12th straight postseason. Agoura advanced onward for the third straight season while placing sixth while Dos Pueblos snagged that seventh spot, just ahead of Palos Verdes.
All throughout September, it was anybody's guess on which squads would represent the Southern Section at the State Meet. As October came in, Cathedral emerged as the favorites but a squad completely off the radar beforehand, Laguna Hills began configuring a squad that began chipping away at the favored Cathedral squad.
Come race day, despite not having any boys in the top 13, Laguna Hills came away with their first divisional championship with the 114-127 decision over Cathedral. Qualifying to Fresno for the seventh straight season, the Phantoms came back the following week to represent the section with their fourth-place finish while the Hawks placed sixth.
Harvard Westlake stepped it up to place third to place just ahead of Big Bear, 149-159. St. Francis of La Canada qualified for the State Meet with their fifth-place finish. Harvard Westlake concluded their strong postseason run with a fifth-place finish at the State Meet with Big Bear, the first time in Fresno since 2012, placing tenth as a team.
Hacienda Heights Wilson advanced to the State Meet with their sixth-place finish while South Pasadena also advanced.
In a changing of the guard so to speak, some new faces rose to the top to claim the top spots at the divisional finals. As the 23-year run of qualifying for the State Championships ended for Flintridge Prep, a school that had never qualified for the divisional finals, Providence of Burbank dominated in claiming the 2021 title! In concluding their breakout season at the State Meet, the Pioneers placed fifth.
Advancing to the divisional finals for the third straight postseason, Windward earned the runner-up plaque and advanced onward for the first time in school history. Placing third and a State Meet qualifier for the third consecutive season, Viewpoint punched their ticket forward as well.
Runner-up from 2019, St. Margaret's placed fourth and advanced for the fifth consecutive postseason and a 12th time in the past 13 seasons. The Tartars stepped up the following week to place eighth at the State Championships while Windward finished ninth.
Chadwick qualified for the first time since 2012 while Woodcrest Christian joined them for the third time in the past four postseasons. Sage Hill claimed that seventh spot to advance for the first time since 2011.
Like what we witnessed with the Division 4 boys, the Southern Section was shut out from any podium spots in Division 5 as well.
TOP SOUTHERN SECTION TEAMS AT THE 2021 STATE MEET
(combined merge of SS teams only)
1) Newbury Park (Div. 1 State Champs) - 16
2) Great Oak (Div. 1 State runner-up) - 150.5
3) West Torrance (Div. 3 State Champs) - 152
4) Loyola - (Div. 1) 179
5) San Clemente (Div. 1) - 227
6) Mira Costa (Div. 2) - 255
7) Crescenta Valley (Div. 1) - 296.5
8) Claremont (Div. 2) - 323.5
9) Ayala (Div. 2) - 332
10) Vista Murrieta (Div. 1) - 335
11) Dana Hills (Div. 2) - 339
12) St. John Bosco (Div. 3) - 399
13) Ventura (Div. 2) - 421.5
14) Cathedral (Div. 4) - 452
15) Hart (Div. 2) - 460
16) Santa Margarita (Div. 3) - 473.5
17) Agoura (Div. 3) - 477
18) Harvard Westlake (Div. 4) - 479
19) Redondo Union (Div. 1) - 489
20) Brea Olinda (Div. 3) - 500.5
2021 BOYS TOP INDIVIDUALS YEAR-END REVIEW
Despite the machine holding back and saving their legs for the following two weeks, Newbury Park claimed the top six spots at the divisional finals.
the line seemingly unphased that they just navigated a tough Mt. SAC course. A week later, Colin Sahlman ran the second-fastest time on the Woodward Park course (14:27), while being shadowed by juniors Leo Young (14:28) and Lex Young (14:31) to record three of the fastest five times on the course - ever! Junior Aaron Sahlman placed fourth at the State Meet at 14:47 which in any other year, would have placed him on top of the headlines by himself! Senior Daniel Appleford placed seventh overall at 15:12 while junior Hector Martinez at 15:16 and a ninth-place finish.
Glancing back to the divisional finals, with sophomore Dev Doshi of Newbury Park placing sixth at 15:01, Loyola senior Richard Moreno (15:04), Millikan sophomore Jason Parra (15:06), Crescenta Valley senior Rowan Fitzgerald (15:08), and Highland junior Matthew Donis (15:08) also placed in the top1 0. Seven of the top 12 return in 2022.
With his 11th-place, 15:18 effort at the State Championships, Crescenta Valley junior Parker Simmons excelled with his best race of the season, recording the fastest time in the section outside the Newbury Park juggernaut. Another underclassman, Ramses Cortes of Great Oak was 13th at 15:31.
Dana Hills senior Jai Dawson saved his best for last is not only capturing the divisional title in 14:56, but a well-measured late-race attack yielded him the state title as well (15:20). He placed sixth at the State Meet as a sophomore in 2019.
Ayala senior Mason Ma had one of the true step-up performances of the postseason with his runner-up, 15:00 performance at the divisional finals to finish just ahead of pre-race favorite, senior Chris Coles (15:04) of Claremont. Also hailing from the Palomares League, Glendora senior John Sesteaga qualified for the State Meet as an individual with his 15:08, fourth-place effort. Coles rebounded with a strong 15:23, fourth-place performance at the State Meet to earn a spot on the podium.
Thousand Oaks senior Atticus Hall (15:18) and Royal junior Jonah Bazerkanian (15:21) placed fifth and sixth place respectively. Meanwhile, Mira Costa junior Andrew Martin led his squad to the team title with a seventh-place 15:23 clocking. Hall and Bazerkanian with two of only four to place in the top 10 at the State Meet for the section, in placing eighth and ninth respectively.
The Southern Section was well represented at the California State Meet, boasting seven of the top nine on top of the podium. This was one of the most talented classes assembled in the section for this division ever.
Preseason favorite, Isaiah Givens of Pasadena, lived up to the billing with his 14:49 divisional title while Servite senior Jared Steins was one of the most improved boys in the section in placing second at 14:57! Givens placed third at the State Meet with Steins right behind him in fourth.
Palos Verdes senior Will Kirk stepped up with his best race of 2021 in placing third at 15:01 while senior Conor Gibson led his West Torrance boys to the divisional title with his fourth-place, 15:05 performance. But it was Gibson that excelled most at the California State Meet with his runner-up, 15:13 performance, ahead of everybody else representing the section.
St. John Bosco senior Christopher Chavez crossed in fifth at the divisional finals, just ahead of Agoura's Ethan Godsey. Both returned a week later to shine with fifth and sixth-place finishes at the State Meet.
Savanna's Jordan Galindo came in off the grid but qualified to the State Meet as an individual with his ninth-place finish, finishing just behind Palos Verdes senior Luke Stefanou. The Palos Verdes senior bounced back at the State Meet for a seventh-place performance while teammate, Kirk, crossed in ninth. Galindo just missed the podium with his 11th-place effort.
In leading his team to a fourth-place finish, Big Bear senior Max Sannes cruised to the comfortable 15:11 victory before moving on to win the State Title a week later (15:01) and just concluded his season with a top-25 finish at the Eastbay Nationals last weekend.
Burroughs' Yaseen Sardar (15:23) held off Harvard-Westlake's Will Sheehy (15:26) while Cathedral sophomore Emmanuel Perez placed fourth (15:27). La Salle junior Alex Alvarez was fifth, just ahead of Fillmore's Michael Camilo Torres. Sheehy shined at the State Meet with his sixth-place finish (15:32) while Perez also joined him on the podium with a tenth-place finish.
Going against our pre-race prognostications, Jack 'Rabbit' Barnes of Midland held off Woodcrest Christian freshman Eyan Turk, 15:15-15:16 for the divisional title! Turk's time was a new divisional freshman record and the third-fastest time ever by 
ANY freshman on the Mt. SAC course! Barnes moved on to place sixth at the State Meet while Turk was the top freshman with his eighth-place finish.
Leading his team to the divisional title, Xander Penaflor of Providence placed third (15:33) ahead of St. Margaret's sophomore Everett Capelle (15:38). Chadwick's Joshua Thomas (15:44) placed fifth ahead of Viewpoint's Henry Didden (15:48). As the top underclassman finisher, Capelle stepped it up at the State Meet to place seventh overall with Penaflor at 10th.
1) Colin Sahlman (Newbury Park) 14:26.5
2) Leo Young (Newbury Park) 14:28.0
3) Lex Young (Newbury Park) 14:30.3
4) Aaron Sahlman (Newbury Park) 14:46.4
5) Max Sannes (Big Bear) 15:00.5
6) Daniel Appleford (Newbury Park) 15:11.5
7) Conor Gibson (West Torrance) 15:12.9
8) Hector Martinez (Newbury Park) 15:15.1
9) Isaiah Givens (Pasadena) 15:15.3
10) Jared Steins (Servite) 15:15.5
11) Christopher Chavez (St. John Bosco) 15:16.1
12) Ethan Godsey (Agoura) 15:16.7
13) Parker Simmons (Crescenta Valley) 15:17.4
14) Jai Dawson (Dana Hills) 15:19.1
15) Chris Coles (Claremont) 15:23.2
16) Luke Stefanou (Palos Verdes) 15:23.8
17) Will Kirk (Palos Verdes) 15:28.4
18) Ramses Cortes (Great Oak) 15:30.9
19) Jason Parra (Millikan) 15:31.6
20) Will Sheehy (Harvard Westlake) 15:32.0
21) Brennan Foody (Aliso Niguel) 15:33.0
22) Hayden Beauchemin (San Clemente) 15:34.3
23) Lance Denhalter (Vista Murrieta) 15:34.8
24) Mathew Donis (Highland) 15:35.5
25) Richard Moreno (Loyola) 15:35.6
Photos by DeAnna Turner, Jeffrey Parenti, Pat Rhames, Raymond Tran