Local prep athletes honored for fall season achievements
Redondo outside hitter Skylar Dykstra earned CIF Division 1AA and Bay League MVP honors after leading the Sea Hawks to a school volleyball record 37 wins. Photo
A pair of Redondo Union girls volleyball players head the list of local high school athletes honored for their performances in the fall sports season.
Senior outside hitter Skylar Dykstra and freshman setter Norene Iosia were named to the All-CIF Division 1AA team after leading the Sea Hawks to a school volleyball record 37 wins that included a 30-match winning streak and appearances in the CIF Southern Section and Southern California Regional finals.
Selected as the Bay League MVP, Dykstra recorded 328 kills and a .899 hitting average, 456 digs, 51 blocks and 45 aces. The four-year varsity standout will take her talents to UCLA next season.
Iosia had 248 assists, 179 digs and 41 aces for the Sea Hawks who ended rival Mira Costa’s 27-year reign as league champions.
Mira Costa setter Corie Bain enjoyed another stellar year and was voted the Most Outstanding Player in the Bay League while teammate Carley Muller was Co-Libero of the Year with Redondo’s Katie Rotondo.
All-Bay League first team selections included Mira Costa outside hitters Grayce Campbell and Lexi Millington along with Redondo middle blocker Hannah Mosebar and opposite hitter Brianna Lanktree.
Second team members included Mira Costa seniors Kelsey McIntire and Adrian Anderson and Redondo sophomore Abril Bustamante.
Other local girls earning All-CIF honors included Bishop Montgomery senior outside hitter Bria Green (Division 1A); North Torrance sophomore outside hitter Sabryn Roberts and South Torrance senior middle blocker Erika Eastley (Division 2AA); Chadwick senior setter Sarah Lucenti and senior outside hitter Abbe Holtze (Division 2A) and Vistamar senior libero/setter Laura Lemoine (Division 4A).
Mira Costa running back Raphael Lawson-Gayle was among three players named Tri-Offensive Players of the Year in the Bay League. Photo
Football
For an offensive lineman to be named Bay League MVP, he must stand head and shoulders above the rest of the field. Palos Verdes senior Andrew Bucklin did just that.
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bucklin played a vital role in helping the Sea Kings win the CIF Northern Division championship. Palos Verdes amassed 4,922 yards and 69 touchdowns during the 2012 campaign.
The Bay League dominated the All-CIF Northern Division selections with Palos Verdes running back Matt Lopes named Offensive Player of the Year, West Torrance’s Matt Boesen Defensive Player of the Year and Palos Verdes’ Guy Gardner Coach of the Year.
Bucklin and Palos Verdes kicker Michael Tulchin and receiver Dean Alessi were named to the All-CIF Northern Division offensive team along with West running back Barry Thomas and Mira Costa lineman Cory Sanicky.
Defensive team selections included lineman Mason Manu, linebacker Ben Hopkins and defensive back Adam Hahn of Palos Verdes, West linemen Ray Lima and Joshua Allen and Mira Costa all-around threat Raphael Lawson-Gayle who made the team as a utility player.
Lawson-Gayle joined Lopes and Thomas as Tri-Offensive Players of the Year in the Bay League. Lawson-Gayle gained 1,554 yards and 18 touchdowns on 185 carries for the league runner-up Mustangs.
Mira Costa linemen Sanicky and Wyatt Millea were selected to the All-Bay League first team offense while defensive back Dylan Chen, linebacker Brandon Mills and defensive lineman Jahlani Tavai made the first team defense.
Redondo had seven first team selections including two running backs, senior Anthony Philyaw and junior Jamaal Perkins. Offensive lineman Anitelea Alefosio also was named to the first team offense.
Sea Hawks named to the first team defense were defensive backs Christian Fernandez, Julian Harrison and Fred Smith along with defensive lineman Harry Whitson.
Second team offense selections included Mira Costa lineman Joe Anderson and Redondo lineman Chad Simonek. Second team defense members included Mira Costa’s Luke Hale (defensive back) and Josh Qerbash (linebacker) along with Redondo’s Marcus Martinez (linebacker), Colin Hindle (lineman) and Blake Bishop (punter).
In the Northwest Division, North Torrance had five players from its division finalist squad named to the All-CIF team. Quarterback Jorge Hernandez was named the division’s Offensive Player of the Year joining his receivers Michael Jurado, Devante Jenkins and lineman Luis Yepez on the first team.
Bishop Montgomery lineman Andrew Reimer also was selection for the offensive team.
Defensive team members include North Torrance lineman Junior Juarez and El Segundo‘s Jamie Stewart (defensive back), Austin Kurke (lineman) and Austin Brasher (linebacker).
In the Western Division, Serra’s Adoree’ Jackson and Scott Altenberg were named Defensive Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively.
Offensive team members include Serra running backs Malik Robertson and Jalen Greene. Named to the Defensive Team were Serra standouts Jackson (defensive back), linebackers Dwight Williams and Ardis Perez and linemen Inoke Raikadroka and Nicholas Usher.