By Loren Kopff
After a week off to reflect on its 1-4 on the field record, Gahr’s football team got back into action last Thursday night in its San Gabriel Valley League opener. And the Gladiators extended two streaks following their 28-7 victory over visiting Warren.
Gahr knocked off the Bears for the third straight year and fourth time since at least 1998 while sending Warren to its 18th straight loss. Gahr wasted little time in getting on the board as junior wide receiver William Latham rumbled 34 yards for a score on Gahr’s first play from scrimmage 77 seconds into the game.
With the score tied in the second quarter, Latham put his team in front for good when he caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Kobee Lagarde. With 55 seconds left in the first half, Lagarde connected with freshman wide receiver Elijah Hicks for a 20-yard score. The Gladiators put the game away just 2:10 into the second half when junior running back Leotis Johnson III cashed in from 66 yards out. Johnson led Gahr with 79 yards on four carries while Lagarde completed 12 of 22 passes for 143 yards. Gahr put up 276 yards in the game and held the ball for 15:45. The Gladiators improved to 3-3 overall (one of the victories is a forfeit against Lakewood) and will visit Paramount tonight.
In other football action, Cerritos visits John Glenn tonight with both teams looking for its first Suburban League victory. Cerritos (1-5 overall) lost to Bellflower 59-8 last Friday night while the Eagles (0-6) were doubled up by Mayfair 30-15.
Valley Christian posted its second win of the season after knocking off Whittier Christian 35-27 last Friday night in the Olympic League opener. Junior quarterback Jack Struiksma tossed touchdown passes of 22 and 24 yards to junior Brian Cok and added a one-yard run himself. The Crusaders (2-4 overall) will host San Diego-based Francis Parker tonight at Crusader Field for its homecoming game. The Lancers are 6-0 and have outscored their opponents 263-68.
VOLLEYBALL
The Suburban League ended its first round this past Tuesday with Mayfair and Norwalk tied for first place with 5-1 league marks. Norwalk struggled against John Glenn this past Tuesday but still managed to record a 25-9, 24-26, 25-14, 25-16 victory. Norwalk junior middle blocker Jazmin Guzman had a match-high 23 kills. Norwalk (9-6 overall) will visit Mayfair on Tuesday to begin the second round, then host Artesia on Thursday. Senior middle blocker Myra Gomez paced the Lady Eagles (5-15, 1-5) with 11 kills. Glenn hosted Mayfair on Oct. 17 and will visit Artesia on Tuesday before hosting Bellflower on Thursday.
Cerritos remained a game behind Mayfair and Norwalk following its victory over Cerritos this past Tuesday. The Lady Dons (8-8, 4-2) went to Bellflower on Oct. 17 and will travel to La Mirada on Thursday in a third place battle. La Mirada also ended the first round with a 4-2 mark.
Valley Christian ended its first round of Olympic League action on a down note as first place Whittier Christian came away with a 25-7, 25-15, 25-9 win this past Tuesday evening. V.C. (16-5, 2-2) will host Maranatha and Village Christian on Tuesday and Thursday evenings respectively.
CROSS COUNTRY
Cerritos kept its 2013 dominance going by sweeping away the competition in dual meet scoring at last Thursday afternoon’s second Suburban League Cluster Meet at La Mirada Regional Park. Seniors Jonathan Carranza (16:25), Joshua Quarles (16:26) and Christian Cortez (16:45) claimed the second, third and fourth spots while senior Shrineel Patel (17:03) finished in seventh place, just ahead of freshman Bill Chuang (17:07).
The top Norwalk boys runner was junior Carlos Nevarez, who finished in fifth place with a time of 16:52. The leading John Glenn harrier was senior Suni Bedi (17:42) and pacing Artesia was sophomore Dominic Gonsales (18:26).
On the girls side, Cerritos claimed five of the top 10 places as sophomore Catherine Lin finished in third with a time of 20:17. Junior Alyssa Movchan was a fifth place finisher with a time of 20:58.
Norwalk sophomore Jennifer Osorio-Melendez came in second place (20:04) while her teammate, junior Rocio Rodriguez, finished in sixth place (20:58). The only John Glenn runner was junior Blanca Reyes, who had a time of 22:32.
The Suburban League finals will take place on Oct. 30 at Cerritos Regional Park.
