Page 4 October 24, 2019 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
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Sports
Loss Doesn’t Spoil Homecoming
Story and Photos by Gregg McMullin
For more photos go to Facebook/esherald
and Instagram@esherald
The El Segundo High School 2019 Homecoming
game drew a crowd of over 3,000
people. There were reunion alumni students
from the classes of 1969, 1989, 1999 and 2009
in the stands. El Segundo High has long been
described as a tight-knit campus and community
where we are all part of one big family. Three
members of our family including 5-year-old
Reagan Sullivan, Kathy Motta and Mark Rooney
all passed away recently and were remembered
with a moment of silence prior to the game. As
to the game itself, the Eagles played hard but
came up on the losing end of a 42-9 drubbing
by Culver City. Though it was a lopsided loss, it
didn’t dampen the spirits of those in the crowd.
There’s nothing like Homecoming week at
El Segundo High. What starts as a gathering
of each class preparing and making floats ends
with reunion classes attending the Homecoming
football game to kick-start their weekend. El
Segundo High is not unique in putting on a
Homecoming game or festivities surrounding
it. What sets ours apart from others is a parade
down Main Street. The community lines the
street downtown and in front of the iconic
high school to applaud the float entries and
the Homecoming Court.
It was a Norman Rockwell moment as the
parade started with the award-winning cheer
squad leading the way followed by the decorated
marching band playing the school’s fight song.
The parade of vintage convertibles, supplied by
the El Segundo Automobile Museum, carried
dignitaries starting with the Grand Marshal
and long-time teacher David Reed as well as
members from the El Segundo School Board.
The Homecoming Court followed featuring
Freshman Prince Connor Logan and Princess
Emily Anderson; Sophomore Prince Ludvig
Bergsaker and Princess Skylar Allen; Junior
Princess Sierra Ahrablou and Prince Marquis
Wright; and Senior Princess Delaney Jones and
Prince Reynaldo Silva III. The Homecoming
Queen Ella Tichy and Homecoming King Wadia
Alhalak preceded the class floats. The class
floats rolled down the street escorted by proud
students who worked on their respected float.
They also chanted their class graduation year.
The class float judges included First Lady of
El Segundo Lee Boyles, El Segundo Fire Chief
Chris Donovan, Police Chief Bill Whalen and
former El Segundo High teacher, principal and
former School Board member Dr. Bill Watkins.
But like one of them said, “Each class was a
winner for their involvement, participation and
school spirit.”
It was a Homecoming game that will long
be remembered for the officials throwing 31
penalty flags and failing to remember how to
administer the penalties. In the end, Culver
City outmanned the Eagles thanks to its long
list of talented recruits.
El Segundo would need a perfect game to
shock the top-ranked Centaurs. The game plan
for the Eagles was to control the clock and pace
of play to keep Culver City’s offense off the
field. If this were a boxing match the Eagles
were the underdog taking on the champs and
looking to avoid an early knockout. They sparred
toe-to-toe with Culver City in the first quarter
and took a 2-0 lead on a safety when Mekhi
Evans-Bey was stopped by a host of Eagles
two yards deep in the end zone. The safety
was set up by Vinney Costa’s interception. The
Eagles managed to sustain a drive that ended
when Connor Hochberg was intercepted at
the Culver City 2-yard line. On the first play,
Evans-Bey was smothered in the end zone.
On Culver City’s next possession the Centaurs
went 95 yards in three plays, helped along
by three penalties, to score the first of three
touchdowns in the second quarter. The two possessions
El Segundo had in the second quarter
were not sustaining enough and the Centaurs
benefited on their other two possessions with
long TD passes to take a 21-2 lead.
El Segundo fell behind 34-2 in the third quarter
after allowing two additional long TD passes.
Meanwhile the Eagles’ offense sputtered. The
game was put away with 1:29 remaining in
the third quarter on another TD pass to make it
40-2. One of the biggest surprises of the game was
the lack of sportsmanship displayed by Culver
City when it attempted a point after touchdown.
The Centaurs lined up to kick the attempt, but
ran a play off for a successful 2-point try and a
42-2 lead. It was one of the biggest Bush
League plays in a high school game this reporter
ever witnessed. It meant a running clock for the
fourth quarter and decreased playing opportunities
for second team players on both teams.
El Segundo would score a touchdown in the
waning moments of the game. James Fraelich
rushed three times including a 16-yarder, one
for 22-yards and a 2-yard touchdown run to
make it 42-9.
The loss dropped the Eagles to 4-4 overall
and 2-1 in their last Ocean League season. It
won’t get any easier facing the recruit-rich
Lawndale Cardinals on Friday night on the
road. The Eagles return home next Friday night
to face Santa Monica on Senior Night. They’ll
need at least one win in their final two weeks
to advance to the playoffs.
Water Polo Shuts
Out Beverly Hills
The Eagles were just too much for Beverly
Hills in their 20-0 win over the Normans in
Ocean League play. Mason Jaeger and Paxton
Fastman paced the Eagles with four goals each.
It was a game that El Segundo controlled from
the outset and didn’t provide much of a challenge
to them. The Normans had just three shots on
goal and those were meager attempts at that.
Brian Schodorf was instrumental on defense
and had one goal along with two assists.
The Eagles played host to Culver City on
Tuesday and wrap up their regular season at
home next Wednesday against Santa Monica.
Girls Volleyball Starts
CIF Playoff Run
The Lady Eagles finished third in the Ocean
League. They start their CIF Southern Section
Division 5 playoff run today when they face
Vistamar on the road. A win will most likely
give them a home game against the winner
of the Gabrielino (San Gabriel)/ Simi Valley
match on Saturday at 6 p.m. •
Campus Fields Get Some Shade
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#80 Vinny Costa’s first quarter interception halted Culver City’s
first drive
Sports Shorts
A red ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 19 celebrated the brand-new shaded seating at the Campus El Segundo Athletic
Fields. There has never been shade for players or spectators. The project was four years in he making and is a partnership with
AYSO (which contributed $50,000 to the cause) and El Segundo Recreation and Parks. “We are thrilled that the players and
spectators now have shade on each side of both fields to add to the enjoyment of the game,” AYSO Region 92 Commissioner and
U14B coach said. “As a coach, I want cool, shaded areas for my players to recover from a tough game.” The photo includes team
members there for games, with all-volunteer coaches and board members in the front row. Photo Provided by Barry Gribbon
There were no information pending action
items on the agenda, so Superintendent Dr.
Melissa Moore then highlighted upcoming
events on the ESUSD informational calendar,
including the annual SKECHERS Friendship
Walk that will take place this Sunday.
In other District news, the students at
Center Street Elementary will participate next
week in the UNICEF Trick or Treat program
where they will collect money while they are
out trick-or-treating on Oct. 31. The students
raised $881 last year, and while the funds
raised provide a benefit, the stated goal of the
program is to help raise UNICEF awareness
in the community.
The next regularly scheduled El Segundo
School Board meeting is calendared for
Tuesday evening, Nov.12. •