Page 14 November 7, 2019 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Eagles from page 4
Gavin Hall (center) was one of the senior choir members honored. Eliana Gonzales is all smiles on Senior Night. She has spent four years with the award-winning choir.
era for the football program when Coach
Shevlin stepped down. The players recognized
his 26 years of commitment, dedication and
success and hoisted him on their shoulders
after the game. They paraded him through
the tunnel of the cheerleaders to the west end
zone where he addressed his team one last
time. Hugs and tears by the players for their
coach symbolized what he meant to them.
A person shouldn’t be judged by the
material things he has or the wealth he has
acquired, but rather the friends he has made
and those he touched over his lifetime. Steve
Shevlin is truly our “George Bailey” and
he is the richest person in our community.
On behalf of a grateful community, here’s a
sincere thank you to Coach Shevlin for all
he has done in bringing El Segundo together
on Friday nights.
Eagles Win Ocean League
Water Polo Title
The El Segundo boys water polo team
played host to Santa Monica in the last regular
season Ocean League matchup. El Segundo
had already clinched a share of another league
title, but a win against the Vikings would give
the Eagles the league title outright. After a
rare scoreless first half, El Segundo went on
to score a thrilling 4-3 win.
The first half was filled with great defense.
Brian Schodorf and Mason Jaeger stopped
the Vikings’ approach on top while Kalan
Smith, Jaden Vanderwoude and Ryan Whalen
controlled the wing. Caden Kastigar was
stellar in the cage and made 12 saves in the
first half alone.
In the second half, El Segundo took an
early third quarter 1-0 lead on Smith’s
overpowering shot from the left side. On
the next possession, Vanderwoude rifled
in another goal to give the Eagles a 2-0
lead. Santa Monica would score on a man
advantage to cut the Eagles’ lead to 2-1. El
Segundo answered with some good passing
and a difficult shot by Ryan Whalen with
the clock winding down.
With the Eagles leading 3-1 to start the
fourth period, Santa Monica scored on con-
secutive possessions to tie the game at 3-3.
The teams continued to pound shot attempt
after shot attempt, but came up empty. With
about a minute left, the Eagles controlled the
ball and worked for a clear shot. Schodorf
found Paxton Fastman open and fed him
perfectly. Fastman’s close-in shot found the
net with less than 30 seconds remaining and
the Eagles held on for the 4-3 win.
El Segundo entered the CIF-Southern
Section Division 4 playoffs at home this
past Tuesday against Arcadia. A win would
send them into today’s second round game
against the winner of the Thousand Oaks/
Moorpark matchup. The quarterfinals
are Saturday with the semifinals next Wednesday
and the finals set for next Saturday
in Irvine. Girls Cross Country
Wins Ocean League
The Ocean League cross country finals
were held at Rec Park and the El Segundo girls
team won its sixth consecutive league title.
Sophia Zago’s 17:31 paced the course and set
Caden Kastigar made 16 saves against Santa Monica in the Eagles’ 4-3 win. The Lady Eagles captured their fifth consecutive league title.
a new school record. James Matlosz pushed
her teammate with a 17:39, which is good
for the third all-time best in school history.
Sophomores Tyler Matlosz, Ami Jacobson,
Erin Rifkin, Isabella Mai and senior Leah
Guziak rounded out a talented team that will
advance to the CIF Southern Section Cross
Country prelims on Saturday, Nov. 16.
The boys team came up two points short
of capturing an Ocean League title. Arend
Verfaillie finished second overall in 14:43
and in the process shattered the 41-year-old
school record. William Garrell, Lucas Lux,
Ryu Iguchi, Niall Glynn and Cole Sterba
rounded out the team’s finishers.
The JV girls team paced by Jayden
McColgan, Alyssa Miller, Kaitlin Pintens
and Latina Daniels won the Ocean League
title. The JV boys team swept to the
league title led by Lucky Schwartz and
Jonny Felker, who both broke 16 minutes.
Cooper Haas, David Pop, Cobi Rifkin, Jasper
Jahn and Nasai Rivas all finished in the top
nine runners. •
On Senior Night, members from the award-winning band were honored. Jaxon Brown and family celebrate Senior Night.