Malibu High School celebrated last year in style as it collected four league titles, its most since 2009. The commitment to excellence and passion to succeed are very much alive for MHS athletics. Now that the summer’s off-season training and competition have ended for all sports, it’s time for a new crop of athletes and teams to build their own legacy.
“I am excited to see our school’s student-athletes continue to have success on and off the field,” Malibu High Athletic Director Chris Neier said. “Although we are a smaller school in the CIF-SS, last year we had many sports at the top of our league and many of them went deep into playoffs.”
Last year the boys water polo team and the girls tennis team each captured league titles for the second consecutive year. These programs have been a staple of success for Malibu during the past decade.
The Malibu girls water polo team won its sixth consecutive league championship to join the boys basketball team as league champions for the 2012 winter season. It was the eighth title in the history of the girls water polo program.
The boys basketball team made school history by going undefeated in the Frontier League. The Sharks won the program’s first outright league title and its first league championship since 2007.
Could there be an encore this year? With school beginning in a few weeks, here is what we can look forward to as fall sports approach.
As though the sound of “Jaws” could be heard in the distance, the Sharks controlled the water and methodically attacked their opponents with precision and aggression as they won their eighth league title in boys water polo history. Senior goalkeeper Dane Sartorius and senior center Jordan Clarke return as MHS has set its sights on another 20-win season.
The girls tennis team won its fifth league title in school history by going undefeated (10-0) for the first time in the last 10 years. They finished the regular season with a remarkable 15-1 record.
The talented trio of senior Britta Mosser, junior Lauren Louks and sophomore Ilana Oleynik returns to form one of the area’s best triple threats on the courts. Mosser won the Tri-Valley League singles tennis title as well.
For the first time ever, Malibu will host football games at night with newly installed lights this season. The plan is to unveil the lights for the last two home games against Fillmore and Santa Clara. Coach Ray Humphrey’s team showed promise early on last season as they won five of six games. A late season stumble cost the Sharks a postseason berth.
Senior wide receiver Brennan Cassone and junior quarterback Dylan Miller return to lead the Sharks in pursuit of their first playoff berth since 2007. Senior Eddie Johnstone will anchor a talented group of linemen on both sides of the ball.
The Malibu girls volleyball team won 18 matches last season and finished in second place in league. They will have to replace a graduating class of 10 seniors that formed the heart and soul of the team. Opposite hitter Gigi Hadid and setter Allison Hahn will be looked upon to fortify this year’s squad.
Running with determination and sheer mental toughness, the MHS boys and girls cross country teams will strive to duplicate their success of a year ago. The boys finished in second place at the Frontier League championships and qualified for the CIF-SS Division IV prelims. Junior Erik Rosenberg captured first-team all-league honors while junior Dyer Pettijohn earned second-team recognition.
Sophomore Caroline Pietrzyk became an overnight sensation as she won the girls’ individual league title and earned the Frontier League most valuable runner award as just a freshman. Junior Emma London also received first-team honors.
“I am excited for the fall season to start,” Neier said. “With the success we had last year I see even more students coming out to participate in athletics and enjoy all of the benefits it gives them.”