{"id":6116,"date":"2025-10-15T15:18:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T15:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/6116\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T15:18:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T15:18:09","slug":"helix-grossmont-high-fall-sports-teams-take-strides-towards-cifs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/6116\/","title":{"rendered":"Helix, Grossmont High fall sports teams take strides towards CIFs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\tOverview: Scholastic fall sports<\/p>\n

With the scholastic fall sports season eyeing the finish line within the next month, teams at Helix Charter High School and Grossmont High School are positioning themselves for positive finishes, respectively.<\/p>\n

With the scholastic fall sports season eyeing the finish line within the next month, teams at Helix Charter High School<\/a> and Grossmont High School<\/a> are respectively positioning themselves for positive finishes.<\/p>\n

At Grossmont, the\u00a0boys\u2019 water polo\u00a0team headed into action in the last week with a record of 15-4, 5-0 in league play.<\/p>\n

According to head water polo coach Clint McLaughlin, some key members to date include senior goalie Carson Hall, senior attacker Gabe Acuna, senior attacker Peter Nelson, and senior center Garrett Bowles.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of our goals for the season are to win the league and be able to advance as far in CIFs as we can to try and get an opportunity to advance to the state championships,\u201d McLaughlin said.<\/p>\n

* On the links, the Grossmont\u00a0girls\u2019 golf\u00a0team continues to build on a strong season,\u00a0highlighted by their first-ever victory over West Hills at Carlton Oaks Golf Course earlier this year.<\/p>\n

The Foothillers under head coach Jim Earley went into the week with a record of 7\u20135, a mark that reflects a tough league schedule and a few close breaks that didn\u2019t go their way \u2013 but also showcases their resilience and progress as a team.<\/p>\n

According to Earley, the squad is led by standout seniors Anabella Van Cotthem, Emma Arevelo, and Aiko Phoomongkolpipat, whose leadership and consistent play have anchored the lineup all season long. Junior Audrey Stecher has also emerged as one of the top players in the conference, showing steady improvement and clutch performances in key matches.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur seniors have set the tone with their leadership and effort,\u201d Earley remarked. \u201cThey\u2019ve laid the foundation for what Grossmont golf is becoming \u2013 competitive, confident, and tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Earley, the team\u2019s goals are simple: \u201cFinish strong and have our ladies perform well in postseason tournaments. With the mix of experience and rising talent, the Foothillers are ready to make some noise down the stretch.\u201d<\/p>\n

In\u00a0girls\u2019 volleyball\u00a0action, head coach Jacob Haar\u2019s team came into the week with an overall record of 18-9, 6-0 in the Grossmont Valley League.<\/p>\n

Haar said key players to date have included senior Alexis Holman (right side hitter), freshman Sofia Reid (middle hitter), and sophomore Imani Hayes (outside hitter).\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are coming to the end of the season and the team has been playing great,\u201d Haar said. \u201cWe have faced tough opponents, and the team is getting stronger with every team we play against. We are currently pushing ourselves to win the league with four games remaining. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are also working on finishing off the regular season off strong to have great momentum into CIF, where we are trying to make a deep run. This team is hungry to make a statement to finish off the 2025 season.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Grossmont<\/a>Grossmont High\u2019s Marissa Farace prepares to throw a pass during a flag football contest against Our Lady of Peace. (Photo by\u00a0Izabella Allen)<\/p>\n

In\u00a0football\u00a0action, Grossmont was recently sporting a 5-1 record under head coach Anthony Lawrence.<\/p>\n

According to Lawrence, key players to date have included junior Tyler Holmes (quarterback), senior Colton Burke (defensive back\/wide receiver), senior Randy Ballard (wide receiver), senior Max Tufugafale (lineman), senior JP Portlock (lineman), junior AJ Hooker (running back), sophomore Corbin Dow (running back), senior Ryder Robinson (defensive end), senior Gage Weichelt (defensive back), senior Kai Jones (defensive back), and senior Drew Sasena (linebacker).<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goals are to win the league and make a push in the playoffs,\u201d Lawrence said.<\/p>\n

Highlanders making push for strong finishes\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the links, the Helix\u00a0girls\u2019 golf\u00a0team under head coach Cole Holland came into play recently with an overall 6-7 record, 4-0 in league action.<\/p>\n

\"Grossmont<\/a>Freshman Gavin Mackay looks for an open receiver during a Grossmont game earlier this season against Patrick Henry High. (Photo by Kevin Shephard) <\/p>\n

Holland noted key players to date have been senior Mariana Dumlao, senior Vanessa Griego, freshman Olivia Benham, and sophomore Lily Duich.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur first goal is to win the league to qualify for CIF,\u201d Holland remarked. \u201cThen play in the league tournament as well as the conference tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n

In\u00a0girls\u2019 volleyball\u00a0play, Helix was sitting at 8-17 (first in the Grossmont Hills League) under head coach Zoe Varela-Beltz.<\/p>\n

According to Varela-Beltz, some key players up to this point have included sophomore Aliyah Bowser (outside hitter), junior Emma Becker (middle blocker), senior Tatum Yturralde (senior setter), and senior Ava Cavazos (libero).<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to win the league and continue that progress into the post-season,\u201d Varela-Beltz said.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0field hockey\u00a0action, Helix was 5-5 recently for head coach Rhona St.Clair-Moore.<\/p>\n

St.Clair-Moore noted some key players to date are senior captains Alex Arapostathsis (defensive mid) and Ava Rodriguez (keeper). Also getting recognition were junior Lyla Johnson (defense) and sophomore Ella Aguayo (defense). On the offensive side of the ball, St.Clair-Moore noted the play of juniors Lily Ryan (forward) and Zuri St.Clair (mid).<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goals are to place as high as we can in league play and then go on to CIF\u2019s which we missed last year,\u201d St.Clair-Moore said. \u201cWe have a strong young team and they have the talent to do really well this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

In\u00a0boys\u2019 water polo\u00a0play, Helix was recently looking at a 14-5 record for head coach Spencer Bailey.<\/p>\n

Key players to date, according to Bailey, have included sophomore (4\/5 side winger) with 73 assists and 28 steals, and junior Jackson Morgans (1\/2 side winger) with 55 goals.<\/p>\n

\"Helix<\/a>Helix sophomore Ethan Balma is focused in on where he\u2019s about to throw the ball. (Photo by John Silva)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goals for the remainder of the season are to continue to establish cohesion and chemistry and compete for either a Division I title or making the Open Division,\u201d Bailey said.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0girls\u2019 tennis\u00a0action, Helix was recently 13-3 for head coach Dan Potter. The team was playing for at least a share of the Grossmont Hills League title in a recent match at Valhalla.<\/p>\n

Potter noted that key players have team captain and number one singles player Ella Short (senior) and number two singles player Bella Lawson (sophomore).<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goals for the remainder of the season are to capture at least a share of the league championships and make some waves in the CIF team playoffs,\u201d Potter said.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s note: All fall sports varsity head coaches were asked to provide information for this story.<\/p>\n

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