By Joe Snyder

Over the past couple of months, Serra High’s football team participated in several Spring-Summer passing and other football fundamental events and head coach Scott Altenberg is seeking to bring back contention for CIF-Southern Section and CIF-State crowns this fall.

The Cavaliers strength appears to be on defense, behind senior tackle Khary Wilder, a four-star recruit who already committed to Big 10 power Ohio State University. Fourth-year starting defensive lineman Daylon Reed is expecting a big season, along with University of North Carolina commit cornerback Marcellous Williams. Incoming junior cornerback-running back Wesley Ace is also getting a lot of Major Division I college offers, according to Altenberg. Also back is Mission League Defensive Player of the Year DeVohn Mosely, Jr., a safety on defense and a running back on offense.

Gone is quarterback Jimmy Butler, who is still undecided on his college decisions, and junior Nickolas Johnson appears to be favored as the starter. Sophomore Malik Tunai, though, could be one to watch. Both had some good passing games, including last Saturday’s Los Angeles Chargers 11-on-11 Classic at the Chargers Training Center in El Segundo.

Wide receivers Duvay Williams and Hakeem Crawford are key returning starters.

“We’re young at parts,” Altenberg said. “For us, we have a lot of guys back on defense. Offensively, Butler is gone and we are young.”

At the Chargers Invitational, Serra won two of three games with wins over Murrieta Valley and Agoura and a loss to Palos Verdes, last season’s CIF-Southern Section Division V and CIF-State Division IIA champion.

In a thrilling finale against Agoura, Duvay Williams caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tunai to give the Cavaliers a 30-24 win. That was his second of two TDs in the game, with his other being 50 yards from Johnson. Brian Bose and Hakeem Crawford also scored touchdowns for Serra.

The Cavaliers begin the 2025 season against Palos Verdes, led by returning junior quarterback Ryan Rakowski, on Aug. 22 at El Camino College. Game time is 7 p.m. The Sea Kings figure to be in a close race with Inglewood, Lawndale Leuzinger, Culver City and Manhattan Beach Mira Costa for the prestigious Bay League title. Despite only a third-place finish in the rigorous Bay last season, P.V. defeated Santa Ana Foothill for the Southern Section Division V crown and Twelve Bridges from the Sacramento area for its first state championship.

The Cavaliers will be in a 7-on-7 passing tournament at Palos Verdes High Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., before another highly regarded classic at powerhouse St. John Bosco in Bellflower on June 28 before ending that summer and going into the dead period before opening practice on July 28.

Serra continues to have a tough schedule. After visiting CIF-Los Angeles City Section school Hamilton High in the Palms District on Aug. 29, the Cavaliers have their first home game against Los Alamitos on Sept. 5. From there, Serra plays three consecutive road games at Orange Lutheran on Sept. 12, Oaks Christian in Westlake Village on Sept. 19 before opening the Mission League in what will be an early league showdown at Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth on Oct. 3. The Cavaliers, then, have their homecoming game against L.A. Loyola on Oct. 10 and have two more home league games against West Hills Chaminade on Oct. 17 and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame on Oct. 24. On Halloween (Oct. 31), Serra closes league at Bishop Amat in La Puente. All games start at 7 p.m.

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Former Serra star Smith on a hitting tear

The Dodgers ended up winning two of three from San Francisco, losing the first game, 6-2, on Friday before coming back with wins of 11-5 on Saturday and 5-4 on Sunday.

Among the Giant players at Dodger Stadium was former Serra High standout player Dominic Smith. Smith went 2-for-3 including a two-run home run in the first game on Friday. He went 1-for-3, drove in a run and scored once on Saturday. Right now, according to sources, he’s hitting .343 this year for the Giants. He is 12-for-35 with seven runs batted in.

In his 12-year career, Smith is currently hitting .247 with 485 hits, including 64 home runs.

Before being traded to the Giants by the Cincinnati Reds earlier this season, Smith played for the New York Mets, Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox. He was drafted out of Serra High in the first round by the Mets in 2013. He was the 11th overall pick. He led the Cavaliers to their only CIF-Southern Section baseball title, winning the Division III championship over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa 12 years ago at Dodger Stadium. He hit a homer over the stadium fence, one of the few high school baseballers to do so.

Correction from last week’s South Bay All-Star Softball Game: It was Carson pitcher Gaselkle Pantoja; not Pantija. Sorry for the spelling error.

In that game, the American and National teams battled to a 5-5 tie on June 4 at Torrance High.

Torrance also had girls’ beach volleyball pair Kiana Greer and Anisa Olivas land on the Daily Breeze all-South Bay second-team, named last week. 

Pair of the Year went to Redondo sisters Addison and Avery Junk, who were very influential in keying the Sea Hawks to the CIF-Southern Section Division I championship with an inspiring 3-2 win over powerful rival, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa on May 3 at Long Beach City College.

They won the decisive split set match to help the Sea Hawks win their first CIF title in the brief three-year history of beach volleyball in the CIF. Mira Costa won the previous two crowns over Redondo in 2023 and 2024.

Head coach Mark Pa’aluhi was Coach of the Year for the Sea Hawks.

Also making all-area second-team were Libby Matsik and Spencer Clark of South Torrance.

Greer, meanwhile, was also CIF-Southern Section Division II shot put champion and finished fifth in the CIF-State Meet on May 31 at Buchanan High in Clovis. 

HONOLULU – University of Hawai’i men’s basketball head coach Eran Ganot announced that Juan Munoz has returned to the program as Director of Player Development.  The former sharp-shooting guard, who spent three seasons with the program (2021-24), will now turn his attention to shaping the newest crop of Rainbow Warriors.

“We are ecstatic to welcome Juan back to our program as he begins his coaching career,” Ganot said. “He has a clear love for the islands, this university, and this great game and is looking forward to working with our student-athletes. 

 

“We always felt like we had a ‘coach on the floor’ due to his exceptional basketball knowledge. He was a pleasure to be around and to follow his resilience in the face of incredible adversity was something to marvel at.  His future is very bright!”

 

As UH’s Director of Player Development, Munoz will work closely with UH’s student-athletes in achieving their best both on and off the court. His new role will have him involved in such areas as alumni relations, marketing, team nutrition, strength and conditioning, scouting and recruiting.

Munoz first arrived in Manoa as a transfer in 2021 with significant buzz. His long-range shooting and playmaking ability had garnered him all-conference honors while playing at Longwood University in Virginia.

Munoz ultimately became one of the most inspirational players in the Rainbow Warrior program’s recent history. The North Carolina native served as a leader on the sidelines after suffering season-ending injuries in back-to-back years upon joining the ‘Bows. He eventually worked his way back to the court in 2023-24 and in his final collegiate season he appeared in all 34 games with 16 starts. Munoz led the team in three-pointers made (67) and three-point percentage (.409) and also ranked second in assists and steals for a squad that finished with its second straight 20-win season.  

 

#HawaiiMBB

St. Thomas Aquinas junior Riley Andres had a remarkable season to lift the Raiders to a regional final appearance and was recognized as the Sun Sentinel Broward girls water polo player of the year.

Andres, who has displayed her versatility throughout her career, had a stellar junior campaign at the utility position. She was one of the top players nationally in points and goals scored. She finished the season with 204 points and had 175 goals scored, 54 steals and 29 assists. Andres scored 15 goals in a game and had eight different games with 10 or more goals.

She also stepped up with eight goals to lift the Raiders to a 14-13 victory in the regional semifinal against Pembroke Pines Charter. St. Thomas Aquinas avenged two losses to Pembroke Pines Charter from earlier in the season. Andres did not play in the first meeting between the schools and did not play a full game in the second meeting.

“I told the team it was going to be a hard game,” Andres said. “I knew I had to give it my all. It’s my favorite game this year. It all came together for our team. I definitely led the team as best as I can.”

Andres had focused on swimming before starting with water polo in the seventh grade. She has excelled with the South Florida Water Polo Club where she also had an opportunity to compete with boys players to improve her game.

“I was already a great swimmer, but it’s not what I really wanted to do,” Andres said. “I wanted to try a new sport and found water polo. It made me tougher to be able to practice with boys on the club team. I have some of the best coaches at club who have been able to push me to do my best.”

Andres previously was selected to represent the Southeast Zone for the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program Girls Cadet National Team in 2023.  She also has been a participant with the Asphalt Green Water Polo Club and competes in tournaments in California.

Andres said a personal goal is to surpass 500 goals in her career with the Raiders. She is looking forward to her senior season.

“I have learned a lot from when I first started,” Andres said. “It’s been great to have that connection with the girls on the team. I just really enjoy the sport and it’s a lot of fun.”

CAPE TOWN – South Africa Water Polo (SAWP) said this week’s court decision was more than a legal victory for the sport, it was a moral victory for every South African athlete fighting for fairness, excellence, and community-driven sport.

The Western Cape High Court has given the organisation the green light to operate as an independent sports body.

Swimming South Africa was the national governing body for all water sports in the country, but Wednesday’s ruling changed that.

SAWP interim CEO Robbie Taylor said they had 1,200 members supporting them, ranging from clubs, schools, coaches, and Olympians.

“The long-standing national body, Swimming South Africa, tried to stop the water polo community from building a future focused solely on water polo, but they failed because the court agreed with us that the community has the right to choose its own path. SA Water Polo is a movement built by players for players.”

Swimming South Africa has expressed disappointment with the court decision.

It said it will determine its next steps after discussions with its board of directors.

When one door closed, another opened — and Nicole Carroll ran through it.

When she was young, a door opened for Nicole Carroll to step in and play soccer — the game she grew to love.

She played travel soccer to hone her skills and, after entering high school, became a stalwart midfielder for a Jim Thorpe team that won the Schuylkill League championship two years ago during her senior season.

To stay in shape for soccer, Carroll also ran cross country and track. Her performances on the trails helped her qualify for the state championship meet during both her junior and senior years.

But once she reached college, the door to her favorite sport quickly closed. Carroll committed to play soccer at Clarion University, but her time on the field was short-lived.

“In my very first game there, I broke my nose and got a concussion,” she said. “Once I was cleared to play again — in my very first practice after that — I got another concussion.”

After a long and difficult decision, she gave up the sport she had loved since childhood.

“I still miss playing soccer terribly,” she said, “but I decided to concentrate on cross country and track.”

Carroll found that college life at Clarion wasn’t the right fit either, and she transferred to Lock Haven University for her sophomore year. At her new school, another door opened. She was introduced to a training program that helped her prepare for college-level competition.

“At Jim Thorpe, I hadn’t taken cross country or track too seriously,” she said. “I needed to change my training routine, and they had a great program at Lock Haven that focused on endurance and speed training. I prepared myself to run the 400- and 800-meter races.”

That said, Carroll entered her new athletic path with limited expectations.

“Soccer was always my love,” she said. “I ran cross country and track in high school mainly just to stay in shape.”

But the shape of things to come led to unexpected success. Carroll was named to the Regional All-Academic Team, and her performances on the trail and the track improved rapidly.

At the 2024 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships, she finished in the top 30 percent. During the indoor track season, she placed second in the 800 at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships with a personal-best time of 2:19.31.

Carroll continued to build momentum during the spring season. She won the 800 at the 2025 PSAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

“There were 24 runners in two preliminary races before the finals,” she said. “I had to beat seven others in the last race. I didn’t expect to win, but I thought I had a chance. I had a good feeling — but anyone can win in the finals.”

Not only did Carroll win in a close finish — the runner-up was from Clarion.

For her accomplishments, Carroll was named Lock Haven’s Female Athlete MVP of the Year and earned a spot on the NCAA Division II All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Team.

The exercise science major has set new goals heading into her junior and senior years.

“I’d like to medal at the PSAC cross country championships,” she said. “And in track, I’ll try to break the school record in the 800.”

She once opened a door to a promising soccer career, only to have it shut due to injury. Then, she closed the door on one college and opened another at Lock Haven — one that’s led her to success in cross country and track.

Now an athlete already making her mark, Carroll still has two more years to chase greatness.

Nicole Carroll has learned an invaluable lesson in sports and life: When one door closes, another opens. And all she has to do — is run right through it.

Nicole Carroll (front) competes for Lock Haven University at this year’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Track and Field Championships. The Jim Thorpe graduate won the 800 at the event. For her accomplishments, Carroll was named Lock Haven’s Female Athlete MVP of the Year and earned a spot on the NCAA Division II All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Team. PHOTO COURTESY LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

During the indoor track season, Nicole Carroll placed second in the 800 at the PSAC Championships with a personal-best time of 2:19.31. PHOTO COURTESY LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

At the 2024 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships, Nicole Carroll finished in the top 30 percent. PHOTO COURTESY LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS