Jones & Shipp Win Top Honor
Laguna Beach released their 19th annual All-Sport Award winners this week, as selected by the Breaker staff for the past school year’s performances. Top honors went to Presley Jones (Girls) and CIF Champ Chase Shipp (Boys), both of whom have garnered 1st Team All-CIF and All-County awards.
This year’s Coach of the Year honor went to Andy Thomas for Boys soccer. Thomas, a native of the Isle of Man, U.K., first coached the Artists from 1997-2003, guiding the team to the 1997 Pacific Coast League title and the D-IV CIF crown. He was a repeat CIF champion in 1998 (a tie with San Luis Obispo) and D-5 Champs in 2002. Thomas returned to the Breaker helm in 2020, with this past year matching the top success of his early years with the program, going 16-5-5 with the first league title since 1997 and the 2025 D4 CIF crown.
Leading the list of honors was Andy Thomas, who was named Coach of the Year for his leadership of the boys soccer team. Thomas, who previously led the program to CIF titles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, returned to guide the Breakers to the CIF Division 4 title this season.
Presley Jones earned multiple distinctions, including Female Athlete of the Year, Rotary Award winner, and Female Athlete of Character, for her accomplishments in both water polo and swim. On the boys’ side, Chase Shipp was recognized as Male Athlete of the Year for his dominance in diving and swimming. Scholar-Athlete honors went to Kate Cheng, a standout in basketball, and Julian Reichel, who represented the boys soccer team. The Male Athlete of Character award was presented to Enzo Casolari, who competed in cross country and track.
The Breakers secured three CIF Southern Section team championships during the year: Girls Volleyball won Division 7, Boys Soccer claimed Division 4, and Girls Water Polo took the Division 1 title.
Across the fall, winter, and spring seasons, Laguna Beach High School teams won seven league championships. In the fall, football captured the Fox Trot League title, while girls cross country won the Pacific Hills League. During winter, the girls basketball, boys soccer, and girls water polo teams all claimed titles in the Pacific Coast League. In spring, baseball and beach volleyball added two more Pacific Coast League championships to the school’s tally.
Individual honors extended beyond the campus as well. The Orange County Register named several Breakers to its First Team All-County roster. Coach Andy Thomas was recognized as Coach of the Year. Student-athletes honored included Chase Shipp (swimming and diving), Becker Sybirski (baseball), Kai Patchell (boys volleyball), and both Presley Jones and Kara Carver for girls water polo.
Looking ahead, LBHS encourages returning and incoming students to take part in its summer athletic camps. Basketball camps begin June 30. Information is available at lbhs.lbusd.org/athletics/summer-programs.
The 2025–26 school year kicks off in August with a full slate of varsity season openers. Girls volleyball begins play on August 2 at the Queens Court Tournament. Flag football takes the field on Aug. 12 with a game at Loara. Football makes its season debut on Aug. 21 in an away game at Chino. Cross country opens its season on Aug. 30 at the Saddleback Cup, hosted by Trabuco Hills High School, and Boys water polo starts on Aug. 26 with a match against Aliso Niguel.
For full athletic schedules and results, visit the school’s Athletics Schedule page or MaxPreps. For news tips or submissions about high school sports, contact Frank Aronoff at frank@twometer.net.