Chatsworth, Calif. – Andre Chevalier, who served as the Associate Head Coach at Sierra Canyon School for the past two seasons, has been named Head Basketball Coach, Director of Athletics Rock Pillsbury announced Monday.

“Sierra Canyon is so fortunate to have a man like Andre on our staff as an Associate Head Coach,” Pillsbury said. “It will be a seamless transition in making him the next head coach. I have been a fan of his for a while. Obviously you cannot be in the San Fernando Valley basketball scene without knowing the name Andre Chevalier.”

“I am honored to be named the head coach at Sierra Canyon after serving under Coach Ty Nichols for two seasons,” Chevalier said. “Ty is a great coach and I look forward to continuing the legacy that he has started here. I want to thank Head of School Jim Skrumbis and Athletic Director Rock Pillsbury for entrusting me to lead this great program.”

Chevalier replaces Ty Nichols who decides to leave Sierra Canyon after six seasons with the Trailblazers to pursue his Masters of Divinity Degree with an emphasis in Messianic Judaism. During his tenure at Sierra Canyon, Nichols led the basketball program to national prominence and an overall record of 125-27, one state championship and four consecutive Gold Coast league championships.

“Ty has done an outstanding job for Sierra Canyon during his tenure,” Pillsbury said. “We wish him well in his studies. I know his Masters is a passion of his and looks forward to completing it.”

Chevalier is a household name amongst basketball fans in the San Fernando Valley. Chevalier began his coaching career at his alma mater, Cleveland High School in Reseda where he built the Cavaliers into one of the top programs in the Los Angeles Unified School District and all of California. Chevalier was also an assistant coach under Bobby Braswell for two seasons at California State University, Northridge. After that, Chevalier became the Head Girls Basketball Coach at Oaks Christian School for three seasons where he guided the Lions to a CIF Southern Section Championship. Chevalier then became the Head Basketball Coach of the boys team at Oaks Christian where he also lead the Lions to a CIF Southern Section Championship.

During this past summer, Chevalier was inducted to the CSUN Athletic Hall of Fame. Chevalier was recognized for his outstanding accomplishments while leading the Matadors basketball team. In his distinguished career at CSUN, he broke the school record for total points, total assists, total free throws made and total free throws attempted.   CSUN’s men’s basketball MVP award is named in his honor.

Andre has a son, Andre Jr. and a daughter, Ashley.

Girls soccer hangs second banner

It took almost 60 minutes, but the Sierra Canyon girls soccer team finally broke through a tough Brentwood defense to score the only goal of the match to win 1-0.  Freshman Tatum Solis scored her third goal against Brentwood in the teams last two matches to send the team into a frenzy.  Solis has scored six goals in the Trailblazers playoff run.

 

 

Trailblazers hang ten, celebrate another CIF Championship title

In just eleven years of competitive high school sports, the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers won their tenth CIF Championship in school history.  The girls soccer team defeated league rival Brentwood 3-1 in the finals at Warren High School.  The girls soccer team joined the football team in winning three titles for Sierra Canyon.

 

Girls head back to CIF Finals

The Sierra Canyon girls soccer team is heading back to the CIF finals after a 2-1 victory over Alemany in the semifinals.  Senior Brittany Sacks scored two goals and goalkeeper Jessica Fitzwilliam made several crucial saves to send the Trailblazers to the finals.

New coach, new players, same goals

By Gowri Vadmal

On a hot and sweltering day on the Upper Field of the Lower Campus, the softball team is seen running laps and practicing plays. The team’s new head coach, Regina Jorgenson is in the dug-out going over plays with the assistant coach and focusing on achieving a successful softball season.

Two years ago, the team made their way to the CIF for the first time, but were then sent home in the quarter-finals, while last year they successfully made it to semifinals before losing to Savannah. Last season, the team struggled to have nine players out on the field practicing and lacked a pre-season.

As assistant coach last year, Jorgenson is stepping up to position of head coach from assistant coach after former head coach Jay Creps resigned, She explains the differences in team dynamic:

“Now they look to me for all the answers; last year they didn’t look for all the answers from me, because that wasn’t my role. But this year it is, so we’re all on the same game plan,” Jorgenson says.

With returning players Drew Samson(18), Carly Beard(‘18), and Sarah Schneider(‘19), pitchers Caitlyn Rivera(‘17) and Alyssa Nunez(‘18), along with several freshmen, the team is now able to have at least 11 players practicing on the field on a day. Jorgenson says freshmen Janae Weise(‘20) and Anaya Serve(‘20) are strong additions, as well as senior Leah Krivitsky (‘17) being transferred and providing to be a valuable asset to the team. Weise (‘20) believes that the team will easily be able to achieve their goals with Jorgenson as head coach.

“With Regina as our coach, I believe we are going to win the championship and take those rings because she is a very determined person and holds us to a higher standard as a team. She knows the team and the game like the back of her hand,” Weise says.

Having coached the team for two years, Jorgenson believes that she and the team both have the same goals in mind.

“My staff and the girls all have the same goal: win each game, play hard, play as a team. We’re going to take one game at a time, and improve our game and get better and win,” Jorgenson says.

Having gotten an early start to the season with a full fall program, the prospect of winning league championships along with CIF championships is more achievable to both coaches and players..

“Having the fall program, working together, being a solid team, I think that has enabled us to already know our ultimate goal, [which is] to get the league title, going to CIF and taking the CIF, we want the ring. We have a lot of girls who want the ring, and that is huge” Jorgensen says.

Play like a champion

By Ben Kushnir, The Standard

Baseball is poised for a season of surpassing their previous performances. Last year they won 18 out of 25 games, and with many of the same players as last year have the elements for a winning season, starting on February 25th (score and who they played here).

“We are strong [because] we all contribute to the team in different ways, and we are all very close” Pitcher and first baseman Billy Edwards (‘18) said.

Edwards is confident the team has the capability to shoot for a league title, and go on to win a CIF title for the first time. He believes that with the team working together in full force, a CIF banner may soon adorn the gym wall.

“I think the most important thing we have this year is team depth – we have good hitters, catchers, runners, [etc],” Head Coach Rick Weber said.

With three of the best pitchers and several of the hitters returning from last year, Weber hopes for the best season of the past five years, confident in the team’s ability to work past previous losses.

“[We] want to get better every season, to have as much success as we can, because our ultimate goal is to play better as the we keep playing, and then [in that respect] wins and losses don’t matter so much,” Weber said.

Track and field team strides to reach new heights

By Carly Beard, The Standard

Although last year the team did not send anyone to CIF, this year marks another year of growth and development as they strive towards their goal of sending competitors to CIF with the help of new runners.

Although the first meet is not until March 16 at West L.A. College, the team has been practicing since mid-February using the Granada Hill Charter High School facilities 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Along with that issue, at the beginning of the season there are usually close to 30 runners on the team that then dwindle to around 15.

“Running is a different sport… I think if you went out and put people to a task and asked them do you enjoy running, 80 percent would say ‘oh heck no’. What I have really tried to do here is to form a culture where it really doesn’t matter if you are a stand out runner, come out and run and the worst thing that could happen is you create a lifestyle of healthy living and that goes along with your physical activity and nutrition,” Head Coach Troy Samuels said.

In past years the jumping teams have been successful under coach Jason Greyab who has worked with Samuels for the last eight years. Last year Holden Rosenberg (‘18) broke the school record for the triple jump (formally known as a hop, skip, and jump) leaping 39 feet and 11 inches.

“My goals are to continue to push my records as far as I can, I know that this year I will be able to beat all my records, or at least I believe I can.” Rosenberg said.

This year on the track side, the twins Daniel and Ronald Kumali (‘18) who went to the state meet last year will be competing on our side this time,and Samuels is confident that they will be returning to state again this year. Aiden Jones (‘20) who was the top cross country runner will probably be the standout distance runner.

 

Swim plans to turn heads, making waves

By Shenba Vairavan, The Standard

After a successful season last year with three wins in the CIF competition and fifth in girls’ team competition, the team plans on working hard to accomplish more.

Last year Nate Biondi (‘17) won the 100 and 200 yard freestyle at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 finals. Biondi also swam in the 200 freestyle relay, which won the consolation final at 1:31.45 minutes. The girls, however, won it in 1:43.06.

The girls placed fifth in team competition with 136 points. Deanne Umbay (‘18) placed second in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke after winning both in 2015.

Marissa Johnson (‘19) placed third in the 500 freestyle, sixth in the 200 freestyle. This year she plans to improve her placement by rigorously practicing two and a half hours a day, six days a week.

“I love to swim because it provides a challenging opportunity for me to improve myself alongside my teammates and friends. I love how I get to go to practice every day after school with some of my best friends, we have grown together over the years and we continue to push each other to be better every day,” Johnson said.

Gazelle Umbay (‘18) placed sixth in the 100 butterfly and hoped to drop time.

“I like swimming because I love racing and being competitive with other swimmers. I did really well at CIF. It was such a cool experience and I was really satisfied with my times. I’ve been swimming since I was 10. The most memorable part about swimming every year is swimming at league with all my teammates and cheering people on. My goals are to drop some time in my best events and to just enjoy my last 2 years of swimming for Sierra Canyon” Gazelle Umbay said.

Small team with big dreams

By:  Joshua Park, The Standard

They have already won League Champions and made it far into playoffs last year, and this year, the Beach Volleyball team is making a splash in their new season. Yet for this less-known team, the biggest problem isn’t the ability of its players, but the momentum it needs to gain to become a more established team.

“So far the team is still trying to get to know each other because we have just started practicing, but we are accomplishing more and more each practice and everyone is getting better,” Kayla Tait (‘19) said.

This year marks their third year as a team. Practices and league games are held at Metro Beach, a facility in Chatsworth, but playoff games are usually held in Santa Monica. The biggest difference between beach and regular volleyball is the elements- players have to play in the wind, sand, and sun. Also, only two players from each team are allowed on the court at each time.

“There’s tournaments at Hermosa, Huntington, all the way to Coronado. The court is a lot smaller, which makes it easier to cover more ground. It’s more fun, because on the beach you have the opportunity to [both pass and hit],” Brooke Golik (‘18) said.

For now, the players are hoping that this season will be just as successful-if not more- than the previous one.

“The team is planning on improving by just showing up to practice each day and being willing to learn and grow in the sport. In the future, I see us winning another league championship and making it farther in the playoffs than last year,” Tait said.

Their first game will be played on March 7 against Notre Dame and Sherman Oaks away.

Hustle, heart set them apart:  next playoff game today

By:  Brianna Oard, The Standard

After beating Alta Loma 1-0 in the third round of CIF Division Four Playoffs on Feb. 25, the Girls Soccer team advanced to the semifinals. Freshman Ryley Tanner (‘20) scored the lone goal of the match. Today, the team plays in the semifinals against Bishop Alemany at Alemany and the Trailblazers enter the game with an 18-3-2 record. Earlier this season, both schools played each other on Dec. 10, with the Trailblazers winning 4-1.

“Since we have already played Alemany and beat them, I think we just need to play our game and play how we usually do, defending hard and taking every chance we get to shoot and score,” Emma Hirsch (‘17) said.

Entering their final league game on Feb. 7, the team had to win the game against Campbell Hall to clinch their seventh consecutive league title. Sierra Canyon won 3-0 with goals from Brittany Sacks (‘17), Tatum Solis (‘20), and Taylor Mitchell (‘17). Bri Davis (‘18) had two assists and Brooke Golik (‘18) had the other assist. In addition, the game was senior night, where the team honored Sacks, Mitchell, Hirsch, Alina Aslanian, Angelica Cooney, Brooke Lodin, Emmi Eisner, and Natasha Anker, in a ceremony before the game. With the win over Campbell Hall, the team co-won the league title with Brentwood and Viewpoint due to all three teams finishing with a 9-2-1 record in league. No tie breakers were used in determining who won the league title, according to Head Coach Kristy Walker.

“It was amazing to win all together just knowing how much work we put in through the whole season, celebrating all of us as seniors together, just playing together as a team, and to know all of our hard work really paid off because we have been working for so long. [winning league on senior night] felt really good,” Lodin said.

Solis’s goals for the rest of postseason include playing to the best of her abilities to help the team advance to the CIF championship game. As the team is in the midst of playoffs, the team atmosphere during this crucial time period is serious and focused while also excited and a good environment, according to Walker. Ultimately, the goal is to win CIF and then the CIF Regional title.

“ [For practices during playoffs], we are continuing to work on our strengths and working on what we need to do with each opponent that we play because we find out a little about them,” Walker said.

The three co-champions of the Gold Coast League participated in a coin flip to determine the playoff seeds, where Brentwood came in first, Viewpoint came in second, and Sierra Canyon came in third. As a result, the team had to play a wild card playoff game on Valentine’s Day, which they won 6-0 over Eastside. Tanner (‘20) scored two goals while Solis, Davis, Mitchell and Bobbie Golik (‘19) each scored one goal. In the first round, the team beat Sierra Vista 2-0, with goals from Davis and Mitchell and West Covina 1-0 in the second round, with Solis scoring the golden goal in the last few minutes of the first overtime period.

“The game against West Covina went the way we wanted it to because we got the win in overtime. But, this team was a very tough opponent. Overall, I think our team played with fight against a tough opponent,” Solis said.