Prep Roundup: Nipomo’s Garcia reaches cross country finals

Nipomo High’s Andrew Garcia — fresh off his win at the PAC 7 meet — finished with the top time in his heat Saturday at the CIF-Southern Section cross country prelims at the 2.94-mile course at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.

Garcia won the Division IV boys second heat in 15 minutes, 51 seconds, highlighting a number of San Luis Obispo County runners who moved on to the sectional finals.

The top five teams and top six individuals per heat all advanced to the finals, which are also at Mt. SAC, on Saturday. Those who qualify there will move on to the state meet Nov. 28 in Fresno.

In the Division III boys race, San Luis Obispo was fourth (with 149 points) in the second head. The Tigers were led by Brayden Schmidt (17th place, 16:27), Stephen Kasper (20th, 16:34) and Seamus Land (22nd, 16:36).

“It’s definitely coming together at the right time,” San Luis Obispo coach Steve Boaz said of both the Tigers’ boys and girls teams. “They’re all healthy and racing together really well.”

Morro Bay’s boys (113 points, 84:34) finished fourth in Division IV’s second heat, led by individual runner-up James Shipe, who finished less than a second behind Garcia. The Pirates’ Bryan Carroll was ninth in 16:30.

In Division II girls competition, Arroyo Grande overcame some illnesses to take third with 101 points in the third heat, while San Luis Obispo took second in the Division III girls second heat (100 points). The Tigers girls were led by Kathleen Uyttewaal (sixth at 18:43), Micayla Rennick (16th, 19:18) and Leah Rife-Dupuy (22nd, 19:36).

Templeton’s girls squad was third in Division IV’s second heat, with 80 points.

Among teams that didn’t move on, Arroyo Grande was sixth in Division II’s boys third heat (130 points).

Arroyo Grande’s Hugo Gutierrez, however, was fourth individually in a personal-record 15:38.

“He just blew right from eighth to fourth in the last mile,” Eagles coach Sean Ricketts said. Cullen Cali was 11th for the Eagles, in 15:54.

Also, in the Division III boys’ third heat, Paso Robles was sixth (145 points) and Atascadero was 10th (287).

In the Division III girls’ first heat, Paso Robles was seventh (201), while Atascadero was ninth in the second heat with 188.

The Greyhounds’ Mimi Petersen was fifth individually in 18:41, followed by eighth-place teammate Meriel Bench (18:52).

Morro Bay’s girls were sixth in Division IV’s first heat, with 142 points. Lizzy Hoyt led the Pirates with a 20th-place time of 20:59.

BOYS WATER POLO

Palos Verdes 10, Arroyo Grande 2

The Eagles shot 2 of 20 and fell at home to the top seed in the Southern Section’s fourth division.

“We actually did a pretty good job defensively,” Arroyo Grande coach Steven Allen said. “I’m very proud of this group. We were undersized and competed extremely well.”

Eric Marsh and Adam Stevens each scored for Arroyo Grande (19-12). The eighth-seeded Eagles’ John Kullman made four saves, while teammate Ryan Morgan made one.

GIRLS TENNIS

San Luis Obispo 11, Long Beach Poly 7

Abigail Will led San Luis Obispo, sweeping her three singles matches 6-0, 6-1, 6-3. Tori Troesch also swept, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 for the Tigers in the Southern Section Division III second round.

Alex Coffman and Lili Voisinet led the Tigers in doubles, winning 6-0, 6-4.

San Luis Obispo will face Valencia in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. A coin toss will determine the location of the match.

Valencia 10, Paso Robles 8

Both Angelica Shubbie and Maria Petiy won two close singles matches apiece for the Bearcats, but Paso Robles claimed just three doubles matchups in the second round of Division III play.

The Bearcats, who finished 15-3, had one of their most successful seasons in program history.

FOOTBALL

CIF-Central Section Division V Playoffs

Mission Prep (7-3), which claimed the East Sierra League outright title Friday night with a 5-0 league record, was given a No. 8 seed when the section announced its playoff pairings.

The Royals, led by versatile senior quarterback Kevin Laird, will host ninth-seeded Bakersfield Christian (3-7) at 7 p.m. Friday. The winner of the matchup will then visit top seed Corcoran (8-2), which has a bye.