The @jserra.tfxc Girls Cross Country team battled the top distance running teams in the nation and placed third overall in the Girls Sweepstakes race at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic on Saturday at Great Park in Irvine.

Sophomore Brooklyn Tennant was the catalyst for the Lions’ collective effort, as she crossed the finish line in 11th place overall in a time of 16:19.1.

Fellow sophomore Maya Pawlowicz stepped across the finish line in 15th place in 16:26.1.

Senior Hutton Nelligan (17:07.4), junior Talia Whitten (17:20.6), and senior Hayden Kroger (17:35.5) rounded out the Lions’ scoring quintet.

Sophomores Colbi Lott (17:52.7) and Sierra Harden (18:10.7) also crossed the finish line for the Lions.

JSerra, which had its’ five runners score in the top 90 overall, totaled 219 points and finished as the top preforming team from California.

The Lions competed in the invitational spotlight race short-handed, as senior Reese Holley and junior Kaia Streadbeck (two of the team’s top projected scorers) were unable to compete due to illness.

Senior Zac O’Leary was a top 10 finisher in the Boys Rated Race, as he strode across the finish line in ninth place with a clocking of 14:26.5. ...

The @jserra_boys_water_polo team took home two victories on Saturday and placed fifth overall at the South Coast Tournament at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach.

JSerra is now 7-1 overall on the season.

The Lions began the day with a 14-7 triumph over the Harvard-Westlake Wolverines.

JSerra seized control of the game with a 5-1 scoring advantage in the opening period.

Junior Christian Yonker was the Lions’ spark plug offensively, finding the back of the cage a team-high four times.

Fellow junior Ronan Keane also added a hat trick, scoring three goals and dishing out a team-best three assists in the game.
Sophomores Christopher Koo and Sasha Bjelica each scored a pair of goals.

Junior Cal Ulicny, along with seniors Wyatt Vasile and Joe Wraith each scored a goal apiece for the Lions.

Junior goalie Stefan Vukojevic recorded six saves.

The Lions next tangled with Trinity League rival Santa Margarita to determine fifth place.

JSerra trailed 7-5 in the third period, but two consecutive goals by Yonker tied the game at 7-7, with Wraith putting the Lions ahead for good with a 6-on-5 tally.

Bjelica pushed JSerra’s advantage to 9-7 with a five-meter score before Santa Margarita narrowed the deficit to one-goal heading into the fourth period.

The Lions outscored the Eagles 4-1 in the final period to seal the victory.

Yonker and fellow junior Lars Knepper each scored a team-high three goals, with Bjelica and junior Andrew Schneider each adding two goals.

Keane and senior Casey Cardenas also scored individual goals.

Bjelica recorded a team-leading three assists.

Vukojevic added six saves for the second straight game. ...

The @jserra.girlstennis team showcased its’ individual and collective talents in championship fashion on Saturday, as the Lions claimed the overall team title at the Lightning Invitational at Sage Hill School in Newport Coast.

The Lions, who faced off against competitors from host Sage Hill, Orange Lutheran, and Bishop Gorman High School of Nevada in singles and doubles battles, were spurred to the team crown by sweeping the first three places in the singles bracket.

Junior Isabella Geffre opened her court action with victories of 8-3 and 8-5 before meeting sophomore teammate Paisley Crutchfield (who won her two opening matches by scores of 8-6 and 8-3) in the semifinals.

Geffre secured her spot in the championship match with an 8-2 win.
Geffre then locked horns with sophomore teammate Emilija Mateljan, who started the day with three consecutive 8-0 shutout victories, in an all-Lions title match for the singles crown.

Geffre produced an 8-2 win over Mateljan for the top singles honor.

Crutchfield won her final match of the competition by a score of 8-2 to earn third place.

JSerra also claimed two of the top three places in the doubles bracket.

Senior Naomi Clarke and junior Milana Leffler turned in wins of 8-3, 8-0, and 8-2 to advance to the title match where they finished runner-up to Bishop Gorman’s top team.

Junior Brookelyn Garcia and freshman Nina Yacko posted three shutout 8-0 wins on the day and secured third place in the bracket. ...