This season, the Peninsula Track and Field team emerged from the shadows and began a new era in the Bay League. Despite having an incredibly young group, we were blessed with impressive performances across the board. At Bay League Finals, our top young male athlete, Aiden Lieb (Fr), won all three of his individual events--the 110HH, the triple jump, and the long jump. With his marks in the frosh/soph events, he would have won or placed on the varsity podium as well. Our standout young female athlete, Josie Fleming (So), won the high jump and placed third in the 100HH.
 
Our outstanding upperclassmen extended their excellent campaigns with an unprecedented six athletes advancing from Bay League to CIF SS Prelims. Of the group, Yinka Braimah (Jr), Jacqueline Ahrens (Sr), and Devon Scott-Ford (Sr) all advanced to the CIF SS Masters Meet. From there, Braimah and Ahrens made it to CIF State Championship Finals where Jaqueline Ahrens placed seventh overall in the pole vault with a jump of 12'6". To put it in historical perspective, all three of the Masters-bound athletes also set Peninsula school records in their respective events.


By all measures the Peninsula Baseball team had a very successful 2017 season.  The Panthers notched big non-league wins vs. Narbonne, South, LB Wilson, and Torrance.  They also went 3-1 in the Santa Ana Elks Easter Classic.  However, it was league play where the Panthers really stepped up their game.  With a league title within their grasp, the Panthers played two of their best games of the season against their arch rival Palos Verdes.  In the first game Matt Meskin threw a complete game shutout with great defense from Michael Fuhrman, AJ Hollis, Nick Frasso, and Jordan Greenway.  The 3-0 victory meant that the Panthers would control their own destiny in the final game.  In that final game great pitching and defense again led the Panthers to victory.  With a packed crowd on hand senior Nick Frasso threw a no-hitter and shut Palos Verdes out 3-0.  Michael Furman and AJ Hollis again provided excellent defense and the Panthers timely hitting led to another 3-0 victory.  The Panthers celebrated with a dog pile on the PV mound and the first Bay League title in 13 years!
 
The Peninsula players then turned their attention to the CIF Playoffs and embarked on historic run to the quarterfinals with victories over Warren and Crean Lutheran.  With over 10 seniors on the squad, their leadership was instrumental to the successful playoff run.  Although the Panthers lost the quarterfinal game at Righetti 7-4, it could not take away all they had accomplished.  The 2017 Panthers set a school record with a 23-7 record, were Co-champs of the Bay League, and also went as far as any Panther team has ever gone in the CIF Playoffs!
 
  

 
   
The boys tennis team ended their second straight historic season with many firsts under Coach Hoeger's 15 year tenure. Although they have won The Bay League three years in a row, this is the first year they went undefeated. On top of that, they went undefeated during the regular season, 19-0, and maintained the #1 ranking throughout the year in D1. They lost in the CIF finals and the State semi-finals, but it was quite a run.
 
In Individuals, Connor Hance beat his teammate Sahm Irvine in the finals of Bay League and both players advanced to CIF Individuals (also a first). Louis DeWitt-Hoeger and his partner William Mori also won the Bay League doubles.
 
Last Friday, Irvine and Hance both reached the quarter-finals of CIF Individuals, surviving from a draw of 256 players. While Irvine lost, Hance won his quarter-final match to advance to the final day. In doubles, DeWitt-Hoeger/Mori upset the number two seeded Redlands team 7-6, 7-6 to  also reach the final day. They executed a remarkable comeback in the second set when they were down 5-0. 
 
 It is highly unusual for one boys high school team to place 3 events so deep into the tourney. (Last year the tennis girls did it.) The 
doubles duo's golden streak finally came to an end in the semi-finals 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 but Hance won again to get to the finals, where he lost a tough 3 and 1/2 hour match to Woodbridge's Stephan Dostanic, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. 
 
Earlier in the week, at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, Hance was named the National High School Tennis Player of the Year out of a pool of 40 from around the country. In 2016, Ena Shibahara won this prestigious event for the Peninsula girls. Needless to say, Hance will be joining Shibahara at UCLA next year. Shibahara, incidentally, won the National NCAA Tennis Rookie of the Year last month. 
 
  
    
  
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR 
PANTHER ATHLETES! 
Your commitment in the classroom and on the field is inspiring and admirable.  
Well done Peninsula! #PantherPride