Sports Update

Adam Hernandez

Staff Writer

The fall season is in full swing fellow Spartans, and we have an update on all our fall sports. Football and Water Polo have many team and excellent coaching changes. Cross Country and Ice Hockey have high expectations for this season. Like usual, Damien High School athletics seeks to rise above to meet challenges head-on and continue their athletic excellence.

Football

Varsity linebacker and team captain Kyler Magsino said, “With our new program and amazing coaching staff we have a new sense of mental preparation and the strength in what we do. I have faith in our brothers that we will succeed in what our coaches are telling us to do.”

Football had a rough start this year beginning with a 1-2 record. With our senior quarterback, Jordan Barton, injured and having a lackluster run defense, it has been shaky start to the season.

Things began looking up when Damien won their first game against Claremont two weeks ago. The freshman quarterback, Dylan Guiteirez has been performing well in his current situation. We must give him some time to acclimate as being a freshman quarterback has immense pressure. The football team is going to have to fight to get out of this 1-2 hole.

The matchup against St. Francis last Friday resulted in a heartbreaking loss in overtime for the Spartans by score of 28-21. There were three goal-line fumbles, two of which were lost. A major offensive highlight was made by Gutierrez when he scampered 70-yards across the field before being taken down around the 30-yard line. It was a hard-fought game until the very end with Gutierrrez marching us all the way down to the goal-line where the option pitch was fumbled and recovered by St. Francis to seal the game.

First year head coach, Matt Bechtel, has not given up yet. The team is still rallying behind their fellow Spartan. Magsino said, "Coach Bechtel brings back the tradition of Damien football and that is the kind of change we need. Now it is up to us as a team to fulfill what he asks us to do."

Tonight, the Spartans travel to Covina to take on the Charter Oak Chargers in an epic rivalry game. In their last four clashes, the Chargers have come away with three victories. Last year was the year the Spartans finally broke the streak and this year, they hope to capitalize on their win.

Cross Country

Team captain and varsity long-distance runner Josh Glick said, “Our team is full of young talent that is hungry for a league and CIF title. Our ultimate goal is to make state and perform well their but it's the little battles that we are focused on overcoming first. We have an exciting team this year and hope to capitalize on it and take back league.”

Cross country is looking great this season with good placements at their first race at the Pat Hadley Invitational in Placentia. With a good team and a solid start, cross country is looking to have another great season.

Water polo

Adam Dow, varsity water polo captain and right side attacker, says, “ I mean our record is 1-1. We are going to win league easily. That’s not a goal, it’s an expectation. Our goal is to win CIF. We take the statement from the alma mater ‘with our shield or on it’ very seriously. It is our team motto.”

The water polo team is looking great as always. Although they must prepare for CIF. They have high expectations from the coaches and school. Their next game is at home against the 3-2 Martin Luther King High on Sept. 17. This is Damien’s first game, in recent history, against them in the regular season.

Ice Hockey

Ian Reed stated “It is definitely going to be a challenging season because we lost a lot of good people last year. But I believe as a team we will keep improving and end up having a good season.”

Hockey is going to have a good start this year. With multiple seniors graduating, the team had a lot of trouble putting the team back together. Still, the team is looking good, and will be solid through the season. They have not had any games yet however, their first matchup will be an away game against Capistrano on Sept. 20.

Reed, said, “It is definitely going to be a challenging season because we lost a lot of good people last year. But I believe as a team we will keep improving and end up having a good season.”