Samohi Football Revival Highlights Year in Sports

By Mitch Chortkoff

There were many grand accomplishemts in Santa Monica sports this year but the highlight was Samohi's football revival.

Following consecutive 2-8 seasons a new coaching staff headed by Norm Lacy came in and produced a 9-3 season. The Vikings won a playoff game for the first time since 1988 before losing to Paso Robles.

The once-proud program is back. Many of the star players were juniors and assistant coach Tebb Kusserow, who headed the program for 18 years before retiring nine years ago, has made a commitment to return too.

Football is the biggest sport and once again a centerpiece of the Samohi athletic department.

Ranking high too were the accomplishments of the Crossroads boys basketball team. Coach Daryl Roper had a powerhouse that went to the CIF Finals in its division. The long-awaited construction of a campus gymnasium is complete and another powerful Roadrunner team will be playing home games at 18th and Olympic Blvd. starting in January.

Previously, Crossroads teams played all over. Some home games were at West Los Angeles College but you never knew where the team was playing. That won't be the case anymore.

After playing so well last season Crossroads is back with 6-foot-10 Isaiah Fox, who has signed to play college basketball at Arizona.

For me, other highlights included watching the Samohi baseball team and girls softball team led by pitchers Jonas Swyer and Caylin Hornish. He pitched two no-hitters as a junior and led the Vikings in his senior year before heading to the University of Connecticut. She pitched a no-hitter and regularly struck out more than 10 batters.

The Samohi girls basketball team produced a bright new star in guard Medina Britt, who started as a freshman. Now in her sophomore year she's had recent games of 25 and 29 points.

St. Monica provided highlights in various sports. The girls basketball team coached by Michelle Rice had a 25-5 record and went to the semifinals of the CIF playoffs.

Danielle Adefeso, a 6-foot-4 center, was an example in the improvement of girls in this sport. When I watched it five years ago the players weren't as big or fast. She's very good and will lead the Mariners this season before going to Arizona.

Scott McDowell's boys basketball team also reached the CIF playoffs and it was a pleasure to watch Shawn Cole develop. He's about 6-6 and has a polished inside game.