OC Varsity » Irvine

Fryer: Henigan a great coach and teacher of the game

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:11:28 +0000

I might move to Irvine so I can run for city council or the school board there. My goal would be to get into office to introduce a resolution, bill, whatever it takes to get the football stadium on the Irvine High campus called "Terry Henigan Stadium. "

Henigan announced that he will resign after the 2009 season, his 29th as head coach at Irvine and his 33rd overall in Orange County. This is a great coach.

Henigan's dedication and service to the school has been remarkable. When Northwood High was built, that siphoned some of the talent pool that Irvine athletics had enjoyed for so long.

Henigan had been accustomed to winning, and knew that CIF championship contention likely could be a thing of the past. But instead of bailing out, Henigan embraced the challenge and continued his commitment to the school, its football progam and its student-athletes.

For us in the media, Henigan has always been an intersting guy for the postgame interview. Short answers, usually deflecting all credit to his assistant coaches or the players, and a few quick words of praise for the opponent.

Henigan always came across to me as super-smart on the Xs and Os, so I always wanted to ask him a really challenging football question. That was not easy.

Here is a very good Orange County football trivia question:

Q. Who is the only county football coach to win three consecutive outright CIF champioships?

A. Terry Henigan, Irvine, 1991-93 (John Barnes coached Los Alamitos to CIF championships 1991-93, too, but the '92 title was shared with Esperanza the 14-14 tie in the Division II final).

Henigan takes a 212-137 record into this season. His victory total is No. 6 in county history. There are coaches with fewer than half that many victories with stadiums named for them. And nobody on that career victories list can surpass Henigan's dedication.

Don't make me move to Irvine.

Boys volleyball: Athlete of the Week

Chris Tobolski, OCVarsity.com — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:24:32 +0000

Irvine's Mark Metrakos

Mark Metrakos

Irvine High

The Vasqueros senior captain led the squad to two, three-game victories over Pacific Coast League foe University last week. He had a team-high kills in both matches, including 8 on Tuesday, and only one hitting error on Thursday.
It was Irvine’s (2-2) first two victories of league play and it is currently in third place.

More from the boys volleyball blog:

Baseball: Pacific Coast League results

STEVE FRYER, ocvarsity.com — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:18:46 +0000

Here are some of today's results from the Pacific Coast League:

Corona del Mar 13, Laguna Hills 1: Matt Morris pitched a one-hitter through five innings for the host Sea Kings (4-5, 2-1), who had 13 hits.

Beckman's Reyn Araki / MIGUEL VASCONCELLOS, THE REGISTER

Beckman 6, Irvine 2: Will Barring had three hits with two RBIs and pitcher Ryan Harris improved to 3-0 for the visiting Patriots (8-2, 3-0).

Football recruiting: Abele, Mascarenas sign

DAN ALBANO, ocvarsity.com — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:01:48 +0000

Irvine All-County lineman Nik Abele and Mission Viejo All-County defensive back Alex Mascarenas have signed with UCLA, accoridng to Bruin Report Online.

Abele and A-Mas might not be the biggest names in the Bruins' recruiting class but I think both will be key contributing players in the future.

Related recruiting links:

Baseball legend inspires youth swimmers

DAN ALBANO, ocvarsity.com — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:14:15 +0000

Hall of Fame baseball manager Tommy Lasorda of the Dodgers made a trip to Irvine earlier this week to talk to members of the Irvine Novaquatics swim club before the upcoming Junior Olympics.

This photo, courtesy of Larry Goren of the Dodgers, shows Lasorda at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, adjacent to Irvine High.

What a cool deal for the swimmers. Lasorda probably got them plenty fired up to swim fast.

Hope no one asked Tommy about Dave Kingman.

Final scores from Saturday's football games

ocvarsity — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:04:00 +0000

Saturday's football games:

Southern Division
Irvine 14, Westminster 7

Southwest Division
Trabuco Hills 35, Valencia 21

Scores from outside O.C.

Northeast Division
Riverside Christian 27, Flintridge Prep 21

Mid-Valley Division
Duarte 38, L.A. Baptist 30

8-Man Division I
Faith Baptist 56, La Verne Lutheran 6

8-Man Division II
Big Pine 72, Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian 33
North County 48, Camarillo Cornerstone Christian 8

Albano's polo predictions: Irvine-Foothill

DAN ALBANO, ocvarsity.com — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:32:54 +0000

Wednesday

Division I first round

Irvine (12-12) vs. Foothill (20-7) at Beckman, 5 p.m.

Prediction: The Vaqueros have some young talent and appear headed in the right direction but they will be over-matched by the top-seeded Knights.

Girls tennis: Beckman's Heneghan repeats as singles champ

Chris Tobolski, OCVarsity.com — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:28:13 +0000

Beckman's top singles player junior Megan Heneghan defended her Pacific Coast League singles championship with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Corona del Mar's junior Melissa Matsuoka on Thursday afternoon at Beckman High.

In the doubles final, Corona del Mar's Kelli Feeley and Karen Ishii beat teammates Danielle Kaiden and Lindsay Zotovich 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.

"I'm feeling pretty good," Heneghan said. "Words can't desribe it. I lost to Melissa my freshman year. This is the one I really wanted.

"I was trying to stay in the point. She is very consistent. It's what I wanted to do. I I was excited and nervous. I play her in tournaments a lot. We face each other so often it's always a good match."

Loara's Cornea survives fight for Empire singles title

Girls Tennis: Dana Hills sweep

Dana Hills doubles champs start title defense

Irvine's Abele sets first recruiting trip

DAN ALBANO, ocvarsity.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:17:33 +0000

One of the best football games Thursday night - Laguna Hills at Irvine - will feature one of the county's hottest recruits in Irvine lineman Nik Abele (6-6, 255), shown as #77 at the left making a sack. Recruiters are giving the two-way lineman a lot of attention.

Abele is taking advantage of the Vaqueros' open weekend to make his first official recruiting trip. His destination this weekend will be Colorado, which plays host to Iowa State.

Interestingly, Abele also has been hearing from UCLA but he said the Bruins have not offered.

He has been offered in recent weeks by Pac-10 members Arizona State and Oregon State. Abele said both schools are recruiting him as an offensive lineman.

Abele's other offers include Utah, Boise State and San Diego State.

But his first order of the business is taking on the No. 1-ranked team in the Southern Division. Abele plays defensive end and right tackle for the Vaqueros. The Hawks have battled some injuries along their offensive line but they showed me last week against Beckman that they can still play a physical style of football.

Abele said he will head to Boulder with an open mind. "I really don't have a top (school)," he said.

Colorado already has had great success with another county football standout. Los Al quarterback Clark Evans has committed to the Buffs.

Ventura's boys water polo captures Vellekamp No. 2 (corrected)

DAN ALBANO, ocvarsity.com — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:03:23 +0000

This headline now correctly reads: Vellekamp No. 2 (not No. 1, which was a few weeks ago)

For those following Division I boys water polo this fall, Ventura has been mentioned as a team to watch for the playoffs and the Cougars proved it tonight at Northwood by claiming the Hank Vellekamp No. 2 Tournament with an 11-10 victory against Loyola in what is being considered the tournament's championship match.

Final standings from the top-four teams from pool play:

1. Ventura, 5-0

2. Loyola 4-1

2. Carlsbad 4-1 (didn't play Loyola)

4. Servite 3-2