68th Mt. SAC Invitational -- 10 Storylines to Follow

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Record watch

Brea-Olinda senior Austin Tamagno made history last season by setting the Mt. SAC all-time boys record, covering the 2.93-mile course in 14:23.2 in a spectacular individual sweepstakes showdown with Arcadia’s Phillip Rocha (14:31.7), showcasing a pair of state champions. Tamagno will race Friday in the Division 3 sweepstakes race, with Rocha competing Saturday in the Division 1-2 team sweepstakes, both looking to take aim at another memorable moment at one of the nation’s most prestigious meets.

Take two

The anticipated matchup involving Davis Senior’s Fiona O’Keeffe and Great Oak’s Destiny Collins at the Clovis Invitational never materialized, with Collins securing the victory over Central Valley Christian’s Gabby Satterlee after O’Keeffe decided to rest Oct. 10 after a series of college recruiting trips. Neither individual has raced since then, setting the stage for the first of three potential showdowns for two of the nation’s elite seniors, including the Division 1 state final Nov. 28 at Woodward Park. O’Keeffe became the No. 4 female performer at Mt. SAC last year with her 16:28.5. Collins has yet to break 17 minutes in her career on the 2.93-mile course, but that should change Saturday in the Division 1-2 team sweepstakes race.

Small schools, giant showdown

Perhaps the best boys individual matchup Friday is in the Division 5 sweepstakes, with Flintridge Prep senior Jack Van Scoter and St. Joseph Notre Dame junior Cooper Teare meeting for the first time this season in a clash of the division’s top two returning individuals from last year’s state final. Teare had explored the possibility of racing Saturday in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a regular-season showdown against Van Scoter, who prevailed by a 15:20.7 to 15:24.6 margin in their Mt. SAC sweepstakes battle last year.

Individual achievement

While many of the state’s strongest programs are entered in the Division 1-2 boys and girls team sweepstakes Saturday, the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes races offer plenty of intrigue and talent as well. In the boys field, Armijo junior Luis Grijalva, Saugus senior Ryan Tate, Venice senior Paul Luevano, Arroyo Grande junior Christian Ricketts, Ayala junior Steven Khan, El Toro senior Michael Biedebach and Santa Ana junior Jorge Suarez are all scheduled to race. In the girls competition, Tesoro senior Amanda Gehrich, Clovis senior Mikayla Sodersten, Citrus Valley junior Claire Graves, Monte Vista senior Brooke Starn, Burroughs sophomore Emily Virtue, Burbank senior Candela Fernandez, Canyon Crest Academy senior Kelly Bernd, Mira Costa junior Melia Chittenden, Huntington Beach senior Cassie Durgy, La Mirada senior Samantha Huerta, Poway junior Alex Calegari, Summit senior Jennifer Sandoval, Rancho Bernardo senior Nia Akins and Walnut freshman Chloe Arriaga are all part of a deep field.

Encore performance

Great Oak became the first program since Dana Hills in 2008 to capture both Division 1 boys and girls sweepstakes titles last season. Both Wolfpack teams are undefeated against California opponents this year, with the only setback for the boys against Utah state 4A champion Timpanogos. Great Oak has swept sweepstakes championships at Woodbridge and Clovis this season, but the boys will be tested by Dana Hills, with the girls facing Saugus for the first time in a showdown of reigning state Division 1 and 2 champions. El Toro, Walnut, Madera, Peninsula and Thousand Oaks have also swept Division 1 sweepstakes titles in both genders in the same season, but Great Oak could be the first program to do so in consecutive years.

A new era

Every year, at least one freshman enjoys a memorable high school debut at Mt. SAC. Last season, it was Sonoma Academy’s Rylee Bowen, who finish fourth in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes in 17:44.1 on her way to winning the Division 5 state title. This year, it could be McFarland’s DeDe Salcedo in the Division 4 girls sweepstakes Friday or Walnut’s Chloe Arriaga in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes Saturday. Palisades’ Brent Smith, Stockdale’s Marcus Mota and Madera South’s Victor Ochoa are freshmen who have the potential to excel in boys races.

Seventh heaven

Great Oak is looking to add to its record with a seventh consecutive Division 1 girls sweepstakes title Saturday when it races in the Division 1-2 team sweepstakes competition. Only Corona del Mar has more Mt. SAC girls sweepstakes championships with eight overall, but they are spread from 1997-2011 and came in Division 3 and Division 4. Great Oak could also challenge its team time course record of 87:58 from the 2013 Southern Section Division 1 final.

A unique state of affairs

Defending state champions Central Valley Christian and Flintridge Prep will square off in the Division 5 girls sweepstakes Friday in a rematch of their showdown at last year’s meet. Central Valley Christian prevailed 55-65 to win the Division 5 sweepstakes last season, but was moved to Division 4 by Central Section officials, before winning the school’s first state title in any sport. Flintridge Prep also captured its first Division 5 state championship last year and is now seeking its first Mt. SAC sweepstakes victory since 2005.

Under the radar

Several of the state’s best teams have decided to run in varsity races instead of competing in the spotlight of sweepstakes races. Bishop Amat, a leading contender to win both Division 4 state titles, is resting several elite athletes Friday and competing in earlier races instead of squaring off with Mayfield in the girls sweepstakes and Foothill Tech in the boys sweepstakes. Ventura, the defending Division 2 boys state champion, won’t be competing at full strength in a Division 1 race Saturday. Palos Verdes, the reigning Division 3 girls state champion, is entered in the sweepstakes Friday, but might not field a full varsity lineup if the Sea Kings do decide to compete.

JV looks to pull rank again

Since the addition of the JV national championships to the Mt. SAC schedule in 2007, Great Oak and Saugus are the only two schools to win the Division 1-2 girls race, which serves as an opening act for the marquee team and individual sweepstakes races. Arcadia, Dana Hills and Great Oak – the only programs to win multiple Division 1-2 boys JV national championships – are all entered in Saturday’s race.