The CIF Southern Section released its All-CIF winter selections last week, recognizing athletes from La Cañada High School and Flintridge Prep.
Five Spartans were recognized for their stellar performances during the winter season. Sean Estes, one of La Cañada basketball’s top scorers and rebounders, earned a spot on the All-CIF Division 1A first team.
“Sean has had a great four-year career,” said longtime LCHS boys’ basketball coach Tom Hofman. “He’s a good versatile player and a great shooter. I think his greatest strength was his interior defense, which made a big difference the last two years. That’s the one area we’re going to have to fill in with him leaving. His defense was very good, as good as anybody I’ve coached in the interior. He was always there to help on defense and affect shots.”
Senior guard Justin Kouyoumdjian also earned All-CIF honors and was a second-team selection.
“Justin is another four-year player who was very good,” Hofman said. “This year, he improved a ton with the leadership role and did a great job for us defensively. I think he turned into an overall good basketball player, and I think he can continue that in college.”
According to Hofman, Estes and Kouyoumdjian are the winningest players in the history of La Cañada with 96 victories in their four years at the varsity level. The standout seniors, whom shared the Rio Hondo League Most Valuable Player award, helped the No. 4-seeded Spartans capture the Rio Hondo League championship and reach the CIF-SS Division 1A quarterfinals.
LCHS girls’ water polo standout Genevieve Fraipoint, who was also an All-Rio Hondo League first-teamer, was named to the All-CIF Division 2 first team after helping the Spartans go 21-9 this season and win a league crown.
The La Cañada varsity boys’ soccer team’s success in the postseason didn’t go unnoticed by CIF. Seniors Sam Adida and Jack Meeker earned a spot on the All-CIF Division 6 first team after helping the Spartans reach the semifinals. La Cañada also won its first Rio Hondo League championship since 2012.
After the Spartans’ season ended in the CIF State Division 5 playoffs, first-year head coach Bruno Costa said of his seniors, “They achieved a lot. For the first time, they won the Rio Hondo League. They hadn’t been able to win that, so they broke that curse. We also ended a [winless streak] against Monrovia. Those seniors played a key role. We had Sam [Adida] and Jack [Meeker] in the back and Luke Bonham in the middle. They not only brought quality to the team, but they also brought a bond and chemistry. They were a strong group with a strong connection.”
Flintridge Prep had four athletes recognized by the Southern Section. Girls’ basketball standout Renae Tamura made the Division 3A first team averaging 13 points, nearly seven rebounds and three assists per game. Tamura helped the Rebels win the Prep League title and make a solid postseason run. Flintridge Prep fell to La Salle in the quarterfinals.
Jake Althouse didn’t go unnoticed by CIF after leading Prep in scoring and rebounding. The senior made the CIF-SS Division 4AA first team after helping the Rebels finish 12-9 this season, including a 6-2 record in league play. Flintridge Prep downed Quartz Hill in the first round of the CIF-SS before falling eventual CIF finalist Pasadena Blair.
Two of Prep’s top soccer athletes also earned All-CIF honors. Helen Schaefer made the Division 3 first team after posting 31 goals and 30 assists in 30 games this season, and Julia Gonzalez was also selected to the first squad after scoring 31 goals and recording 22 assists in 31 matches. The soccer standouts helped Prep win the Prep League title and reach the CIF-SS Division 3 semifinals.
Local Athletes Earn All-CIF Honors
