Team of the year

Claremont’s girls tennis team cruised through their league matches, finishing 9-0 in the regular season. Once CIF play started, the Wolfpack were on a mission. They allowed only 4 sets to their opponents in each of the first 2 playoff games, then beat Troy 11-7 before bowing out in the semifinals to eventual D2 champions San Marino.

Comeback of the year

The boys water polo team made it to the first round of playoffs this year, and set sights on beating wildcard team Thousand Oaks. After a defensive battle produced a 5-5 tie in regulation, the Wolfpack absorbed wave after wave of attack. The Pack broke out on the counter, twice catching the Breakers overcommitted. Claremont scored 2 goals in overtime to win a huge playoff game in their home pool.

Breakthrough team of the year

The girls cross-country team endured a grueling schedule this season, emerging from the Sierra League with a joint league title after a close 2nd finish in the League Finals. Claremont finished 4th at CIF Prelims, and 8th at the finals. The Wolfpack should be solid for years to come.

Young athlete of the year

Sophomore Tyler Romero had a fantastic season on the girls varsity volleyball team, providing the offense as one of the Wolfpack’s premier outside hitters. The 5’5” Romero also doubled as a defensive specialist, helping the Pack transition from dig to spike on many occasions during points. Claremont will lose 6 players going into 2013, so Romero will be one of the foundations for a strong team next season.

Cross-country makes solid showing

Claremont’s cross-country girls finished a solid 8th place out of 16 teams at the CIF Division 2 Finals, with the top 5 Wolfpack runners all finishing the course in less than 18 minutes. The boys team also sent one runner to the finals. The Wolfpack girls will have 5 of their top 6 runners returning to the team next year, so look for certain improvement from them.

Webb’s boys cross-country team finished 13th out of the 16 Division 5 teams at the CIF Finals, missing out on advancing to the regional race. Although the Gauls had 5 runners post sub-17 minute races, they were a few team places below where they needed to be.

College scoreboard

MENS WATER POLO

WWPA Championships

LMU 13, P-P 11

Air Force 14, C-M-S 6

MENS WATER POLO

P-P 9, C-M-S 8 (OT)

7th Place Game: C-M-S 15, Whittier 8

5th Place Game: P-P 12, Santa Clara 11

FOOTBALL

Western State Bowl

Fullerton 31, Citrus 24

MENS BASKETBALL

San Jacinto 90, Citrus 81

Citrus 92, Grossmont 62

Citrus 100, Cypress 72

P-P 81, Westmont 79

P-P 87, La Sierra 64

SD Christian 89, C-M-S 81

Westmont 67, C-M-S 61

WOMENS BASKETBALL

C-M-S 66, La Sierra 60

Whitman 64, C-M-S 50

SWIMMING & DIVING

WOMEN:

C-M-S 184, Puget Sound 124

P-P 166, Cal Baptist 96

MEN:

C-M-S 203, Puget Sound 99

Cal Baptist 205, P-P 56

CROSS COUNTRY

NCAA Division III Championships

WOMEN: C-M-S 3rd out of 29

MEN: C-M-S 11th, P-P 25th out of 32

—Chris Oakley

sports@claremont-courier.co