News and Announcements
Audrey Serrata Named La Mirada "Athlete of the Year"
Audrey Serrata, class of 2003, was named co-recipient of the La Mirada High School "Athlete of the Year" Award. The award was presented to Serrata by Kim Brooks, athletic director, at the annual Senior Tea. Audrey earned 12 varsity letters while at La Mirada High School. Her accomplishments include:
Freshman Year:
Cross Country
Suburban League All-League (8thPlace)
2nd place all-time freshman girls (20:44)
"Rookie of the Year"
Soccer
Varsity Letter
Track & Field
2nd place all-time freshman in 1600 (5:43)
7th place all-time 3200 (12:36.6)
Advanced to CIF-SS Prelims in 1600 & 3200
Sophomore Year:
Cross Country
Suburban League All League (7thPlace)
2nd place all-time sophomore girls (20:29)
Scholastic All-CIF Winner
Soccer
"Come-back player of the year"
Track & Field
League Champ: 1600
Coach’s Award
Junior Year:
Cross Country
3rd place all time junior girl (20:09)
Scholastic All-CIF Winner
Soccer
"Defensive Player of the Year"
All League Selection
Track & Field
Varsity Letter
Senior Year:
Cross Country
Suburban League All-League (3rd Place)
2nd Place all time girls record (19:43)
"Most Valuable Runner"
Senior Record – Mt. SAC
Soccer
All League selection
All CIF-SS Division III 2nd team
"Defensive Player of the Year"
Track & Field
Senior Record 1600 – 3rd place overall (5:36.23)
3rd place 800m (2:30.50)
Advanced to CIF-SS prelims in 800 & 1600
"Most Inspirational Runner"
To summarize, Audrey earned 12 varsity letters, received Cross Country "All League" honors on three occasions, was League Champion two times in Track and Field, received "All League" honors and "All CIF" honors in soccer and advanced to the CIF championship level 11 times. Audrey will attend Cal State Fullerton where she will compete for the college's cross country team. The entire La Mirada High School Cross Country team extends a hearty CONGRATULATIONS to Audrey Serrata!
CIF Prelims
CIF-SS Division II Preliminaries
Matadores 5th and 10th on a Disappointing Day for the Team
Both teams—boys and girls—completed numerous tough hill and speed workouts in preparation for this day. Their training schedule was designed for them to peak for the big race and nothing before this day indicated it wouldn’t happen. Each runner was given a “game plan” that, if properly executed, would help lead their teams to a successful finish. They were ready, mentally and physically. When the gun went off to signal the start of races #23 and #26, everything went according to plan . . . for the first 75 meters. By the time the main pack entered the first loop of mile 1 at the famed Mt. SAC course, La Mirada’s boys and girls had already strayed from the game plan.
In the boy’s race, senior Dag Tesfaye pulled away with the 2nd pack and never looked back. His goal for the day was to race in the top 20. He finished #21 overall. Freshman Ryan Holash was asked to break 18 minutes and stay close to La Mirada’s 4th runner. Instead, Holash, who finished with a time of 17:53, ended up as the #2 La Mirada runner for the day. Ben Ramirez, running in his last race for the Matadores, finished just behind Holash at 18 minutes—the 3rd Matadore runner. The sophomore crew that had so capably carried the team this season, was silenced. Nathaniel Moore, suffering the effects of a week-long illness, dropped to the ground and was forced to pull out of the race at the switchbacks. Jared Bird, who broke away from the Matadore pack in hopes of staying with Dag, turned an ankle going up Reservoir Hill and was frustrated in his quest for the #2 La Mirada spot. Jake Cooley struggled from the start to maintain the pace and Freddy Ramirez just didn’t have his best day. In retrospect, the boys rode an emotional wave that carried them to their finest Suburban League performance in many years and peaked for league finals. It was left to Holash, who truly proved his worth to the team, and Tesfaye, who ran 16:54, 16:56 and 16:54 in his three races at Mt. SAC this year, to shine as La Mirada’s premier performers in the CIF-SS championship race.
The girls were confident. They had been to this level many times before and knew what they had to do to reach the next level. CIF-SS Finals, a goal that had escaped the team for 16 consecutive years, was within reach. Or so they thought. Senior Audrey Serrata was instructed to go with the 2nd pack and finish between 20:10 and 20:20. She completed the course in a La Mirada school record 20:20. Serrata’s position for the entire race was between 15th and 19th place. Junior Amanda Stephens, in only her third race since returning from a chronic illness, also followed the aforementioned game plan, and ran it to perfection. Stephens was asked to start the race as the 5th La Mirada runner and “round-up” the girls in front of her. At the end of the first mile, while Freshman phenom Destinie Martin was in 38th place—where she was to finish—Amanda was 14 spots back in 52nd place, behind Jennifer Minero, Ana Poblet and Jackie Martinez. Coming off the tough switchbacks and onto the runway, Serrata led the girls at 10:43—exactly according to plan. Behind her was to have been Poblet, Martin and senior Vanessa Thomas, all under 11 minutes. Instead, it was Stephens who led the next group—at 11:14! Up poop-out and around Reservoir Hill, Stephens, Minero and Martin exchanged the lead. While Serrata crested the rugged hill at 16:50, the next 3 struggled up in 18 minutes, well off pace. Stephens broke away and finished 10 seconds ahead in the #33 spot—La Mirada’s #2 runner. Minero, Martin, and Poblet ended the race as the #37, #38 and #45 runner respectively. Martinez, battled the hills to finish at 22:14. Thomas, who completed the course in 20:35 last season, braved a knee injury and cruised to a 22:40. Minero, who earned a PR, Serrata and Stephens ran their best races of the season. It was not enough, however, as the Lady Mats found themseleves, once again, in 5th place, one spot away from a CIF-SS Finals berth. In Audrey’s three races at Mt. SAC this Season, she raced to course PR’s of 20:22, 20:27 and 20:20, proving she belongs among La Mirada’s elite runners.
For the young Matadore team, it was a disheartening way to end the season. However, they are confident that they learned many valuable lessons over the course of the long season and are determined to be back next year and successfully take the steps needed to get to the CIF-SS Finals!
2002 Awards Banquet & Season Summary
2002 Cross Country Team Achievements :Head Coach: Ralph Casas Captains: Varsity Boys: Overall Record: 14 - 2
Frosh-Soph Boys:
Sophomore Boys :
J.V. Boys :
Varsity Girls: Suburban League Champions (Back-to-Back)
J.V. Girls: Suburban League Champions — 15 points (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)League Champion: Kendal Van Wuyckhuyse League Runner-up: Megan Burbidge League 3rd Place: Sonia Linares
2002 Season Award Winners Excellence Awards
Rookie of the Year The stand outs—and the runners who received votes—are Tara Sanchez, Briana Jaramillo, Kelly Wilson and Destinie Martin on the girl’s team and Paul Garcia, Kevin Osborn, & Ryan Holash on the boy’s team. The winners are . . . Boys: Ryan Holash Most Improved They include for the girls: Jennifer Minero, Megan Burbidge, Kendal Van Wuyckhuyse, Ana Poblet and Marlene Guerrero And for the boys: Daniel Lee, Jim Palmer, Freddy Ramirez and Mario Perez The winners are: Boys: Jim Palmer Most Inspirational The athletes who received votes are: Megan Burbidge, Amanda Stephens, Jennifer Minero, Ana Poblet and Sonia Linares on the girl’s team, and Jared Bird, Jim Palmer, Freddy Ramirez and Dag Tesfaye on the boy’s team. The winners are . . . . Boys: Dag Tesfaye Most Valuable Runner The finalists on the girls team are: Destinie Martin, Ana Poblet, Amanda Stephens, Audrey Serrata & Vanessa Thomas Boys finalists include: Jared Bird, Ryan Holash, Dag Tesfaye, Daniel Lee & Nathaniel Moore Boys: Dag Tesfaye & Nathaniel Moore Coaches Awards The athletes who received this years award participated in all fund raisers, attended and completed 99% of all the workouts and practices, and demonstrated a passion and commitment for the sport that far exceeded expectations. These are the types of athletes that make the La Mirada H.S. cross country team competitive at all levels. We are honored to confer this years awards on . . . . Boys: Jared Bird
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Annual Awards Banquet
Annual Awards Banquet
Click Here for a Summary of all Award Winners
Most Valuable Runners Dag Tesfaye, Audrey Serrata, Nathaniel Moore |
2002: CIF-SS Division II Prelims
21 | Dag Tesfaye | 16:54 |
56 | Ryan Holash | 17:55 |
59 | Ben Ramirez | 18:00 |
69 | Jared Bird | 18:23 |
80 | Jake Cooley | 18:50 |
90 | Freddy Ramirez | 19:24 |
Nathaniel Moore | DNF | |
Team Time: |
1:30:00 | |
275 |
Points 10th Place Team |
17 |
Audrey Serrata |
20:20 |
33 | Amanda Stephens | 21:17 |
37 | Jennifer Minero | 21:26 |
38 | Destinie Martin | 21:27 |
45 | Ana Poblet | 21:51 |
50 | Jackie Martinez | 22:14 |
57 | Vanessa Thomas | 22:40 |
Team Time: |
1:46:21 | |
156 |
Points 5th Place Team |
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