With additional reporting by George Laase.
Three of the Culver City High School winter sports teams are headed in the right direction. The girls soccer team, the girls basketball team and the boys basketball team have senior leadership and young talent, positioning them for a successful season.
The girls soccer team is 1-1 after defeating Torrance 1-0 last week. They have seven seniors and several underclassmen who have Coach Scott Mair excited. “It’s not just seniors who will make this team better,” said Mair who has been coaching the Centaurs for 10 years. “We have a really good mixture of players at all different levels. My biggest problem right now is managing all the injuries.”
He said the team started to bond early.
“We did a beach run,” Mair said. “That brought us closer together.”
Talent will keep a team happy, too. Amanda Jaramillo and Megan Gerez are playing at a high level. “Amanda will be up top and Megan will be in the back line,” Mair said. “The spotlight will be on them.”
Emily Cardena, Melissa Ramirez, Karen Anaya, Hazel Valle, Madisen Roberts, Daisy Gomez, Jasmine Herrara, Sterre Hesseling, Maryilyn Hernandez, Emily Zamudio, Daneille Martinez, Katherine Benitez, Marina McNairy, Dezyier Jones, Samamtha Simon, Celeste Cerecedes, Jackie Mair and Shelby Miyamota are others to watch.
Team mom Ginger Jaramillo has made Mair’s job easier by organizing fundraisers, helping any way she can.
Saturday is the next soccer match. They will game travel to the Ganesha Tournament in Pomona for an 8:45 date against Alverno of Sierra Madre. Their second match will be against Bassett of La Puente at 11:45 On Wednesday they play Centennial in Compton.
The boys 2-2 basketball team competes in the Inland Empire Classic against Redlands East Valley at Rancho Cucamonga High school at 12 noon on Saturday. Tuesday they return to the Inland Empire Classic to play Grand Terrance at Colony High School at 4 o’clock.
The 4-1 girls basketball team lost for the first time to Notre Dame Academy 57-40 last week.
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com