Compiled by Steve Breazeale
With 2013 coming to an end, we look back on the top stories, events and people that made up the Dana Point sports and outdoors scene.
January
Dolphins Boys and Girls Basketball Claim Holiday Tourney Titles
Both the Dana Hills girls and boys basketball teams claimed the Maxpreps Holiday Classic Tournament on the same weekend. The girls team defeated San Dimas and the boys team beat Cathedral City to claim their respective championships.
February
McCall Fights in UFC 156
Dana Point native Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall earns a bid to fight in UFC 156 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. McCall, who fights in the flyweight division, squared off against Joseph Benavidez. Benavidez defeated McCall by way of unanimous decision. McCall’s record fell to 1-4-1 MMA, 0-2-1 UFC at the time.
March
Dana Hills Boys Basketball Makes Deep Playoff Run
The Dana Hills boys basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 1A Championships, where they fell to Santa Monica. The Dolphins earned a bid to the State Championship tournament, where they lost by one point to Mission Hills in the first round.
April
Crash Mars Foust’s Hopes for X Games Gold
Capistrano Beach’s Tanner Foust, a professional rally cross racer and host of the popular television show Top Gear USA, crashes in the Ford RallyCross Championships at the 2013 X Games in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, ending his hopes for the gold medal.
May
Top Racers Compete in Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling
The seventh installment of the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling occurred on May 5, attracting some of the top criterium racers in the nation. The course wound its way through the streets of Dana Point and hundreds came out to watch the 13 different races provided.
June
Pirates Draft Taylor
With the 51st overall pick of the 2013 MLB first-year player draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Dana Hills senior pitcher Blake Taylor. Taylor started 10 games for the Dolphins in 2013, compiling a 2.57 ERA. Taylor’s reported signing bonus was slated to be $1,065,400.
July
Locals Part of So Cal Blues Regional Championship
The So Cal Blues girls U19 soccer team defeated Hawaiian champion Express to claim the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships. Dana Hills alumni Danielle Spriggs, who currently plays collegiate soccer for Rice University, was a member of the team.
Dana Outrigger Captures Iron Perpetual Trophy
The Dana Outrigger Canoe Club emerged from a field of 33 other canoe clubs to claim the 2013 Outrigger Iron Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the club that accrues the most points over the course of the racing season.
Scambray Named to U.S. National Team
Dana Hills senior volleyball player Tia Scambray was named to the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Volleyball Team. Scambray and the USA squad competed in the 2013 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championships in Thailand.
Pelkey Wins California Waterman at Ocean Fest
Dana Point resident Rob Pelkey compiled the most points out of every other waterman on the first day of the San Clemente Ocean Festival to take home the coveted California Waterman Award.
August
Celtic Games Find Home in Dana Point
Sea Terrace Community Park plays host to the California Celtic Classic and World Highland Games in late August. Dozens of top athletes turned out to compete in events like the hammer throw, stone putt and strong man competitions.
September
Will Schmidt Paddles Across Channel Islands
Dana Point resident Will Schmidt completed an unassisted stand-up paddleboard trek that covered roughly 220 miles, touching all five of the Channel Islands, and ultimately ended in Dana Point Harbor. Schmidt, a former Marine, completed the journey in seven days and raised money for the Wounded Warriors Project and Casa Hogar.
DP Hosts Battle of the Paddle
The top stand-up paddleboarders in the world descended upon Doheny State Beach to compete in the 2013 Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle. Travis Grant and Annabel Anderson took home the men’s and women’s elite distance race titles, respectively.
October
Dolphins Girls Tennis, Volleyball Win League
Both the Dana Hills girls volleyball and girls tennis teams repeat as South Coast League champions.
November
Gore Wins So Cal Open
Professional golfer Jason Gore bested the field at the revived So Cal Open, hosted at Monarch Beach Golf Links.
Ogden Wins CIF-SS X-C Title
Dana Hills sophomore runner Jake Ogden won the individual title at the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships on November 23.
Dana Point Turkey Trot a Hit
More than 11,000 runners took to the streets of Dana Point to participate in the 36th annual Dana Point Turkey Trot. Runners were treated to 10K, 5K and kids’ 1-mile Gobble Wobble races.
December
Dolphins X-C Goes to Nationals
The Dana Hills boys cross country squad traveled to Oregon to compete in the prestigious Nike Cross Nationals event. The Dolphins placed 18th overall.
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