Keith Quigley can see the growth of lacrosse in South County right before his eyes as both the director of the PUCKidz Spring Elementary Lacrosse League and head coach of the boys program at Olympian High School.
High school lacrosse continues to expand its footprint across the San Diego Section while maintaining a strong presence in the South County region with 11 high school girls teams and eight boys teams in the Metro Conference.
Youth lacrosse continues to grow as well, both at the middle and elementary school levels.
The PUCKidz Spring Elementary Lacrosse League held its championship playoffs Feb. 28 at Feaster Charter School. Six teams participated this year, up from four last year.
Not only did more teams participate but the quality of play was of a decided upgrade.
“It was definitely exciting to see the growth in the league this year with six teams as compared to four teams in our first season,” Quigley said. “Next season I’m really hoping for eight teams.
“It also was exciting to see the quality of play improve dramatically. These kids are really starting to learn the game and have really improved their stick skills. I can’t wait to see these kids play in high school someday.”
That could be sooner rather than later for members of this year’s Hilltop Drive championship team, which was comprised entirely of sixth graders.
The league is formulated from after-school programs at four schools within the Chula Vista Elementary School District: Feaster Charter, Hedenkamp, Chula Vista Hills and Hilltop Drive.
Both Feaster and Hilltop fielded two teams this year to account for the growth in participation numbers.
Teams played five regular season games to determine seeding for the playoffs, which included all six teams.
Hilltop Team 1 finished with a 5-0 regular season record to receive the No. 1 seed while Hilltop Team 2 won a tie-breaker from Hedenkamp to receive the No. 2 seed after the teams tied with 3-2 records.
Feaster Team Blue (2-3) received the No. 4 seed. Chula Vista Hills and Feaster Team Red both finished 1-4, with CV Hills receiving the No. 5 seed and Feaster Red receiving the No. 6 seed.
All playoff games featured a single-elimination format.
The top two seeded teams received byes to the semifinals while the bottom four teams in the standings engaged in a pair of quarterfinal playoff games.
Hedenkamp defeated Feaster Red by a score of 5-0 while Feaster Team Blue eliminated CV Hills 3-1.
Hedenkamp delivered the upset in the semifinals by defeating Hilltop Team 2 by a score of 7-2. Feaster Blue was bidding for the same before Colton Gregg scored with 35 seconds left in the second half to push Hilltop Team 1 to a 4-3 win.
Unfortunately for Hedenkamp, the championship game took place after its semifinal victory. It was apparent the team faced adversity not only from a fatigue standpoint but also in physical size.
While Hilltop Team 1 was comprised of sixth-graders, Hedenkamp was comprised of third- through fifth-graders.
But no one could deny the fighting spirit put forth by Hedenkamp.
“Coaching the team was a lot of fun,” volunteer coach Brock Hayes said. “Lots of faces I have seen before but the challenge was there were no practices. The kids played very hard on that playoff day to get the upset win.”
Hayes serves as an assistant coach at Eastlake High School, his alma mater. He can connect with the elementary school-age students after playing youth lacrosse himself.
“Some skills I am teaching at that age group are cradling, passing and catching with both hands, shooting over the top, no side arm or three-quarters, and proper positioning on defense,” he said.
It’s working.
The championship game victory was sweet for Hilltop’s primary team after suffering an upset loss in last year’s title game.
Hilltop Team 1 finished with a perfect season at 7-0, including two playoff wins.
“My team was able to redeem themselves,” head coach Alvene Alcos said. “They’re a great bunch of kids. I’m losing this entire team (to promotion).”
Gregg, one of the biggest kids on the field, was able to showcase the skills he’s learned over the past two years playing lacrosse.
“I like it because it’s a team sport,” he said. “I’m used to playing with a ball. I’ve also played baseball and basketball.”
All participants at the Feb. 28 playoff tournament received a lacrosse medal while the championship team received a trophy.
“It’s all about hustle and effort, play hard but in control,” Quigley told the group.
Prep report
Quigley’s Olympian Eagles are off to a 2-2 start to the 2020 high school season after defeating Foothills Christian by scores of 11-0 and 10-6 in a pair of non-league games, dropping an 11-5 non-league decision to Bonita Vista and coming up short by a 3-1 score to San Diego in another non-league encounter.
Junior Bijan Razi led Olympian in scoring with 10 goals and four assists through the four games, followed by senior Renz Miranda with five goals and four assists.
Sophomore Tyler Duke ranked third in team scoring with four goals and three assists in two games while senior Alec Delgado had scored four goals in three games.’
Sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Leibold had compiled a 5.00 goals-against average and .830 save percentage in the four games. He also led the team with 24 ground balls.
Razi led Olympian with four goals and two assists in the season opening win over Foothills Christian on Feb. 25 while Miranda (three goals, one assist) and Duke (one goal, three assists) both collected four points.
Senior Rocky Lim won 10 of 14 faceoffs while Leibold made 10 saves to record the shutout.
Razi and Duke both recorded hat tricks in the rematch against Foothills Christian on March 6 while Delgado and Miranda both scored two goals.
Razi had three goals in the loss to Bonita Vista on March 9 while senior Diego Lawson scored the lone goal for the Eagles in the loss at San Diego on March 11.
Olympian is scheduled to open defense of its South Bay League title with a game at Mater Dei Catholic on April 6, followed by home games April 13 against Mar Vista and April 16 against Chula Vista.
The Eagles’ season schedule extends through May 1.
Bonita Vista is off to a 5-2 start in non-league play among the four Mesa League teams. The Barons defeated visiting Del Lago Academy, 17-11, for their most recent win on March 11.
Bonita Vista’s other wins have come against Mater Dei Catholic (11-2 on Feb. 25), Foothills Christian (10-2 on Feb. 27) and Clairemont (15-4 on March 5).
The Barons are scheduled to host Hilltop in their league opener on April 9 before hosting Otay Ranch on April 13.
Hilltop defeated Del Lago Academy (12-8 on March 5) and Morse (8-2 on March 7) in back-to-back non-league games.
Game play has been suspended temporarily due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
Sweetwater Union High School District schools are currently on spring break and are scheduled to resume classes on April 6.
The California Interscholastic Federation is meeting again on April 3, with input from the commissioners from all 10 member sections, to discuss the timeframe for the spring sports playoffs.
Individual school districts have the authority to reschedule regular season competitions.
“I’m just hoping we get to finish the spring season, even if it’s shortened,” Quigley said. “I especially feel for the seniors.”
PUCKidz Spring Elementary Lacrosse League
Season Standings
Hilltop Team 1 – 5-0
Hilltop Team 2 – 3-2
Hedenkamp – 3-2
Feaster Team Blue – 2-3
Chula Vista Hills – 1-4
Feaster Team Red – 1-4
Season Schedule
Week 1 — Jan. 17
Feaster Red 2, Feaster Blue 1Hilltop (1) 11, Hedenkamp 1
Hilltop (2) 4, Chula Vista Hills 3
Week 2 — Jan. 24
Hilltop (1) 8, Hilltop (2) 2
Hedenkamp 4, Feaster Blue 3
Chula Vista Hills 8, Feaster Red
Week 3 — Jan. 31
Hilltop (2) 5, Hedenkamp 4
Hilltop (1) 10, Feaster Red 0
Feaster Blue 5, Chula Vista Hills 1
Week 4 — Feb. 7
Feaster Blue 6, Hilltop (2) 4
Hilltop (1) 12, Chula Vista Hills 1
Hedenkamp 5, Feaster Red 2
Week 5 — Feb. 21
Hedenkamp 4, Chula Vista Hills 3 (OT)
Hilltop (1) 6, Feaster Blue 0
Hilltop (2) 4, Feaster Red 1
Week 6 — Feb. 28
Championship Playoffs
Quarterfinal: (3) Hedenkamp 5, (6) Feaster Red 0
Quarterfinal: (4) Feaster Blue 3, (5) Chula Vista Hills 1
Semifinal: (1) Hilltop (1) 4, Feaster Blue 3
Semifinal: (3) Hedenkamp 7, Hilltop (2) 2
Championship: (1) Hilltop (1) 10, Hedenkamp 1
PUCKidz continues to deliver inspirational message
PUCKidz stands for Positive Understandable Coaching for Kidz, which has branched out to include camps, clinics, after-school programs as well as private lessons in hockey, lacrosse and tennis, among other sports.
PUCKidz director Keith Quigley credited his late mother, Simonne, as being instrumental with helping design, create and develop PUCKidz into a non-profit organization. Simonne (Lanowitz) Quigley passed away Jan. 18 at the age of 99 at her home in Newton, Mass.
“After getting laid off a number of years ago while working for the city of Chula Vista for 10 years running after-school programs, my mother knew my calling was to continue working with and coaching kids,” Quigley said. “In our many conversations, she became very encouraging and inspirational in how I could take steps to create and develop PUCKidz, Inc. Her feedback was invaluable to me as I was getting this organization off the ground and she also assisted me with the paperwork that was necessary to apply for non-profit status.
“On a daily basis when working with the kids, I always try to impart the life lessons that my mother taught me — be positive, be yourself, be kind. And probably most important of all, it doesn’t matter whether the children are African-American, Latino, white, Asian, tall, short, rich or poor — everyone should have the same opportunities to participate in sports programs like mine even if they don’t have the financial means to do so.”
Quigley noted he received support from his mother through the end of her life. “During my mother’s last weeks of her life, at the age of 99, I was so moved when, even in her frail condition, she continued to ask me about PUCKidz and how the program was doing,” Quigley said. “She truly surprised me that her final wish stated that after she passed away that she would prefer donations be made to PUCKidz in lieu of flowers.”
Quigley said plans are in the works to create an annual special free sports clinic/event next January in memory of his mother that will continue to honor her and benefit so many kids each year.
