SPORTS & FITNESS
Run & Ride starts
2019 Fourth of July
2019 Fourth of July
Independence Day 2019 is underway as the Scripps Ranch Old Pros’ annual Fourth of July Run & Ride got the festivities started early in the morning.
The local sports club coordinated a morning of running and cycling events, including a 10k Run, a 2-Mile Fun Run, a 50-Mile Bike Ride, a 28-Mile Bike Ride and a 12-Mile Bike Ride.
Thousands of participants took part in this local tradition as friends, family members and neighbors cheered for them along the routes.
DJ Lavoie, a Scripps Ranch woman who served as a Navy nurse during the Vietnam War, and is part of a nationwide project to record and document the experiences of war-time Navy nurses as the co-chair of the Navy Nurse Corps Association’s Oral History Project, was honored as the official starter for the first running event at 7 a.m. in the morning. Lavoie was featured in the May issue of Scripps Ranch News. Read more about her at http://www.scrippsranchnews.com/news/fullstory.php?ID=1645.
School is out, warmer temperatures have returned and the Scripps Ranch Old Pros are gearing up for their signature annual fundraising event: the Fourth of July Run & Ride. With five separate events and approximately 4,000 participants expected, there are still plenty of details to be finalized by the dedicated team of volunteers.
Steve Trifoglio has returned this year as the Fourth of July Czar, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the event.
“About 150-175 Old Pros are directly involved with putting on this event, all on a volunteer basis,” he said. “It couldn’t be done without the passion that everyone has for this event; we’re proud to do it.”
The Run & Ride will again offer five different events intended to suit a vast range of participants on the morning of July 4, from families with children in strollers to well-conditioned athletes. Participants can choose from a two-mile “fun run,” a 12-mile bike ride, a USA Track & Field-sanctioned 10K run, a 28-mile bike ride, or a 50-mile bike ride. The running events begin on Red Cedar Drive in front of Miramar Ranch Elementary School. Cycling events begin at the intersection of Hibert Street and Scripps Ranch Boulevard. All races conclude with a finish at Hoyt Park where a small festival with beer garden featuring craft brewed beer, food trucks, a live band and other activities await.
New for this year, patriotic event merchandise – including socks, headbands and bike jerseys – will be available for purchase during bib pick-ups or at Hoyt Park following the Run & Ride. Additionally, as part of the post-event activities, the Old Pros will add a dunk tank, offering event-goers an opportunity to “dunk the Czar,” according to Trifoglio. Per usual, family-friendly activities like a photo booth, inflatable slides and face painting will also be available.
Megan Garvey, a 15-year-old Scripps Ranch native, began participating in the Run & Ride with her family when she was just two years old, sitting in a toddler seat attached to the rear of her father’s bicycle.
“It’s always been something we’ve done as a family,” said Garvey, whose family has only missed the event once in the last 13 years.
Drew Londerholm is also a long-time participant in the Run & Ride, having begun his participation with his family 20 years ago while in middle school. Once he reached early adulthood, he and a friend decided to begin a tradition of participating in the run events wearing red, white and blue Speedos, socks, headbands and other costume accessories. Over the next several years, more and more friends – both male and female – would join their “Speedo crew,” making them a well-known fixture at the annual event.
“We recruited more and more people to run with us in Speedos. Ladies would wear tutus,” Londerholm said. “We had upwards of 30 people in 2016 and 2017, and have had friends from as far as Los Angeles join us.”
While the shorter races are certainly family-friendly and conducive to casual participation, more competitive athletes find the longer distance races just as fulfilling. Scott Houts is the club leader for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) cycling club. His group consists of physically challenged athletes who may have prosthetic or missing limbs and may utilize cycling equipment that has been modified to suit their special needs. The club also includes able-bodied athletes who participate as mentors and supporters alongside their physically challenged colleagues.
Houts’ group has participated in the 50-mile bike ride for the last four years. He said that the inclusive nature of the event, the fact that funds raised are for a charitable cause, and the reasonably challenging design of the course, make it a good fit for his club.
“We get great hospitality when we’re out there,” Houts said. “It’s a fun opportunity to come out and ride with a bunch of other people on a great American holiday and enjoy ourselves. It’s a little bit of a challenge, but not so hard that our riders can’t handle it.”
Garvey, Londerholm and Houts all agree that the community aspect of the Run & Ride is one of the most appealing elements.
“The sense of community is what has kept me coming back year after year,” Londerholm said. “The Old Pros do a great job of organizing the event and of honoring those who served.”
For more information, visit srop.org.
Former Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) roller hockey player and team captain Cody Sherman was drafted in the fifth round of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) draft by the Minot Minotauros.
Sherman led the SRHS roller hockey team to an incredible undefeated season by beating Rancho Bernardo High 9-6 to win the 2019 CIF Metro Conference Championship on March 4. Sherman was a standout in the championship game with a hat trick and two assists. Cody Sherman was the only senior on the team which posted an 18-0 season.
Sherman, a forward, also played for the Anaheim Jr. Duck’s AAA team.
“He’s probably one of the top players in the country,” SRHS head coach Greg Friedman said. “He’ll probably go on to play juniors (with the U.S. National Team) next year.”
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
The running events will start at Red Cedar Drive in front of Miramar Ranch Elementary School. The cycling events will start at the intersection of Scripps Ranch Boulevard and Hibert Street. All the events end near Hoyt Park.
Fourth of July Run & Ride participants who are 21 years of age and older are allowed free access to the beer garden at Hoyt Park at a festival following their events.
To register, visit srop.org.
The Scripps Ranch High School girls varsity lacrosse team defeated rival La Jolla High to capture the CIF San Diego Section Girls Lacrosse Championships Open Division title 17-9 on Saturday, May 18.
Scripps Ranch scored first and was ahead going into halftime. The Lady Falcons held the lead to win by an impressive margin and earn the 2019 CIF San Diego Section Open Championship.
Earlier in the season, Scripps Ranch dropped a game to La Jolla in overtime, one of only two of the team’s losses this year. But the Lady Falcons had their revenge as they ran away with the big game Saturday to close out their championship season, clearly proving which team is the best.
Scripps Ranch fought through the CIF San Diego Section Girls Lacrosse Championships Open Division post-season bracket to the championship game by first beating Del Norte 18-5 on May 11 in the quarterfinals, then defeating San Marcos 19-4 in the semi-finals on May 15.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
The Scripps Ranch High School varsity softball team continues its quest for a CIF San Diego Section Division I Championship as it takes on San Marcos High in the semifinals on Thursday, May 23, starting at 3 p.m. at the Poway Sportsplex.
The Lady Falcons made it this far by defeating Santana High in the first round, then beating Rancho Buena Vista High in the second round.
A victory on Thursday will put Scripps Ranch in the championship game, which will be played the very next day, Friday, May 24, starting at 7:30 p.m. at UCSD.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
The Lady Falcons are so talented that they sliced their way through the CIF San Diego Section Girls Lacrosse Championships Open Division post-season bracket to the championship game; first by beating Del Norte 18-5 on May 11 in the quarterfinals, then by trouncing a good San Marcos team 19-4 in the semi-finals on May 15. The Scripps Ranch players earned the opportunity to avenge one of only two regular season losses as they are scheduled to play La Jolla High in the championship game on Saturday, May 18, starting at 5 p.m. at San Dieguito High School.
Earlier in the season, Scripps Ranch lost to La Jolla in an overtime thriller on April 10. The team’s only other defeat was against a strong Harriton High School team from Pennsylvania in a special East Coast-West Coast match-up on April 16.
Scripps Ranch head coach Michele Uhlfelder stated her team’s lacrosse skill set, team speed and team philosophy sets them apart.
“They really pay attention to detail and they’re very competitive. They make practices competitive and they really work hard at practices,” Uhlfelder said, adding that this translates to the games. “They feel prepared and they feel excited to play and they grind it out. They don’t stop working.”
She explained that the team has excellent leaders and the players take leadership responsibilities at all levels. The team culture has been outstanding, Uhlfelder said.
Team captain Jolie Riedell and Ella Brislin lead the team statistically in many categories, Uhlfelder stated. Attackers Natalie Markman, Jaiden Stepnowski and Kayden Williamson have made major contributions that are also showing up in the stat lines, she said.
The transition game has been strong. Midfielders such as Mara Zajac, Brislin and Riedell have been working well together and their fitness has paid off, Uhlfelder said. Draw specialist Leiden Huber has also played an important role, although she has had to deal with a knee injury.
The lack of scoring by opponents is a testament to how the defensive unit has been one big workhorse all season. Key contributors on defense include Adah Anderson and Ashly McGratten, as well as goalie Ali Richardson-Pepper.
“They’ve really invested – not just physically, but mentally – in each other and the team concept. We’re seeing that in how balanced our scoring is. We have a lot of girls scoring,” Uhlfelder said. “We’re seeing it in the contributions that all the girls are making. … It’s heightened their sense of comradery and heightened their sense of pride.”
Uhlfelder explained this special season came together partly because the players brought all their experiences and skills from club play, camps and clinics, then focused on what they could do together as a team.
Having a highly accomplished coach is another reason. Uhlfelder was a four-year starter and First Team All American at the University of Maryland; a two-time gold medalist on the U.S. Women’s World Cup Team; an inductee of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame; and the all-time winningest coach of the Stanford women’s lacrosse team.
The Scripps Ranch High School varsity girls softball team will be home for Senior Night to take on Clairemont High School on Tuesday, May 7 at 3:30 p.m.
The Lady Falcons will then play at Patrick Henry High at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday May 9; then finish the regular season on Friday, May 10 at Mira Mesa High starting at 4 p.m.
Scripps Ranch suffered a 5-7 loss to Steele Canyon High on Saturday, May 4. Photos on this page are from that game.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
The Scripps Ranch High School boys varsity lacrosse team will challenge La Jolla Country Day on Tuesday, May 7 in the first round of the 2019 CIF Division I San Diego Section Boys Lacrosse Championships.
The Falcons finished the 2019 regular season with a 6-13 loss against St. Augustine on Friday, May 3. The game was also Senior Night. The boys played with a lot of spirt in honor of the only senior on the team: Jared Shulin.
It was a tough season for the team, as the players ended their season 1-14. But with only one senior graduating, the remaining players are establishing the groundwork and fundamentals to have a strong team next year.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
The team gained an important victory on Saturday, April 27, as the Falcons defeated Torrey Pines High School 5-4. Not only was it a successful day for the players on the field, Coach Chris Lamb reached a milestone of 100 wins during his career as a Scripps Ranch coach.
The Falcons started out slow. At the bottom of fourth inning Torrey Pines was ahead 4-2. But Scripps Ranch battled back with three runs in the fifth inning to earn the win.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
Photos by Ralph LoVuolo. Visit ralphlovuolophotography.com.
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