What were the most memorable accomplishments of Half Moon Bay High School’s teams and athletes in 2011? We’re glad you asked.
Here is a look at the school’s top achievers of the past year:
1. Football: The Cougars rolled to their first league championship in six years, streaking to a 5-0 mark in a strong Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division. Wesley Walters, who broke Dominic Sena’s year-old , was named the PAL Ocean Division’s Offensive Player of the Year, linebacker Joe Lowman earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Matt Ballard was tabbed the league’s Coach of the Year.
2. Baseball: Half Moon Bay recorded one of the best seasons in program history, claiming the PAL Ocean Division title with a 13-1 record and advancing to the CCS Division III semifinals for the third time. Senior Julian Garcia landed PAL Ocean Pitcher of the Year honors and Steve Terraszas, who led a youthful team to a 23-7 overall record, was named the league’s Coach of the Year.
3. Boys Cross Country: Senior Mitch Martin became the PAL champion by prevailing in a tight duel with Carlmont’s Jeffrey Stalun, and Martin went on to finish 18th in the Division IV race at the state championships. Half Moon Bay sophomore Logan Marshall enjoyed the superior showing at CCS by taking fifth in Division IV; Martin was seventh.
4. Boys Soccer: The resurgent Cougars (14-3-2) enjoyed a great , winning what is believed to be their first league title since the mid-1980’s and earning their first CCS berth in eight years. After the team went 11-1-2 in the PAL Ocean Division, Miguel Vasquez (Forward of the Year) and Ivan Juarez (Defender of the Year) earned individual league awards.
5. Girls Basketball: Behind senior Diana Cariaga, the (16-9) secured their first league championship in 10 years with a 9-1 mark in the PAL Ocean Division. Cariaga, a 5-foot-2 point guard, took home PAL Ocean MVP honors, and McKenna Hilton was a first-team selection.
6. Boys Wrestling: Anthony Rivera earned his second straight PAL championship by winning the 130-pound division, and teammate Brian Martinez (145 pounds) claimed a league title a year after a runner-up finish. John Claitor (125), Nate Seaton (135), Billy Hamilton (140) and Joe Lowman (160) all took second at the PAL championships.
7. Boys Basketball: Half Moon Bay built on its by compiling a 20-10 record that announced that it is now among the better PAL programs. The Goose Arroyo-led Cougars finished 6-4 in a very competitive PAL Ocean Division and then won an overtime thriller in the second round of the CCS Division IV playoffs.
8. Boys Swimming: Anchored by Eoin Bloomer and Carter White, the Cougars claimed the PAL Ocean dual meets title by going 7-0. Half Moon Bay settled for second place at the league finals when it was missing some key contributors, but Bloomer won the 100-yard backstroke championship in 58.07 seconds.
Editor's Note: Come back tomorrow for a look back at a year of news along the Half Moon Bay Coastside in 2011.
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