From girls’ volleyball serving up aces, to flag football kicking off an impressive season, Venice fall sports put their all into the season.
Cross Country
Cross country had a successful season that ended in City Section Finals November 20 in Elysian Park, with a fourth place finish for the boys and an eighth place finish for the girls.
The team also sent senior Ryan Perella to State Finals November 29 in Woodward Park, where he finished one hundred fourth.
The team has a weekly training schedule that led them to their success.
“Our week of training is structured, so maybe one day we have a hard day…hills another and some easy days,” said Perella.
Next year, the team is looking forward to Woodbridge and Mt. San Antonio College courses.
“Woodbridge is the big one early in the season. That’s one of the biggest in the country, where different states come and compete,” said coach Alfredo Korzenik.
To get ready for next season, the Gondoliers will have a summer practice plan to do on their own.
“Our coach gives us this training plan with how many miles to do each day and what workouts to do,” said Perella.
Next season, the team aims to win both city and state.
“The goal would be to make it to state with the varsity boys and girls,” said Korzenik.
Flag Football
Flag football, 12-2, ended their sophomore season with a trip to the Division 1 CIF City Section Championships. Although the season ended in a second-round loss 18-7 against the Carson Colts November 7, the Gondoliers improved from last season and are on track to continue improving next year.
Next season, the team will be missing some of their key players. They’re losing eight seniors, including seniors Khalia Rodriguez and Samantha Moreno.
According to coach Brianna Vestal, the seniors’ strength was in their diligence.
“I had a lot of girls who had a really strong work ethic and mentality,” Vestal said.
Next year, the team will also be losing its coach. Rodriguez is sure that the players will be able to step up.
“The girls can fill in that role and hopefully improve the program,” she said.
The Gondoliers are also doing pre-season practice to prepare for next season, in which Vestal plans to go over the basics and conditioning.
“We’ll go over a lot of the fundamentals, as well as working out and getting in shape for the season,” she said.
Vestal said that the team now has their sights set on improvement.
“[Our] goal next season is to go further in the championship,” she said.
Football
Football, 7-6, wrapped up its season, showing steady improvement while competing against strong opponents throughout the year. Although the team faced challenges along the way, players and coaches emphasized the progress made as the season developed.
Coach Iggy Porchia said he’s excited for the prospect of an even more competitive team next season.
Junior Bryce Guidry said that the program has had a lasting impact and helped build strong relationships within the teams, especially under coach Angelo Gasca’s leadership. Gasca sadly passed away last March.
“Gasca treated everybody like one of his own,” he said. “Everybody had their own relationship with him, but with me it was really impactful.”
Guidry said the encouragement he received from the coaches helped shape his experience in the program.
“Gasca welcomed me with open arms,” he said. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at first, and he just encouraged me. Big heart, amazing guy.”
Sophomore Benjamin Moreno said Gasca’s impact extended beyond football and deeply affected players after his passing.
“It impacted me pretty hard,” he said. “He was a role model. I looked up to him, and I’ll never forget his lessons.”
As Venice football looks ahead, the program carries forward the lessons, leadership, and culture built throughout the season.
Girls’ Golf
Girls’ golf closed out its season with another competitive year, finishing second in the league and continuing to grow both on and off the course.
Coach Kevin Behrendt highlighted the progress the program made this season, especially with participation.
“Eight years ago, we only had two or three players,” Behrendt said. “This year, we actually had ten girls play in a match at one point, which is a big deal for us.”
The Gondoliers were led by senior Mace Castillo, a captain and four-year player who competed in the City Championships October 31 at the Balboa Golf Course for the third straight year. Alongside Castillo, players (such as seniors Remi Castillo and Elizabeth Martinez, junior Delilah Huricks, and sophomores Eleanor Blute and Lulu Clancy) helped lead the team throughout the season.
Although Venice fell short of another league title after facing a strong LACES team, Behrendt said that the team’s improved overall and demonstrated chemistry.
“I think the team improved, both as golfers and as students and people,” he said. “It’s not always just the results, the journey matters too.”
Girls Tennis
Girls’ tennis capped off an impressive season with a strong record, 10-2 league and 10-4 overall, and a historic playoff run.
The Gondoliers only lost one league matchup all year, finishing 7–0 against the rest of their opponents and advancing to the Open Division for the first time in years.
“Overall, I think we had a really good season,” said coach Andrew Horen. “We only lost in our league to [Palisades] and beat every other team 7–0.”
Venice battled defending champion Granada Hills in the Open Division semifinals October 28 at Granada Hills, falling in a close 17.5–12 match. Freshman standout Tea Vincent led the team after going undefeated all season.
“She crushed it,” Horen said. Strong doubles performances from seniors Penelope Smith and Jessica Yamashita, as well as sophomores Brees Bridges and Amaya Bridges, also helped power Venice throughout the playoffs.
Despite graduating several seniors, Coach Horen believes the program will continue to compete at a high level next season.
Girls’ Volleyball
Propelled by great leadership, girls’ volleyball, 32-12, overall, advanced to the CIF LA City Section Open Division Championships November 11 against the Cypress Centurions, but lost 3-0.
Despite this loss, the team looks forward to the future of the team with five seniors leaving this year.
“We have some great leaders on the team,” said senior Gaia Adeseun-Williams, a co-captain with senior Samantha Lortie.
As the seniors prepare to graduate, they look back on the bonds they’ve made that ultimately played a role in their successes this season.
“The group of girls that we’ve been with have been on our team for so long and are a really close knit team,” said Lortie.
Williams said that she hopes with the seniors leaving, it will give the underclassman an opportunity to step up into leadership roles.
Boys Waterpolo
Boys water polo concluded their season going 10–9.
The team defeated the fifth seed school, Roosevelt, with a score of 12-3 before falling in the semi finals of CIF LA City Section Boys’ waterpolo Championships to Granada Hills, the first seed, November 7.
“This season was probably one of the best we’ve had at Venice in a long time,” said sophomore Ryder Alaniz, a right wing.
This distinct change was also identified by junior Pablo McConchie, a center.
“I think what makes this team special is that we all have reached a collective agreement that we were upset by the results of past years on the team and that it was time for a change,” he said.
A highlight of the season, according to McConchie, was the two Gondo victories against the San Pedro Pirates, October 27, 9-7. It was the first time the Gondoliers had beaten San Pedro since 2010, said McConchie, making it a standout moment of the season.
Hopes for next year also remain at an all time high among the group.
“We’re only losing one senior this year and there is still a lot of room for improvement,” said Alaniz. “We can still do much better.”
