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Mixing and Mingling

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Annual Garden Party Allows Community Members to Meet and Greet Local Elected Officials

By MARYAM ZAR | Contributing Writer

Cron and Joe Halper

Pacific Palisades Democratic Club hosted its 2024 Garden Party on Sunday, September 8, at a home in the Riviera—a tradition that’s become a way to meet local elected officials and other VIPs in a casual setting.

Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvre and wine, hearing first from Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who detailed her legislative priorities as she looked ahead to serving her last term.

Irwin is spearheading initiatives to expand and democratize car charging stations, mandate informed food-labeling standards for expiration and safe consumption dates, and develop fire mitigation strategies by helping people harden their homes and prepare for emergencies.

Councilmember Traci Park
City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto

City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto spoke of her Puerto Rican roots and offered a review of her work combating trafficking and child sex abuse citywide, walking the audience through the challenges of prosecuting these crimes.

Councilmember Traci Park spoke of the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics and her role as chair of the Olympic Committee. She told partygoers about her trip to Paris accompanying Mayor Karen Bass, noting the “magical” nature of the games.

Park said she returned to LA more eager than ever to spearhead the ’28 games, but also confessed to some manageable, not-quite “panic” that conveyed the urgency of putting plans in place and thinking through the details of a historic moment for LA.

The councilmember also touched on her other work, including the way in which she and her office are tackling homelessness and showing that results are achievable. Park spoke of collaboration between city and county offices to commit resources to solving the unhoused crisis in LA.

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin

County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath spoke at length about the 2024 elections, describing the “supercharged” energy she experienced at the Democratic National Convention.

The supervisor went on to note the many achievements of her office as a result of her leadership on homelessness solutions. She also touched on the reforms to the Board of Supervisors proposed in Measure G—a package, co-authored by Horvath, that expands the board and crafts new ethics rules. Horvath urged Palisadians to support it.

Congressmember Brad Sherman delivered a video message recorded exclusively for PPDC’s Garden Party, and special guest Bill Burton, former senior advisor and deputy press secretary to President Barack Obama, gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at the 2024 political landscape.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
Photos by Henry Simms and Chloe Krasnow-Lahita, courtesy of Rick Steil

In addition to the electeds who spoke and took questions, guests also heard from LA County Democratic Party Chair Mark Ramos, elected in 2024. The LACDP is the largest Democratic central committee in the United States, representing over 3.1 million Democrats.

Ramos addressed the election cycle, including volunteer efforts—doorknocking, postcarding, phonebanking and textbanking.

The event concluded with calls to action from the two nationally influential Get Out the Vote operations: the Grassroots Dems HQ, co-founded by two members of the PaliDems board, with its newly opened election office at 1027 Westwood Boulevard in Westwood, and the Westside Dem HQ, founded and co-run by PPDC, with its own election hub at 1241 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

“Mark your calendars for next year’s Garden Party,” said PPDC President Steve Cron. “After yet another successful one, we’ll try to top ourselves for 2025.”

For more information, visit palidems.org.

Q&A: Michael Edlen

By
the Palisadian-Post
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With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, real estate consultant Michael Edlen answers questions from readers.

Do we still have to hire a broker to buy a house or can we do it ourselves?
I heard the rules changed.

Yes, a buyer can purchase a house without hiring an agent. They always could. However, considering the procedures around real estate transactions have evolved, and with no more seller offers of buyer-broker compensation, more buyers might choose to represent themselves in the future. However, here are some key points to consider:

  1. Self-Representation: Buyers can navigate the home-buying process independently, handling tasks like searching for properties, negotiating offers and managing paperwork. They would also need to be responsible for arranging and being fully involved in the inspection process, resolution of any issues or concerns arising out of seller disclosures, and various inspections.
  2. Resources Available: There are numerous online platforms and resources to help buyers with market research, pricing and legal documents. Buyers can also find information about the inspection process, obtaining of insurance and financing, etc.
  3. Considerations: While saving on agent commissions can seem appealing, buyers should be aware of the complexities of real estate transactions. Professional agents provide valuable expertise and negotiation skills, and may minimize the making of any costly mistakes or omissions. Also, sellers may be quite concerned about being in escrow with a buyer who does not have their own representation.
  4. Legal and Financial Guidance: It may be wise to consult with a real estate attorney or financial advisor to navigate specific legal and financial aspects. Unless one is experienced in residential home sales and purchasing, having someone in your corner can be invaluable.

Ultimately, whether to hire an agent depends on the buyer’s comfort level with the process, their knowledge of the market, and willingness to take some personal, legal and financial risks.

How common are bidding wars in today’s market, especially in the Palisades?

While multiple offers are fewer today than they were a couple of years ago when interest rates and prices were lower, bidding wars are still common in competitive real estate markets like the Palisades, especially for desirable properties. Factors contributing to this include:

  1. High Demand: Limited inventory and strong demand still lead to multiple buyers vying for the same property, resulting in upward pressure on prices. This is especially the case for homes selling below $4 million today.
  2. Desirable Location: Pacific Palisades is known for its attractive family lifestyle, coastal views, and proximity to schools and recreational amenities, which intensifies competition.
  3. Market Conditions: Economic factors, interest rates and buyer sentiment play significant roles. More than 25% of the sales are all-cash buyers, and even though interest rates are nowhere near as low as they were a few years ago, they are once again below the long-term average. Lenders have evolved solutions to creatively help more potential buyers become approved for financing, which, in turn, keeps the pressure on buyers to compete with others.
  4. Luxury Market Dynamics: The luxury segment often experiences bidding wars due to affluent buyers looking for move-up properties.For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consulting a local real estate expert can provide insights specific to current market trends and neighborhood differences in Pacific Palisades.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consulting a local real estate expert can provide insights specific to current market trends and neighborhood differences in Pacific Palisades.

We are thinking of selling our home in the next two years. What are the most
important things we can do in the meantime to potentially raise the value?

Here are some effective strategies to potentially raise your home’s value before selling:

Enhance Curb Appeal: Improve the exterior by maintaining landscaping, painting the front door and ensuring the property looks inviting.

Update Interior Spaces: Consider minor renovations, such as fresh paint, updated fixtures or new flooring. Kitchens and bathrooms typically yield the highest returns on investment.

  1. Energy Efficiency Improvements: Upgrade windows, doors, insulation or appliances to make your home more energy-efficient, which can attract eco-conscious buyers.
  2. Declutter and Depersonalize: Clear out personal items and unnecessary clutter to help potential buyers envision themselves in the space.
  3. Regular Maintenance: Keep up with regular maintenance tasks, like servicing the HVAC system, fixing leaks and addressing any cosmetic issues.
  4. Smart Home Technology: Adding smart home features, such as smart thermostats, security systems or lighting, can appeal to tech-savvy buyers.
  5. Outdoor Living Spaces: Enhance outdoor areas with patios, decks or landscaping to create attractive, usable spaces.
  6. Research Local Market Trends: Stay informed about market conditions and buyer preferences in the Palisades to make strategic improvements.

Taking these steps can help you maximize your home’s value when you’re ready to sell. Going beyond these types of actions may not have a positive return on your investment, though. It is highly advisable to consult with a local expert a few months before you plan to sell your home, so you have professional guidance on what could really make differences to do.

Are there any trends standing out in terms of what buyers are looking for in the Palisades now?

In Pacific Palisades, there are several key trends regarding what buyers are looking for:

  1. Proximity to the Village: The village center has become an increasingly strong magnet, especially for young families wanting to live within a mile if at all possible.
  2. Move-in Condition: Unless the price is quite attractive, buyers will pay a premium to feel that the home needs no work other than cosmetic.
  3. Home Office Space: With remote work now more common, dedicated office spaces or flexible areas that can serve as home offices are in demand. Even a converted garage for this purpose will add to the desirability.
  4. Open Floor Plans: Buyers prefer open layouts that create a spacious feel and enhance natural light, making homes more inviting.
  5. Sustainability: Eco-friendly features, such as energy-efficient appliances, solar panels and sustainable building materials, have become more appealing to environmentally conscious buyers.
  6. Luxury Amenities: High-end finishes, smart home technology, and luxurious kitchen and bathroom upgrades are popular among buyers looking for a premium experience.
  7. Modern Design: Contemporary aesthetics with clean lines and minimalistic designs are trending, aligning with buyers’ preferences for stylish living spaces.
  8. More Affordable “Fixers”: Many buyers would rather get a discounted price and then remodel to suit their own tastes and preferences. Often they succeed in outbidding investor-developer buyers because for them it is a future home, and usually the structure has significant value that a builder would tear down.

These trends can guide sellers in making targeted improvements to attract potential buyers in the area. If you are thinking of benefitting from some of these trends in ways that could be done with your property, check with an agent who has sold many homes around the area yours is located to be sure the changes would be cost-effective.

Michael Edlen has been a leading consultant in real estate for 30-plus years and is available for a complimentary and confidential conversation upon request at 310-600-7422 or michael@edlenteam.com. Have a question you want to see answered in a future column? Send it to mypost@palipost.com for consideration.

The Next Level

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Photos courtesy of Level UP LA

Pacific Palisades-Based Nonprofit Level UP LA Celebrates Student-Led Initiatives

By ALLIE YANG | Intern

When it comes to giving back to schools in the area, Pacific Palisades-based nonprofit Level UP LA had no shortage of success as it wrapped up its fourth year in operation at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.

In addition to fundraisers and school clinics that members facilitated throughout the year, Level UP LA capped it off with an End-of-Year Celebration and Career Day at one of its partner schools, Coliseum Street Elementary.

Level UP LA was founded by a group of teenagers in the Palisades, including Zach Haas and his mother Claire, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the organization has been largely student-run, with teams consisting of Palisades Charter High School, Marymount High School, Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, Brentwood School, The Archer School for Girls, Windward School and Marlborough School students.

As a result, to execute its mission of “[strengthening] under-resourced Los Angeles community schools by providing financial support that helps to Level Up the primary schools’ educational experience,” Level UP LA has adopted long-term volunteer partnerships with Coliseum Street Elementary and Maple Primary Center.

At Coliseum Street Elementary, Level UP LA’s Career Day introduced classes to members of a variety of professions, including clothing design, sports management, architecture, law and medicine. Claire believed the event expanded students’ perspectives on their future goals, giving school administration hope as well.

“It’s been a huge opportunity … because a lot of times these kids don’t have access to other career paths and this gives them some understanding of different opportunities in the world,” Claire said. “There were several teachers that were brought to tears having the exposure for these young kids to the different opportunities out there. A lot of times you’re taught what’s in your bubble, so we’ve had amazing feedback from the school on how helpful that is.”

In order to host these experiences at their partnered schools, Level UP LA works to meet yearly fundraising goals. For 2023-24, Level UP LA’s ultimate goal was $120,000. Co-President and Crossroads senior Harry Bryan said the fundraising strategies ranged from local word of mouth to large business pitches.

“Sometimes … we’ll be going, like Claire said, and doing pitches to large corporate companies asking for multiple years of sponsorship,” Bryan said. “All the members send letters to their family and friends and people they know, spreading awareness about Level UP, and we get donations from there too.”

In addition to Coliseum’s Career Day, Level UP LA also hosted an End-of-Year celebration that consisted of a schoolwide art project as well as stations for activities like basketball, baseball and dance. This effort supported students in finding their extracurricular interests, some of which were newly introduced options to the school itself.

“It’s a way for students to make friends after school and delve more into their own interests because maybe the school hasn’t touched on that,” said Darby Rastegar, a graduating senior at Pali High and 2023 Level UP LA president. “Only recently we got a dance teacher, so it’s really exciting for them to participate in something that’s really personal to what they like after school.”

As Level UP LA moves forward to its fifth year, it will continue prioritizing schools’ needs based on administrative recommendations in order to gain a comprehensive idea on how to enhance student experiences.

“I don’t want to lose sight of what the primary goal Level UP LA is, which is always to go first to the principal and the teachers and to hear from them what their most important needs are,” Claire said. “It could be adding new partner schools, they might need computers first, they may need smartboards first, they may need more reading materials. It’s hard to know until we connect directly.”

For more information or to support the efforts of Level UP LA, visit leveluplosangeles.org.

Summer Creative Writing Contest 2023: ‘The Best Day Ever’

By
the Palisadian-Post
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Bill Jones reads winning stories at the library in 2023.
Photo by Steve Galluzzo

The Palisadian-Post is highlighting winners of Pacific Palisades Library Association’s Summer Creative Writing Contest 2023, which had the theme “The Best Day.” Here is the first-place piece in the Authors category (high school), written by Casey. Winners from the 2024 contest will be announced in October.

As I turned into the DMV parking lot, making sure to look right, then left, I cautiously proceeded into a parking spot and placed my mom’s car in park. My hands were tightly gripped around the steering wheel and sweat had collected on my palms. My breath quickened into a sort of pant, as I waited for the examiner to say the words that would determine how the rest of my day would go. The road to getting my driver’s license was not always easy.

Ever since I had watched my brother get his driver’s license as soon as he turned sixteen, I was eager for my turn to arrive. He had passed both the permit test and driving test on the first try, making it look effortless. So I had thought—if he can do it, why can’t I? I patiently waited for my fifteenth-and-a-half birthday, when I would be able to take the written test to get my learner’s permit.

The day of my permit test came in November. At the DMV, I remember sitting in the stiff black chairs which were arranged in several rows inside the stark building. The chairs were dotted with people waiting for their numbers to be called. I waited in line, got my picture taken, and began to take the permit test. Everyone around me seemed to finish their tests quickly and it felt as if they all knew something that I didn’t. As I completed the test, large black letters appeared on the screen that told me I had failed. This news felt like a slap in the face because I had really thought I would be walking out of there that day with my permit. I collected myself and one of the DMV employees offered me advice for my next attempt. He gave me two copies of the driver’s handbook that I could study from. I set my mind on taking the test again the next month.

My second attempt at the permit test was in December. At that point I was familiar with the process and the handbook. I felt significantly more confident. I felt much more at ease when I saw each of the questions followed by four possible answers that had once daunted me. This time, I submitted my responses to the 46 questions feeling much more assured. This was reinforced when I learned that I had passed. I ran to tell my dad, who was waiting in the room adjacent to the testing area. I also immediately texted my mom and brother. I felt a flurry of excitement bubble up within me which mixed with the knot in my stomach from before the test. I walked out of the DMV with a toothy grin stretched across my face and the crisp, white permit paper clutched in my hand.

During the six months that I had to wait to take my driving test after getting my permit, I practiced driving almost every weekend. I mostly drove with my dad to get boba, lunch, or to run errands. We drove on neighborhood streets, PCH, the 10 freeway, and the 405 freeway. I also practiced parking and reversing. With each passing day I thought more and more about what it would be like to have my license.

I got to the DMV slightly early on the day of the test so that I could do a few loops around the block beforehand, like a warm-up. With my mom sitting beside me, I pulled the car into the driving test waiting lane. As I waited, I thought about all the ways I might mess up and fail the test. I was even more intimidated at the sight of a girl about my age who I watched complete the test and emerge from the car with a tear-streaked face. I was even more worried when the same examiner who had been with her knocked on the window to signal for me to open the car so he could get in and start my test. In an effort to ease the tenseness I was feeling, I took a moment to breathe and bring myself back to focus on the present.

At the beginning of the test, I was waiting for the moment when the examiner would declare that I had made a critical error. But that didn’t happen. I stopped at all the stop signs. I checked both ways. I checked all intersections. I changed lanes successfully. Once I felt a little more relaxed, the test seemed to pass quickly. The examiner and I soon returned to the DMV parking lot. I nervously sat in the black leather seat picking at the skin on my thumbs as I waited for the examiner to finish filling out the examination form. I saw him scribble a large number and a circle in blue ink at the top of the page. In my head I decided that I had failed and had already made a plan that I would come back soon and take the test again. But those weren’t the words he said. Instead, he told me I had passed.

For a second I thought that the examiner was joking. I couldn’t contain my happiness and I told him thank you and quickly got out of the car and gave a thumbs up to my mom. The examiner handed me the exam sheet and I ran to show my mom. When I went back inside the DMV to get my license, the clerk congratulated me and even told me I got a great score. Leaving the DMV feeling proud and relieved with my license in hand, it felt like a full circle moment from when I first took the permit test. My mind was already flooded with thoughts of the new independence and freedom I would have now that I could drive.

Road Warriors

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Max Hejazi goes airborne for the first of his two touchdown catches in last Friday night’s intersectional game at Harvard-Westlake. Palisades won by 17 points and ended nonleague play 4-1.
Photos by Steve Galluzzo

Palisades Finishes Nonleague Slate with 30-13 Victory over Harvard-Westlake

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

After opening the season with four straight home games, the Palisades High varsity football team made its first road trip Friday night  and the Dolphins proved they can win no matter what field they play  on by defeating Harvard-Westlake 30-13 in Studio City.

“It wasn’t pretty but I’ll take the win,” Dolphins head coach Dylen Smith said. “There’s a lesson to be learned and that is we can’t afford to play down to their level. We have league coming up and we’ll need to step it up in practice starting now.”

The Dolphins improved to 4-1 and got back on the winning track after a demoralizing overtime loss to Brentwood in the teams’ annual Sunset Showdown the week before.    

“It was important to come here and get the W,” senior linebacker Jake Treibatch said. “We respected them, they’re not a bad team but given who we’ve played thus far we’re not unfamiliar with the Wing T—as a defense we know this type of offense and how to stop it.”

Similar to the Dolphins’ first three opponents Harvard-Westlake relied heavily on the running game, which Palisades bottled up thanks to swift lateral pursuit by Treibatch and fellow linebackers Rowan Flynn, Cash Allen Brayden Khani and penetration by linemen Jack Tobin, Kenneth Sanchez, Dylan Nazarian and Joseph Bucher-Leighton. In fact, Wolverines quarterback attempted only 11 passes but one of them was a six-yard touchdown to Solomon Moore in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, Palisades quarterback Jack Thomas was consistently able to escape the pocket to deliver the ball downfield or scramble for first downs. He read an all-out blitz and delivered a 20-yard strike to wide receiver Max Hejazi in the end zone to cap the Dolphins’ first drive. After forcing a punt Palisades got the ball back and King Demethris made a dazzling one-handed grab along the sideline to move Palisades into the red zone. Tailback Harrison Carter weaved his way through the defense for a 12-yard score on the first play of the second quarter to make it 13-0.          

Palisades clung to a six-point lead when a series of events turned the game decisively in its favor in the waning moments of the first half. After the Dolphins marched to the 9-yard line, a sack and two penalties pushed them back, but kicker Jack Mallow split the uprights on a 42-yard field goal to salvage valuable points. It appeared the Wolverines might answer on their ensuing drive, but Palisades’ defense stiffened and forced a punt attempt. A poor snap caused the punter’s knee to touch the ground before the kick could be made, giving the Dolphins the ball back at the opponents’ 33-yard line with  90 seconds left until intermission. Following an incomplete pass, Thomas made the home team pay for its miscue with a nifty touchdown run to up the lead to 23-7.

Harvard-Westlake (2-3) entered the game with momentum having beaten Royal 25-14 the previous week and came out fired up for the second half, putting together a 17-play, 80-yard drive that consumed over nine minutes and trimmed the Wolverines’ deficit to 10 points. All that did was motivate the Dolphins, who moved the chains thanks to a clutch 11-yard gain on fourth down by LeHenry Solomon, who took a direct snap in the Wildcat formation and slipped out of several tackles to pick up the necessary yardage.  Five plays later, a hobbling Thomas ignored a leg cramp to roll left and find Hejazi wide open for a 13-yard touchdown which made it a three-score gap early in the fourth quarter.      

Palisades’ swarming defense took over from there, forcing two punts and then a turnover on downs in the Wolverines’ last three possessions.   

“A hue part of it is the defensive line,” said Treibatch, who resembled a whirlwind all over the field while leading the Dolphins with 17 tackles and a pass deflection. “They allow me to do what I do. You don’t want to spend too much time in the L’s, you want to be in the W’s more.”    

Defensive Coordinator Jack Beck  praised his unit for not surrendering any points in the fourth quarter but warned this is no time to slack off with the real season about to begin.   

Palisades and Harvard-Westlake were meeting for the first time since splitting a home-and-home set back in 2013 and 2014—the Dolphins’ first two seasons under former coach Tim Hyde. The boys in blue spoiled the Wolverines’ homecoming with a 45-18 upset in the first encounter but Harvard-Westlake got revenge the following year with a 37-21 triumph at Stadium by the Sea.

Palisades has a bye this week and travels to Fairfax next Friday night for its Western League opener.

Through five games Thomas has passed for 1,010 yards and 13 touchdowns with only one interception. He is also the second leading rusher with 270 yards and three scores. Solomon and Demethris each have 17 receptions and Hejazi has 15.     

*** Click on any photo below to view slide show ***

Week 4: Palisadian-Post Football Contest

By
the Palisadian-Post
-

The annual Palisadian-Post Football Contest, giving readers a chance to predict upcoming game winners, continues to week two.

“Every week, the Palisadian-Post will have a selection of NFL and college football games,” according to the contest rules. “Check the team you predict will win each game. The person with the most correct picks wins. In the event there is a tie, the tie-breaker will be used to determine the winner.”

There is an online submission process: Contestants can download or copy their entry form, fill in their picks, take a photo, and email it back to footballcontest@palipost.com by the 5 p.m. Friday deadline. This week’s deadline is Friday, September 27, at 5 p.m.

One entry per person per contest will be accepted. Winners will receive a $10 gift card from our contest sponsor, The Yogurt Shoppe, via email. Last week’s winner was Richard Olsen (+7).

Bouncing Back

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Middle blocker Hazel Irving hammers a kill over a Venice blocker during the teams’ Western League match September 9.
Photo: Steve Galluzzo

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Being swept on its home floor by its archrival seems to have lit a fire under the Palisades High girls volleyball team. Since that setback the Dolphins have raised their game to a higher level and it showed at the Falcons Classic in La Crescenta two weeks ago, as Carlos Gray’s squad battled its way into the Gold bracket and avenged its Western League loss to Venice with a decisive 25-20, 25-17 tournament victory.

Palisades would eventually lose 25-16, 25-23  in the quarterfinal round to eventual champion Saugus, but the Dolphins showed the fight their coach was hoping for as the season reaches the midway point. In its four league matches after the defeat to the Gondos, Palisades did not drop a set against Hamilton, University, Fairfax and Westchester, improving to 4-1 in league with a rematch at Venice looming next Wednesday.     

Last Friday, the Dolphins took on Windward  in an intersectional contest and tamed the visiting Wildcats, 25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17.

The race for the No. 1 seed in the eight-team City Section Open Division playoffs is heating up, with Venice and Palisades in the mix along with West Valley League frontrunners Taft and Granada Hills, defending champion El Camino Real, Cleveland (fourth place in the West Valley), East Valley League leader Grant, Marshall and Eagle Rock of the Northern League and San Pedro and Carson representing the Marine League.   

Palisades has won a record 30 City titles but has not lifted the trophy since the 2020 season, which got delayed until the spring of 2021.

Runners Give It Team Effort

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Pictured from left to right: Sophomore Zoey Morris, Sophomore Gabriella Gilyard, Junior Louisa Mammen, Freshman Maya Hively
Photos by Steve Galluzzo

Dolphins Ninth in Girls Rated Race, Boys 33rd in Sweepstakes at Woodbridge XC Classic

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Palisades High’s boys and girls cross country teams got a chance to compete on a national stage Saturday night in the 43rd annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic and the Dolphins shined bright under the lights  of the winding three-mile course at Great Park in Irvine.

The varsity girls were entered in the rated division, the second tier in the entire two-day meet, and placed ninth out of 32 teams with 348 points and a cumulative time of 1:30:56.0. El Toro was first with 90 points as its five fastest runners were all among the top 25.

Setting the pace for the Dolphins was freshman Maya Hively, who clocked 17:39.2 to take 31st by one-tenth of a second ahead of Conifier junior Gianna Cicora. Sophomore Zoey Morris, the reigning City Section Division I champion, was Palisades’ second finisher in 17:46.3—a whopping 1:06.2 improvement over her  effort in the Blue Varsity Girls B race last fall when she was 27th. Junior Louisa Mammen, the Dolphins’ swiftest runner at Woodbridge one year ago (20 seconds faster and 10 spots in front of Morris) was Palisades’ third finisher this time around, placing 53rd in 17:57.0.

Sophomore Gabriella Gilyard was 115th in the field of 217, posting a time of 18:44.9, and freshman Eleanor Mammen was six places behind in 18:48.6. Junior Daila Harinck was another six spots and six seconds back in 18:56.2 and 10th-grader Kendal Shaver rounded out the lineup as the seventh runner, finishing in 19:50.0.

Erika Kirk of Vista Murrieta won in 16:33.0 and El Toro’s Gweneth Williams took second in a race in which 56 girls broke 18 minutes.

The last girls race of the night was a sizzler as Rylee Blade of Corona Santiago shattered the meet record by 12.2 seconds, blazing to victory in 15:20.2   to top a field that included defending champion Jane Hedengren of Timpview High in Provo, UT and 2022 winner Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura, who finished fourth and fifth this year, respectively. Chiara Dailey of La Jolla was second, nearly eight full seconds behind the winner.

Also placing ninth in the team standings was Palisades’ Blue Junior/Senior girls team, led by Mar Henderson-Maclennan, who was 12th overall in  19:29.5. Fellow juniors Tallulah Younger (21:32.3) and Maya Bhasin (21:45.3) were 88th and 100th, respectively.

The Dolphins’ sophomore girls placed third with 97 points, trailing only Corona Santiago (59) and Trabuco Hills (73). Ninth-grader Amelia Halpin was Palisades’ leading lady, coming in 16th in 20:12.2. Seven spots behind was sophomore Vitalijo Schafer (20:2.9) and three spots later was freshman Hanna Sadzik (20:28.2).      

For the boys, Palisades took 10th in the Blue (Division I) sophomore division with a score of 413. The Dolphins’pacesetter was freshman Justin Funk (23rd in 16:22.7), followed by twin brother Ethan (37th in   16:34.3 and sophomore Thomas Butler (96th in 17:14.1) in a large field of 517 runners.

In the Blue Senior race, Palisades placed 15th out of 27 teams, led by junior Jackson Taylor (18th in  16:13.2), senior Basel Thierry (37th in 16:33.5) and junior Lajus Collins (80th in 17:10.7).

The last race of the, going off just before 10 p.m., was the Doug Speck Boys Sweepstakes and Palisades was making its second straight appearance in the elite division after placing 20th in 2023 with a collective time of 1:16:20.5. The Dolphins clocked 1:16:41.3 Saturday but finished 33rd out of 36 teams in a race dominated by out-of-state schools. Herriman of Utah won its third straight Woodbridge crown with 58 points while Owen Powell of Mercer Island, WA.edged Josiah Tostenson from Crater, OR by two-tenths of a second to take the individual title in a record 13:30.3. Junior Blake Sigworth paced the Dolphins (88th  in 14:45.0), followed by senior Owen Lewicky (110th in 14:54.0) and Zachary Cohen (173rd in 15:18.8).   

Marymount Sails to Durango Final

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Pictured from left to right: Jordan Johnson and Karys Campos
Photos by Steve Galluzzo

The volleyball program at Marymount High has enjoyed great success since Palisadian Cari Klein took the reins in 1998 and her current squad could prove to be one of her best.

The Sailors took second place at the prestigious Durango Fall Classic last weekend in Las Vegas—the fourth time in the last five seasons they have finished in the top three at perhaps the toughest national tournament.

Featuring four Palisades residents—sophomore libero Karys Campos, senior opposite hitter Ryan Gilhooly, junior defensive specialist Declan Eastman and junior middle blocker Jordan Johnson—the varsity team took first in its pool with victories over Las Vegas area power Palo Verde (25-19, 25-17), San Jose Archbishop Mitty (25-23, 18-25, 25-21) and Rancho Cucamonga (25-19, 25-21). Next up was the qualifying round to determine if the Sailors would advance to the championship bracket or settle for the silver bracket instead. They clinched a spot in the former with a 25-19, 25-19 sweep of San Diego Cathedral Catholic.

In the quarterfinals, Marymount faced Bay League frontrunner Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach and, in a tense struggle, Klein’s team avenged a four-set loss to the Mustangs back on August 22 with a 30-28, 21-25, 25-18 triumph. In the semifinals, the Sailors avenged an Aug. 31 loss to Cornerstone Christian of San Antonio, TX with a 20-25, 25-19, 25-23 win.

The finals pitted Marymount against defending champion Mater Dei of Santa Ana and, in one of the best championship matches in the tournament’s storied history, the Monarchs prevailed, 25-18, 24-26, 28-26—snapping Marymount’s nine-match winning streak. Three Sailors earned All-Tournament honors, each of them NCAA Division I commits: junior outside hitter Sammy Destler (Washington), junior middle blocker Elle Vandeweghe (SMU) and junior setter Olivia Penske (Georgetown).

It marked a big improvement over last year’s showing when Marymount took third in the bronze division (19th overall) at Durango on its way to finishing 29-12 overall and 7-3 in Mission League play. The Sailors are ranked in the top five in California and hosted Sierra Canyon, which was fifth in Las Vegas, in the first of two league showdowns Tuesday.

Marymount has won Durango twice, defeating Long Beach Wilson in the finals in 2003 and ousting Mater Dei in the finals three years ago en route to a perfect 35-0 campaign, after which the Sailors were declared national champions. That team featured St. Matthew’s alum Elia Rubin (now a junior outside hitter at Stanford) and Corpus Christi alum Kerry Keefe (now a junior outside hitter at Duke).    

Marymount was the runner-up at Durango in 2022 (losing to Cathedral Catholic in the finals) and was third in 2011 and 2019. The tournament debuted in 1995 and Assumption  of Louisville, KY holds the record for most titles (six), followed by Mater Dei (five) and Archbishop Mitty (four).         

Dolphins Demand a Dozen

By
Steve Galluzzo
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Charlie Speiser and the Palisades High boys water polo team will try to make it 12 City titles in a row in November.
Photo: Steve Galluzzo

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The pressure is on for Palisades High boys water polo senior Charlie Speiser. His brothers Sammy (Class of 2018) and Maximo (Class of 2020) never lost a single City Section playoff match and he wants to carry on the family tradition by ending his Dolphins career with one more first-place medal to match the three he already owns.   

Palisades has not suffered a postseason defeat since a quartefinal loss to Cleveland in 2011 when the program was re-instated by coach Adam Blakis after a 33-year hiatus. Since then, the Dolphins have captured 11 consecutive crowns—the second-longest active title streak in the section behind only Palisades’ boys tennis team, which has won 15 straight dating back to 2009.   

To make it an even dozen the Dolphins must cope with the graduation of top scorer Owen Grant, who netted a finals-record 12 goals against Granada Hills in the inaugural Open Division championship game, a 23-10 Palisades victory.

The team still has loads of offensive firepower with Speiser, Benjamin Mokhtar, Jake Gallagher, Oliver Ghiassi, Ilan Ahdout, Sherwin Hazany, Sean Ellis and Jonah Isackson. Preventing the other team from scoring is equally important and that responsibility lies on the shoulders of returning goalie Logan Mirzadeh, who will serve as a co-captain alongside Speiser.

In keeping with tradition, the Dolphins’ coaches entered them in  tough early-tournaments to prepare for league and postseason action. This year it was the Ranch Bernardo Varsity Aquafest from August 22 to 24, the Long Beach Poly Invite the next weekend and the Malibu Classic from September 5-7. Palisades  heads to the South Bay Tournament  this weekend seeking to level its overall won-loss record at the two-day competition.

Palisades won six straight titles from 1973-78 and started its latest dynasty in 2012 (there were no playoffs in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Dolphins’ current playoff win streak is 42 (four rounds the first 10 years and two last year), believed to be the most of any team in any sport in the City.

Grant and his brother Avery had a similar experience last season as   Speiser does this year as their older sibling Oliver was a key member of the Dolphins’ championship teams from 2016-19. In their current title run the Dolphins’ finals wins have all come against West Valley League foes: five versus Birmingham, three versus Granada Hills, two versus Cleveland and one versus El Camino Real. The Highlanders will have a challenging road back to the finals in light of the fact that they too lost their leading scorer, Jared Espinoza, to graduation. He tallied six goals  against Palisades in last year’s final.

Other schools vying to dethrone the Dolphins include Birmingham, San Pedro and Cleveland, last year’s Division I champion.

Water polo returned as a City co-ed sport in the winter of 2008 and was split into separate boys and girls sports that fall. Birmingham captured four titles over five seasons before Palisades started its decade plus of dominance under Blakis,  who is joined this year by program alums Theo and Ben Trask.

In addition to its 17 City titles (including the six from the ‘70s) Palisades won back-to-back CIF Southern California Regional Division III titles in 2021 and 2022 and lost to Bonita in the finals last  year at Mt. San Antonio College.

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