With New Sports, Athletic History Starts Afresh

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By Amy Orr, Special to the Independent

Athletes and fans will have more to cheer about this year as Laguna Beach High School adds two new sports to its athletic line-up. Wrestling squads will appear at LBHS this winter and lacrosse teams will play in the spring.

The school board unanimously approved the addition of both sports in May, when Athletic Director Lance Neal shared the results of a student survey. The data showed solid interest in lacrosse and wrestling among students entering sixth-12th grades.

According to Neal, approximately 70% of LBHS students participate in sports. In the last school year, the school offered 14 sports (plus cheerleading); lacrosse and wrestling bring the total number of LBHS sports to 16, further increasing student options. With the school year underway, new coaches have already been hired.

Bobby Morales will lead boys and girls wrestling. During the initial wrestling season, Morales plans to merge practices and coach the two groups simultaneously. When interest picks up and training space becomes an issue, he says he will separate the boys and girls squads.

Chris Nunziata, who led the El Toro High School lacrosse team, this year will coach for LBHS.   Photo courtesy of Whittier College Athletic Department. Photo courtesy of El Toro Athletic Dept.
Chris Nunziata, who led the El Toro High School lacrosse team, this year will coach for LBHS.
Photo courtesy of Whittier College Athletic Department. Photo courtesy of El Toro Athletic Dept.

Morales brings a great deal of expertise to his position. He grew up in Mission Viejo, but moved to Laguna Hills for his high school years. At Laguna Hills High, he was a four-time league champion in wrestling, two-time CIF champion, and three-time finalist. Morales took seventh in the state in 2009 and second in the state in 2010, also earning the distinction of California Wrestler of the Year. After high school, Morales accepted an athletic scholarship as a Division 1 wrestler at Cal State Fullerton.

Currently a resident of Laguna Beach, where he lives with his fiancé, Morales owns several local businesses, including a marketing company, a print shop, a cryotherapy business, restaurants, dessert shops, and a mixed martial arts gym. For the last two years, he was the head wrestling coach at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano. Morales acknowledges that creating a new program at LBHS will be challenging.

“We will try to focus on wrestling some newer and younger teams for our first year,” Morales said, “but we’ll ultimately be wrestling established teams.”

Second degree black belt Jason Bukich will serve as Morales’ assistant coach. Bukich has spent 30 years training and competing in martial arts and 11 years as a professional martial arts teacher. He lives in Laguna Niguel with his wife and 20-month-old daughter.

The LBHS boys lacrosse team will be helmed by Chris Nunziata, a Boston transplant who grew up playing soccer and lacrosse. Nunziata met his wife, a San Juan Capistrano native, during his undergrad years at Boston College. While acquiring his teaching credential at UC Irvine, Nunziata began coaching youth lacrosse teams and summer camps. He transitioned to coaching high school varsity lacrosse at Newport Harbor High, eventually becoming the head lacrosse coach at El Toro High School last year.

“With a first-year program, I hope to get my athletes to fall in love with the sport of lacrosse,” Nunziata said. “Lacrosse is one of the more exciting sports to be involved with. I know once they give it a try, they will fall in love with the sport.” Nunziata will have assistance from Rich Knox, who served as his assistant coach at El Toro.

“Chris and I have been coaching together for 10 years,” said Knox. “We both are excited to start the team and teach the game.”

Alexandra Holtz, named coach for the LBHS girls lacrosse team, played the sport during her years at Whittier College
Alexandra Holtz, named coach for the LBHS girls lacrosse team, played the sport during her years at Whittier College

LBHS science teacher Alexandra Holtz, coach of the girls’ lacrosse team, said that playing lacrosse changed her life and bonded her to her teammates. After growing up in Maryland, Holtz came to California for undergraduate studies. While working toward a double major of psychology and chemistry, she was asked to join the lacrosse team at Whittier College. A four-year player, she started in defense and finished at center midfield. During her time as a student teacher, Holtz began coaching girls lacrosse.

Thrilled by the personal connections that teaching provides, Holtz said she sees lacrosse as another way to reach LBHS students and help them find their paths. She admits that most Californians are unfamiliar with the rules of the game, but says she has already seen great enthusiasm from the Laguna student body. Students participated in the spring clinics and summer camp programs Holtz offered on campus.

“The girls loved it,” Holtz said. “I saw lots of athletic ability and lots of potential. This season I want the girls to gain enough skills to develop confidence and play a cohesive game. We can build from there.”

Photo courtesy of El Toro Athletic Department

Chris Nunziata, who led the El Toro High School lacrosse team, this year will coach for LBHS.

Photo courtesy of Whittier College Athletic Department

 

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