Eagles, Lions look to continue championship runs

Santa Margarita girls seek three-peat, 100-point performance in Division 3; Oaks Christian boys could also challenge Division 4 scoring mark in pursuit of fourth crown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The two most impressive team performances Saturday at the CIF Southern Section prelims came from the Santa Margarita girls in Division 3 and Oaks Christian boys in Division 4, setting the stage for both lineups to deliver record-setting efforts at the championship meet May 20 at Cerritos College.

Oaks Christian, seeking back-to-back titles and its fourth in 12 years, had athletes qualify for the finals in all 14 events in which it was entered. The Lions didn’t have entries in the discus throw or pole vault.

Santa Margarita, looking to become the first Division 3 girls team to win three in a row since Muir in 2003-05, had athletes advance in 13 of the 15 events it had entries. The Eagles didn’t contest the shot put and didn’t have qualifiers in the discus throw and 3,200.

Santa Margarita, led by Lauren Drysch, Erin Gerardo and Nikki Merritt all qualifying for the finals in four events, has the potential to set the all-time Division 3 scoring record, regardless of gender. San Luis Obispo produced the division standard with 90 points in 2009.

The Eagles, who won last year’s title with 78.75 points, are projected to score 102 in the final. Calabasas, runner-up last season with 71 points, has a projection of 84 at the championship meet.

Only seven girls programs have surpassed 100 points in CIF Southern Section finals history, led by Long Beach Poly achieving the feat nine times. Serra did so four years in a row from 2009-12, with Oaks Christian enjoying a streak of three consecutive seasons that will likely end this year, although the Lions are still in contention to win a fourth straight title.

Long Beach Poly boasts the all-time girls section scoring record with 148 points in the Division 1 final in 2011. JW North set the Division 2 record of 136 in 2003 and Oaks Christian produced the best mark in Division 4 history with 131 in 2015.

JW North and St. Mary’s Academy both reached the 100-point level twice, with Long Beach Wilson and Marlborough each doing so once.

Oaks Christian has the potential to produce its third Division 4 championship sweep in four years, with the Lions looking to become only the fourth boys team in section history to reach 100 points at the finals, joining Long Beach Poly, Serra and Great Oak.

Oaks Christian, which scored 91.5 points to capture the title in 2014, is projected to accumulate 103 in the final, led by Christian Moore qualifying for the finals in all four events and Talin Lewis, Nick Moore and Myles Webb in three apiece. Serra’s all-time boys scoring record is 135 from 2010.

Of the four defending boys section champions, Oaks Christian is the biggest projected favorite, with Notre Dame boasting a slight advantage over Servite to secure a three-peat in Division 3.

Santa Margarita has the strongest projection among the four reigning girls champions and the only one with an opportunity to reach 100 points.

The other three divisions are much tighter races, with last year’s winners Great Oak (Division 1), Mission Viejo (Division 2) and Oaks Christian (Division 4) all in contention following the prelims, although none are clear favorites.