Before La Jolla High School’s home quarterfinal Division I tennis match against Rancho Bernardo this month, coach Jack Kruger summoned his players to a court where a banner listed the La Jolla’s CIF San Diego Section championships.
La Jolla had won 39 section titles, according to the CIF record book — 15 more than any other program. But the Vikings hadn’t won one since 2018, according to the record book.
“We need to put your year on the wall,” Kruger told his athletes.
At it turned out, the 2024 Vikings wrote their own history, defeating San Diego High School 10-8 to win the Division I title on April 20 at the Barnes Tennis Center in Point Loma.
“It’s nice to put our names with the greats who played here,” said senior Ben Haswell.
Haswell’s doubles partner, Tucker McDonald, agreed: “It’s nice to have a banner of our own.”
Doubles was the key to the Vikings’ march to the title. Haswell and McDonald swept all three sets, as did twins Barrett and Ryan Keller.
The Vikings’ doubles record for the tournament was 31-5.
Kruger is a piece of the La Jolla legacy. He played on the Vikings’ 1977 championship team, which was part of a 15-year run when La Jolla won section titles from 1970 to 1984. He went on to play at USC and professionally, including at Wimbledon.
Girls beach volleyball
La Jolla High, seeded No. 2 in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division tournament, lost to third-seeded Torrey Pines 4-1 in a first-round match April 25.
The Vikings will play in the second round at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, against fourth seed Westview, which fell in the first round to top-ranked Cathedral Catholic 5-0.
In Division II, second-seeded La Jolla Country Day School defeated No. 15 Southwest 5-0 in the first round April 25.
The Torreys next will take on No. 7 San Dieguito Academy at 4 p.m. April 30. San Dieguito beat Rancho Bernardo 4-1 in the opening round.
Boys volleyball
The Bishop’s School, seeded seventh in the San Diego Section Division I playoffs, will open the tournament at home against No. 10 Rancho Bernardo at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 1.
In Division II, eighth-seeded La Jolla High will host No. 9 El Cajon Valley in the first round at 7 p.m. April 30.
In Division IV, No. 10 La Jolla Country Day will visit No. 7 El Capitan for a first-round match at 7 p.m. May 1. ◆
