SJC LIVING/PAGE

GUEST OPINION | The Cowgirl Designer by Marlene Holmquist

THE NATIONS CUP IS COMING: SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WILL HOST THE WORLD IN MAY

When my husband Tom and I moved here 18 months ago from San Diego County, I had no idea San Juan Capistrano was home to an equestrian Olympic competitor and coach, and apparently, I am not alone! Robert Ridland and his company (The Ridland Group) have managed Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park since 1998, and Robert has been coach of the US Olympic Equestrian show jumping team since 2013. The recent and prestigious honor of being announced as the host of the third leg of the 2022 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup puts San Juan Capistrano in company with other host locations in Canada, Great Britain, Ireland and Sweden. There are 10 legs to the competition, starting with Abu Dhabi in January and culminating in Barcelona, Spain, for the finals in September.

San Juan Capistrano has become “The Equestrian Capital of the West” due to the efforts of The Ridland Group, along with our truly unique landscape. The upcoming 2022 Nations Cup is our very own “International Super Bowl,” and our U.S. Equestrian team deserves our enthusiastic support just like any other sports team representing the USA. Understanding show jumping com-

THE COWGIRL petitions involves a

DESIGNER learning curve. I will

BY MARLENE HOLMQUIST be writing future informational articles, one of them introducing the riders and how Robert selects them. But, bottom line is, this is the first time The Nations Cup has been held on the West Coast, and it is a unique opportunity for SJC to shine in the eyes of the world. It is a majestic event for anyone to enjoy, bringing with it prosperity to business owners in Orange County and inspiration for riders of all ages and disciplines. Events and parking are free, and the public is encouraged to enjoy the entire experience, including unexpected activities and a vendor shopping area.

While garnering personal attention has never been on Robert’s agenda, mentoring individual riders has been. His strategy to create the 5-person U.S. team by pairing two young riders with three veterans is unique and has been quite successful. According to Robert, “No other country has that type of participation from the next generation of stars.” In a sport in which riders can compete well at advanced ages, Robert has assembled other equestrian teams where three out of four have been under age 25. Our current U.S. Olympic equestrian team representing us on May 10-15 has yet to be decided by Robert. The names will be announced.

Robert’s wife, Hillary, works in unison with Robert to mentor and encourage our U.S. riders. An award-winning jumper in her own right, Hillary’s successes and efforts do not stop there. The Ridland Group was recently selected to enter into negotiations to continue managing the RMV Riding Park. Since then, Hillary has also been working tirelessly to elevate the discipline of Western riding, with events that started in January. She is passionate about the concept of “Horsemen United” and welcomes input and suggestions for the future of the Riding Park for everyone. For more information and to keep up with everything going on at The Riding Park (including soccer, concerts, and other events), visit theridingpark.com.

Marlene Holmquist, ASID, owns Luxury Ranch Interior Design, a full-service interior design company specializing in remodels for residences and small businesses. An avid equestrian known as “The Cowgirl Designer,” she is a member of the San Juan Capistrano Equestrian Coalition and Las Vaqueras Women’s Riding Club. luxury-ranch.com or thecowgirldesigner.com. CD

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, The Capistrano Dispatch provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of The Capistrano Dispatch or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@thecapistranodispatch .com.

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Phoebe

THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Eleven-month-old Phoebe is a pretty kitty who is ready to find her purrfect match. Her favorite pastimes are birdwatching and chasing toys, though she wouldn’t say no to a tasty treat or a scratch behind the ears. Phoebe gets along with other cats and would make a great kitty companion. Could she be the one for you? If you are interested in adopting Phoebe, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/adoptions/ to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment.

Photo: Collin Breaux

WHAT’S HAPPENING: PHOTO FROM THE COMMUNITY

The Kids’ Pet Parade hosted by the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association on Saturday, Feb. 19, was a cavalcade of colorful animals and fun presentations by local kids. See who won and more photos from the event at thecapistranodispatch.com.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

SOLUTION: Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium

2022 San Juan Spring Sports Preview

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

The spring sports season is by far the busiest season of the CIF-Southern Section sports calendar, and that’s especially true in San Juan Capistrano.

There are 11 sports contested in the spring season, and the five high schools in San Juan Capistrano all have teams ready and aimed toward championship goals.

Let’s look at a few of the top teams in San Juan Capistrano for the 2022 spring sports season:

JSerra Baseball

The JSerra baseball team is at the top of the heap in terms of talent and the outside attention it will attract.

Coach Brett Kay has elevated this program to the status as a perennial contender, as well as a true baseball talent factory for the college ranks and MLB Draft.

Last season, JSerra made its deepest playoff run yet to the CIF-SS Division 1 final on the arms of MLB draftees Eric Silva, now signed with the San Francisco Giants, and Gage Jump, who chose to attend UCLA. The Lions lost that Division 1 title game, but they rebounded to collect the program’s first CIF State Regional championship.

This season, JSerra has those same lofty expectations placed on it again, as the Lions opened as the No. 3-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 1, No. 3 in California by Prep Baseball Report and No. 8 in the Perfect Game national rankings.

JSerra is 4-1 early in the season, scoring 26 runs while allowing only eight in those five games. The Lions’ lone loss came to No. 1 Harvard-Westlake, which beat JSerra in the Division 1 final and all three meetings last season.

Returning contributors for the Lions include Vanderbilt-bound senior pitcher and infielder David Horn, University of San Diego-bound senior pitcher Tristan LaMaison, Oregon State-bound senior pitcher Tyler Gough, senior infielder Owen Fuller and sophomore pitcher Matthew Champion.

JSerra plays CIF-SS Division 1 No. 2 Orange Lutheran in what could be the Trinity League-deciding title series, from March 8-11, and plays Harvard-Westlake again on the road on April 11.

San Juan Hills Baseball

There may not be a better pair of baseball leagues in one conference in the entire Southern Section than the South Coast and Sea View Leagues of the Coast View Conference, and San Juan Hills is aiming to make its way up the ladder.

Last season, the Stallions were a respectable group at 14-14 overall, with a third-place finish in the Sea View League. San Juan Hills lost some top seniors to graduation, including UC Irvine freshman Dub Gleed.

This season, San Juan Hills is ranked No. 9 in CIF-SS Division 3 and looking to make the program’s second playoff appearance and first since 2019.

The Stallions are 3-2 in the early season, with strong wins over Dana Hills (8-1), Long Beach Millikan (3-1) and Cypress (2-0).

San Juan Hills opens Sea View League play against reigning league champions Trabuco Hills at home on March 16. The Stallions play their first game against San Clemente on the road on March 25 and host Aliso Niguel on March 30. San Juan Hills will also play in the prestigious Ryan Lemmon Invitational at the Great Park in Irvine April 2-6.

Leading the way for the Stallions this season is senior pitcher, infielder and outfielder Tanner Duke, who is signed to play in college at Baylor.

St. Margaret’s Boys and Girls Lacrosse

Among the San Juan Capistrano teams that always have championship aspirations are both St. Margaret’s lacrosse programs, which both enter the season with top talent once again.

Both teams enter the season on the CIFSS Division 1 watch list, but both teams

The JSerra and San Juan Hills baseball teams are both ranked in their respective CIF-SS divisions to open the season, and both are looking to claim league titles. Photos: Zach Cavanagh

are starting from different positions.

The boys side is coming off a Division 1 quarterfinal run in the first-ever CIF-SS lacrosse playoffs last season. The 2022 lacrosse playoffs were the first to be administrated and organized by the Southern Section after years under the U.S. Lacrosse banner.

Last season, St. Margaret’s was 15-4 overall and the No. 4 seed in Division 1, but lost to another perennial power in Corona del Mar in the quarterfinals.

This season, St. Margaret’s opened in near-perfect fashion with a 15-0 win over Culver City on Tuesday, Feb. 22. The Tartans boys have several college-bound players, including Will Stahl (Holy Cross), Matt Groeninger (Bryant), Makai Todd (Drexel), Sebastien Chicas (VMI), Hayden and Riley Chester (Monmouth) and Seth Forstot (Rhodes).

St. Margaret’s hosts CIF-SS champion Loyola on April 2 and Corona del Mar on April 26.

The Tartans girls are coming off a disappointing season considering the high standards of the program, but St. Margaret’s also enters 2022 with a new coach.

Megan Armes is the new girls lacrosse head coach that will help the Tartans bounce back from last season’s 7-9 record that left them out of the playoffs. Armes was previously an assistant at JSerra and Mission Viejo and played collegiately at Division 1 St. Mary’s College of California.

St. Margaret’s opened its season with a 15-7 win over Aliso Niguel on Feb. 16.

The Tartans return their leading scorers in junior Lauren Lam, Johns Hopkins-bound Grace Karstetter and junior Minka Martinez.

St. Margaret’s plays at JSerra on April 7 and hosts CIF-SS champion Foothill on April 21.

Capistrano Valley Christian Boys Volleyball

Last season produced a historic run for the Capistrano Valley Christian boys volleyball team.

The Eagles completed a swift rise to the top with its first CIF-SS championship by dropping only one set in its Division 6 title run, and followed that up with its first CIF State Regional championship by, again, dropping only one set in its Division IV title run.

CVC continued its upward trajectory with the hiring of coach Ryan Van Rensselaer, who had turned the Saddleback Valley Christian boys volleyball program into a perennial power before the school’s changeover to Fairmont San Juan Capistrano and the loss of the program. Several impact transfers from title teams at SVC followed Van Rensselaer to CVC, as the coach and his players seek to continue their dominance.

The Eagles open the season on the Division 4 watch list, with noteworthy contributors returning from last year’s championship team including senior outside-hitter Kai Taylor, senior setter Max Stegelvik and senior outside-hitter Andrew Sheveland.

CVC is already 3-2 on the season, with a title game rematch win over Orange and wins over Kennedy and Santa Margarita. The Eagles host JSerra on March 8 and Dana Hills on March 16. In league play, CVC plays at St. Margaret’s on March 17 and hosts the Tartans on March 30. St. Margaret’s is also on the Division 4 watch list. CD

SAN JUAN PREP SPORTS ROUNDUP

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

For in-game updates, news and more for all of the San Juan Capistrano high school sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCSports.

San Juan Hills Boys Basketball Advances to First Final

In these CIF-SS Division 2A playoffs, the San Juan Hills boys basketball team has played in its first quarterfinal and its first semifinal, and now, the No. 1 seed Stallions are on to their first CIF-SS final.

With its strong defense and hot shooting, San Juan Hills held off St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs, 63-53, in the CIF-SS Division 2A semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at San Juan Hills High School.

The Stallions (26-4) will play at La Mirada in the Division 2A title game on Friday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m.

San Juan Hills boys basketball is one of three city basketball teams to advance to the CIF-SS finals. It will be the Stallions’ first CIF-SS championship game. Photo: Courtesy of Rich Matzinger

JSerra Boys Basketball to Host Division 1 Final

The JSerra boys basketball team cruised in its rubber-match semifinal with Trinity League rival St. John Bosco.

The Lions led by double digits for the entirety of the final three quarters to roll over the Braves, 60-44, in a CIF-SS Division 1 semifinal on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at JSerra Catholic High School.

JSerra (19-9) advances to its first CIF-SS final since it won the Division 4AA title in 2014. The Lions will host St. Bernard of Playa Del Rey in the Division 1 final on Friday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m.

CVC Girls Basketball Advances to First Final in 25 Years

The Capistrano Valley Christian girls basketball team led, 20-2, in the first quarter and never looked back in a rout of Cal Lutheran of Wildomar, 54-28, in the CIF-SS Division 5AA semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Capistrano Valley Christian School.

CVC (16-6) advances to its first CIF-SS Final since 1997 and will attempt to win its first title on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. at Desert Christian Academy in Lancaster.

The Eagles have outscored their playoff opponents by a collective score of 285-116, with an average margin of victory of more than 42 points per game.

JSerra Boys Soccer to Host Final; San Juan Hills Falls in Penalty Kicks

The JSerra boys soccer team took advantage of a penalty kick, and San Juan Hills was defeated on penalty kicks in each team’s respective CIF-SS semifinal on Tuesday, Feb. 22.

In Division 1, JSerra’s Sean McTague converted a penalty kick in the 61st minute, and McTague scored again late in the game to send the Lions past No. 2 seed Mira Costa, 2-0, and advance to their first CIF-SS final since winning the Division 1 title in 2010.

JSerra (17-3-1) will host No. 1 seed and Trinity League champion Servite (20-2-2) in the Division 1 final on Friday, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. Servite beat JSerra in both regular-season meetings, 4-0 and 3-1.

In Division 2, San Juan Hills’ historic run came to a disappointing end on Tuesday.

Senior Cole Monach scored twice to put San Juan Hills up early in the second half. However, visiting Montebello scored on a rush goal in the 74th minute, and well past the 80th minute in stoppage time, the Oilers converted a perfectly placed 25-yard free kick to tie, 2-2.

After two scoreless overtime periods, the game entered penalty kicks. The teams were tied with three goals each going into the decisive fifth round, but after Montebello converted, San Juan Hills’ final attempt went over the goal, cinching the Oilers’ victory.

San Juan Hills (10-3-6) was playing in its first semifinal after winning its first league title and first playoff game this season. CD