By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Being a soccer goalie is not easy. You may only be called upon two or three times a game, but when you are you have to come through.

Senior Jacinda Hevesy-Rodriguez has done that as well as anyone can in her three seasons as the starting varsity netminder at Palisades High and no one appreciates her as much as head coach Christian Chambers, who considers her leadership equally as valuable as her uncanny ability to keep the ball out of the net.

“She’s been everything I could’ve asked and more, especially how she works with the younger girls,” Chambers said. “No player has had a bigger impact on the success of our program the last few years than her. To win a championship good goalkeeping is a must and Jacinda keeps us in every game.”

“When I was younger [in Santa Monica] I played a different position and I didn’t want to switch, but one day my dad was shooting on me and he said you’re pretty good,” said Hevesy-Rodriguez, who resides in Brentwood but was born and raised in Santa Monica, where she attended PS1 for Elementary School ands went through a gymnastics phase and also played shortstop for her Rec League softball team before settling on soccer. “I remember AYSO Extra evaluations were the very next week, I went to the goalie tryouts and that’s how I ended up playing goalie. Once I got into it I was kind of self-taught and the more I played, the more I liked it.”

The Dolphins are sure happy she did because her numbers speak for themselves.In 2021-22 Hevesy-Rodriguez logged 1,180 minutes between the posts, allowing just eight goals against with 43 saves and nine shutouts. The next year, as a junior, she played 1,240 minutes, made 43 saves, recorded 10 shutouts, and posted a 13-2-2 record. She allowed only three goals, two of them in the City Division I semifinals against eventual-champion El Camino Real.

She lived in San Jose for three years during middle school and spent her freshman year at Leland High in the Almaden Valley before moving back to Southern California and enrolling at Palisades as a 10th-grader. In addition to playing for Chambers at Palisades, Hevesy-Rodriguez has been on his Santa Monica Surf 05-06 DPL club team for two and a half years:

“I like it—I’ve had some not so good coaches in the past and sometimes it doesn’t work when they’re your club coach and your high school coach, but he is the best and he’s made a big difference.”

While the position can be stressful, Hevesy-Rodriguez thrives on pressure: “It’s definitely challenging but mentally it helps you grow. My confidence and patience are so much better but so many times I would doubt myself. I was out there working every day and would ask myself ‘why am I not so much better?’ Soccer is about teamwork, communication and sticing together as a group. The field is my safe place… even if it’s by myself.”

Cat-quick reflexes are one of her strongsuits, but this year she has concentrated on being more vocal and more decisive on balls in the air.

Next fall, she plans to go to Santa Monica College, where her brother Marcus, who she still looks up to, is a sophomore on the men’s team.

“I wrote one of my papers on him,” Hevesy-Rodriguez admitted. “Growing up he was always more athletic than me. At 10 he could do 1,000 juggles while I couldn’t do 10 at that age. I went to his games and it was great having an older brother who played, although he’s a right back, not a goalie.We’re different people—he’s way more relaxed—but he’s taught me to be confident and not be so hard on myself.”

Hevesy-Rodriguez hopes this is the year the Dolphins break through for their first City upper division title. She already has 19 saves, three shutouts and has even scored a goal.

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Having guided the Palisades High varsity football team to the Western League title and the City Open Division playoffs in his first year, head coach Dylen Smith had plenty of praise to dish out during Sunday’s annual awards banquet in Mercer Hall.

Starting with his coaches and extending his appreciation to the players, parents and school administrators, Smith noted the program’s success in 2023 was a “team effort” from top to bottom.

“You seniors have been through a lot—three coaches and a shortened season but you’ve set the bar for these freshmen. Whether I’m here one year or 20, I’m always here for you!”

Wth that, he proceeded to give out the awards, starting with the Coaches Award for Offense, which he presented to 6-foot-6, 320-pound senior tackle Dylan McDowell, whom Smith said “never missed a practice and anchored the offensive line.”

Palisades beat rival Venice to take first place in the Western League despite its regular season finale being canceled because of a power outage on campus. The Dolphins were seeded No. 6 in the Open Division and lost 14-10 to Gardena in the quarterfinals Nov. 9.

Defensive coordinator Jeremy Read was unable to attend but made a video in which he thanked the players for their efforts and congratulated them on exceeding expectations. Then defensive backs coach A.J. Jackson presented the Coaches Award for Defense to cornerback and safety Jabari Williams. Next, offensive line coach Moosa McClean presented the “In the Trenches” Offensive Award to center Alfonzo Orozco, pointing out the Dolphins allowed only three sacks all season. After another video presnetation, this one by defensive line coach Julian Love, Jackson presented the “In the Trenches” Defensive Award to a player he described as a “freak of nature whose football I.Q. is off the charts,” junior outside linebacker Jake Treibatch. McClean then gave the Pancake Award (for most pancake blocks) to Orozco, who also played nose guard.

Jackson handed out the Defensive Skill Player of the Year Award to senior free safety Saxon Wald and wide receivers coach LeHenry Solomon gave the Offensive Skill Player of the Year Award to second-year starting quarterback Roman La Scala, who led the Dolphins to the City Division I final last fall.

Then Athletic Director and former Pali High offensive coach Rocky Montz was called up to talk about the genesis of the Larry Palmer Offensive Lineman of the Year Award: “Larry was a good friend of mine and was here for six years in which he coached four Western League linemen of the year. We lost him the day before Thanksgiving in 2018, but it is said the impact you make is determined by how players talk about you five years after you leave.

He coached the O-line only—that was his passion and his family still supports the program. Three interesting facts about him: he played left tackle for John Elway at Granada Hills High; he routinely called me at 12:30 p.m. right before his pre-football nap; and he told me ‘Coach, you need always be kind.’”

This year’s Larry Palmer Award winner was senior tackle and guard Rastin Mohammadi.

Special teams Player of the Year Awards went to LeHenry Solomon, (who led the City in returjn yardage) and long snapper Matt Spoonamore.

Embracing the adage that pros practice not until they get it right, but until they cannot get it wrong was Offensive Player of the Year Braydon Sanford, who led the team in receptions, yards and touchdown catches. Next, Jackson presented the Defensive Player of the Year Award to senior edge rusher Evan Nehrenberg, who paced the squad with 10.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss despite being hurt and coming back.

Finally, it was time for the Joe Spector Award, given to the Team Most Valuable Player. Smith described the recipient as a versatile player who could run, catch, come out of the backfield or run between the tackles. “As a coach you want that one player who changes your program and that is what Teralle Watson is for us.”

The junior running back led the team in rushign attempts, yards and touchdowns and was also second in catches and receiving yards.

The award is named after Pali High’s longtime Life Experience Coach Joe Spector, who started presenting the award in 1987 when his son Todd was an offensive tackle for former coach Jack Epstein.

“I didn’t realize you were a junior, not a senior, that’s how good you are,” Spector told Watson upon handing him the the trophy. “You’re the ultimate example of my motto ‘Quitters never win and wiinners never quit. The guts you have is incredible—when you’re down you keep coming on strong. You’re also the first person I’ve seen with a silver mouthpiece.”

Prior to the varsity awards, first-year JV head coach Dwight Hamilton presented the individual awards for his team. Rookie of the Year honors went to Asher Rothman; Offensive Player of the Year went to quarterback Mattias Hernandez; Defensive Player of the Year honors went to Enzo Allen; Lineman of the Year recognition went to Henry Palma; and winning Most Valuable Player was Nico Townsley.