The Palisades Tennis Center courts were buzzing with LiveBall once again Sunday for the Palisades OGs Return Party.

Owner Mike Tomas invited PTC founder Steve Bellamy back on Court 1 to feed balls to players who grew up practicing at the public facility off Alma Real Drive.

“It was epic!” Tomas said. “People had a great time… lots of laughs and happiness which was much needed after all that this community has been through since the fires.”

Among the players who participated ikn the event were former Palisades High standouts Jake and RJ Sands and fortmer ATP Tour pro Clay Thompson.

The Jaes Elite Racing Team put on quite a performance at  last weekend’s USATF XC Nationals in Portland. The weather was far from ideal, but The Janes were unfazed. Eight members of the team competed in the 6K race on a slick, muddy course.

The 60s team got second place. Among the local runners to particpate were Victoria Cook-Chapus (who also ran the Pacific Palisades Turkey Trot on Thanskgiving morning and placed third in her division) and Gwendolen Twist, who was fourth in her age group. Tania Fischer, a five-time winner of the Turkey Trot who set the 5K women’s record of 18:47 in 2014, also ran for The Janes.      

“It was the kind of mud that takes a shoe right off your severely laced shoe,” Twist said describing the conditions. The temperature was in the 50s and I was lucky to stay upright the whole race with the uneven footing and keep my shoes on. There were four races the day before and then the men ran right  before us today so there was very little grass. It was gnarly. My time was not great but it was so much fun!”

Co-Captains Max Meier and Nathan Turk Lead Loyola Varsity Football Team to CIF Semifinals   

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Loyola’s loss to Redondo Union in the semifinals of the Southern Section Division 5 playoffs marked the final chapter in the outstanding high school football careers of co-captains Nathan Turk and Max Meier.    

“Nate and I have played together since our days at Corpus Christi, where we won the CYO championship, and we’ll be Cubs for life,” Meier said. “At Loyola we went undefeated as freshmen with [fellow Palisadian] Jack Thomas as our quarterback. Loyola then elevated to the Mission League, one of the best in California, and I’m proud of how we persevered.”

A three-year starter at defensive end, Meier finished his senior season with 113 tackles (19 of those for losses), 11.5 sacks and 30 quarterback hurries. The two-time All-Mission League selection received 24 Division 1 offers before signing with Stanford.

“It’s been an incredibly challenging year,” Meier added. “I lost my home in the Palisades Fire and relocated to Manhattan Beach. We’re in the process of rebuilding. I was approached by major programs like Mater Dei and Sierra Canyon to transfer, but my commitment to my brothers and Loyola was never in doubt. In May I lost my best friend and big brother, Braun Levi, to a drunk driver, which made the fires pale in comparison. I miss him every day but will dedicate myself to delivering my all at the next level as that’s exactly what he’d want to see.”

The quintessential student-athlete, Turk grew up in the Huntington and most of his childhood memories are of playing sports at the Palisades Recreation Center and YMCA. He not only excels at football but is also a wrestler and plans to shot put in the spring. He has a 4.55 GPA, is Vice President of the student body and has been on student council all four years. His family bleeds Loyola blue as his older brother Ryan, a 2024 Loyola alum, plays offensive guard at Dartmouth and his younger brother Graham, a sophomore starting lineman on the Cubs’ JV squad, got moved up to varsity for the playoffs.

“I’ve had an amazing time playing with Max at Loyola the last four years—it’s definitely a memory I’ll cherish,” said Turk, who was credited with 68 pancake blocks as a senior and has committed to play offensive tackle at Harvard. “We started playing sports together in grade school and were even neighbors for awhile. It’s always worked out well for us because as linemen on opposite sides of the ball who know each other so well we have highly competitive and aggressive reps against each other while giving each other tips to strenghthen each other’s game. Max always pushes me to be a stronger, faster and better player. I’m proud to be part of the Loyola football brotherhood.”       

What a remarkable season it was for Palisades High football player Demare Dezeurn. The junior wide receiver/defensive back has been chosen Western League Player of the Year after scoring 27 total touchdowns—21 receiving, one rushing, three on interception returns and two on kickoff returns. He had 64 catches for 1,372 yards on offense to go along with five interceptions and three pass deflections on defense.

Senior quarterback Jack Thomas earned Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors after completing 183 of 299 pass attempts for 3.284 yards, 43 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Senior tackle Liam Hudson was named Offensive Lineman of the Year and Dylen Smith, who has compiled a 28-7 record in three seasons at the helm, was voted Coach of the Year after piloting the Dolphins to a 10-0 regular season.

Also making the offensive first team were Dolphins junior receiver Malachi Ross, senior running back Harrison Carter and junior lineman Hunter Kizzee. Tailback Deveron Kearney, wideout Go Moriya and lineman Grayson Brooks were second team selections.     

Making the defensive forst team were senior end Augie Evans, junior linebacker Enzo Allen (who accumulated a team-high 121 tackles), cornerbacks Tavion Talbert and Skylar Walters. Second team picks were sophomore linebacker Chean Flowers, senior defensive lineman James Tisdale and defensive backs Noah LeChang and Jackson Kaufman.          

The Palisades High girls volleyball team captured its 31st City Section title in the fall so when the All-City team was announced last week it came as no surprise that it was full of Dolphins.

Junior outside hitter Ashlynn Sells, who had six kills in a three-set sweep of Venice in the finals, was selected Open Division Player of the Year. Joining Sells on the first team were senior libero Lucy Neilson, senior outside hitter Tulah Block and junior setter Christie Turner. Senior opposite hitter Izzy Drake made the second team.

Carlos Gray, who guided the Dolphins to their first section crown since 2020, earned Coach of the Year honors. Following its City finals win Palisades traveled to Carlsbad in the first round of the SoCal Regional Division II playoffs and lost in four sets.

Rounding out the All-City Open Division first team were Venice’s Samantha Lortie, Gaia Adeseun-Williams and Kaya Richards; El Camino Real’s Arianna Ellis and Aja Najar; Taft’s Laila Braimah and Aralyn Adorable-Flores; Chatsworth’s Olivia Chouchanian; Cleveland’s Nixia Gonzalez; Eagle Rock’s Iliana Diaz and Granada Hills’ Alexis Cuan.