Each cover of Pali Life featured a story highlighting everything from local nonprofits to area artists. Read on to see some of the stories that were published throughout 2024.
January 11
With Riviera resident Nate Berman as executive director, the high school-run nonprofit Feeling Full LA works to connect leftover food items with people who are experiencing food insecurity or homelessness—repurposing meals and produce at places like farmers markets and restaurants that would otherwise be thrown away. “Roughly one-third of food produced in the world is wasted, while so many people face food insecurity at the same time,” Berman said. “Spreading the word about food waste in general is really important.”
January 25
It was after a 16-hour flight to Australia in 2022 to visit her husband’s family when Marquez Knolls resident Laura Gowing was inspired to launch Busy Benny. At the end of the flight, the lights came on and the flight attendants started serving breakfast. Gowing said she looked down and saw plastic wrappers from the snacks all over the airplane floor. Hoping to find something more practical than what she used on the Australia flight, Gowing started searching and found various types of “snackle boxes,” but did not locate a “safer, more durable, longer-lasting option.” She said she was “shocked that nothing like this existed on the market,” so she decided to launch her own product.
February 22
Sometimes the right connection can make a world of difference. That is the foundation Ready to Succeed, launched in 2016 by Palisadians Patrick McCabe and Romi Lassally, is built upon. Ready to Succeed—a “career and personal development nonprofit”—is designed to empower foster college students to graduate, launch careers and “reach their full potential.”
March 14
Teachers have the opportunity to push their students to great heights and make an impact—and, throughout her career and beyond, late Palisades Charter High School art teacher Sherrill Kahn did just that. Alumna Cathy Salser now hopes to carry Kahn’s legacy on with a special scholarship in her memory, since her passing in December 2023.
May 9
Students at Paul Revere Charter Middle School and Magnet Center now have the option to travel the globe from their recently renovated library—or receive assistance to take a trip abroad. This is thanks to Worldride Impact Foundation, founded by Jamee Natella, which celebrated its official launch during a library dedication ceremony on Thursday, April 25. “Worldride Impact is dedicated to creating global citizens through education, literature, media, technology and travel,” read its website. “Through all of its initiatives, Worldride Impact aims to inspire children to learn about the lives of kids in other parts of the world and to better understand different cultures.”
May 23
Imagine a dinner party with friends, a drink in hand. You have work early the next day, but there’s no fear of a hangover, sluggishness, not feeling well—or, in some cases, saying something regretful. Why? Because you’ve been sipping on wine by No Alcohol Company—launched by Huntington resident Yalda Paydar in January. Founder and CEO Paydar created the brand during a time of “healing her mental, emotional and physical health,” read the NoAlchCo website. She originally “set out to create her favorite beverage without the drawbacks.”
June 27
Of all the things Erica Simpson prides herself on after more than two decades of owning and operating a store in Pacific Palisades, the success of her previous “kids” is at the top of that list. Since Paliskates first opened in 1999, Simpson has served as a mentor, trainer, confidant and second family to dozens of her employees—often guiding them to their future career accomplishments, as detailed to the Palisadian-Post by several now-adults who previously worked at the skate store in their teen years.
August 8
Recent books published by authors with ties to the Palisades cover everything from memories of the ’50s to a memoir about caring for one’s aging father. From children to adults, the featured books offer something for every aged reader.
September 26
Lee Calvert has long been known as Pacific Palisades’ “Golden Girl.” On August 15, she reached a milestone very few people do—turning 100 years old—and 10 days later, she was joined by family, friends and neighbors for a celebration in the clubhouse at Tahitian Terrace, where Calvert has lived for over six decades. Guests wore blue—Calvert’s favorite color—and shared stories and sentiments.
December 12
It’s the best of both worlds for Palisadian artist and designer Richard Harrington, who balances his corporate work with personal endeavors to fully tap into his creativity. Harrington is a British artist and designer with more than two decades of experience “building a global portfolio” who resides in Marquez Knolls. He studied and began his career as a graphic designer in London—and has since worked with brands like Adidas, The Academy of Motion Pictures, Meta and IKEA.
The Palisadian-Post published a range of articles by contributing writers and columnists, including questions answered by a doctor, restaurant reviews and travel tales.
Photo by Rich Schmitt
Dr. Damon Raskin
In his monthly column, Dr. Damon Raskin addressed a range of health-related questions, spanning from how to maintain respiratory health while running a heater at home to how to help a teenager achieve health and wellness as they start high school, without being overhearing.
“Stay involved in your teen’s life,” Raskin wrote on July 25. “Attend their games, performances and school events, and show interest in their hobbies and friendships. Being present and engaged helps build a supportive relationship that can weather the ups and downs of the teenage years.”
Photo courtesy of Merv Hecht
Merv Hecht
Restaurant Critic Merv Hecht offered feedback on area restaurants, including Manchego in Santa Monica, Wurstküche in Los Angeles and Hank’s at Palisades Village.
“Hank’s was remodeled, turned over to the gentleman who owns Angelini’s (perhaps the best restaurant in Pacific Palisades to my taste) and a new menu appeared, which includes BBQ Baby Back Ribs,” Hecht wrote in a story published May 23. “But it’s not just the Baby Back Ribs (BBQ glazed baby back ribs, served with tangy cabbage slaw), the whole menu has improved and the quality of the food enhanced to where we plan to eat there at least once per month.”
Photo by Jeff Lipsky
Michael Edlen
Offering expertise garnered over more than 30 years in the real estate world, Michael Edlen covered a range of topics in his columns, including how to win in multiple offers, why an updated family trust matters and answering a series of questions from Palisadian-Post readers, like “Do we still have to hire a broker to buy a house or can we do it ourselves?” and “What are the most important things we can do … to potentially raise the value [for selling our home in the next two years]?” Some of the strategies Edlen shared on September 26 were to enhance curb appeal and update interior spaces, including making energy efficiency improvements, decluttering and completing regular maintenance.
Photo courtesy of David Grinsfelder
David Grinsfelder
Palisades Charter High School (2015) and UC Berkeley (2019) graduate David Grinsfelder—who grew up in The Highlands—currently lives in New York and has written a series of travel stories for the Palisadian-Post. Some of his 2024 articles included topics like the “10-Second Romance” and “The Other New York Marathon” on October 24.
“On a crisp autumn morning in early November, thousands of people gather at the starting line of the New York City Marathon, having prepared and qualified for this storied event,” Grinsfelder wrote. “As this race gets underway, another one is coming to an inauspicious end. It is a marathon of sorts—albeit much longer and far more grueling. This, dear readers, is the New York City Social Marathon.”
Photo courtesy of Mike Schibel
Mike Schibel
Born and raised in Marquez Knolls, Mike Schibel—host of the Travel With Meaning podcast and a travel journalist—offered insight about Knödelfest in the “enchanting Austrian town of St. Johann” and how to road trip from the Palisades to Mendocino, published on April 25.
“With today’s hustle and bustle, finding moments to escape and reconnect becomes essential for all of us,” Schibel wrote of his own road trip. “I embarked on a road trip from Southern California to Mendocino for a celebratory birthday getaway, seeking adventure, good food, fantastic wine and quality time together with my wife and dog. With Barbara—our fur baby who loves road trips—accompanying us, we set out on a journey filled with endless breathtaking landscapes, delicious cuisine and cherished memories.”
For many years, Palisadian-Post readers have taken a print edition of the newspaper along with them as they traveled the globe. Here are some of the places the Post has traveled to in 2024 for our Postcard section.
New York City
Palisadian Carolyn McCarthy and her daughter Emma McCarthy in Grand Central Station in New York City this August on a family trip
Kitzbühel, Austria
Sara Marti is pictured with Sebastian and the Palisadian-Post in Kitzbühel, Austria.
Cortona, Italy
Palisadians Julia Nilsen and Richard Lombari recently returned from a trip to Cortona, Italy, where the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” was filmed—and where Julia accepted Richard’s marriage proposal. They are pictured with the Palisadian-Post in Piazza Signorelli.
Paris, France
Grey McIntosh with the Palisadian-Post in Paris, France, for the 2024 Summer Olympics, wearing the American Flag Pali Sweater from Palisades Gift Shop.
Paris, France
Sara Marti with the Palisadian-Post at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, during a trip in July
In addition to the newspaper, Palisadian-Post publishes editions of 90272 Magazine over the course of the year, including spring-, summer-and winter-themed publications.
Best of Pacific Palisades: Travel Tales + Summer Camps
The spring edition of the magazine featured a series of Travel Tales (with the winning tale, “The Hills Were Alive in Salzburg,” penned by Violetta Hargitay), a look at the work longtime local organization Palisades P.R.I.D.E. has completed, and camps and programming that created “a summer to remember.”
Celebrating Fourth of July in Pacific Palisades
Publishing just ahead of Fourth of July, the summer edition featured a list of reads provided by local literary authorities, an interview with Sunset Smash—which expanded its menu this year—Marilyn Haaker speaking on her sister’s lasting legacy of “30 Years of Patriotic Pups” and all things Fourth of July
Holidays in the Palisades
In the winter edition, readers could find the annual gift guide, which featured dozens of gifts from local stores and brands, as well as a list of holiday-themed activities that take place in the Palisades and a look at “A Dragon for Hanukkah,” written by Palisadian author Sarah Mlynowski.
The Palisadian-Post works with interns who live or go to school in Pacific Palisades. Each intern has the opportunity to help out with several aspects of newspaper production, from pitching stories to taking assignments, proofreading and assisting with projects, including community events. Here are some of the stories that our interns wrote this year.
Photo by Michael Matlof
“Multiple Congregations Gather at Corpus Christi for 2024 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service” Michael Matlof
The Pacific Palisades Ministerial Association hosted its annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Monday evening, November 25, at Corpus Christi Church, with leaders from multiple congregations across the community gathering together to lead the processions—as covered by Michael Matlof and published in the December 12 edition.
“The event, occurring annually for almost 30 years, focused on a message of unity and coexistence,” Matlof reported. “It was open to all residents, regardless of membership status.”
Photo courtesy of Paige Thompson
“Above and Beyond: Palisadian Paige Thompson Launches Clean Protein Bars” Sophia Masserat
El Medio Bluffs resident Paige Thompson launched Above Bar—a line of organic, plant-based protein bars—in November, which were written about by Sophia Masserat on December 12.
“As a vegetarian since age 10, Thompson realized early on the difficulties that can come with being an athlete on a plant-based diet,” Masserat wrote. “She said she struggled to find quick, protein-rich snacks that didn’t compromise on taste or health, turning to bars whose nutrition label held a long list of unfamiliar additives—and lacking the amount of protein that met her needs.”
Photo courtesy of Peter Lamden
“Service with a View: Palisades-Raised Peter Lamden Opens a Salon in Santa Monica Canyon” Parker Keston
“How many haircuts have you had looking out onto the blue Pacific Ocean while being taken through a carefully curated and crafted experience?” asked Parker Keston in her article about Peter Lamden Salon in the May 23 edition. The salon opened in 2022 in Santa Monica Canyon by hairdresser and Palisades-raised Peter Lamden, who grew up in El Medio Bluffs.
Photo courtesy of Chantal Trent
“Making Her Mark: Pali High Grad Releases New Song, Gives Updates About Producing and Making Music” Allie Yang
Allie Yang interviewed Marquez Knolls musician Chantal Trent for a story that published November 28. Trent said that an elementary school poetry class was the catalyst of her career.
“With a decades-long relationship with music, Trent has noticed the gradual shift in her work’s style, from youthful and unfiltered to mainstream and complex,” Yang wrote. “She noted the introduction of modern instruments as an indication that her music has become sonically refined. However, ‘Stupid Love,’ her newest song and release from June 1, has kept to her original taste.”
The Palisadian-Post’s Kids Page was filled with stories by Junior Reporters, winning entries from the Pacific Palisades Library Association’s Summer Creative Writing Contest and trip summaries from local girl and boy scouts. Those who are interested in applying to be part of the Junior Reporter team in 2025 are encouraged to email mypost@palipost.com for more information.
Photo by Robin Aronson
January 11 “Dear Vany”
Junior Reporter Vanessa “Vany” Masterson answered sets of questions from Post readers in her column, “Dear Vany.” In January, Vany responded to a question about joining clubs in high school and how to excel academically, despite feeling overwhelmed by balancing studies, personal life and extracurriculars.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Winston Gatto
February 8 “In the Shadow of the Duomo”
Through a series of travel tales, Daniel Winston Gatto detailed a trip to Italy with family—including an experience seeing the Florence Cathedral, known as the Duomo of Florence.
Photo courtesy of Gavin Alexander
March 28 “The Scoop Behind Frozen Fruit Co”
From a very young age, Junior Reporter Gavin Alexander said he has been interested in business, enjoying learning the stories behind products that he personally likes. As a self-described “big fan” of Frozen Fruit Co on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, Gavin interviewed Co-Founders Michael and Victoria Philippou.
Photo courtesy of Samantha Sonnett
August 22 “Teen View: Marginalization in Environmental Justice”
Intern Samantha Sonnett penned columns focused on climate and the environment, including on the “disproportionate impact on marginalized communities that have gone largely unnoticed until recently,” she wrote: “Many of the hardest-hit communities are low-income populations which, as reported by the International Monetary Fund, depend on natural resources to survive, such as fishermen and those in agriculture or forestry industries.”
Photo by Steve Galluzzo
September 26 “Summer Creative Writing Contest 2023: The Best Day Ever”
The Post ran a series of winning tales from Pacific Palisades Library Association’s Summer Creative Writing Contest 2023, which had the theme “The Best Day.” The September 26 story was the first-place piece in the Authors category (high school), written by Casey. Winners from the 2024 contest were announced in October and will be featured going forward.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Whiteley
November 28 “Scout Trips”
Local scouts from Troop 223 shared their experiences on recent Good Turn and Career trips. On November 28, Marcus McCannel reported from the Falcon Patrol, August Brancato from the Bruins Patrol, Maxton Flaherty from the Kahunas Patrol and Lauren Whiteley from Foxes Patrol.
Photo courtesy of Kamran Yashouafar
December 12 “Summer Across the Nation”
To close out the 2024 Kids Pages, Junior Reporter Kamran Yashouafar wrote about summer 2025, which was “an adventurous year” for Yashouafar, who spent three weeks traveling along the East Coast, visiting New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The annual Palisadian-Post Football Contest, giving readers a chance to predict upcoming game winners, continues to week 18.
“Every week, the Palisadian-Post will have a selection of NFL and college football games,” according to the contest rules. “Check the team you predict will win each game. The person with the most correct picks wins. In the event there is a tie, the tie-breaker will be used to determine the winner.”
There is an online submission process: Contestants can download or copy their entry form, fill in their picks, take a photo, and email it back to footballcontest@palipost.com by the 5 p.m. Friday deadline. This week’s deadline is Friday, January 3at 5 p.m.
One entry per person per contest will be accepted. Winners will receive a $10 gift card from our contest sponsor, The Yogurt Shoppe, via email. Last week’s winner was Tom Zaret (+8).
The annual Palisadian-Post Football Contest, giving readers a chance to predict upcoming game winners, continues to week 17.
“Every week, the Palisadian-Post will have a selection of NFL and college football games,” according to the contest rules. “Check the team you predict will win each game. The person with the most correct picks wins. In the event there is a tie, the tie-breaker will be used to determine the winner.”
There is an online submission process: Contestants can download or copy their entry form, fill in their picks, take a photo, and email it back to footballcontest@palipost.com by the 5 p.m. Friday deadline. This week’s deadline is Friday, December 27, at 5 p.m.
One entry per person per contest will be accepted. Winners will receive a $10 gift card from our contest sponsor, The Yogurt Shoppe, via email. Last week’s winner was Andrew Rhames (+9).
#9. Mustang Cardinals players react after the final out of their nine-inning triumph over the Orioles in the deciding game of the PPBA World Series.
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
As we embark on yet another exciting year of sports in Pacific Palisades there are many memorable plays, record-breaking achievements and storybook endings in store. Before we look ahead, however, let us take a quick look back at moments that gave us thrills and chills in the past 12 months. Here is a countdown of the Palisadian-Post’s Top 10 sports stories in 2024…
Noah Wexler Wins Will Rogers 5K on Fourth of July
10Upon winning the Palisades Will Rogers 10K in 2023, both Henry Didden and Laura Osman vowed to return July 4 to do it again. The 20-year-old Didden from Woodland Hills won by 19 seconds in 32:46. Osman, a 43-year-old mother of three from Encino, was the leading lady in 38:36, a 23-second improvement over last year. The only other time in the event’s 47-year history that both 10K champs repeated was when Charles Gray and Teresa Haro defended their titles in 1981.
Cardinals Win Mustang World Series in Nine-Inning Thriller
9In one of the longest, most dramatic deciders ever in played in the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association, the Cardinals edged the Orioles 6-5 in nine pressure-packed innings to win the Mustang Division championship in June at the Field of Dreams.
Tate Dore stole home to give the top-seeded Cards the lead in the top of the ninth, and after a run was taken off the scoreboard in the bottom half the Orioles put runners on second and third with two outs before a grounder to third had the red birds flying high.
Pali High Swimmers Second in Relay to Tie Granada Hills
8Entering the last event, Palisades High’s girls team was leading the City swim championships by six points, but needed a runner-up finish in the 400 freestyle relay to earn at least a share of the title. Freshman Alexis Burrell made up a two-second deficit on the anchor leg to take second by 59 hundredths of a second and pull the Dolphins even with Granada Hills at 371.5 points, the first tie in girls finals history. Palisades added to its record total with its 31st girls title and 15th under Maggie Nance.
Pali High Boys Water Polo Dynasty Ends in Finals Defeat
7All good things must ultimately come to an end and that was the case for Palisades High’s boys water polo team November 13 at Valley College. The Dolphins’ latest dynasty, a 43-game playoff winning streak dating back to 2012, was snapped in the City Open Division final with a 15-4 defeat to Cleveland, the team that had dealt them their last postseason loss some 13 years earlier. Palisades’ run of 11 straight City titles included back-to-back CIF Southern California Regional Division III titles in 2021 and 2022.
Pali High Lacrosse Squads Sweep City Section Finals
6It was all about the blue and white April 23 in Lake Balboa. That is where the Palisades High girls and boys lacrosse teams captured City Section championships hours apart for the second year in a row. Led by seniors Elah Blyumkin and Mallie McGowan, the girls repeated with a 13-7 triumph over El Camino Real, their third title overall. Then the boys took down the Royals 17-6 for their eighth straight City title and their ninth total, led by Axel Greve, Dominic Zuniga, Trey Tzung and Dylan Wong.
Pali High Boys Tennis Claims 15th Consecutive City Title
5Thanks in large part to newcomer Lorenzo Brunkow’s four points at the No. 1 singles position, the Palisades High boys tennis team downed Granada Hills in the City Open Division final at Balboa Sports Center to earn its 40th section title and 15th in a row—extending the longest active championship reign by any team in any sport in the City. The Dolphins’ current dynasty started in 2009. The winningest coach in section history, Bud Kling added a 31st boys title to his resume, giving him 52 total since 1979.
Pali High Football Reaches Division I Championship Game
4In its second season under head coach Dylen Smith the Palisades High football team advanced to a City Section final for the fourth time since the school opened in 1961. Along the way, the Dolphins won 11 games, took second in league, reclaimed the Charter Bowl trophy and set program records for total points scored in a season (582, an average of 41.5 per game) and points in a playoff game (63 in a semifinal victory over Eagle Rock).
Pali Rec Minors Hoops Squads Win West Region Crowns
3Not one, but two All-Star 9- & 10-year-old basketball teams from the Palisades Recreation Center experienced their own versions of “March Madness” by winning the West Region in Westwood and advancing to the Citywide Tournament. The Co-Rec Minors team, coached by Vijay Srinivasan and Brian Hansen, beat Mar Vista 34-22 and one hour later the Girls Minors, coached by Shelia Martin and Sean Cudzil, beat Cheviot Hills 30-11.
Matsuyama Wins Genesis with Record-Setting Final Round
2Tied for seventh place beginning the last day of the Genesis Invitational in February, Hideki Matsuyama delivered one of the finest displays of golf ever witnessed at Riviera Country Club. The 31-year-old from the island of Shikoku in Japan shot a 62 for a three-stroke victory and his sizzling nine under par went into the record books as the lowest final-round score ever in a PGA Tour event at the historic course nicknamed “Hogan’s Alley.” His four-day total of 267 was three strokes off the Riviera record.
Mustang 9U All-Stars Advance to PONY Zone Tournament
1In the 70-year history of the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association, the 2024 Mustang 9U All-Star team will be remembered as one of the best. Consisting of Will Feil, Carter Bergman, Tristan Kawasaki, Cabe Talt, Anthony Layton, Axl Moody, Bennett Underwood, Dylan Morrow, Jack Hetherington, Owen Tyler, Nate Underwood and Maddox Martin the squad posted a 23-6 summer record and reached the PONY West Zone playoffs—only the second team in league annals to ever make it that far.
*** Click on any photos below to view slide show ***
#10. San Fernando Valley runners Henry Didden and Laura Osman both won the Palisades-Will Rogers 10K for a second straight year on the Fourth of July.
#9. Mustang Cardinals players react after the final out of their nine-inning triumph over the Orioles in the deciding game of the PPBA World Series.
#8. Freshman Alexis Burrell’s heroic anchor leg in the 400 freestyle relay helped the Palisades High girls swim team gain a share of the City crown.
#7. Palisades High’s boys water polo team saw its 12-year City title reign snapped by Cleveland in the Open Division final in November at Valley College.
#6. Palisades High players celebrate upon repeating as City Section girls lacrosse champions with a 13-7 triumph over El Camino Real in April.
#5. Singles player Neel Joshi and the Dolphins outscored Granada Hills 20-9.5 to secure their 40th City tennis championship and 15th in a row in May.
#4. Running back Harrison Carter and the Palisades High football team advanced to the LA City Section finals for only the fourth time in program history.
#3. Members of the Palisades Recreation Center’s Girls Minors basketball team lift the trophy after capturing the West Region championship in Westwood.
#2. Hideki Matsuyama raises the winner’s trophy proudly at Riviera’s famed 18th green after shooting a final round 62 to capture the Genesis Invitational.
#1. Pitcher Carter Bergman and the PPBA Mustang 9U All-Star team came within two victories of advancing to the PONY International World Series in July.
Another exciting year of sports is coming to an end in Pacific Palisades and it is time to look back at some of the local athletes who inspired us with their perseverance, passion and skill in 2024…
No athlete made his hometown more proud than Miles Partain, who established himself as one of the top players in the world in his sport.As one of two United States pairs entered in the men’s beach volleyball competition at the Summer Olympics in Paris, Partain and his partner Andy Benesh earned five of a possible six points to place second in the group stage, then upset the Italian duo of Samuele Cottafava and Paolo Nicolai in the round of 16 before falling to Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan of Qatar in the quarterfinals and settling for fifth place.
At age 22, Partain became the youngest U.S. beach volleyball player in Olympic history. He won three City titles at Palisades High before graduating as valedictorian in 2020 and played for Pac6 Volleyball Club. In 2017, the 15-year-old and his brother Marcus (then 17) became the youngest duo to advance to the main draw of an AVP Tour event.
Partain and Benesh followed their Olympic success by reaching the finals of the Manhattan Beach Open in August and Partain was introduced as the guest of honor before the Pali High football team’s Western League contest against Westchester at Stadium by the Sea in September.
There has been no sophomore slump for Amelia Sarkisian, who is establishing herself as one of the finest prep distance runners in Southern California. The Brentwood School 10th-grader scorched the three-mile Woodward Park course in Fresno, clocking 17:31.8 to take first place by 15.6 seconds in the Division V girls race at the CIF State Cross Country Championships in November. Before that, the Alphabet Streets resident captured the Southern Section title in 18:13.2 and won the Gold Coast League individual crown, completing the three-mile route around Brentwood’s campus in a personal-best 17:01.40 while leading the Eagles to second place in the team standings. She clocked 17:17.4 to win the White Varsity Girls A Division at the Woodbridge Classic in Irvine and won the Small Schools Division in 18:46.5 at the Bellarmine/Sacred Heart Invitational in Griffith Park in September. A few weeks ago she capped off her stellar campaign with a 19:06.0 effortin the 5,000 meters at the Foot Locker West Regional Championshipsat Mt. SAC in Walnut, an 83-second improvement over her time last year.
As a freshman on the track in the spring, Sarkisian won the 800 and mile races at the Malbu Invitational and swept the 800, 1600 and 3200 varsity events at the Gold Coast League Finals.
Meanwhile, Palisades freshman Zoey Morris placed second in the frosh/soph 3200 at the Redondo Nike Invitational in 11:28.1 and first in the 3200 in 11:19.9 at the City Track & Field Championships in May. On the boys side, Dolphins captain Max Fields capped his stellar prep career by taking the section 3200 title for a second time in 9:21.09, running a personal-best 9:03.84 at the state track finals in Clovis and winning the Post Cup Award as his school’s outstanding senior athlete.
The Palisades High football team made the City Division I finals for the second time in three years and the biggest reason why was the arms and legs of quarterback Jack Thomas, a junior transfer from Loyola, who enjoyed one of the most productive seasons by a Dolphins signal caller in program history. In 14 games, he threw for 3,369 yards and 46 touchdowns with only five interceptions and rushed for 570 yards and another 12 touchdowns. He won the Joe Spector Award as Team MVP and was named Western League Player of the Year.
When it comes to golf, no one at Pali High has ever done it better than Anna Song, who wrote her name in the history books as perhaps the most accomplished player in City annals by carding a finals-record 65 at Balboa to capture her third straight individual title while leading the Dolphins to their fourth team title. The Stanford-bound senior then tied for fifth at the CIF state championships in San Gabriel.
In the spring, Luke Schultz survived a battle of attrition at Griffith Park’s Harding Course in one of the most memorable City finals battles ever. The Pali High junior forced a playoff with an eagle at No. 18, then rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt on the sixth extra hole to beat Van Nuys’ Isaiah Kim, who settled for second for the second year in a row. Schultz carded a four-under-par 68—six shots better than his previous best at Harding—and helped the Dolphins capture their 23rd team title.
Medalist Chase Zucker (-1) and teammates Cole Gailys, Hudson Menzel, Jack Zucker, Gabriel Svenblad, Noah Williams and Cole Christopher led Paul Revere Middle School’s boys squad to the Delphic League championship at Sinaloa Golf Course in Simi Valley.
After helping the United States’ men’s fencing team win the bronze medal in the foil at the Tokyo Olyumpics three years ago, 2017 Pali High graduate Nick Itlkin earnedbronze in the individual foil in Paris, becoming the first American male in that event to stand on the podium since 2016. The 24-year-old used his quickness and counter striking to beat Kazuki Iimura of Japan 15-12 in the third-place bout.
Village School grad and former Highlands resident Johnny Hooper played a vital role in the USA men’s water polo team’s bronze medal run in Paris. The 27-year-old scored four goals in five group play contests and netted his team’s first goal in the quarterfinals versus Australia.
It was another successful season on the track for auto racing phenom Jaxon Bell, as the 2021 Pali High graduate and oldest son of 10-time Indy 500 driver Townsend Bell placed fourth overall in the Toyota GR Cup standings with seven podium spots, including a win in Austin, a pole position in Viriginia and a pair of third-place finishes in Florida.
Representing her community and her country proudly on the soccer pitch is Kaitlyn Parcell, who is in her second season with Fortuna Hjorring in the Denmark Women’s Premier League (Gjensidige Kvindeliga Division 1) and has the team in first place, even scoring the winning goal against HB Koge in November. Six weeks before she played all 90 minutes in a 6-0 victory in a Denmark Cup contest and another full 90 three days later in a league match, contributing two assists from her left outside back position.
Parcell, who turned 27 in September, grew up in the El Medio Bluffs, went to Corpus Christi and is the only Pali High player to tally 50+ goals and 50+ assists in her career. She won the Post Cup Award in 2016.
This year’s Post Cup winner (along with Fields) was another soccer extraordinaire, Erica Hamilton, who enjoyed the greatest offensive season ever by a girls soccer player at Palisades.
Hamilton shattered the school records for goals (33) and points (71). She needed only 17 games to break the school record of 27 goals in 20 games set by Kathryn Gaskin in 2009-10, doing so in a three-goal effort versus league rival LACES that pushed her season total to 28. She went on to tally five more, including all four Dolphin goals in a playoff victory over Venice. She graduated with a three-year total of 66 goals in 49 career games (she did not play as a ninth-grader) and kicked her team to three City Divison I semifinals.
Pali High senior James Van Wagenen was the epitome of courage at Roybal Learning Center in February when he captured the City 126-pound wrestling title in dramatic fashion. In the finals against Birmingham’s Roman Arakelyan he built an early lead, lost it, but led 7-6 in the final seconds Arakelyan took a shot in a desperate attempt to score but Van Wagenen sidestepped the move and the two tumbled to the mat together as time expired. Van Wagenen was credited with two points for a near fall that gave him a 9-6 decision, prompting him to flex his muscles and scream in jubilation. In his triumph he reached the 100-win plateau and earned a trip to the state meet in Bakersfield.
Lorenzo Brunkow is glad he made the decision to join the Pali High tennis team in the spring. First, the junior from Topanga got all the way to the finals of the CIF singles division at Ojai. Four days later he swept his four singles sets to lead the Dolphins to their 40th City title and 15th straight. Then, the early UCSB commit capped his season in style, dropping one game in five matches on his way to the City individual singles title.
On the doubles side, Loyola juniors Braun Levi and Cooper Schwartz wereformidable duo, winning the Mission League title and making the Ojai quarterfinals.
Speaking of joining forces, how about sisters Lexi and Kiki Wolf, who in July paired up to win the silver ball in the 16-and-under doubles division at the USTA Clay Court Nationals in Huntsville, Alabama. Seeded fourth in a draw of 128 teams, they upset the top-seeded duo in the semifinals before falling to the second-seeded tandem in the championship match. As teammates at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High in the fall (Lexi is a junior, Kiki a freshman) the Riviera residents united again to reach the CIF doubles finals.
On the prep volleyball court, Marymount senior Ryan Gilhooly was a true renaisssance gal for the Sailors, earning Mission League honors playing multiple positions. At Palisades, middle blockers Hazel Irving andAnnabelle Refnes earned All-City first team honorsfor the girls while outside hitter Pierce Bergstein and setter Kyle McKnight did so for the boys.
At UCLA, Cooper Robinson had 12 kills, three blocks, two digs and an ace as the Bruins topped Long Beach State in four sets to claim their 21st NCAA national championship in May.
“Special K” may be a well-deserved nickname for pitcher Lars Refnes after his performance for Pali Blue in the Westside Pony Division final at the Field of Dreams. He fanned 16 Pali Black batters in a three-hit shutout and that came on the heels of a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts in the semifinals, giving him a total of 29 strikeouts in 12 postseason innings.
Then there was the warrior mentality of Pali High softball’s Briana Vasquez, who earned All-City honors (along with shortstop Stella Honda) after tossing 165 strikeouts in 118.2 innings and pitching a perfect game versus Hamilton as the Dolphins reached the City Division I semifinals.
Summer was special for Santa Monica Girls Fastpitch 12U Gold
All-Star team members Sloane Le Chang and Charlie Albores,whohelped their squad place fifth out of 31 teams at the Western Nationals in Salem, Oregon. Chang played center field and was one of the team’s best hitters while Albores was error free in 32 fielding chances at second base.
Will Horowitz scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Suns to a 45-21 victory over the Grizzlies in the final of the Palisades Recreation Center’s Coed Major Division basketball championship in June, then he played alongside his older brother Jake for the Celtics in the Junior Division final.
Mitchell Majors won his age group and was third overall in the Palisades Will Rogers 10K on the Fourth of July, clocking 36:07. He bested a long-standing Paul Revere record in the “Sub Six Mile,” clocking 4:41, and competed in two half marathons: Surf City USA (taking second in the 1-14 age group in 1:28:34); and Santa Barbara Wine Country (winning the 1-19 age division in 1:24:55).
Fifty-something karate mom Gracy Llana was nothing short of a trophy-winning machine in 2024 while representing Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center at numerous competitions. The blue belt took first place in Traditional Kata, Musical Kata, Weapons and Sparring at the International Martial Arts Council (IMAC) Open at Pan Pacific Park in Los Angeles in October. The dojo’s new “golden girl” took firstsin Kata and Sparring and added a silver medal in Weapons at the Elite Karate Cup in Santa Ana in May, captured three golds in the Adult Novice Division at the USA World Championships in Las Vegas in June and left the Elite Summer Showdown in Chino Hills in July with with golds in Kata and Weapons and a silver in Kumite.
Pali High’s girls swim team tied for the City title in the spring thanks to points earned by 1-meter diving champion Parker Connor and 400 freestyle relayers Sabrina Kim, Noa Levetrov, Bailey Gair and Alexis Burrell, who clocked 3:44.83 to finish second in the last event and give the Dolphins the total needed to match Granada Hills at Valley College.
*** Click on any photos below to view slide show ***
Amelia Sarkisian clocked 17:31.8 to win Division V at the CIF State Cross Country Championships in Fresno. Photo: Brentwood Athletics
Pali High alum Miles Partain and his partner Andy Benesh were fifth in the Olympic beach volleyball competition. Photo: USA Volleyball
Jack Thomas threw for 46 touchdowns and rushed for 12 more while quarterbacking Palisades to the Division I finals. Photo: Craig Weston
Kaitlyn Parcell made an immediate impact for Fortuna Hjorring in the Denmark Women’s Premier League. Photo: Fortuna Hjorring FC
Anna Song won her third straight section title in November, shooting a finals record 65 at Balboa Golf Course. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
James Van Wagenen was pumped up after winning the City 126-pound wrestling crown at Roybal Learning Center. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Lorenzo Brunkow claimed the City individual singles title and reached the finals of the CIF Division at Ojai. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Erica Hamilton won the Post Cup Award after setting season records for goals (33) and points (71) at Palisades. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Pali Blue pitcher Lars Refnes struck out 16 batters in a 4-0 shutout in the Westside Interlock Pony Division final. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Lexi and Kiki Wolf were finalists in the 16-and-under doubles division at the USTA Clay Court Nationals in Alabama. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Race car driver Jaxon Bell took fourth in the GR Cup standings with seven podium spots, including a win in Austin. Photo: GR Cup Series
Sloane Le Chang and Charlie Albores led the SaMo Fastpitch 12U Gold All-Stars to fifth at the Western Nationals. Photo: Steve Galluzzo
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January 11
