10. Chukkers and Champs Like a scene from a Hollywood movie, the championship game of the 17th annual Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce Polo Tournament was decided in overtime. Perennial Financial Services defeated Jennifer Lowe, mortgage broker, 11-10, in October. ’It turned out to be a wonderful day,’ said the Chamber’s Executive Director Arnie Wishnick, who estimated close to one thousand people came to watch. 9. Trotters Dazzle Corpus Kids The gym was rocking, the music was playing and the Harlem Globetrotters were doing what they do best’bringing wide smiles to hundreds of kids’ faces at Corpus Christi School in February. Curly Neal, perhaps the most famous Globetrotter of all, joined teammates Wildkat Edgerson and Wun ‘The Shot’ Versher in the school gymnasium for a live skills demonstration and ‘C.H.E.E.R. for Character’ presentation. 8. Papa Clem Runs for the Roses One of the ‘feel good’ stories of the spring was that of Papa Clem, Palisadian horse trainer Bo Hirsch’s three-year-old Bay colt, who finished fourth by a head in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The horse is named after Bo’s late father Clement, who devoted his adult life to the sport. Two weeks later, Papa Clem ran in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, finishing sixth in the 13-horse field. 7. ‘Game on!’ for PaliHi Volleyball Alumni When current Palisades High volleyball coach Chris Forrest was considering ways to raise money for the program he looked to the past to build for the future. With the tireless help of team moms, Forrest organized the school’s first ‘Volleyball Reunions.’ In April, many of the Dolphins’ living legends showed up to play in the boys’ alumni match, including pro beach volleyball great Randy Stoklos, Olympic gold medalists Steve Salmons, Dave Saunders and Kent Steffes, and Howard Enstedt, who coached the team to nine section titles in his 30 years at the helm. In November, it was the girls’ turn to honor their legacy by inviting back longtime coach Gayle Van Meter and players from her 1979 state championship squad. Alumnae included three-time All-American Lulu Schwartz Kaseff, UCLA and Swedish National Team standout Pai Svenson, and pro beach star Nancy Cohen Fredgant. 6. Mustang All-Stars Win District The Palisades Pony Baseball Association season ended in June, but Mustang Division All-Star team hosted and won the District 2 Playoffs at the Field of Dreams complex. Pacific Palisades’ team of 10-year-olds trounced Mira Costa 12-3 in the championship game, for their 10th win in 13 games under Manager Joe Collins. The next week, the squad traveled to Torrance for the Sectional Tournament and trounced Norwalk, 14-3, in its opener. Despite losing in the championship game, Palisades’ Mustang All-Stars still advanced to the Super Regionals in Carlsbad. 5. Mickelson Makes More Magic There have been times in his brilliant career when pro golfer Phil Mickelson has let the pressure of the moment get the best of him. However, when he needed his ‘A’ game most on the final day of the Northern Trust Open in February, he calmly drained a six-foot putt at Riviera Country Club’s famous 18th green to defend the tournament title by one stroke. Mickelson’s three-year Riviera run (second place, winner, winner) matches what Ben Hogan accomplished from 1946-48, the course being called ‘Hogan’s Alley’ ever since in recognition of his mastery. 4. Boys’ Tennis Back Atop City Palisades High’s boys’ tennis team was on a mission in the spring: beat Taft and and exorcise the demons of last year’s half-point loss in the finals. Bud Kling’s squad did just that’crushing the Toreadors in the semifinals, then routing Granada Hills, 26 ‘ to 3 in the finals at Balboa Sports Complex in Encino ’It wasn’t in the finals but at least we got to play Taft again and the score speaks for itself,’ said senior captain Jeremy Shore, who played No. 1 doubles. 3. Stars Hit Court for ‘Shotgun 21’ Palisades Recreation Center patrons were treated to more than seven hours of tennis in the second annual ‘Shotgun 21′ tournament, a unisex, drop-hit event. When it was over, Vince Spadea had defeated fellow ATP Tour veteran Ramon Delgado in the finals, pocketing the winner’s share of $5,000 and a new Fender Stratocaster electric guitar. Jon Lovitz, Donna Mills, Gavin Rossdale and Elisabeth Shue were but four of the celebrities invited to participate in a draw that also featured WTA Tour pros Ashley Harkleroad and Alexandra Stevenson. The biggest surprise of the tournament was PTC junior Clay Thompson, who came within one point of upsetting Spadea in the semifinals. 2. Lacrosse Teams Capture Titles Palisades High’s boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams won their inaugural City tournaments in resounding fashion at Lake Balboa Birmingham High in May. The girls, coached by Juliet Mittleman, got multiple goals from Ema Carter, Molly Meek, Eve Babcock and Christine Frapech in a 15-2 victory over Birmingham in the finals. The boys, coached by Scott Hylen, routed Jordan 17-1 in the semifinals, then blanked Birmingham 9-0 in the championship game later the same day. The Dolphins outscored their City opponents 135-15. 1. Pali Is Again Singing Blues For the second straight year, the Pali Blues needed late-game heroics to pull out the W-League championship and, once again, they came through’this time on a goal by Iris Mora with four minutes left in a 2-1 victory over the Washington Freedom at the Maryland Soccer Complex in August. From the first ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ to ‘Sol Night’ with international superstar Marta, it was a season to remember. The Blues improved to 26-0-3 in their first two seasons and netted Coach Charlie Naimo his third W-League title in four trips to the finals. He had won with the New Jersey Wildcats in 2005.
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