Prep League

GLENDALE — Before the Flintridge Prep boys' basketball team could enter the CIF Southern Section Division 5-AA playoffs as the No. 1 seed, en route to becoming an eventual CIF champion — it had to take care of business in the Prep League. Defending its league title was a major point on a list of ambitious accomplishments the Rebels (24-7) strived to fulfill this season and they were successful, posting a 7-1 mark and clinching a co-championship. As a result, Prep's entire starting lineup was represented in the coaches' all-league voting, with senior center Kenyatta Smith leading the way with a Prep League co–Most Valuable Player nod. "I was just very grateful and feel like a lot of the hard work me and my team put in in league really paid off," said Smith, who shared the co-MVP award with Daniel Wohl of co-champion Pasadena Poly.

GLENDALE ? None of the Flintridge Prep fall sports teams qualified for the CIF Southern Section playoffs, but 12 Flintridge Prep athletes earned league accolades for their contributions made to their respective squads. Seven Flintridge Prep football players, three boys' water polo athletes and two girls' volleyball players received all-league status. Flintridge Prep boys' water polo player Matt Brown was tabbed the league's co-most valuable player after leading the Rebels to a record of 18-10 and 4-4 in league for fourth place.

PASADENA — With a comfortable eight-point cushion heading into the second half, the Flintridge Prep girls' basketball team was all smiles. Laughing and giggling, the Rebels were perhaps a bit too relaxed. For the first two minutes and 38 seconds of the half, Prep was held scoreless. "I think it took a while for us to actually get our rhythm, and then it finally clicked," Rebels senior center Laurel Myers said. Myers had a game-high 15 points, seven rebounds and five steals, while Rebels junior guard Courtney Robinson added 14, as Flintridge Prep rolled past host Pasadena Poly, 60-38, in Tuesday evening's Prep League contest.

GLENDALE — Even as Prep League play began in early April, the Flintridge Prep boys' volleyball team was still attempting to jell, having barely gotten its core lineup together on the court for the first time. Prominent Rebels starters Kenyatta Smith and Jared Norsworthy, both seniors, missed all preseason activities and a good chunk of the nonleague schedule before returning in time to help the Rebels qualify for the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs. Even at full strength, the Rebels had their hands full with league mates Chadwick and Pasadena Poly, finishing behind the Dolphins and Panthers in the final league standings at 4-4. "I thought the team played very well," said Prep Coach Sean Beattie, whose team rose to the occasion in its final two league games against Webb and Rio Hondo Prep when they needed wins in both to make the playoffs.

BOYS' SWIMMING Flintridge Prep at Prep League prelims: The Rebels won 10 of the 11 events at Pasadena Poly Thursday. Carlo Sivilotti, Bruce Park and Marco Flores each had their hands in four victories for Flintridge Prep. Sivilotti, Bruce Park, Kevin Park and Marco Flores made up the Rebels' victorious 200-yard medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. They won both with CIF Southern Section Division IV automatic times of one minute 44.04 seconds in the medley and 3:23.89 in the freestyle.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE - Carlo Sivilotti has never forgotten what one of his former coaches once told him: "The third quarter of anything is when you show your true colors. " That's exactly what Sivilotti and the Flintridge Prep boys' water polo team did in their Prep League and regular-season finale at home against Chadwick Saturday. The Rebels found themselves down by two at the end of the first quarter and tied at halftime, but it was the third quarter when they scored three unanswered goals to pull ahead and never looked back.

GLENDALE — Though neither team qualified for the CIF Southern Section playoffs this year, several members from the Flintridge Prep boys’ and girls’ soccer teams enjoyed rewarding seasons. Their success translated into a lot, as three athletes from each team earned All-Prep League accolades. Alex Bates, Cary Cousineau and Andrew Edwards secured all-league honors from the boys’ team, which finished 6-12-2 and 1-5 in league for fourth place. Lisi Tegtmeyer, Brooke Elby and Charlotte Milinovich were named to the girls’ team, which went 6-9-6 and 2-5-3 in league for fifth place.

BOYS' TENNIS Walnut 11, Flintridge Prep 7: A small 5-4 edge in singles play was not enough to carry the day for the visiting Rebels, who fell in the wild-card round of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs Tuesday afternoon. “We probably should have won two more sets, but I think we still would have lost on games,” Flintridge Prep first-year Coach Hratchia Sargsyan said. “You have to give Walnut credit. They were a deep team.” The loss caps an 8-8 season for the Rebels, who finished third in the Prep League.

LA CAÑADA - Whether it has been playoff basketball or postseason volleyball, the fanatic students at Flintridge Prep have seen their share of memorable contests. They saw another thrilling match Tuesday night when the Prep boys' volleyball team took on Cerritos Whitney in a first-round contest of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs. PHOTOS: Flintridge Prep vs. Whitney CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs The Rebels took an exciting first game and dropped the next two games by a combined five points before winning the fourth game by three points, setting up a winner-take-all fifth game.

There was no clean sweep in local boys' volleyball when the CIF Southern Section released its playoff pairings Saturday morning. Reigning Prep League champion Flintridge Prep will carry the torch as the lone postseason entry when the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs begin Tuesday evening. Flintridge Prep (17-7) will host Cerritos Whitney (14-5), the Academy League third-place entry, in the first round on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Even though the Rebels are no stranger to the postseason, there are still several unknowns.

GLENDALE - Flintridge Prep's baseball team needed a win against Pasadena Poly in the schools' final Prep League matchup of the year to take the season series for the first time in a long time and keep alive a slim chance of capturing a share of the league crown in a tight three-team race. Following two intentional walks to bring him up with the bases full in the bottom of the sixth inning, Rebels junior Daniel Enzminger blasted a two-run double that proved to be the difference in a 4-3 Rebels victory Friday afternoon at the Glendale Sports Complex.

CLAREMONT - Plaques were not in short supply for the Flintridge Prep track and field program on what was a banner evening for the boys at the Prep League Finals at Claremont McKenna College on Thursday. The Flintridge Prep boys defended their league title, holding off archrival Pasadena Poly, 82.5-69.5, while earning both a track most valuable player in junior Alan Yoho and a field co-MVP in senior West Nowotny. “We thought going in we'd have a chance to win, but you have to still compete,” Rebels Coach Nick Ponticello said.

PASADENA - After finishing a disappointing third at the Prep League Swimming Finals a year ago, winning wouldn't simply be enough for the Flintridge Prep boys' team Saturday. The Rebels owned the meet by winning nine of the 11 events and setting two new pool records en route to 374 points for a victory that secured them the league title Saturday at Pasadena Poly. It vindicated Flintridge Prep from a disappointing showing at the league finals a year ago when it trailed first-place Chadwick by 22 points with two races to go before slipping to third.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL Flintridge Prep 3, Pasadena Poly 0: Mike Lii finished with 26 assists Friday to lead the Rebels to a 36-34, 25-8, 25-15 Prep League road victory. Flintridge Prep, which clinched the league title Wednesday, improved to 17-6 and finished up league at 8-0. “It's not an easy task going undefeated in our league,” said Flintridge Prep Coach Sean Beattie, who got seven kills apiece from Chadd Cosse and Dante Fergoso and six from Kareem Ismail. “They came together the whole time.

GLENDALE - After running away with its third consecutive victory, Flintridge Prep's baseball team finds itself right where it wants to be. Bolstered by 13 hits and seven stolen bases, the Rebels ran off with a 12-2 win over Chadwick in six innings on Friday afternoon at the Glendale Sports Complex that keeps them among the Prep League frontrunners. PHOTOS: Flintridge Prep vs. Chadwick in Prep League baseball “It's been great,” said senior Karlsen Termini, who went three for four with three runs batted in, three runs and a stolen base, of Prep's success.