In this week’s high school sports roundup, the Soquel girls water polo team marks 11 years since its last league loss, a look at the week on the gridiron, Harbor and Santa Cruz High keep top SCCAL volleyball spots, Aptos High’s hot tennis start and plenty more from around Santa Cruz County.
Thomas Frey
Follow Thomas Frey on: Twitter. Thomas comes to Lookout with eight years of high school sports reporting in California under his belt.Covering sports in Santa Cruz County has been a dream of his since he was a student at Cabrillo College in 2014, and then in learning the ropes at the Register-Pajaronian for two years as a prep sports writer.“There is a certain magic about high school sports in Santa Cruz, and you can feel it whether it’s on a football sideline, in the gym or on the golf course,” he says.After graduating from Cabrillo, Thomas used his experience covering sports in Santa Cruz County to become the men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics and volleyball beat writer at Sacramento State University, a Division I program.As news editor of The State Hornet, the college’s student newspaper, he earned an internship at the Sacramento Bee. Thomas mostly covered high school football, but also covered UC Davis women’s basketball during its run to the 2019 NCAA tournament.After graduating, he spent three years at the Mountain Democrat in El Dorado County, mostly covering news, including the Caldor fire, which burned more than 200,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 structures.“Covering the Caldor fire really showed me how important local news is,” said Thomas, who also photographed the blaze. “Every day evacuees were reaching out to us to find out what was going on in their area. It was truly eye-opening.”Now he’s glad to be back where his career began. Thomas is excited to be covering all the county’s schools: Aptos High School, Harbor High School, Monte Vista Christian School, Mount Madonna School, Pajaro Valley High School, San Lorenzo Valley High School, Santa Cruz High School, Scotts Valley High School, Soquel High School, St. Francis High School and Watsonville High School.“My goal has always been to give every school and athlete the coverage they deserve,” Thomas said. “Whether it’s a section champion or a team without a win, there is always a story to be told.”For stories or tips, please email thomas@lookoutlocal.com.
Lookout PM: High school sports roundup, winter prep on West Cliff, and the hydrogen-powered bus debate
In this week’s high school sports roundup, the Soquel girls water polo team marks 11 years since its last league loss, a…
High school sports roundup: Harbor volleyball keeps rolling in SCCAL; Pajaro Valley gets first football win
In this week’s high school sports roundup, Harbor High tops rival Santa Cruz High in a battle of league unbeatens, plus scores and upcoming schedule for Santa Cruz County football teams, tennis, water polo and girls flag football action and an update on Aptos High alum Trent Dilfer.
Athletes of the month: Winning bond between Harbor High volleyball’s Gwen Grigsby and Holly Pendergraft
With the Harbor High School volleyball team off to a perfect start in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League play and headed for a rivalry showdown Thursday night with fellow league unbeaten Santa Cruz High, seniors Gwen Grigsby and Holly Pendergraft are Lookout’s Athletes of the Month for September.
High school sports roundup: Rivalries ramp up across sports as league play opens
Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League contests this week include Aptos vs. San Lorenzo Valley in tennis, Harbor vs. Santa Cruz High in volleyball, and Soquel and Santa Cruz defending league titles in water polo.
Lookout PM: High school sports roundup, Moms for Liberty participates in local event, and a housing market update
Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League contests this week include Aptos vs. San Lorenzo Valley in tennis, Harbor vs. Santa…
High school sports roundup: Scotts Valley, Harbor, Monte Vista Christian remain unbeaten
A trio of 3-0 Santa Cruz County football teams are atop this week’s roundup, which also includes local girls volleyball leaders, SCCAL girls tennis contenders and cross-country and water polo action.
Lookout PM: High school sports roundup, SC City Council District 1 candidates, and West Cliff traffic woes
A trio of 3-0 Santa Cruz County football teams are atop this week’s roundup, which also includes local girls volleyball…
High school sports roundup: Watsonville makes it 7 straight over Pajaro Valley in Belgard Kup
Nathaniel Aguilar tossed a pair of TD passes as Watsonville High shut out Pajaro Valley High 12-0 in their rivalry matchup. Elsewhere, Harbor High posted another football blowout, Scotts Valley defeated Monte Vista Christian in girls tennis and Harbor, Aptos, St. Francis, San Lorenzo Valley and Watsonville notched volleyball victories.
High school sports roundup: Sideline melee mars Harbor’s opening blowout of Santa Cruz
A scuffle that saw a pair of Harbor High School assistant football coaches ejected caused Friday’s rivalry game at Santa Cruz High to be called at halftime, with the Pirates winning 40-0. Elsewhere, Aptos and Soquel dropped their football openers, while Aptos and Harbor have found the winning track early in the girls volleyball season.

