Beckman pitcher Tristan Dupont was one of the school’s scholar athletes. (File photo courtesy Rosalene Ledendecker, For OC Sports Zone; individual photos courtesy Beckman athletics)
Scholar athletes in the Pacific Coast League, including those at Beckman High School, were honored in a virtual ceremony.
The program is held annually at an Irvine high school, but this year had to go to a virtual format because of the coronavirus pandemic. Athletic directors Monica Salas and Steve Fischel did the introduction of the scholar athletes. Haley Schroeder and Eli Schwarz were named the school’s scholar athletes of the year.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo:
HALEY SCHROEDER: Haley Schroeder is a four year-varsity athlete with the Beckman girls volleyball program. She was team captain for her junior and senior seasons. Haley has been on the starting lineup since her sophomore season and participated in four CIF post season appearances throughout her time at Beckman. She received two first team all-league honors her sophomore and junior seasons, while concluding her high school career with an all-league MVP title and breaking the Beckman girls volleyball single-season block record. Schroeder will be continuing on to UC Santa Barbara where she will play volleyball for the Gauchos.Â
SALONI KHANDHADIA: Saloni has been a major contributor to the Beckman track and field program. She has broken school records in both the shot put and discus numerous times since freshman year. She made three straight appearances in winter state championships, third place at the Arcadia Invitational, and three straight CIF appearances. She has also been to CIF finals twice and was the first Beckman track and field athlete to compete at the state meet. She has also been awarded the MVP award three years in a row. Saloni has a 3.83 GPA and is planning on attending UC Santa Barbara where she will compete on the track and field team and pursue a data science major.
ISHA SHAH: Isha is a three-year varsity player and starter for the Beckman girls tennis team and played No. 1 doubles in 2018. She participated in the CIF post season three times, and played a crucial role in Beckman winning its only CIF tennis championship in 2017. She also made it to the quarterfinals of the PCL doubles tournament with her partner in her junior year. Her awards include newcomer of the year and most inspirational player. She has had the privilege of serving as varsity co-captain for her final year on the team. To close off her high school tennis career, Isha was able to achieve the third-most doubles wins in girls’ tennis at Beckman. Isha has a 4.72 GPA and will be studying mathematics at UCLA this fall.
MARCI YANAGAWA: Marci Yanagawa has been a dedicated club swimmer since she was six years old. She is a four-year varsity swimmer for the Beckman girls swim team and was nominated as team captain for her junior and senior years. In addition, she has won the MVP swimmer award every year of her high school career. Marci specializes in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM, which have led her to be a four-time CIF Division I finalist. In addition, she placed second in the 100 backstroke at Pacific Coast League finals as a junior, and third in the same event the previous year. Outside of the pool, she is a hard-working student who has maintained a 4.49 GPA. She is vice president for National Honors Society and a member of College Scholarship Federation. She has also received the scholar athlete award ever since freshman year. This fall, Marci will be continuing her academic and athletic career at Azusa Pacific University, where she will major in Psychology.
ELI SCHWARZ: Eli earned seven varsity letters between water polo and swimming, playing three years varsity water polo and swimming four years varsity. He was a center defender and utility player for the water polo team, and a freestyle sprinter for the swim team. His awards in water polo included defensive player of the year, first team all-league, second team all-league, and third team All-CIF. Eli has a 4.68 GPA and will be attending Harvey Mudd College. He will be continuing his water polo and swimming career with the intercollegiate Claremont-Mudd- Scripps Stags.
ELIJAH CLARK: Elijah competed four years on Beckman varsity water polo and received three varsity letters. He was a two-year starter, one year captain, and competed in three CIF post seasons. As a captain, Elijah set a team high in assists and led Beckman water polo to the program’s furthest CIF run into the Division 3 semifinals. Elijah was awarded second team all- Pacific Coast League, offensive player of the year, and USA Water Polo Academic All American with a weighted GPA of 4.63. Elijah played club water polo since the age of nine and has won a national title in Junior Olympics Championship division and two Cal Cup state championships over his career. Academically, he is a four-time honor roll, four-time scholar athlete, and an AP Scholar award recipient. Elijah will be studying political science and signed to play NCAA Division 3 water polo at Chapman University off of a 4-year academic, merit-based scholarship.Â
TRISTAN DUPONT: Tristan Dupont was a two-year varsity player with the Beckman baseball player. He was a one time Pacific Coast League champion while playing baseball. He was awarded pitcher of the year for his freshman and junior varsity Years. He participated in the Division 1 CIF playoffs one time during his junior year. His senior year, he was one of the starting pitchers for Beckman’s baseball team. His plan after high school is to attend Cal Lutheran University to study Business Administration and to play baseball at the Division 3 level.
KENTON WILSON: Kenton Wilson was a three-year varsity lacrosse player for the Beckman boys lacrosse team. Kenton was a team captain his senior year. He has participated in the CIF post season since his sophomore year. He was a two-time PCL champion and was awarded first team all-league honors his junior year. He has also been a team captain for the Beckman club hockey team since his junior year. He won the Division 3 championship, placed second in the Division 2 championship, and was awarded defensive player of the year his senior year. He also serves as Beckman High School’s ASB and FCA President. He has a 4.67 GPA and plans to study at either UCSB or John Cabot University.Â
Beckman’s sportsmanship winners were Alyssa Braunstein and Mohammad Mohseni.
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