The Baseline League proved its meddle this season as Damien won the league and went on to win the Division III state championship.
Chino Hills got to the Division I state final and Etiwanda likely could have but was in the Big Boy Division, also known as the Open and lost a SoCal Regional semifinal.
But coaches Dave Kleckner of Etiwanda and Matt Dunn of Damien have been recognized for their team’s showing.
CalHi Sports picks a statewide coach in each division and has chosen both Kleckner (Division I) and Dunn (Division III).
It’s pretty elite company to say the least and to think that the Inland Valley had two coaches honored is quite the compliment.
Dunn directed the Spartans to a 29-5 mark that included a first-place finish in the school’s first year in the more competitive Baseline. The season was capped off with the state championship win over Campolindo.
Kleckner’s Eagles went 24-9, finishing second to Damien in the league. But Etiwanda advanced to the Open Division final before falling to Bishop Montgomery. That run also included a semifinal win over Mater Dei at Mater Dei.
In the state portion of the playoffs Etiwanda remained in the Open division and ended up losing to another perennial power in LA Fairfax.
The overall state honor went to Chuck Rapp of San Mateo Serra. He was the Division II nominee. Other winners were Russell White of Crespi (Division IV) and John Maffucci of Carlsbad Army-Navy (Division V),
