The Accolade

Athletes in Cohort C still ‘C’ to it that they stay in shape, contribute to their sports team

Linebacker senior Kevin Hu runs around a cone during a June 23 practice. The Lancer football team currently practices Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:00.

Lauren Jung • December 8, 2020

After spending his first five class periods listening to his teachers’ lectures on Zoom and completing his work digitally from his room at home, freshman Aiden Ko rushes to campus for his sixth period...

Uncertainty remains about fan attendance

Then-junior Vivian Tran cheers on the
Lancer football team at Trabuco Hills High School Nov. 23. It’s
unclear if fans will be allowed to watch games this season.

Kate Yang • November 10, 2020

Running out onto the gridiron amid packed crowds decked out in black and yellow, Sunny Hills football center junior Jacob Neumann still remembers the energy during the 2019-2020 season that ended with...

Game Ball: Senior linebacker tackles work ethic on gridiron with same fervor as in his academic classes

Wearing his No. 9 Lancer football jersey, linebacker and then-junior Carson Irons gets ready for the next offensive series during a Nov. 15, 2019, game against Notre Dame of Riverside in a California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division 8 quarterfinals matchup. After racking up 186 tackles, two sacks and an interception last season, Irons has committed to play Division 1 football for Princeton University in New Jersey.

Isaac Choi • October 10, 2020

Linebacker senior Carson Irons will never forget the 12.7 seconds that remained on the clock in the Nov. 22, 2019, California Interscholastic Federation [CIF]-Southern Section [SS] Division 8 semifinal...

Coaches, players react to revised CIF bylaws for 2020-2021 season

Boys tennis player rising sophomore Jaden Han returns the ball to his opponent in a March 3 match against Whitney. With the new CIF bylaw modifications, athletes will have the opportunity to participate in outside club activities and events during the regular school sports season.

Kristima Aryal and Grace Johnson • August 4, 2020

While the reorganizing of the sports seasons and their delay no sooner than December took center stage in the California high school prep sports world July 20, CIF State and CIF-SS made two unprecedented...

Sunny Hills sports delayed until end of 2020 given spread of COVID-19 cases

Defensive back rising junior Dane Soaper kneels while stretching following a June 23 practice on the Sunny Hills baseball field. The SH football team had been preparing to defend its 2019 CIF-SS Division 8 title when the Orange County Department of Education opened schools for sports summer workout sessions but now must wait until January 2021 to play under Friday night lights again.

Andrew Ngo, Kristima Aryal, and Grace Johnson • July 23, 2020

On March 12, the Sunny Hills boys volleyball team walked out of the SH gym with a 3-0 victory over Artesia, the Lancers’ first best-of-five set win in its inaugural season. It would also be the last...

Head football coach, staff, parent booster personally deliver about 80 rings to players’ homes as alternative to canceled ring celebration because of COVID-19 school closure

Image created by Accolade co-sports editor Andrew Ngo. Individual images of football players with their rings used with permission from Peter Karavedas.

Andrew Ngo • April 19, 2020

Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the governor's stay-at-home order, two Sunny Hills football coaches and a booster contributor took it upon themselves from April 3-8 to distribute roughly 80 rings...

With CIF State officially canceling spring playoffs because of coronavirus-related school closures, what are implications for fall sports?

Tight end and defensive lineman sophomore Ethan Johnson (center) celebrates following the team's championship game victory over Santa Barbara at San Marcos High School Stadium on Nov. 30. After the spring sports cancellation, football may not have its chance to defend the fourth CIF-Southern Section title in school history. Photo taken by Accolade photographer Paul Yasutake

Andrew Ngo • April 13, 2020

After CIF State postponed a March 17 decision to cancel the spring sports playoffs, the organization’s executive director Ron Nocetti made an April 3 announcement that all spring playoff events would...

Sunny Hills offers rooter bus for third week in a row — this time to the Dec. 7 Lancers football game in Bakersfield

Wide receiver and defensive back senior WIlson Cal (center) leads the team onto the field before the Lancers' 24-21 win in the CIF-Southern Section Division 8 championship game at San Marcos High School Stadium Nov. 30. Cal intercepted a pass in the Sunny Hills endzone to seal the victory with 30 seconds left in the game. Photo taken by Accolade photographer Paul Yasutake

Gianne Veluz • December 6, 2019

Students who want to be a part of Lancer sports history will once again have a chance to ride a rooter bus to Bakersfield Christian High School stadium, where for the first time ever, the Sunny Hills football...

Game recap: Cardiac kids do it again, erase halftime deficit to beat Santa Barbara in CIF final 24-21

Running back and defensive back senior Jun Ahn (center) avoids Santa Barbara special teams players during a kickoff return while linebacker junior Carson Irons (left) blocks in front of him. Ahn had 142 rushing yards on 30 carries during the Lancers' 24-21 victory over the Dons in the CIF-Southern Section Division 8 championship game at San Marcos High School stadium Nov. 30. Photo taken by Accolade photographer Paul Yasutake

Andrew Ngo • December 4, 2019

A shorter recap is available on this story. Update: The story was updated Dec. 9 at 11:00 a.m. to change the number of total CIF championships won by the team from three to four. For the Lancers’...

Sunny Hills football team defeats Santa Barbara 24-21 to take CIF-Southern Section Division 8 title

The Lancer football team celebrates its first CIF title in 27 years by posing with the championship plaque in the rain Nov. 30 at San Marcos High School stadium. Photo taken by Accolade photographer Paul Yasutake

Andrew Ngo • December 1, 2019

Sunny Hills football captured its first CIF title in 27 years after a 24-21, come-from-behind victory Nov. 30 against Santa Barbara at San Marcos High School stadium. “It’s still surreal," head...

Game recap: The new cardiac kids? Sunny Hills football team comes back from behind again in Nov. 22 CIF semifinal win over Trabuco Hills

Linebacker junior Carson Irons (center) leads the Lancers on to the Trabuco Hills High School field in Mission Viejo during the Nov. 22 CIF Southern Section Division 8 semifinal game against the Mustangs. Irons made the game-saving interception off a tipped ball at the one-yard line with less than seven seconds left in the game. Photo taken by Accolade photographer Paul Yasutake

Andrew Ngo • November 24, 2019

A shorter recap of this game with more quotes is available in this story. One main point Sunny Hills head football coach Peter Karavedas emphasized immediately after the Nov. 22 CIF Southern Section...

Late interception near goal line secures Sunny Hills football’s 31-27 victory over Trabuco Hills; Lancers advance to first CIF playoff final in 27 years

Running back and defensive back junior Brandon Roberts prepares for an oncoming defender during a first half rush. Roberts opened the scoring early with a 69-yard run that put the Lancers up 7-0 early in the first quarter. Photo taken by Paul Yasutake

Andrew Ngo • November 23, 2019

This story has been updated Nov. 23 and 24 to include revised information as to the date of the CIF Southern Section Division 8 title game and the name of the Trabuco Hills quarterback. In a rematch...

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