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Local notches huge honor
Volleyball: Flintridge Prep’s Thomson earns prominent All-CIF first-team award.
By Charles Rich
GLENDALE — In playing multiple sports at Flintridge Prep the past several seasons, Gavin Thomson never earned All-CIF honors.
That didn’t deter Thomson from trying to get better in football and volleyball with the hope of someday picking up the prestigious honor.
Thomson saw that come to fruition Tuesday, as he was named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division V first team after helping Flintridge Prep finish second in the competitive Prep League before leading the Rebels to the semifinals.
The senior outside hitter, who had previously been a middle blocker, was one of nine players selected to the team.
He’s joined by Cameron Walker and Erwin Ramirez of Salesian, Woody Quinn, Harley Frost and Kory Kiraly of St. Margaret’s, Max McFarland of Prep League-champion Chadwick, Bayle Smith of Sage Hill and Will Quanstrom of Arrowhead Christian Academy.
“I’ve worked hard, and I think I’m up there with those guys,” said Thomson, who finished up with a team-best 461 kills, 66 digs and 52 aces this season. “It’s a huge honor because I’ve never got All-CIF before this.
“Any athlete wants to make All-CIF, so it’s a perfect way to go out.”
Veteran Flintridge Prep Coach Sean Beattie said Thomson excelled at playing a new position.
“He had to make that transition, and he put in a lot of work to get where he is now,” said Beattie, who piloted the Rebels to the semifinals for the second time in the past three seasons. “With the work he put in, he got a lot more kills, defensive digs and his passing stood out.
“It’s perfect that he got All-CIF, and I’m not surprised. I think with Division V the last couple of years, there have been some good players. They don’t get looked at like Division I, but I think these guys can play Division I.”
Thomson was named to the All-Area first team in volleyball last season after registering 177 kills, 43 digs, 32 blocks and 18 aces.
He would later earn All-Area second-team honors in football after leading the team in receiving and picking up 72 tackles.
Thomson, who will attend Southern Methodist University in the fall, helped the Rebels reach the semifinals in 2007. The Rebels lost in five games to Salesian before reaching the quarterfinals last season.
“Two of my three years, we went the highest the program has ever went,” Thomson said. “You would like to win [the CIF title], but, if not, I’ll take All-CIF.”
Bernard Luna of Salesian was named the division’s player of the year after leading the Mustangs to the CIF championship with a four-game win against St. Margaret’s.
That didn’t deter Thomson from trying to get better in football and volleyball with the hope of someday picking up the prestigious honor.
Thomson saw that come to fruition Tuesday, as he was named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division V first team after helping Flintridge Prep finish second in the competitive Prep League before leading the Rebels to the semifinals.
The senior outside hitter, who had previously been a middle blocker, was one of nine players selected to the team.
He’s joined by Cameron Walker and Erwin Ramirez of Salesian, Woody Quinn, Harley Frost and Kory Kiraly of St. Margaret’s, Max McFarland of Prep League-champion Chadwick, Bayle Smith of Sage Hill and Will Quanstrom of Arrowhead Christian Academy.
“I’ve worked hard, and I think I’m up there with those guys,” said Thomson, who finished up with a team-best 461 kills, 66 digs and 52 aces this season. “It’s a huge honor because I’ve never got All-CIF before this.
“Any athlete wants to make All-CIF, so it’s a perfect way to go out.”
Veteran Flintridge Prep Coach Sean Beattie said Thomson excelled at playing a new position.
“He had to make that transition, and he put in a lot of work to get where he is now,” said Beattie, who piloted the Rebels to the semifinals for the second time in the past three seasons. “With the work he put in, he got a lot more kills, defensive digs and his passing stood out.
“It’s perfect that he got All-CIF, and I’m not surprised. I think with Division V the last couple of years, there have been some good players. They don’t get looked at like Division I, but I think these guys can play Division I.”
Thomson was named to the All-Area first team in volleyball last season after registering 177 kills, 43 digs, 32 blocks and 18 aces.
He would later earn All-Area second-team honors in football after leading the team in receiving and picking up 72 tackles.
Thomson, who will attend Southern Methodist University in the fall, helped the Rebels reach the semifinals in 2007. The Rebels lost in five games to Salesian before reaching the quarterfinals last season.
“Two of my three years, we went the highest the program has ever went,” Thomson said. “You would like to win [the CIF title], but, if not, I’ll take All-CIF.”
Bernard Luna of Salesian was named the division’s player of the year after leading the Mustangs to the CIF championship with a four-game win against St. Margaret’s.
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