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2 days ago
- Sport
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New Angel City coach Alex Straus sees communication as key to building winning culture
New Angel City coach Alex Straus said he values strong communication with players as he pushes to succeed. (Al Seib/For The Times) Alexander Straus was fewer than two weeks from his first training session as Angel City FC coach. Yet, Angel City president and co-founder Julie Uhrman wanted to see her new manager at work. She flew to Portugal, where Straus was completing his three-season stint as FC Bayern Munich coach — a club the 49-year-old Norwegian led to three consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga titles and a 57-7-2 league record. Advertisement As Uhrman watched Straus coach Bayern Munich at the inaugural World Sevens Football tournament, she already was familiar with his technical acumen that was on display en route to a championship victory over Manchester United. That was not a surprise. But what caught Uhrman's attention was Straus' relationships with his players. Angel City coach Alex Straus speaks to reporters during his first news conference while club president and co-founder Julie Uhrman looks on and laughs Wednesday in Thousand Oaks. (Al Seib/For The Times) 'What I saw was something that you don't get in an interview process and you don't read on the [curriculum vitae,]' Uhrman said. 'The connection he had with his teams was palpable. The way that they would celebrate him, the joy that they brought him, and vice versa, was just something you can't learn in an interview process and it's something that's so critical to Angel City.' Advertisement So, when Straus, reserved and quiet until he opened his mouth, began to speak during his introductory news conference Wednesday morning as the third Angel City head coach in four seasons since inception — with Uhrman and sporting director Mark Parsons bookending him at the podium — he leaned on his beliefs. How Straus wants Angel City to play on the pitch, is the same as how he wants to interact with his players in the locker room — and the state-of-the-art performance center on Cal Lutheran University's campus. 'My philosophy is centered around people,' said Straus, who asked the media to 'bear with' his English after spending four years in Germany. 'I'm here to facilitate for our players to be able to go out on a pitch, have a clear plan and know how to execute it.' Read more: Angel City hires Bayern Munich's Alexander Straus as new head coach Advertisement Straus continued: 'I need to know people, and I need to know what makes them tick. So how can I get the best out of Sarah Gorden or Christen Press or Riley Tiernan or Alyssa Thompson? How can I get the best out of them?' Earlier in his career, Straus said he overly cared about trophies, medals and success. In 2018, he said his worldview shifted. Straus — who said he considered previous coaching opportunities in America, but didn't feel the timing was right — realized he needed to craft bonds and relationships with his players to cultivate a positive team culture, one that could lead to championships. Uhrman saw the bonds on display in Portugal while Straus was still with Bayern Munich and Parsons has watched the baby steps Straus is taking with Angel City in his first few days as official coach. 'Through this process, Meeting 1 to Meeting 3, I just didn't think this person existed,' Parsons said, adding that during the coaching search he spoke to Straus' former players and staff. 'I really mean that I didn't believe this type of quality existed, and I couldn't be happier that we've got him here.' Advertisement Read more: Not done yet: Christen Press embracing her role as Angel City's elder stateswoman What stood out to Parsons, he said, was that even players who didn't play much under Straus — who may have left for better opportunities — would still speak positively about the clarity, confidence that Angel City's new coach provided them. Straus — and the Angel City backroom staff — are well aware that winning isn't an overnight process. The club sits in seventh place in NWSL standings with a 4-2-4 record. In some matches, Angel City has exerted control and played the style Parsons said he wants to see asserted. But in other matches, such as recent defeats to Bay FC and Racing Louisville, Angel City has faltered — often losing despite controlling possession. Uhrman stressed she wanted a coach who could help the team bounce back from defeat, or setbacks. She and Parsons believe Straus can do that. He doesn't take falling short lightly. When pushed on his UEFA Women's Champions League record since 2022 on Wednesday during a side media session, Straus spent six-and-a-half minutes breaking down why Bayern Munich fell short in the quarterfinals or group stages, adding what he learned from each losing experience. Advertisement Straus said he's always open to talking. Angel City players, however, will have only a few more days to get to know the new coach before Straus takes the touchline Saturday at BMO Stadium against the Chicago Stars. 'One thing is to win one year, one game,' Straus said. "But it needs to be consistent, and it needs to be built on a foundation where you are always the ones that have been spoken about when it comes to challenging for winning the championship. 'That's why we are here, and that's what we want to do.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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7 days ago
- Entertainment
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USC baseball dominates TCU to earn its first NCAA tournament win in a decade
USC's Richard Tejada celebrates after driving in a run against Texas Christian in USC's 13-1 win in its opening game of the NCAA tournament regional on Friday. (Shotgun Spratling / For The Times) After 10 years, you'd expect there to be some rust. Maybe some angst. At least some nerves. Not for USC baseball participating in its first NCAA tournament game in a decade. The Trojans played loose and free as they piled up 14 hits in a 13-1 victory against No. 22 Texas Christian on Friday afternoon in the opening game of the Corvallis Regional. Advertisement USC consistently produced tough at bats, going deep into counts early. They forced TCU to cycle through its bullpen after chasing starter Tommy LaPour, an All-Big 12 first-team selection, in the fourth inning. USC pitcher Caden Aoki, right, talks with catcher Richard Tejada during Friday's game against TCU. (Shotgun Spratling / For The Times) Nine-hole hitter Richard Tejeda was a catalyst for the Trojans. He drove in the game's first run with a two-out single in the second inning. Two innings later, his sacrifice bunt attempt loaded the bases with no outs and sent LaPour to an early exit when he hesitated, looking to first before trying to get Tejeda at first. TCU reliever Louis Rodriguez did a good job limiting the damage, getting a strikeout, fielder's choice and a fly out, but USC had taken a 3-0 lead and never looked back. Sawyer Strosnider provided TCU's lone offensive highlight with a solo home run in the fourth inning, but that was practically the only mistake USC starting pitcher Caden Aoki made. The senior right-hander kept the Horned Frogs' offense at bay, facing just three over the minimum in eight sterling innings. Home plate umpire Clint Fagan signals out after USC catcher Richard Tejada, center, makes a catch in foul territory against TCU on Friday. (Shotgun Spratling / For The Times) Aoki struck out six, allowing one run on four hits while delivering 80 of his 114 pitches for strikes. Advertisement Tejeda got a USC rally started in the sixth inning when he lined the first pitch to center field for a single. Two pitches and two bunt singles later, the bases were loaded for the heart of USC's lineup. Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek blooped a single off the glove of TCU's second baseman to plate a run. Adrian Lopez followed with a run-scoring single, and an Abbrie Covarrubias sacrifice fly made it 6-1. The Trojans added three more in the next frame with Lopez supplying a two-run single. With the victory, USC advances to the winner's bracket where it will face the winner of tonight's matchup between Saint Mary's and regional host Oregon State, the No. 8 national seed. The Trojans will play at 6 p.m. PDT. Texas Christian second baseman Colton Griffin tries to turn a double play as USC's Richard Tejada slides in front of him on Friday. (Shotgun Spratling / For The Times) Sign up for more USC news with Times of Troy. In your inbox every Monday morning. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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29-05-2025
- General
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Who are the athletes to watch at this weekend's CIF State Track & Field Championships?
Chaparral senior Keelan Wright (middle) is the favorite to win the 200-meter dash at this weekend's CIF State Track & Field Championships. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) The 105th CIF State Track & Field Championships will take place Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High in Clovis and though the thermometer is expected to rise above 100 degrees both days, many Southland sprinters also will bring the heat. The absence of last spring's 100 and 200-meter dash winner Brandon Arrington, whose leg injury in a league meet May 9 forced him to miss the San Diego Section finals and denies him an opportunity to defend his state titles, opens lanes for the fastest athletes in the City and Southern Sections to take advantage. A junior from Mt. Miguel, Arrington broke the San Diego County record (20.35) in the 200 at Arcadia in April and one week later set a new section record (10.21) in the 100 at Mt. SAC. Advertisement The favorite in the 100 is Concord De La Salle junior Jaden Jefferson, who enters with the best qualifying time (10.30, three hundredths of a second better than Arrington's winning time last year), but challenging him will be Antrell Harris of Birmingham (who clocked 10.92 to win the City title May 22), back-to-back Masters Meet winner Demare Dezeurn of Bishop Alemany (10.35), RJ Sermons of Rancho Cucamonga (10.47) and Servite's trio of Benjamin Harris (10.44), Robert Gardner (10.59) and Jorden Wells (10.63). Senior Antrell Harris (middle) of Birmingham was first in the 100 and 200 meters at the City Section finals May 22 in Lake Balboa. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) In the 200, Masters champion Sermons (20.97) will be in the first heat along with Temecula Valley's Jack Stadlman (21.24), Dezeurn (21.04) has the fastest qualifying time in the second heat, Servite's Jace Wells (21.05) and Newbury Park's Jaden Griffin (21.36) are in the third heat and joining Jefferson (21.11) in the last heat are Santa Margarita's Leo Francis (21.14) and Harris (21.66). Sermons, who announced the day before the Masters Meet that he will skip his senior year of high school to play football at USC, clocked a career-best 20.88 at the Baseline League finals and will try to beat Arrington's winning time of 20.55 last year. Advertisement Servite freshman Jaelen Hunter (46.91) heads a talented group in the 400, which includes Stadlman (47.91), City champion Justin Hart from Granada Hills (47.45) and City runner-up Nathan Santacruz of Venice (47.48). Servite's 4x100 relay was first at the Masters in 40.40 followed by Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (40.77), which will be in the same heat Friday as JSerra (41.44) and City champion Granada Hills (41.78), and Murrieta Valley (41.55) will be in heat four with Birmingham (41.80). Servite also has one of the faster foursomes in the 4x400 as the Friars figure to challenge for the team title, won last year by Long Beach Poly, which won the Masters race Saturday in 3:10.83. The loaded field also features Cathedral (3:12.20), Mira Costa (3:18.73), Long Beach Wilson (3:14.93), Culver City (3:14.80) and Granada Hills (3:24.15). For the girls, Redondo Union's Journey Cole and Chaparral's Keelan Wright are in separate heats but should they advance they would go head-to-head in the finals in a rematch of last week's epic 100 meter showdown (Cole prevailed by five hundredths of a second in 11.36), however not to be underestimated are Malia Rainey (11.57) and Marley Scoggins (11.60) from Calabasas (11.57) and Carson's Christina Gray, who ran 12.05 to win the City title. Wright (23.21) is the leading qualifier in the 200. Other contenders are Rosary's Justine Wilson (23.38), Scoggins (23.59) and Gray (24.62). Advertisement Long Beach Poly carried the baton around the oval in 45.94 at Masters to avenge its loss to Oaks Christian at last year's state 4x100 final and the two schools could match up again Saturday alongside City winner Carson (46.84), which was third in Clovis last year. Long Beach Wilson, the state team champion in 2024, has the top qualifying time (3:43.71) in the 4x400 relay. In the distance events, Corona Santiago boasts two title contenders — Braelyn Combe in the 1600 and Rylee Blade in the 3200. Combe was second to Ventura's Sadie Englehardt last year and won the Masters four-lapper last week in 4:44.36 (more than two and a half seconds better than her winning time at the Southern Section Division 1 finals), second-best among all qualifiers behind Chiara Dailey (4:43.57) of La Jolla in San Diego. Blade ran 9:58.46 two weeks ago to break a Southern Section record that had stood since 1996 and cruised to the Masters win in 10:11.38. The Florida State-bound senior was third at state last year in 10:06.26 and she set a new meet standard of 15:20.3 at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in September. USC-bound RJ Sermons of Rancho Cucamonga will try to double in the 100 and 200 meters at the CIF State Track & Field Championships. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Stanford signee Evan Noonan of Dana Hills, winner of the Southern Section and Masters races the past two weeks, will try to defend his 3200 state title (he won in 8:43.12 as a junior). Advertisement Aliso Niguel's Jaslene Massey and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame's Aja Johnson have the first and second best throws in both shot put and discus. Massey swept the events at Masters (49-7.50 shot put; 165-06 discus). Johnson is the defending state discus champion and won the state shot put title in 2023. In the boys high jump, Mission League rivals Matthew Browner from Chaminade and JJ Harel of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame both achieved 6-10 to finish first and second at Masters. Harel cleared that same height to take second at the state finals last year behind Birmingham's Deshawn Banks. Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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23-05-2025
- Sport
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Birmingham's Antrell Harris captures City Section titles in 100 and 200 meters
Birmingham's Antrell Harris (center) runs stride for stride with Granada Hills' Justin Hart, left, in the boys 200-meter final at the City Section Track and Field Championships on Thursday. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Competing in the same stadium he trains at every day, Antrell Harris sought to defend his home turf Thursday at the City Section Track and Field Championships. And did he ever. The Birmingham senior won the boys 100 meters and went on to win the 200 meters about 90 minutes later. Harris won the 100 in 10.92 seconds and took the lead on the backstretch to win the 200 in 21.66, holding off Granada Hills' Justin Hart by nine hundredths of a second. Advertisement 'I especially wanted to win the 200 because it's my best race and I had to prove it,' said Harris, who ran his personal best in that event (21.32) at the Simi Valley Invitational. 'My goal for state is to make the second day." The boys 400 meters, one of the most anticipated races of the meet, proved to be one of the closest. Hart took the lead around the final turn and held off a late kick by Venice's Nathan Santa Cruz to prevail by three hundredths of a second in 47.45. 'I had to keep pumping my arms and hold my form the last 50 meters,' Hart said. 'I knew it would be a tough race. My goals for state would be 46.6 in the 400 and 21.10 or lower for the 200.' Carson sprinter Christina Gray defended both of her titles in the 100 and 200 meters. Carson's Christina Gray, center, takes the lead in the 200-meter dash at the City Section Track and Field Championships at Birmingham High School on Thursday. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) 'I was happy how I ran in both races,' the junior said after she finished in 12.07 in the 100 and 24.62 in the 200 while also running anchor on the Colts' first-place 4x100 relay team. 'Negative wind stopped me from getting PRs, especially in the 200 because it's longer. I like the state meet and I've PR'd up there the last two years so hopefully I can do it again.' Advertisement GALA senior DeAuna Louis also repeated as champion in both the 100 hurdles (14.87) and 300 hurdles (46.12) after posting the fastest times in preliminaries. 'I'm definitely faster this year ... my PR is 14.46 and I was going for the City record in the 100 but came up short,' said Louis, who is headed to Hampton University in Virginia for academics but plans to walk-on in track. 'I was seventh in the 300 and 10th in the 100 at state last spring. My goal is to make the finals in both.' Granada Hills' Savannah Williams won the girls 400 in 57.22 and North Hollywood's Ananya Balaraman won the 1,600 meters in 5 minutes 3.75 seconds and later took the lead in the last 40 meters to win the 800 in 2:16.90. Santee's Angeles Feliciano won the girls 3,200 in 11:25.75 and Charles Simon won the boys 3,200 in 9:38.77. Carson took the 4x400 girls race in 4:02.77 and Palisades (3:23.98) barely edged Granada Hills (3:24.15) in the boys' race. Venice's Lawrence Kensinger wins the shot put with a throw of 55 feet on Thursday. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Lawrence Kensinger won shot put with a throw of 55 feet on his second attempt. He has high hopes for the state meet in Clovis. Advertisement 'I quit football to concentrate on shot,' he said. 'I love this sport. It's you versus you. If you make a mistake it's on you, when you win that's on you too.' Kensinger was on the football team in ninth and 10th grade, playing defensive end as a freshman and defensive tackle as a sophomore. 'My goal at state is to make the second day,' added Kensinger, whose best throw was 55-9 at City prelims last year. 'Sixty feet for my junior year would be a dream. That's when you know you're with the top dogs.' Marshall's Oleana Taalman Koch clears the bar at five feet, two inches to win the girls high jump on Thursday. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Birmingham's Mandell Anthony won the boys long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 9¾ inches and Marshall's Oleana Taalman Koch cleared 5-2 to win the girls high jump. Advertisement Granada Hills swept the team titles, the girls ending Carson's record streak of nine straight. Longtime race starter Saul Pacheco was honored for working his 43rd City finals meet. A 1956 graduate of Banning, where he was a half-miler, and a 1961 UCLA graduate, he served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1962-65 and was the track and field and offensive line coach at Carson for 25 years. Birmingham's Mandell Anthony wins the high jump on Thursday. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prep talk: Aja Johnson of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame is thriving in the shotput, discus
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame's Aja Johnson competes in girls' discus at the 2024 state track and field championships. Johnson won the state title in the event. (Steve Galluzzo / For The Times) Nick Garcia, the throws coach at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, calls shotputter and discus thrower Aja Johnson "the dragon slayer." She's only 5 feet 3 but slays taller girls competing in those events. Advertisement Last weekend, she won the Southern Section Division 3 shotput and discus titles. This weekend she will try to qualify for the state championships when competing at the Masters Meet at Moorpark High. She won the state discus title last year. She was state champion in the shotput in 2023. Aja Johnson of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) Under Garcia's guidance, Johnson uses technique, athleticism, agility and explosiveness to excel in the two events. She has committed to Louisville. Notre Dame athletes have won every Division 3 shotput or discus title since 2021. … The City Section Division I baseball semifinals will be held Wednesday at Stengel Field in Glendale with a trip to Dodger Stadium on Saturday at stake. Carson will play Taft at 3 p.m., followed by Banning taking on Verdugo Hills at 6 p.m. Advertisement This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
