LBS Celebrates Sports Night & the Induction of Mason Farrell ’80 into Athletic Hall of Fame

At the ceremony, Mike Biermann, director of athletics, described Mason as a talented soccer player, having played four years (1977-1980) at Laguna; serving as team captain in grades 10, 11, and 12. In his senior season, he scored 26 goals and was a member of the All-California Select Soccer Team. Mason went on to play at North Carolina State from 1981-1985, playing in the NCAA soccer tournament 1983-85. An active Laguna parent with his two sons—Cooper ’15 and Henry ’17—at the school, Mason is serving his second stint on Laguna’s Board of Trustees. He is also the Senior Vice President at the Capital Group Companies, a privately-owned global investment management firm.

In his acceptance remarks, Mason referenced Robert Fulghum’s well-known credo, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” He added, “If I were to write a book, it would be titled, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned Playing Sports.” Mason’s experience in sports helped him to learn many life lessons that he shared with those attendance:

• How to work hard toward achieving a desired outcome
• How to work well with others, those more talented than you and those less talented
• How to be an effective leader
• How to be gracious in both victory and defeat

Also recognized at the event was alumnus Sean Copeland ’96. Mike Biermann explained, “I was going through a box of old trophies when I came across this neatly framed medal that said ‘Division 3 CIF Champion; 1995; 100 yd butterfly; Sean Copeland, Laguna Blanca School.’” Biermann continued, “We had always thought that our first CIF championship was won by the 2006 Girls’ Volleyball team, but we were wrong.” Indeed, Sean’s time of 51:76 in 1995 would still be fast enough to win the championship in 2013 and 2014. Sean, who was present with his family, was presented with a CIF Championship banner to be proudly displayed in Merovick Gymnasium.

The school recognized its student athletes at the event as well. Clara Madsen ’14 was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year. Senior Quentin Tedesco was named Male Athlete of the Year. Certificates were awarded to scholar athletes who have maintained an unweighted GPA of 3.75 while playing a sport. The Triple Crown Award was awarded to scholar athlete Pierce O'Donnell '16 who maintained a 3.75 unweighted GPA and played three varsity sports--football, volleyball, and basketball.

The following scholar athletes for the fall season of sports were recognized at the event. The winter and spring season athletes who qualify will be recognized at the first assembly in September.

SENIORS
Nadia Belton – Varsity Cross Country
Chloe Brown – JV Volleyball
Clara Madsen – Varsity Volleyball
Olivia Pickett – Varsity Volleyball
Grace Woolf – Varsity Volleyball

JUNIORS
Rebecca Brooks – JV Volleyball
Scott Johnston – Varsity Cross Country
Stephen McCaffery – Varsity Football
Conner Warren – Varsity Cross Country
Angus Watters-Grubstein – Varsity Football

SOPHOMORES
Danielle Abrams – Varsity Volleyball
Luisa Cameron – Varsity Volleyball
Phoebe Madsen – Varsity Volleyball
Pierce O’Donnell – Varsity Football
Kylan Tyng – Varsity Cross Country
Alexis Yabsley – JV Volleyball

FRESHMEN
Grace MacNeil – JV Volleyball
Madison Nicolson – JV Volleyball