The Lena Archuleta School’s winter athletes are poised to make headlines in the upcoming season. The co-ed swim team, which captured its first GMC Blue Division title last winter, opened its campaign with the annual relay carnival last week. The basketball and indoor track teams will kick off their seasons this week.
Tommy O’Connor ’25 made school history last winter when he became the first LA indoor track and field athlete to win a state title. Tommy and LA girls’ 800-meter record holder Emma Herko ’25 (pictured) will lead the Rams this winter. Other returning standouts include Adam Eisdorfer ’25, Sevastian Castillo ’26, Naomi Valcourt ’24, Charlotte Szczubelek ’26 and Jayla Presley-May ’26.
A new coaching staff will guide the LA boys’ basketball team this winter. Cory Clemetson is the new head coach and will be assisted by Player Development Coach Clarence Morgan and LA alumnus Luke Burroughs ’99. Clemetson and Morgan have enjoyed a successful coaching partnership and Burroughs adds a winning resume as a member of the LA Athletic Hall of Fame and State Prep championship teams during his scholastic career.
Clemetson comes to LA from Sage Ridge School, a small private independent school in Reno, Nevada, where he guided the program to its most successful basketball seasons in school history. The school won back-to-back Nevada 1A West regular season titles, captured one regional championship and appeared in two consecutive state tournaments. Clemetson was named the 2023 Nevada State 1A West Coach of the Year. His son, Mason Clemetson ’25, will start at point guard for the Rams. Twin 6 foot-5 inch towers Cian Nicholls ’25 and Daniel Zaidi ’25 will give the team a presence in the paint.
The girls’ basketball team hopes to continue building on last season’s success under veteran head coach Mike Howell. The Rams enjoyed a massive turnaround season with an 11-8 record and top scorers Devin Coleman ’24 and Kayla Martel ’24 will be back to lead the team.