The Santa Monica High boys’ and girls’ soccer teams both won championships at the recent LA Watts Games held at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
The event began 38 years ago following the Watts riots and provides athletic competition for hundreds of high school teams in various sports. The Samohi boys won the event three times previously, most recently in 1988. The girls had never advanced past the first round.
Samohi’s Artur Jozkowicz was named MVP of the boys’ tournament. The girls’ tournament MVP was Samohi’s Samantha Greene.
There were 73 teams in the boys’ tournament. Samohi defeated North Torrance, Fremont, West Torrance, Foshay, Bellflower, North Torrance again and Paramount, 3-2 in the championship game. Dor Keyvani was outstanding in goal.
There were 48 teams in the girls’ tournament. Samohi defeated Hamilton, Sylmar, Jurupa Valley, De La Salle, Santa Ana Valley and Peninsula, 4-0 in the championship game. The goals were scored by Greene, Allison Gurvitz, Monica Mirch and Jenny Duarte.
