Submitted by Lake Arrowhead Competitive Sports
For many high school students, their athletics experiences create lasting memories during their “coming of age” years. However, for many homeschooled high school students, the opportunity to play competitive team sports may not be available.
The 2025 Lake Arrowhead Competitive Sports girls volleyball team. (Photos by Steve Cooper)
Lake Arrowhead Competitive Sports club provides Christian homeschooling families with these team sports opportunities, as well as a social and spiritual environment for their teenagers.
The club was formed in August of 2023, offering both girls and boys competitive teams in volleyball and basketball. This winter, the club is also adding a 12-14 boys basketball team. Lake Arrowhead Christian School (LACS) has been a strong supporter of the club, as many of the players were former students of the school.
“We’re very thankful to be able to provide these high school kids a club in which to train and compete at a varsity level, under the leadership of quality coaches who know their sports and who want to demonstrate Christian character through their coaching,” said Club Director Steve Rutz.
The 2025 Lake Arrowhead Competitive Sports boys volleyball team.
Parents have expressed their enthusiasm for the sports club, as well. Eric Polden has a 12th grader who’s played volleyball and basketball in the club. “She has benefited not only from a physical perspective, but also from spiritual and leadership perspectives. She is constantly encouraged to honor the Lord in her play, whether winning or losing, and she has been challenged to take on a greater leadership role. That has not been easy for her, but the encouragement to improve is always constant.”
On the season, the girls high school volleyball program finished with 14 wins and 13 losses. In match play, they finished 11-2 competing as a JV and 3-5 competing as a varsity. The boys team finished 10-18, overall. In match play, they were 5-1 as a JV and 3-7 as a varsity.
Senior middle hitter Dallas Tarkington hammers the ball for a kill attempt.
The Eagles capped off their fall seasons in November, competing in the California Homeschool Sports Playoff Tournament at the cavernous Irvine Momentous Sports Center. The competition was strong in both boys and girls varsity divisions. Most of the girls’ season losses were taken at the tournament in the one-game pool-play format. The boys team won two of their pool play matches but lost their bracket-play matches.
Jessica and Ryan Tarkington have two sons competing in volleyball. Jessica says the club “has given our boys a supportive place to develop as players and to honor God in their teamwork and sportsmanship. For our homeschool family, it has provided a much-needed opportunity to play competitive sports locally, and it’s been a joy to watch them take the court together!”
The Lady Eagles were Kailey Donovan (OH), Rose Egan (OH), Elizabeth Hartshorn (S), Siena Lopour (DS), Lilianna Nicolaisen (S), Emiley Peterson (S-OH), Grace Polden (MH), Emma Rios (OH), Julia Swan Van Lent (MH), Brooklynn Winter (L) and Evangeline Williams (DS). They were led by Coach Steve Rutz.
The Eagles boys team included Brian Blankenship (OPP), Ian Frazier (MH), Logan Hartshorn (OPP), Landon Lowe (OH), Layden Medina (OH), Liam Medina (MH), Levi Norris (OH), Dallas Tarkington (S-MH), Memphis Tarkington (S), Raef Uribe (OH), Sullivan White (OH) and Mark Wilhite (OH). They were led by Coach Tim Kohler.
As the calendar turns to the winter season, the Eagles will be taking to the basketball court, grateful to make lasting memories of strong competition and good sportsmanship.
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