The women’s water polo team worked hard this year, came together as teammates, and earned the No. 8 seed in the NCS playoffs.

Cal (15-10 overall, 3-5 EBAL) beat No. 9 Clayton Valley Charter 9-4 in the first round last Thursday. 

The Grizzlies faced top seed San Ramon Valley on Saturday.Results were not available before The Californian went to press.

“We have made NCS three years in a row,” said senior captain Haley Grimmer, “Last year we were 4th in NCS and made it to the semifinals.”

Grimmer said one of her favorite memories was the team’s big 8-6 win against Alameda in the Pinole Valley Invitational championship game. 

“I loved this season,” said senior Brooke Brandenburg. “Everyone on the team is really fun and we all get along really well. Some of them have become my best friends.”

When asked about the team next year, both Brandenburg and Grimmer are confident in their younger teammates.

“The juniors will step up and carry the team,” said Grimmer. “The team has great potential and the ability to do well if they work hard.”

Football

The Grizzlies are wrapping up yet another outstanding season on the gridiron.

Cal (7-2 overall, 5-1 EBAL) were in second place in league heading into the league finale last Friday night at San Ramon Valley. Results were not available before The Californian went to press.

The team possesses one of the most well rounded rosters the program has seen in quite a few years, with talented playmakers at seemingly every position. 

Cal looked to secure a top three seed in the NCS playoffs, which a selection committee decided on Sunday.

For the first time ever, Cal has a truly legitimate shot to capture its first ever NCS championship in school history. Under new NCS rules debuting this year, the top four teams in the section, including perennial champion De La Salle, will automatically advance to the Open Division playoffs to compete for the state title. 

This opens up the opportunity for other teams to compete for the section title.

The Grizzlies have been flat out dominant in all facets of the game this season, winning by an average of more than 29 points in their seven victories. The only two blemishes came in tough home defeats to national power De La Salle and EBAL champion Monte Vista on a last second field goal.

– Brendan Ogburn

Cross Country

The cross country teams ended their regular season on Oct. 8, qualifying for the NCS Championships on Nov. 19.

Cal competed in the EBAL Championships last Friday. Results were not available before The Californian went to press.

“I had a great season,” said senior Lauren Flom. “I had such a fun senior year.”

Seniors Mary Swisher and Alex Castillo both agree that the season was good and that cross country is a great sport.

Castillo hopes that they do well enough in NCS to make it to the state finals this year.

“I felt the season went well,” Castillo said. “We have made NCS in the past and have done pretty well, but we are looking to do even better and hopefully make it to state this year.”

At the EBAL Center Meet on Oct. 12. Castillo and many teammates set personal records.Castillo set three men’s team records this year in the two- mile, three-mile, and 5,000-meter races. Junior Kayla Neumann set the women’s team records in the same races as well. 

The team placed sixth overall at the 33rd annual Mariners Cross Country Invitational.

“I believe a highlight of the season would include the Mariners invite as both the men’s and women’s team did extremely well,” Castillo said. “A lot of us set really good personal records. We walked away with six medals combined.”

– Kimberlee Saxer

Women’s Volleyball

The girls qualified for the NCS playoffs as the No. 13 seed but lost in three games in the first round at Redwood High. 

Cal (18-14 overall, 5-8 EBAL) finished seventh in league this year despite losing senior captain Sabrina Quilalang to an ACL injury.

“The team got along well,” said senior Krishna Parikh. “There were a lot of underclassmen this year and we were still able to work well together.”

For Parikh, a highlight of the season was senior night on Oct. 18 when Cal beat San Ramon Valley in five games.

“The team is going to do well next year,” Parikh says. “There are a lot of underclassmen and they are all pretty good.” 

– Marley Fernandes

Men’s Water Polo

The boys advanced to the NCS playoffs as the No. 15 seed and faced 2nd seed Campolino in the first round of the playoffs last Thursday.

Unfortunately, the Grizllies’ season came to an end after a 29-2 loss.

Cal (11-13 overall, 2-6 EBAL) was led by led by team captains Sam Holden, Patrick Rettig, Tedd Botelho and Andrew Dowling.

“The San Luis Obispo tournament was one of the highlights this year,” said Holden. “We got to go to the beach and take over the hotel pool.”

The team put forth their best performance of the season on Oct. 29 in a win-or-go-home showdown against Heritage. Cal managed a 10-5 victory to propel the team into NCS.

– Marley Fernandes

Women’s Golf

The girls qualified for the NCS Tournament of Champions despite a 2-10 regular season. 

“It was unexpected and surprising considering that we all went into EBALs thinking that it would be our last tournament together,” said senior captain Ashley Troung. “As a team, we played well at EBALs and I hope to lower our score even further at NCS.”

Cal shot 485 to place 13th at NCS. Sophomore Anoushka Erram shot a team low 89.

“This season has easily been one of the most fun for me,” said Truong. “I loved bonding with all the girls. We’re a family.”

As her final golf season comes to an end, Truong hopes to finish the season strong with the rest of the team.

“I personally didn’t play my best season score wise, but watching the other girls improve and have fun was the most valuable thing to me,” Troung said. “I continue to enjoy the time I spend with them.”

– Kimberlee Saxer

Women’s Tennis

After finishing the season with an overall record of 5-8, the girls competed in the EBAL Championships last Friday.

Junior Jocelyn Yang and senior Erika Mattison both agree that beating Carondelet by a score of 9-0 was the highlight of this year’s season.

“It was a fun season,” Mattison said. “I had a really good record this year. It’s been a good final season at Cal.”

Mattison looks to round out her senior year with a good tennis season overall. Her personal record on the year is 7-6.

The team has made NCS the past two years that Yang has been on the team, and she has had one of her best personal records this year.

“It was different from the past two years, but it was really exciting to get to know the freshman.” said Yang.

Yang ended the regular season with a record of 9-4, one of two girls with the best record on the team. 

– Kimberlee Saxer