The men’s soccer team was back on top of the standings and fulfilling preseason goals before recently dropping three of their last four games.
The Grizzlies (7-4-1) are fourth in the league standings behind Monte Vista, De La Salle and San Ramon Valley.
According to maxpreps.com, the Grizzlies are ranked as the 34th best team in the state and 83rd in the nation.
The team began league play with a tie, followed by four wins in a row in which the Grizzlies reeled off four straight shutouts, while outscoring their opponents for a combined 9-0.
Senior Nate Grixti led the team with 13 goals this year, closely followed by junior DeVante Raynor who had nine.
The Grizzlies have been surprised by the performance of the league leading Monte Vista after finishing with a season record of 0-1-1 against them. Cal was outscored 4-1 in those meetings.
“I think we can win NCS especially now that everyone is healthy.” says junior Rob Rowenhorst. “ We expect to do work hard at each practice in preparation for the NCS.”
The Grizzlies have been victims of many close contests which include games against De La Salle on Jan. 15 and San Ramon Valley on Jan. 22. Cal also lost to Monte Vista and Foothill.
The team’s season ended Feb. 7 at De La Salle. Results were not availabe before The Californian went to press. Playoffs begin on Wednesday.
Women’s Soccer
The Grizzlies have performed well this season despite early injuries to seniors Rachel Feldman, Lauren Coll, and junior Chelsea Arnold.
The injuries have not distracted the Grizzlies this season.
“We have done pretty well considering we have so many injuries,” said senior Lena Koussa. “We just need to keep working hard so we can get into NCS.”
With a current overall record of 7-6-5, the team has only three games left until NCS. They have a league record of 3-5-4.
The Grizzlies came out with a 1-0 win against Granada on Jan. 29 that put them in fifth place in EBAL.
The team has scored 17 goals this season, five of which came from senior Marisa Rodrigues, the team’s leading scorer.
Senior goalie Lauren Holden has put up astonishing stats with 77 saves this season. (See story below.)
The Grizzlies finished the season Feb. 7 against Carondelet. The results were not availabe before The Californian went to press.
– Ashwath Mohan
Men’s Basketball
The Grizzlies are striving for improvement under new head coach Garrett Fitch.
Cal is currently sitting at 7-14 overall, with a 4-6 record in league, which is good enough for fifth place in the tough EBAL.
The Grizzlies are currently on a six game losing streak. They were third in EBAL before this unfortunate string of bad games.
The signature win so far this season came against rival Monte Vista on Jan 2. Coming off a win over De La Salle, the Mustangs were riding high but were shut down at home by the Grizzlies, 45-41.
“The kids really wanted that one and it showed in the way we played,” said Fitch.
The other league wins came against Livermore at home on Jan. 8. Cal was able to handle the Cowboys 64-57 in their highest scoring league game this season. The most recent league win came against Foothill on Jan. 15.
Cal’s struggles this season seem to start with their defense. The Grizzlies have surrendered more than 70 points five times, while eclipsing the 70-point mark only once themselves.
Fitch attributes the team’s tough losses to this scoring disparity.
The Grizzly defense has surrendered the second most points in EBAL, only behind Granada. But on the flip side, Cal has put up 465 points this season, which is good for third in the league.
“Obviously we want to challenge for a league title,” said Fitch. “We feel we can win any game we play in.”
If this dominant offense can play the other side of the court as well Cal will be a force in the postseason.
– Luke Finkel
Women’s Basketball
The women’s side of Cal’s basketball program also has a new coach, but unfortunately he is not seeing as much success.
The Grizzlies (5-17 overall, 2-8 EBAL) have no real shot at making the postseason this year.
“(As a first year coach) it’s tough to establish a culure right away,” said coach Tony Khoo. “We need to find the way that we want to play.”
The Grizzlies most notable league win came against San Ramon Valley, 41-39, on Jan 4. This win came after a strong surge from the Wolves in the fourth quarter, but Cal was able to hold them off for long enough to get the win.
“We want to be more consistant,” said senior captain Jessica Catson.
The other league win was against Livermore on Feb.1 by the score of 51-41.
The season got off on the right foot with a good win over crosstown rival, Dougherty Valley.
But since then things have not gone so well, with only three other wins in 16 games.
– Luke Finkel
Wrestling
The Grizzlies have taken a step back after strong tournament performances early in the season.
They have participated in four tournaments and have come in first place in three of them, while finishing in third place in the other.
In Northgate’s Bill Martell Tournament on Dec. 15, the team came in first and seniors John Pricco and Daniel Barker placing first and third, respectively, in their weight classes. In the Lou Bronzan Tournament on Dec. 21, Cal placed first with Pricco winning his weight class again.
In the Dublin Tri-Valley Cup Tournament on Jan. 19, the Grizzlies had four first place finishes and one third place finish. Wrestlers who won their weight class included Pricco, Barker, and seniors Brian Fermandois and Scott Chamberlain. Senior Mick York came in third.
In the Freedom Tournament, Cal High managed to take home each kind of medal. Barker won gold, Ludow silver, and Manibusan and Pricco bronze.
Cal has also fared well in its dual meets, beating rivals Monte Vista, 76-6 on Jan. 3, and San Ramon Valley, 45-39 on Jan. 9.
Unfortunately, the Grizzlies lost their other four EBAL meets, falling to Livermore, Granada, Amador Valley, and Foothill.Cal finished with a 2-4 EBAL record in dual meets
The EBAL Tournament begins on Saturday at Foothill.
– Marisol Montes
