Winter sports preview

Soccer and basketball are back in season

As fall comes to a close, soccer and basketball have begun. While new goals have been made, each team has worked very hard in order to prepare for the season. 

Boys Basketball games began Nov. 15. Last year, the boys varsity team went 20-6 overall and ranked first place in the Coastal Canyon League, while junior varsity went 12-6 and frosh-soph went 20-4 winning all of their league games. The varsity team has lost seven seniors this year, but has welcomed one freshman and two transfers. The Boys Basketball team has set new goals for the season ahead of them. The players are hoping to not fall short of CIF as they did last year, losing to Serra Catholic in the first round.

¨I am really looking forward to seeing how the varsity will be able to improve this year. Our goal is to make it to the CIF championships,” said senior Marcus Nicolas.

Girls Basketball has a frosh-soph, JV and varsity team this year. Last season, Varsity went 1-20 and JV went 0-2. This season, Varsity will be playing eight league games and three non-league games. The players have put in a lot of effort for the new season and are hoping to make it to CIF and State.

“I’m confident in my teammates and our relationship as a team. So much that I know with all the work being put in and with the support of each other as well as the coach’s support, I feel it’s a big possibility for us,’’ said senior Melissa Portillo.

The team gained a new player, Karlee White, who committed to the application process at Harvard University for Division 1 basketball. Karlee says that the team has many goals, both on and off the court. 

“We all genuinely enjoy hanging with each other and we never fail to turn nothing into something and always have a good time together. Our goals as a team this year is to first off get better and grow individually as players and people overall and to get better as a team. We’re trying to play until March,” said senior Karlee White.

Boys Soccer began Nov. 17 with a 3-0 win over Thousand Oaks. Last season, Varsity went 11-4-2 and was ranked 2nd place in Coastal Canyon League. JV went 11-4-1 and frosh-soph went 3-7 overall. A varsity player from last year, Anthony Hogan, is the team’s new coach.

“In the past we have gone out early in the playoffs. To change that, I want to make a deep run in the CIF playoffs and be a part of a team that everyone is scared to play,” senior Ryan Chu said.

With Girls Soccer beginning, the varsity team last year went 11-4-2 overall and ranked 2nd in Coastal Canyon. JV went 4-8-2 and frosh-soph went 4-6-1. The varsity team has lost 10 senior players, giving room for multiple juniors to move up to varsity, as well as one freshman. The varsity team made it to the playoffs last year and hopes to do it again this year.

“We made it to the playoffs last year and I believe that we can do it again. My teammates and I are super close, so I believe that the team chemistry will take us far this season,” said junior Ava Dermott.

With the new winter sports season ahead, the teams are ready to take on new challenges. Each team has been preparing for the season and is ready to show off their skills. Making CIF, State or playoffs are just a few of the many goals that each sport is looking forward to. Players are ready to take on the 2022/2023 winter season with hopes of accomplishing more compared to prior years.