Fall 2022
There was serious excitement around Berkeley High Athletics this season! The Football team returned to a level of play we haven’t seen in years, with undefeated league records and an appearance in the post season playoff. The Cross Country teams swept the WACC League Championships, the Boys won NCS and the Girls came in second in NCS! Keep reading for a few highlights and photos across the Berkeley High Athletics program. The athletic program depends on gifts from families like yours, so after you have enjoyed the following Fall Sports Update, we hope you will consider becoming a Berkeley Booster and being part of this collective investment in excellence. As we prepare for Thanksgiving, show your gratitude for our amazing coaches by supporting stipends for coaches here.
Cheer
Head Coach: Tiffany Sunderland; JV Coaches: Caila Williams and Daysha Singleton
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| Berkeley High Cheer once again fielded Varsity, Junior Varsity and Freshman squads this season. The teams led the dynamic crowds at football games this season and will be back this winter to cheer on the basketball teams. The squads performed half time routines and are preparing for a competition next month. | ||
Cross Country
Coaches: Brad Johnson and Brooks Geiken
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Berkeley High Cross Country is on a roll this season! Not only are the YellowJackets one of the largest teams around, these runners are fast! At the WACC League Championship Meet, Berkeley High swept the entire meet. That’s right – JV and Varsity, Boys and Girls, all four teams came in First. The fast running continued at the NCS Championship meet November 19 where the Girls finished Second in NCS and the Boys came in First place! Amazing work! Several Berkeley High runners also received All League recognition. On the Girls team, Sonia Delangle, Magnolia Hougan, Gracie Koch and Carina Nottingham all received First Team Honors while Zoe Kolhmeyer was named to the Second Team. On the Boys Team, Olaf Dietz and Matteo Small were each named to the First Team All League with Olaf winning Runner of the Year for the WACC-Foothill League. Second team honors went to Jalen Madjidi and Oliver Nickelsen. Competition is not over for these athletes yet as both boys and girls teams qualified for the State Championship meet. Go Jackets! |
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Field Hockey
Coaches: Annabel Labrecque, Avalon Moore, Kayleigh Tompkins
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| After a tough season last year following a year with no competition due to COVID, Berkeley High Field Hockey showed marked improvement this year against a challenging schedule. Berkeley High plays in a league of Marin and SF private schools as the only school in the East Bay to field a team. Highlights were the wins against Archie Williams and Convent of the Sacred Heart. | |
Football
Varsity Coaches: David Perry, Gwangee Pittmann, Myles Grace, Henry Bazakas, Paxton Griffin, Damario Johnson, Josh Blocker, Jon Andrews, Twin Johnson, Owen Krebs, Ross Parker, Armani Turner-Jenkins
JV Coaches: Owen Krebs, Jon Andrews, Sir Devonte-Stewart, Ross Parker, Armani Turner-Jenkins, Quentin Moore, Branch Nautu, Myles Grace, Joshua Blocker
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Junior Varsity BHS JV football just completed a fantastic season, finishing at 8-2 and undefeated in league play plus ending with a 7 game win streak. The Defense only allowed 1 touchdown in all of their 5 league games to finish out the season “Jacket Strong”!
On the Offensive side, Quarterback PJ Mataafa threw over 10 TD passes in his first year as QB in the USA, having just arrived roughly 8 months ago from American Samoa.
The following JV players were moved up to Varsity at the end of the season and were on the sideline for the 1st playoff game in 10 years at BHS. This was in part because of their incredible play, along with their overall representation of the program standards #DTH (Determination, Trust, Hope): Andrew Fern, Alex Baumman, Jin Jones, PJ Mataafa,Adonis Wheeler, Robbie Jones, Marquise Rutledge, Jonas Torke.
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| Varsity Varsity Football finished the season with a 7-4 record and was the undisputed WACC-Mission League Champions with a 5-0 record in league play. The team qualified for the NCS Tournament for the first time in a decade! #TheBuzzIsBack
The game vs. Moreau Catholic showed extreme resilience as the team fought back to an ultimate 27-23 victory. A couple games later, the team again showed grit and determination in battling to a 44-41 victory over Hayward.
13 Berkeley Players recognized as All League Honor Athletes:
Offensive Player of the Year – Jackson Harris
1st Team All League: Jackson Harris, Drew Henderson, BJ Thurman, Terrance Phillips,
2nd Team All League: BJ Thurman, Fred Brown, Jalen Harris, Elijah Dupaty, Lucas Cord, Jamir Brown Anderson, Nate Garland,
Honorable Mention: Eli Moulton, Mauro Green and Cahlili Snead
Not only was the team a success on the field, but the student athletes got the job done in the classroom with
38 underclassmen earning over a 3.0gpa going into next year. There will be 11 returning CIFNCS President’s List Award Winners and 13 Scholar Athlete Award winners.
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Golf
Coach: Ahmad Dilliehunt; assistant Willie Fleischman
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Berkeley High Girls Golf finished 5-7 on the season, tied for 4th in the league. The season’s best finish of the year came against San Leandro and Piedmont at Monarch Bay GC in San Leandro. Berkeley shot their best round of the season with a score of 208 as a team.
Berkeley High was represented in the North Coast Sectional playoffs by star Senior Macey Wiles and talented Junior Sarah Lim. Each finished in the top half of a field of over 100 golfers. Macey also received First Team All League Honors.
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Tennis
Coach: Mary Bedford; assistants: Tiffany Liew, Stacie Maa, Nancy Yep
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Girls Tennis had a very challenging and competitive season. Our matches were close and hard fought. Everyone gave 100% and it was a positive experience for all. The team had an exciting weekend at the James Logan Tennis Tournament where BHS came in 4th place in the Consolation bracket among tough competition. Ariana Alharazy was selected to the All League Team. Rowan Kennedy and Sam Lopatin received Honorable Mentions |
Volleyball
Varsity Coaches: Em Huang and Alison West
JV Coach: Kimberlee Rock
Frosh Coach: Veronica Stewart, Addison Fonseca, Zeph Laundau
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Girls Volleyball finished 3rd place in the WACC, but that was strong enough to earn a spot at the NCS Tournament. The team won the first round game vs. Heritage before falling to the ultimate NCS Champion. Other highlights includes a 2nd place in the El Cerrito Gaucho Invitational Tournament. The Berkeley High team was also the only team in the league to win two sets against O’Dowd’s tough team. FIrst Team All League Honors went to Camille Jacala and Zada Singer, with Zada named the overall WACC-Foothill Player of the Year. Second Team honors were awarded to Sofia Castiglioni and Semaj Manuel, with Amalie Haji and Elle Walker receiving Honorable Mentions. |
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Water Polo – Girls
Coach: Amanda Palmquist; assistant Logan Hennessey
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Junior Varsity The JV girls water polo team had another great season filled with lots of learning and huge improvements. This season the JV team captured 3rd place at their end of season tournament, with big contributions from all, but especially from Morgan Ostrer, Anaya Lehman, and Zoe Glass in the field, and from Cece Lutz and Phoebe Jasper-Hwang in the goal. |
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Varsity The Varsity girls water polo team was filled with 13 Seniors, who all scored in the Senior Night game vs San Leandro. The team battled in several exciting double over-time, sudden death games throughout the season, including in their final game in the WAAC Championship tournament for 5th place. Even though the season did not always go the way they wanted, the team showed true grit, played hard and stayed positive. For their standout play all season, Captain Brianna Smyth was named First Team All-League, Lily Welch and Captain Ollie Topper were named 2nd team All League, and Allison King and Molly Dickinson got Honorable Mention. |
Water Polo – Boys
Coach: Brodie Jasper; Assistant: Diana Jasper
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Junior Varsity Well-over half of the 2022 Junior Varsity Boys Water Polo team were freshman and brand new to the sport at season’s start. With each successive game improvements were evident in both individual and team play, and by the end of the season the JV team had really hit their stride. In the season-ending league championship tournament the team had two wins and one loss for a solid third place finish overall. |
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Varsity Varsity Boys had a re-building year with 15 players made up of a handful of Seniors, one Junior and the rest Sophomores. The team was led by Senior captains Luke Childs (1st team WACC All-League), Casey Alper (2nd team WACC All-League), and JP De Anda Castaneda (Honorable Mention) along with goalie Lior Schifrin. Also joining Varsity this year were Sophomores Eamonn Kaufer (Honorable Mention), Yair Sas and Beckett Sas. The YellowJackets ended the season with a record of 7-16. A 12-10 victory in the final game over Bishop O’Dowd earned the team 5th place in the WACC league. |
Winter Season sports are now underway – the Boys & Girls Basketball, Boys & Girls Soccer and Wrestling teams will be representing Berkeley High in games and matches through January. The schedule of games is always available on the Berkeley High Athletics website. Hope to see you at a game soon!
Save the date for the 15th Annual Berkeley Athletic Fund Golf Classic on Friday, May 5, 2023. Come out to Tilden Golf Course for the Shotgun Tournament or just join us for dinner afterwards.
Did you know the Berkeley Athletic Fund needs to raise $80,000 every year just to maintain coach stipends and equipment funds at their current level? Your tax-deductible contribution to the Berkeley Athletic Fund goes to work right here in Berkeley on the field, in the pool, on the court, or in the gym for the 1200 student athletes at Berkeley High. Become a Berkeley High Booster today!
Go Jackets!
