Fall 2023
Berkeley High Athletics got off to a great start with an exciting fall season. Our football team won the league for the second year in a row and a new team, flag football, made its mark with an undefeated season and a league championship. There were many highlights this season—keep reading for updates from your favorite BHS teams.
But first, please consider supporting the Berkeley Athletic Fund. BAF provides essential funds—for coach stipends, athletic trainers, and equipment—that make it possible for student-athletes to succeed. Currently, we are only 1/3 of the way to raising the $120,000 it will take fill the gap between what the school district provides and what our teams need. In this giving season, please help us reach the Finish Line by making a contribution today!
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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. | |
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Cross Country
Coaches: Brad Johnson, Brooks Geiken, Anna Bretan, Danielle Perez
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The Boys and Girls Cross Country teams had excellent 2023 seasons. The Girls Team were West Alameda County Conference Champions and were undefeated in Conference play. Building on last year’s success, the BHS Cross Country girls team took 1st place in NCS, becoming North Coast Section Champions for the first time since 1981. This performance qualified a full team for a repeat visit to Fresno to compete in State Championships. Big achievements on the boys’ side, too, placing second in the West Alameda County Conference and Fourth in the North Coast Section Division 1 and three members of the boys team qualifying for State. Many fans and teammates joined to show support! We are extremely proud of all our athletes for working hard this season and thankful to our entire BHS Cross Country community. |
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Field Hockey
Coaches: Annabel Labrecque, Avalon Moore
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| BHS Varsity Field Hockey made major strides this fall season! A historically young team, this year’s Varsity roster featured no seniors; our returning junior and sophomore student-athletes worked hard to improve their hockey skills and to introduce an ambitious, dedicated group of mostly new freshmen field hockey players to the sport. Captains Greta Graham and Kat Burmester led a large Varsity squad of 26 athletes to multiple exciting victories and several close rematches. In a major improvement from 2022, our Varsity team ended the Fall 2023 season with 4 wins and 12 losses. We’re especially proud of this season’s team award winners who’s performance, leadership, and sportsmanship was recognized at our end-of-season banquet in mid October, and of junior captain Greta Graham, who earned All-League Second Team honors. | |
Flag Football
Coaches: Israel Carrero, Don Miller
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What an incredible season for this brand new team! At the team’s peak, they ranked #57 in the nation. The last game of the season was a thriller: Berkeley (6-1) vs. Alameda (5-1) at Alameda, winner takes the league title. Down 6-0 at half, the team came roaring back to win 13-6! 20 athletes participated and the team ended with a 8-2 record overall, even participating in an unofficial NCS semi-final. 7 Berkeley players were recognized as All League Honor Athletes: |
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Football
Varsity Coaches: David Perry, Myles Grace, Jason Peters, Waymon Jenkins, Josh Blocker, Terry Wilson
JV Coaches: Owen Krebs, Sir Devonta-Stewart, Quentin Moore
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Junior Varsity BHS JV football are back-to-back division champs!
This young team showed tremendous growth over the course of the season, finishing at 5-5 overall and undefeated in league. Steady play from quarterback Idan Curiel Wade anchored the team. Highlights include the last second comeback win against DeAnza in the preseason, the field goal by Olin Wong to win it in the waning seconds against Hayward, and finishing the season on a 4-game win streak to go from 1-5 to 5-5. The team is proud of their hardworking students and a team GPA of 2.97.
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Varsity Varsity Football finished the season with a 7-3 record and were the undisputed WACC-Mission League Champions with a 5-0 record in league play for the second year in a row! The team ended the regular season on a 6-game winning streak and were the #8 seed in NCS Division 2 playoffs. Highlights include huge home crowds averaging 1700 fans per game, the comeback and eventual overtime win against Hayward on the gutsiest call ever by Coach Perry, and the insane number of long touch downs scored by our explosive offense this year. Not only was the team a success on the field, but the student athletes got the job done in the classroom with a 3.07 team GPA.
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Golf
Coach: Ahmad Dilliehunt; assistant Willie Fleischman
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| The golf team celebrated two hard-earned victories that symbolize the dedication and teamwork defining the athletes. Overcoming challenges, each swing and putt demonstrated resilience and sportsmanship. Beyond the scoreboard, the team forged unbreakable bonds through shared experiences and unwavering support. Heartfelt thanks to all coaches, parents, and supporters for their invaluable contributions. In addition to the team triumphs, Sarah Lim and Pharaoh Fleischman received well-deserved All-League Honorable Mentions. Their exceptional skills and contributions not only enhanced the team’s success but also earned them recognition within the league. Closing this chapter, we carry forward lessons learned, friendships made, and the proud acknowledgment of Sarah and Pharaoh’s accomplishments. Congratulations, Berkeley High Girls Golf on a season filled with triumphs and lasting memories. |
Tennis
Coach: Tiffany Liew, Stacie Maa, Nancy Yep
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The Girls Tennis team had a very successful season with a total of 23 girls on the team, finishing 8-8 for the season, and placing 4th in the Foothill League. The team was the runner-up in the final consolation round of the annual Logan Girls Tennis Invitational, coming in 6th place overall. We also entered 6 singles and 3 doubles teams in the 9th Annual JV Jamboree at Castro Valley High School. With 8 schools participating in the Jamboree, BHS came in 3rd place with a total record of 17-11. At our annual end of the season West Alameda County Conference Championships (WACC), Sam Lopatin placed 3rd in the singles championship, while Erin Liao was the runner-up in the singles consolation round. Naia Valenzuela Aperribay/Vera Ertel went 1-1, and Ariana Alharazy/Elliot Schrag won the doubles consolation round. Sam Lopatin and Naia Valenzuela Aperribay received All-League honors for the season and the girls were on the President’s list or Scholar Athletes for their high GPA’s. |
Volleyball
Varsity Coaches: Kim Rock and Em Huang
JV Coach: Kim Rock and Vanessa Chong
Frosh Coach: Steph Roth and Addison Fonseca
| BHS Varsity Girls Volleyball finished 2nd in WACC league standings and scored a 2nd place finish at the East County Volleyball Invitational tournament. Senior Preslie Yates earned league MVP Honors. Camille Jacala and Elle Walker earned 1st Team All League Honors and Semaj Manuel and Marlo Bialk received All League Honorable Mentions. Two of our players will continue their volleyball journeys in college: Preslie Yates at Long Beach State and Elle Walker at Cal Poly Pomona. JV Girls Volleyball completed the season with a winning record and finished in the top 5 at both tournaments they participated in. Frosh Girls Volleyball learned a host of new tips and tricks and developed their skills and team chemistry throughout the year. They fought hard in every match they played. | ||
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Water Polo – Girls
Varsity Coaches: Amanda Palmquist; assistant Logan Hennessey
JV Coaches: Olivia Fechner-Lewis
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Junior Varsity JV water polo had a wonderful season filled with lots of learning, improving, and exciting games. Our new coach is a BHS alumna, and the team gained a great group of 10 new players who joined returning captains Margaux Rocha and Elena Samuels. Look for them to dominate in league next year! |
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Varsity The Varsity team showed solid improvement from last year and placed 5th in league. One player, goalie Cece Lutz, made All-League 1st Team. Three players, Captain Ellie Pett-Ridge Hennessy, Zoe Glass, and Eden Barnes made All-League 2nd Team, and Captain Reba Gamson-Knight and Anaya Lehman were awarded All-League Honorable Mentions. The team is graduating 6 seniors who will be greatly missed: Captains Reba Gamson-Knight and Ellie Pett-Ridge Hennessy, Kendall Maddry, Eliza McGlashan, Chloe Roman-Crago, and Nina Ruthenberg. |
Water Polo – Boys
Varsity Coaches: Brodie Jasper; Diana Jasper
JV Coach: Spencer Barnes
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Junior Varsity BHS boys JV water polo enjoyed an exciting and fun-filled season, ending with a 4-2 league record. In addition to intense workouts, the 17 players competed in 11 games and were quite successful against traditional rivals such as Bishop O’Dowd and Piedmont. Three tournaments were played and the boys won the first of these in Novato in a nail-biting, up/down, back/forth, and ultimately overtime final. The team bonded over after game pool play, back flips, and burgers. There is so much enthusiasm to come back strong in 2024-2025 that 13 of the JV players signed up for winter club teams to hone their skills. |
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Varsity Our Varsity team is rising through the ranks and ended the fall season in second place in the league championship with an impressive 6-1 record! There were 13 talented players this year and four were selected for All League honors. Yair Sas and Beckett Sas made All League 1st Team and Eamonn Kaufer and Mateo Flores-Knapp received All League Honorable Mentions. Varsity’s overall record was 15-9. |
Winter sports are now in full swing: Boys & Girls Basketball, Boys & Girls Soccer, and Wrestling teams will be representing Berkeley High in games and matches through February. They are off to a great start, so come out and cheer them on! The schedule of games is always available on the Berkeley High Athletics website.
Save the date for the 15th Annual Berkeley Athletic Fund Golf Classic on Friday, May 3, 2024. Come out to Tilden Golf Course for the Shotgun Tournament or just join us for dinner afterwards.
And don’t forget to support the Berkeley Athletic Fund! Your tax-deductible contribution directly supports the 1200 student athletes at Berkeley High by funding coach stipends, athletic trainers, and equipment purchases. We can’t do it without you. Become a Berkeley High Booster today!
Go Jackets!
