Fall 2021
It’s been said absence makes the heart grow fonder. Without a 2020 Fall Sports season, Berkeley High Athletics fully embraced the return to play this Fall. All Fall Season sports – Cheer, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Girls Golf, Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball and Water Polo – had full seasons this year with many highlights across the program. Keep reading for a few highlights and photos across the Berkeley High Athletics program and learn how you can help support the amazing student athletes, coaches and staff across the 1200 person program representing nearly 60 teams and 27 sports. 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. Or if you are inspired to join now, just click right here.
It’s been said absence makes the heart grow fonder. Without a 2020 Fall Sports season, Berkeley High Athletics fully embraced the return to play this Fall. All Fall Season sports – Cheer, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Girls Golf, Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball and Water Polo – had full seasons this year with many highlights across the program. Keep reading for a few highlights and photos across the Berkeley High Athletics program.
Cheer
Coach: Tiffany Sunderland
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Berkeley High Cheer fielded full Varsity, Junior Varsity and Freshman squads this season for the first time in years. The teams led sell-out crowds at the football games and performed halftime routines. Eight Seniors were recognized on Senior Night for their contribution to the cheer team, including special recognition for 4-year Varsity cheerleader Amaya Williams. The Cheer season isn’t over yet – the Cheer team will be at Basketball games to keep the energy up.
Cross Country
Coaches: Brad Johnson and Brooks Geiken
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Over 100 athletes competed in Cross Country this Fall, running miles every day and competing in several meets. At the WACC League Championship race, the BHS Junior/Senior boys won their division, led by second and third place finishes from Tim Keller and Aidan Metcalfe. Hannah Goelke won first place in the girls Junior/Senior race. Lots of runners had great races and Oliver Nickelsen earned First-Team all league. Varsity girls finished 3rd at the NCS Division 1 Championships and runners Sonia Delangle and Gavi Rawls represented Berkeley High at the State Championships in Fresno!
Field Hockey
Coaches: Yasmin Garrett, Jessica Hendricks, Annabel Labrecque
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Field Hockey was the only BHS team without any competition opportunities in the 2020-21 school year, meaning an uphill battle for the teams to get back in playing shape this year. The team also suffered from multiple injuries so that the JV and Varsity teams ended up playing as a single Varsity team. A highpoint for the season was the win vs. San Anselmo as the girls tasted success.
Football
Varsity Coaches: James Hodgins, Ramon Jackson, Gwangee Pittmann, Ken Major, Marco Campos
JV Coaches: Ross Parker, Rashad Andrews, Don Miller, Marc Vincent, Quinton Moore
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Junior Varsity The JV football team fielded its largest team in years and built a great team chemistry plus tied for First Place in the WACC Mission Division. Highlights of the season include a thrilling come-from-behind win against Encinal with 18 seconds remaining in the game (final score 18-13), a decisive win against Piedmont on Homecoming night (20-10) and a combined score of 79-0 vs the Fremont teams (American and Washington). |
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Varsity Varsity football continued to grow as a program lighting up the scoreboard, averaging 27 points per game. The team finished 4th in the Division following a couple nail-biter losses. The amazing Kamel Carpenter (Sr) led the team with 20 touchdowns. The highlight of the year was the amazing comeback on the road against Washington. The YellowJackets racked up 42 unanswered points after trailing by 22 points to win 55 to 35. Carpenter earned first team honors on offense and defense and he was joined by first team all league wide receiver Jackson Harris (Jr) and linebacker Akeem Brown (Sr). |
Golf
Coach: Ahmad Dilliehunt
| The girls golf team enjoyed its best season in years, finishing the season 6-7. The team was undefeated, 3-0, at home matches held at Tilden Park. The team was led by Seniors Czar Fleischman, Abigail Kaneko and standout junior Macey Wiles. |  |
Tennis
Coach: Mary Bedford; assistant: Tiffany Liew
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The team had a very good season despite limited access to practice courts. Maya Curry and Estelle Handa were unanimously selected to the All League Team and were honored at the end of season WACC tournament. Rowan Kennedy and Natasha Wadlund received honorable mentions. At the WACC tournament, Estelle Handa placed 3rd and Maya Curry placed 4th in singles. In doubles, Ariana Alharazy and Elliot Schrag placed 6th. Maya Curry qualified for the NCS post season tournament but faced a tough opponent and lost in the first round. |
Volleyball
Varsity Coaches: Em Huang and Alison West; assistant: Kimberlee Rock
JV Coach: Kirsten Kulhanek
Frosh Coach: Vanessa Chong
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Girls Volleyball once again fielded Varsity. Junior Varsity and Freshmen teams with 42 athletes in total playing with a new coaching staff. Varsity finished the season with an 11-14 record overall. A highpoint of the season was a 2nd place finish at the Stockton Tournament. The team had several athletes voted for All League honors: Zada Sanger recognized for First team honors, Preslie Yates and Semaj Manuel selected for Second team honors and Camile Jacal and Diamond WIlliams received an Honorable Mention.
Water Polo – Girls
Coach: Amanda Palmquist
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Junior Varsity At the start of the season, the team was filled with first-time water polo players watching a live water polo game for the first time, much less playing in one. However, the team progressed so far that JV girls won 2nd place in the WACC League Championship Tournament. Standout players include Oli Topper in goal and Freshman Marta Maninetti in the field. The girls learned a lot and will be back next year to make an impact. |
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Varsity The Varsity girls team was formed with 22 returning players, including 11 Seniors. The team participated in the Tri-Valley Tournament and the Grizzly Classic Tournament before finishing 4th in the WACC League Championship Tournament. Captains Maggie Fern and Krithi de Souza led the team to an NCS tournament berth before falling to LIberty in the first round. |
Water Polo – Boys
Coach: Brodie Jasper; Assistant: Diana Pivacek
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Junior Varsity After insufficient numbers to field a JV team last year, the JV team roared back to life with a full crop of Freshmen players, all new to the sport. The team rallied to a 3rd place finish in league with a 4-2 record in league competition. A foundation has been laid for future success. |
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Varsity Varsity Boys have lost only one league game in the past three years and have become the team to beat! This year the team was led by Seniors Samuele Gabriele, Jacob Leichter-Wilson, Liam Morehouse, Bennett Weinstein and League MVP Chase McFarland to a 2nd place finish in the WACC League Championship. The team defeated Liberty in the first round of the NCS Championship Tournament before falling to Tam in the second round of NCS. |
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!
The Berkeley Athletic Fund spent the Fall season building out the Booster Club and hosting several Booster Appreciation events for Fall Sports. 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? There are many places to give your end-of-year donations on this Giving Tuesday, 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!
