This Week in Athletics

January 20, 2023

It has been a unique winter for athletics with all the rain. Flooded fields have led to postponements and in some cases, playing home games at neutral sites. Through all this adversity, our student-athletes have performed admirably giving their best at all times. 

The boys soccer team is one of those groups impacted by all the weather. Since returning from winter break, the Rams rattled off three consecutive victories in league play over Foothill Tech, Bishop Diego, and St. Bonaventure before having their win streak snapped by Dunn. Sitting near the top of the league standings, the team is looking to bounce back with two weeks left in the season with a bid at playoffs within reach. There is even a date with the team from Ojai a week from Saturday here on the Mesa. That game is scheduled to kick-off at 12:30 p.m. 

Girls soccer has been rolling through their competition. The winter break did not hinder their momentum at all as they have outplayed their opponents to a 7-1-1 record thus far. With five games to go in the regular season, this veteran group is looking to keep their foot on the gas pedal and a possible top seed in the playoffs. And while that might be the main goal, there is another focus this team has, as well. A rematch with the only team to knock them off this year, the Thacher Toads, looms on the schedule a week from Saturday. The Rams will kick that game off at 2:30 p.m. immediately following the boys matchup. 

In the pool, the girls water polo team has been so fun to watch compete. A program that has been on the rise the last few years is really hitting their stride in the second half of the season. It is a group that has some veteran leadership at important positions but is also getting a lot of contributions from the younger core members. Most notably is goalkeeper Daisy Gemberling ‘25 who has been incredible in net for the Rams. In just her second season playing the position, she has already shown incredible leaps and bounds in her abilities from last year. Up front is the always steady and reliable Liz Sutter ‘23 controlling the offense and the team. Although the record might not show all the positives, there is plenty to be had. 

After starting the season with some big wins, the boys basketball team has not been able to fully find that same consistency in the latter part of the season. Playing a very tough schedule can sometimes do that to a team and that is surely the case for the Rams who have faced teams as high as three divisions above theirs. However, that has not led to a lack of effort on their part. Of recent, the team has put a two-game winning streak together with the second win coming on the road against the Toads. A nail-biter from start to finish was culminated by a thunderous dunk from Babocar Pouye ‘23 that the team is no doubt hoping will be a turning point for the better as they head into their last five games fighting for a playoff spot. Be sure to tune in to the livestream for the last four home games over the next two weeks. 

It was a tough start to the season for the girls basketball team. An opening season tournament led to a losing record right off the bat. But, what might have had some teams down for the remainder of the season was more of a motivator for this group. Since that time, the Rams have won four of five, including two over Thacher. The most recent Thacher victory was in thrilling overtime fashion with a raucous crowd in Sprague. The team is currently sitting at the top of the league standing with four games remaining in the regular season. If their recent play is any indication, a few more wins are sure to be had as the team looks at a possible playoff spot. The final two games will be at home for the girls, so be sure to tune in for the livestream of those contests. 

Please visit www.cate.org/livestream to find a home soccer and basketball games. Thank you to all for your continued support of our student-athletes.