This Week in Athletics
October 13, 2023
Competition is heating up for fall sports on the Mesa with the Rams in the thick of league play and playoffs right around the corner. Continue reading for the latest on Cate Athletics.
Cate Boys Water Polo Competes in Buena/Ventura Tournament and Improves Div. 5 Ranking
The boys water polo team participated in a 2-day tournament in Ventura, achieving a 2-2 record. On the first day, they had an exciting victory against Foothill Tech after coming back from a late-game deficit, securing the win in overtime. However, they were dealt a challenging loss to Santa Barbara later in the day. On the second day, with some JV players filling in for the juniors who were taking the SATs, they played games against Thousand Oaks, facing defeat despite some notable individual performances, and secured a final victory against Oxnard. Overall, the team had an enjoyable and learning experience, and they improved their ranking to No. 9 in Division 5. In regular season games, the varsity team had three recent victories, coming against Villanova Prep, Bishop Diego, and Foothill Tech, with captains Baye Breene ’25, Remy Minnis ’24, and Phin Stephenson ’25 being standout performers. However, they faced a tough loss to Malibu High School.
The JV team had a win against Foothill Tech and a loss against Malibu, with captains Eric Jin ’26, Kiy Barry ’26, Tristan Maigret ’26, and Quinn Vanasco ’25 making notable contributions.
Cate Football Battles Chadwick Dolphins
The Cate football team faced a challenging 27-18 loss to the Chadwick Dolphins, with the Rams showing resilience but falling short in capitalizing on opportunities. Kristian Scrutis scored a 45-yard touchdown, and Barron Crayton’s lateral pass led to another touchdown, keeping the score close at 13-12 by halftime. Despite their efforts, the Dolphins pulled ahead with two third-quarter touchdowns. The Rams’ lone offensive touchdown came in the fourth quarter, but they couldn’t catch up. The team displayed determination and improvement throughout the season, with future opportunities ahead after a game cancellation on October 6 against Fulton Prep.
JV Football Season Debut is a Fight to a Draw against Thacher
The Cate JV football team had an exciting 22-22 tie with rival Thatcher in their season opener. They displayed strong teamwork, with key plays on both sides, leaving room for improvement.
Cate School’s Surfing Competition Resurfaces
Cate School’s first surf competition in years was filled with uncertainties, from wave conditions to team performance. With only seven members, the team exceeded expectations. Elias ’26 won the Men’s Shortboard, Johnny ’25 excelled in Co-Ed Bodyboard, and Sophie ’27, who had never ridden a longboard, reached the finals, inspiring the team. This experience highlighted the power of taking action despite unanswered questions.
Cross Country Shows Strong Performances
During the first TCAA meet at Ventura’s Arroyo Verde Park, 48 Cate Rams faced a challenging course. In the 9th and 10th-grade boys race, Ati Zwieback ’27 took first place, with other Cate runners dominating the top-10. In the girls varsity race, Francesca Sutch ’26 won by over a minute, with Caroline Keohane ’24, Jen Won ’25, and Stella Rodgers ’25 securing top-10 finishes. In the varsity boys race, Seb Sutch ’24 claimed first place, with teammate Everest Schipper ’24 closely following. The day concluded with the girl’s JV race, where Valentina Selmoni ’27, Michelle Wu ’27, and Rosita Powers ’26 performed well.
In Ojai, Sebastian ’24 and Francesca Sutch ’25 triumphed in the boys’ and girls’ 3-mile races, respectively, despite high temperatures, with Seb clocking 15:46 and Fran finishing in 20:26. The boys placed second overall despite being impacted by illness. Runners showed remarkable improvement, with several achieving personal bests, including Everest Schipper ’24, Jordan Ryan ’26, and Ati Zwieback ’27. On the girls’ side, Caroline Keohane ’24 secured a top-20 finish, while Stella Rodgers ’25, Riley Pan ’24, and Jen Won ’26 also made notable progress, though Jen did not finish the race due to an injury.
Girls Volleyball Battles League Rivals
The girls varsity volleyball team competed in five games between September 28 and October 10. They faced Bishop Diego, St. Bonaventure, Foothill Tech, Laguna Blanca, and La Reina. While they experienced 3 wins and 2 losses, the team demonstrated resilience and improvement throughout the matches. Coach Jordon Dyer commended the players for their efforts and praised standout performances from various team members. The Rams showed adaptability, coming from behind to secure victories and making important plays. The coach acknowledged the challenges posed by strong opposing teams, such as Bishop Diego and La Reina. Despite these setbacks, the Rams remained determined and focused on future matchups. They aimed to work together as a team, improving their serving and performance as they looked forward to the playoffs.
Girls Tennis Continues Undefeated Streak
The girls varsity tennis team demonstrated impressive performance in recent matches, maintaining an unbeaten streak and advancing to 7-0 on the season. Their back-to-back wins against league rivals Laguna Blanca, Foothill Tech, Camarillo, Villanova Prep, and Providence showcased their strength and determination. Players like Alyna Takahashi ’24, Lisa Hasebe ’27, and Claire Bianchi ’26 delivered outstanding singles performances. Additionally, the doubles teams, including Sophie Blank ’27 and Addie Bracher ’25, Caroline Batchelder ’24 and Elsie Chamberlain ’26, Sophie Alijani ’24 and Pyper Davis ’26, and more, exhibited excellent teamwork and success. Coach Thorpe praised his team’s ability to overcome challenges and credited assistant coach Mark Polowczak for his valuable contributions. The Rams look forward to facing their league rivals and continue to maintain a strong presence in CIF Division 3 polling.
As always, follow along on Cate.org/news for all game recaps and watch the Rams in action during home contests on Cate.org/livestream.
Go Rams!