This Week in Athletics

May 2, 2025

Final Scores, First-Time Stars, and Postseason Momentum

As the spring season enters its final stretch, Cate athletes are rising to the occasion with grit and grace. On the Mesa, teams are showcasing the results of months of hard work—racking up win streaks, breaking records, and locking in playoff spots. Whether led by seasoned seniors or rising underclassmen, every program is finding its rhythm and building momentum at just the right time.

Cate Finishes Strong with Three-Game Win Streak

Teamwork, leadership, and fundamentals fuel late-season surge

Cate girls varsity lacrosse capped off the regular season with three dominant home wins, improving to 7-4 and locking in second place in league. The team showcased their growth with a 14-1 win over Nordoff, a sharp 17-9 performance against Santa Barbara, and a statement 14-4 victory on Senior Day versus rival Thacher. Across all three games, Cate controlled the draw, moved the ball selflessly, and executed on both ends of the field. Standout performances came from key players like Sophia Ospina ’25, Sam Jimenez ’25, Maia Holmes ’26, and Claire Bianchi ’26, while senior leadership and solid team chemistry helped propel the squad into postseason play with confidence and momentum.

Cate Baseball Extends Win Streak to Seven

Rams stay hot with dominant team efforts at the plate and on the mound

The Cate baseball team continued its red-hot streak with back-to-back commanding wins over Ojai Valley School (16-5) and Santa Clara (20-3), improving to 9-3 on the season and extending their win streak to seven games. The Rams combined strong pitching, solid defense, and explosive offense—racking up 24 hits and 16 walks across the two games. Standout performances included Josh Butler’s ’26 4-hit game, Quinn Pullen’s ’25 third home run of the season, and multi-hit games from Peter Lehman ’25, Noah Casbarro ’26, and Chase Meyer ’26. On the mound, Pullen and Lehman delivered quality starts, with help from Meyer and Butler out of the bullpen. With confident play and contributions from every corner of the roster, Cate looks sharp heading into the next stretch of the season.

Cate Boys’ Tennis Closes Regular Season with Statement Wins

Rams avenge rivalry loss, dominate final stretch to finish 11-1 ahead of playoffs

The Cate boys’ tennis team surged through the final week of the regular season, finishing 11-1 after big wins over Foothill Tech, Dos Pueblos, and Ventura. The marquee moment came in a 12-6 road victory over league rival Foothill Tech, avenging last season’s loss and setting the tone for a strong postseason push. Behind standout singles play from Kakeru Hirofuji ’27, Bruce Li ’28, and Andrew Jayich ’28—who combined for near-perfect records—the Rams swept all nine singles sets against Dos Pueblos and continued their dominance in Ventura, despite missing four players. Doubles leaders Nate Newlove ’25 and Harry Su ’25 stayed undefeated across all three matches, while depth from players like Kenny Wang ’27, Kaden Greene ’27, and Noah Bien ’27 helped secure vital points. With momentum high and the league title in reach, Cate now turns its attention to the League Individual Tournament beginning April 28.

Cate Swim Caps Undefeated Season with Record-Breaking Week

Jen Won sets school record as seniors shine in home finale

The Cate swim team wrapped up an undefeated regular season with two impressive wins—first over rival Carpinteria, then in a Senior Night sweep of Foothill Tech and Laguna Blanca. The highlight of the week came from Jen Won ’26, who broke a 22-year-old school record in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:29.49. Senior Night was a celebration of excellence and legacy, as six standout seniors closed out their home careers with heart and speed. Ben White ’25, Stella Rogers ’25, and Phin Stephenson ’25 all delivered memorable races, while underclassmen like Josiah Hansen ’27, Maddie Kollock ’27, and Emi Kanda-Gleeson ’27 added key wins and personal bests. With momentum building and records falling, the team now looks ahead to the Tri-Valley League Championships on April 30 and May 2.

Cate Lacrosse Clinches Playoff Berth, Learns from Late-Season Battle

Rams grind out wins over Newbury Park and Santa Barbara before falling to Thacher

The Cate boys’ lacrosse team locked in a playoff spot with back-to-back gritty wins over Newbury Park (9–7) and Santa Barbara (12–10), showcasing clutch performances and tenacious team defense. Captain Cody Mast ’25 was the driving force, scoring eight goals across the two wins, including his 100th career goal against Santa Barbara. Goalie Braedo Parker ’26 anchored the defense with a string of crucial saves in both matchups, including a pivotal stand while two men down. Offensively, Quincy Thorne ’26 and Tres Davidson ’26 consistently sparked the attack, while Ethan Rehnborg ’25 and Jacob Gabbay ’25 added key plays in the win over Santa Barbara. Freshmen Fletcher Prince ’28 and Eman Brine ’28 made standout contributions on defense, highlighting the team’s depth. Despite a tough loss to Thacher to close the regular season, where early penalties and turnovers proved costly, the Rams are locked in and motivated heading into the playoffs on April 29.

Young Rams Finish Season Strong with Statement Win Over Carpinteria

Varsity newcomers shine as Cate caps season with growth and grit

The Cate boys’ volleyball team closed out their season on a high note with a 3–1 comeback win over Carpinteria, showcasing the team’s promising future and resilient spirit. After dropping the first set, the Rams stormed back to win the next three behind standout performances from several underclassmen. Freshman Sam Lambiotte impressed in his varsity debut, running the offense with poise alongside senior Zadin Stephens, who added five kills to his 11 assists. Fellow freshman Kunqi anchored the backcourt with 13 digs, while Peter Markham ’27 and Christian Busse ’25 combined for 11 kills at the net. Although Cate fell in tough away matches against Laguna Blanca and Bishop Diego earlier in the week—dropping a close 2–3 decision at Bishop—the final win underscored the team’s growth and the bright future ahead. With a talented core of young players gaining varsity experience, the program is well-positioned to build on this foundation next season.

Cate Track & Field Shines at 105th Russell Cup

Underclassmen make their mark with podium finishes in historic small school meet

Last weekend, Cate School Track & Field athletes made a strong showing at the 105th annual Russell Cup, the oldest small school meet in California, hosted at Carpinteria High School. Bringing 20 athletes to compete, the Rams came away with multiple standout performances—particularly in the Frosh/Soph division. Sophomore Jackson Steele placed 2nd in the 400m (53.59) and 6th in his first-ever 800m. Fellow sophomore Ati Zwieback earned two 3rd-place finishes in the 1600m (4:37) and 800m (2:06.33), while Braylin Glomah and Ryan Chen also reached the podium in the long and triple jumps, respectively. On the girls’ side, captain Emmerson Evans delivered a strong performance in the varsity triple jump, and freshman Sloan Harwell turned heads with podium finishes in all three of her events. She placed 2nd in both the 100m (12.86 PR) and 400m (61.09), and was crowned F/S Russell Cup champion in the 200m with a dominant 26.26. With this mix of leadership and rising talent, the Rams look to carry momentum into this Saturday’s Santa Barbara County Championships in Lompoc.

With league titles, postseason runs, and championship meets on the horizon, the energy on the Mesa is electric. From the pool to the track, the field to the court, Rams athletes are competing with heart and unity—proving that the best is yet to come this spring season at Cate.