This Week in Athletics

May 16, 2025

As the spring season enters its final stretch, Cate Athletics is riding a wave of momentum across multiple sports. From historic playoff runs to league titles and record-breaking performances, Rams athletes have made their mark in every arena. While some teams have wrapped up memorable seasons, others—like boys’ tennis and baseball—are still battling in CIF postseason play, carrying the torch for what’s been one of the most exciting and successful spring campaigns in recent memory. The energy on the Mesa has been electric, fueled by student-athletes who continue to raise the bar with heart, hustle, and pride.

Cate Girls Lacrosse Wraps Historic Season with Grit and Growth

The Cate girls varsity lacrosse team closed out a remarkable 8–5 season with standout performances, strong senior leadership, and a thrilling playoff run. The team surged late in the year, stringing together dominant wins over Nordoff (14–1), Santa Barbara (17–9), and rival Thacher (14–4) to secure second place in league. They continued their momentum into the CIF playoffs with an impressive 16–10 road win over Beckman, led by goalkeeper Chelsea Newlove’s ’28 12 saves and a five-goal showing from Maia Holmes ’26. Despite a hard-fought 7–14 loss to Trabuco Hills in the quarterfinals, Cate demonstrated the grit and chemistry that defined their season. Highlights throughout included Sophia Ospina’s ’25 consistent scoring, Claire Bianchi’s ’26 lockdown defense, and selfless play across the roster. With each game, the team grew more cohesive, showing that their commitment to fundamentals, hustle, and teamwork paid off—culminating in one of the program’s most exciting seasons yet.

Cate Baseball Wins League Title, Heads to CIF Playoffs After Gritty Stretch

Cate baseball wrapped up a stellar regular season by clinching the Frontier League championship and earning a home game in the CIF Division 8 playoffs. The Rams went on a nine-game win streak, highlighted by a dominant 4–0 win over Bishop Diego behind Quinn Pullen ’25’s one-hit, eight-strikeout performance, and a dramatic 1–0 victory over Dunn to secure the league title. In the championship clincher, Peter Lehman ’25 led off the final inning with a key single, then scored on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Chase Meyer ’26. Lehman also shined on the mound, throwing over six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, while the defense was flawless—Noah Casbarro ’26 threw out three base runners and Meyer gunned down a runner from center field. Although their win streak was snapped in a 12–10 battle against rival Thacher, the Rams showed resilience, with multi-hit games from Pullen, Ke ’27, and Lehman. Now 11–4, Cate is set to host Azusa School in the opening round of CIF playoffs, ready to build on their impressive run.

Cate Boys Tennis Surges Into CIF Finals with Historic Upset and Dominant Run

Cate Boys Tennis capped a remarkable playoff run by advancing to the CIF Division 3 Championship after a string of impressive performances, including a thrilling 11–7 upset over #1 seed Redlands. The Rams were led by the undefeated doubles duo of Nate Newlove and Harry Su, standout freshman Bruce Li, and clutch depth across both singles and doubles. Cate’s postseason dominance included wins over Burroughs, Sunny Hills, and Long Beach Poly, setting up a championship clash with San Marcos High School.

Cate Swim Caps Historic Season with League Titles, Record-Breaking CIF Performances

Cate Swimming delivered its most dominant and decorated season in program history, capturing both boys’ and girls’ Tri-Valley League titles and setting a staggering 23 new school records across league and CIF competition. The girls edged out powerhouse Foothill Tech in a thrilling league meet and went on to finish 4th at CIF Division 3—Cate’s best-ever team result—while the boys earned 17th in a stacked CIF Division 2 field. Standout athletes Jen Won and Emi Kanda-Gleeson combined for multiple individual titles and records, while the relay teams rewrote the record books. Every swimmer contributed to a historic campaign, capped by a legendary senior class whose leadership and performances raised the bar for Cate swimming.

Cate Boys’ Lacrosse Battles to the End in Season Finale Against Millikan

Cate boys’ lacrosse wrapped up their 2025 campaign with a hard-fought 9–12 loss to a tough Millikan High School squad. In a game that showcased the team’s resilience and grit, the Rams kept the pressure on throughout but came up just short in the closing minutes. The defense played with heart, and the offense strung together some key possessions, but a few late breaks didn’t fall Cate’s way. While the result wasn’t what they hoped for, the team can be proud of the strides they made this season—both in skill development and in building a strong team culture. Seniors leave behind a foundation of leadership and effort that younger players will carry forward.

Cate Track & Field Closes Season with PRs and Postseason Grit

Cate Track & Field wrapped up a strong postseason run with standout performances at the Santa Barbara County Championships, Tri-Valley League Finals, and CIF-SS Prelims. Highlights included freshman Sloan Harwell winning the County 200m and League 400m titles, senior Francesca Sutch winning the League 800m, and both boys’ and girls’ relay teams qualifying for CIF. A dozen Rams competed at the CIF-SS Prelims on May 10 at Carpinteria High School, where most athletes recorded personal records. Though no one advanced to Finals, Sutch was named first alternate in the 800m and may still compete on May 17. The team finishes the season with momentum, growth, and a deep bench of rising talent.

With boys’ tennis competing in the CIF Division 3 Championship and baseball continuing their playoff journey, the spring season remains alive and full of possibility on the Mesa. Meanwhile, other programs have already capped off exceptional seasons marked by growth, resilience, and milestone achievements. As the school year winds down, the strength of Cate Athletics is clearer than ever—rooted in community, built on effort, and driven by a belief that the best is yet to come.