Successful Spring for Cate Athletics
May 14, 2026
Our spring athletics programs wrapped up the school year with several remarkable success stories. To start, our track and field team is still in action, with a talented group of student-athletes set to compete at the CIF-SS finals this Saturday, May 16th, at Moorpark HS. The season was defined by personal bests, steady growth, and significant milestones for our runners, jumpers, and throwers. In a historic highlight, the Cate community gathered on the new Meldman Field to host a meet for the first time in 16 years, facing off against cross-town rival Carpinteria HS.
Boys’ lacrosse enjoyed a thrilling season, qualifying for the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs. To secure their spot, the team triumphed in two consecutive “must-win” games against longtime rival Thacher. They then traveled to Simi Valley HS for the playoff opener, where a back-and-forth battle ended with the Rams clinching victory on a sensational buzzer-beater goal. In the second round, Cate hosted Agoura HS. While their incredible run concluded there with a narrow 6-5 loss, the team’s resilience was on full display.
Girls’ lacrosse had an equally impressive year, also qualifying for the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs. After a challenging start, the program found its rhythm and surged late in the season, winning six of their final seven games. The postseason began with a dominant four-goal home victory over ML King HS. This senior-heavy roster led with composure, great chemistry, and infectious energy. Though their journey ended in a tough 6-5 defeat against Great Oak HS in Temecula, it was a season to be proud of.
The swim program has flourished over the last few years, and this season reached new heights. Building on previous success, this was the first time in school history that our boys competed in Division 1 and our girls in Division 2. The team recently traveled to Mt. San Antonio College for the CIF-SS championships, where they excelled against schools with over 2,000 students. By the end of the year, the Rams had shattered a staggering nine school records, including three relays and six individual events.
Boys’ tennis entered the season as defending CIF-SS Division 3 champions and maintained that elite momentum, starting the year with a perfect 11-0 record. After clinching an outright Tri-Valley League championship, the Rams hosted Santa Barbara HS in the first round of the playoffs and took care of business with an impressive 10-8 win. The boys then traveled to Los Angeles to face a talented Webb School team, where their fantastic season ultimately came to a close after a hard-fought 11-8 match.
The Cate baseball team showed great development on the diamond this year. After graduating a key group of seniors, the squad added several exciting new faces who integrated quickly. The season highlights included back-to-back wins down the stretch: a solid road victory against Valley Christian Academy and a thrilling 9-8 home win over Ojai Valley School. The Rams look to carry this positive momentum and improved chemistry into next spring.
Lastly, our boys’ volleyball team truly hit its stride in the second half of the season. The squad competed in the Cardinal Classic tournament for the first time, which served as a valuable challenge. The Rams won six of their last nine matches to put themselves in playoff contention. Their final game was a high-stakes “win-and-get-in” matchup against Providence School. While Providence took the win in four sets, it was a rewarding season defined by growth and competitive spirit.