By: Sam Hokkanen ’24, Editor of The Crozier, O’Dowd’s online student newspaper
This winter, O’Dowd Athletics showcased the power of team camaraderie. From basketball to soccer, rugby and cheer, our teams competed with heart and purpose, gaining recognition and titles throughout the season.
Girls Basketball
Our girls basketball team ended their historic season with an overall record of 24-7, losing the CIF DI State Championship Finals against Bishop Montgomery High School. On the way, the Dragons beat Carondelet for the NorCal title, which the team last won in 2020. Savannah Jones ’24 and Nyah Greenwood ’24 excelled on the court and in leading their squad. On the road to state, the team played an incredible game, beating rival Piedmont High. With such a young, strong core, expect big things from the Dragons in the next couple of years. The dynasty continues.
All-League Honors
1st Team: Nyah Greenwood ’24, Savannah Jones ’24
2nd Team: Devin Cosgriff ’26, Jayla Stokes ’26
Honorable Mention: Ella Bibbins ’27, Myella Chapman ’27
Boys Basketball
Our boys basketball team played a competitive season, led by a strong number of seniors. Season events included the O’Dowd Thanksgiving Showcase, the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, and the Holiday Classic in San Diego. The Dragons’ 19-10 overall record led them to the NCS playoffs, ultimately losing to the NCS DI Champions, Dougherty Valley, in the semifinals. Continuing into CIF DII Regionals, the Dragons beat Los Gatos before falling short to Bellarmine College Prep in the second round. Despite the loss, there is a lot to celebrate. There is no doubt that this leadership-oriented team will inspire future Dragon hoopers.
All-League Honors
Player of the Year: Samuel Chavarin ’24
1st Team: Tobias Aisien ’24, Leo Chapman ’24
2nd Team: Miles Dixon ’24, Josh Green ’25
Honorable Mention: Terrell Gray Jr. ’24, Chris Jackson ’25
Girls Soccer
After yet another successful winning season, our girls soccer team earned an NCS DII placement. Under the leadership of new Head Coach Mark Savvides, the girls defeated Alameda 5-0 in the first round but lost to #2-seed Las Lomas in the quarterfinals. The squad finished the season 12-5-1, with many astonishing highlights along the way, including some big wins which saw the team score 75 goals while only allowing 16. With a mix of upper and underclassmen talent, it was a fun season for the players and fans alike. Girls soccer is another sport with a powerful senior class, headlined by Paige Steinmetz ’24, Riley McDermott ’24, Julia Fee ’24, and Francesca Miller-Heller ’24.
All-League Honors
Player of the Year: Abby Forsgren ’26
1st Team: Maya Hollinger-Miles ’27, Chloe Keating ’26
2nd Team: Dahlia Anderson ’27, Kacey DeMarco ’26
Honorable Mention: Riley McDermott ’24, Francesca Miller-Heller ’24
Boys Soccer
Our boys soccer team had a strong season, winning their third WACC League Championship in a row and qualifying for DI NCS Playoffs. The team defeated James Logan in the first round and then lost to Dougherty Valley in the quarterfinals. An array of players stood out this season, especially Ian Nasif ’24 who ended league play with an impressive 20 goals and 11 assists. Joining Ian, the team welcomed back Sean Sweeney ’24, Nolan Rittenberg ’24, and Walker Blake ’24, who all previously played with MLS Next. With their addition, the team looked even stronger this year, finishing 14-3-4. Sophomore Jayden Fitzgerald Boes ’26 finished with 17 goals and 5 assists. We look forward to watching how he leads the team in the coming years.
All-League Honors
Player of the Year: Ian Nasif ’24
1st Team: Alejandro Ibarra ’24, Joe Sullivan ’24, Sean Sweeney ’24, Owen Lee Olson ’24
2nd Team: Adam Rolf ’24, Jayden Fitzgerald Boes ’26
Honorable Mention: Sebastian Rivadeneyra ’24, Walker Blake ’24
Girls Rugby
Led by a strong senior class, girls rugby played a competitive season. Liz Hernandez-Dominguez ’24 and Khailey Kwamilele ’24 had breakout seasons, with many of the seniors planning to continue their rugby careers in college. With more than a combined 100 points scored throughout the season, the team’s final competition held historical significance when the Dragons hosted DW Poppy Secondary School from British Columbia, Canada, the program’s first international cap.
Boys Rugby
This year our boys rugby team competed in the newly formed Northern California Single School competition. The Dragons finished the regular season 3-2 with wins over San Joaquin Memorial, Bellermine and Serra. The team finished in fourth in the Northern California Bowl Championship. More often than not the opposition selected Myles Haarsma ’24 and Elliott Lewis ’25 as the "Men of the Match." The future looks bright with 8th Man OC Lehner ’27 and Prop Masi Latu ’27 starting every match for the Varsity squad.
Cheer and Dance
Led by captains Kassidy Collins ’24, Sekai Lyles-Parks ’24, and Sydney Watson ’27, the cheer team not only supported football, girls basketball, and boys basketball, but also had a successful competitive cheer season. This year, the team qualified and competed in their 10th Jamz National Competition, where JV took first in sideline, and Varsity won 2nd in sideline, 4th in pom, and 3rd in overall show cheer. Seniors Kassidy Collins ’24, Sekai Lyles-Parks ’24, and Lindsey Duncan ’24 have left their mark on the program with the younger teammates ready to continue the power of the team next year.