High School Illustrated High School Sports Magazine
Santa Margarita Catholic High School notches CIF Team Championships 48-51 this winter season in addition to two more individual championships, making it 59 individuals.
This past weekend proved to be one of the most memorable weekends in SMCHS’ history, where we played witness to the schools 49, 50, and 51st CIF team titles. Prior to the weekend, Nathan Fier and Jeff Holsinger added two CIF Individual titles in wrestling and our girls’ water polo team clinched their second consecutive CIF Championship, the 48th in school history. This is the first time in the school’s 27-year existence where 4 team championships were secured in any sports season. SMCHS teams have won 51 CIF championships, 59 individual or relay CIF Championships, 177 league championships and 8 state championships – more than any other school in Southern California since Santa Margarita opened in 1987. The athletic program at Santa Margarita Catholic High School seeks to provide an experience of Christian competition that will enable students to develop athletic skills and personal qualities.
At SMCHS, academics and athletics go hand in hand. A student must carry a 2.0 grade point average in order to participate on an athletic team. As part of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), our boys and girls sport teams are members of the Trinity League. Students of all grade levels are eligible to compete.
Girls Water Polo
*DIVISION 2 CIF CHAMPIONS*
SMCHS – 5
MATER DEI – 4
It can be argued that there is nothing sweeter than defending your title. Our girls’ water polo team can now speak to that after successfully defending their title Saturday in a CIF-SS Division 2 rematch of last year’s championship game against Mater Dei High School by a score of 5-4. The defensive battle was anchored by goalie Nikki Doumas’ 14 saves and goals by Kacey Avalos (2), Sage Pfeiffer (2), and Diana Carballo (1). With Saturday’s win, the Eagles clinched the programs third CIF Championship in school history and marked the 48th CIF Championship for the athletic program. The Eagles’ road to victory came by way of a first round bye before playing host to Thousand Oaks High School in the second round. The Eagles won convincingly, 26-3 before defeating El Toro High School by a score of 9-5, followed by a semifinal sudden-death overtime thriller over the Southwestern League’s top ranked Nighthawks of Murrieta Valley High School, 9-8.
Girls Basketball
*DIVISION 3A CIF CHAMPIONS*
SMCHS – 53
INGLEWOOD – 41
In opening round action, the Eagles dominated their opponent in Azusa High School by a score of 59-23. In the second round, the Eagles defeated Lompoc High School by a score of 60-44 to advance to the quarterfinals where they took down Atascadero by a score of 73-44. The Eagles then went on to defeat La Canada on Saturday by a score of 69-57 to earn their way to a CIF-SS Division 3A Championship game against Inglewood High School. The Eagles were led by Zaire Williams’ 18 point game and freshman standout Tori Anderson’s 13 points. After being up in the first quarter, the Eagles trailed at halftime 18-25 and after the 3rd by a score of 33-35, before putting their foot on the gas pedal in the fourth quarter, outscoring Inglewood 20-6 in the fourth to claim the Division 3A title in a final score of 53-41.
NEXT UP…
CIF Southern California Regionals
Division 3
Central of El Centro vs. SMCHS
Wednesday, March 12 – 6:00pm
Moiso Family Pavilion
Girls Soccer
*DIVISION 1 CIF CHAMPIONS*
SMCHS – 3
Edison – 0
The SMCHS girls’ soccer team is coming off their 5th consecutive Trinity League Championship and clinched their first CIF Championship since 2002. After defeating San Juan Hills High School 2-0 in the opening round, Huntington Beach in the second round by a score of 2-1, the Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals where they took on Villa Park High School. The Eagles were able to advance on to the semifinals after an overtime PK victory over the Spartans, 5-4. The Eagles took on a top-ranked Harvard-Westlake team and continued their trend of suspense by defeating them in overtime PK’s, 4-3 to reach the CIF-SS Division 1 Championship game where they blanked the Chargers of Edison High School, 3-0. The Eagles received goals by Maggie Ghotbi in the 4th minute, a penalty kick by Taylor Klawunder in the 23rd minute, and 3rd and final goal by Kassidy Gorman in the 77th minute.
NEXT UP…
CIF Southern California Regional Girls Soccer Championships
Division 2
Hart High School vs. SMCHS
Tuesday, March 11 – 3:00pm
@ Santa Ana Bowl
Boys Basketball
*DIVISION 3AA CIF CHAMPIONS*
SMCHS – 53
BREA OLINDA – 46
Santa Margarita is seeded No. 1. The Eagles finished third in the Trinity League. After defeating the Sea View Leagues at-large team in San Juan Hills, 79-42, the Century Leagues at-large team in Esperanza 63-42, the Pacific Coast League’s #3 ranked team in Northwood High School 61-54. The Eagles defeated La Mirada High School in the semifinals by a score 66-51 to advance to their second consecutive CIF-SS Division 3AA appearance where they took on Brea Olinda High School. The Eagles were led by senior point guard Devonte Klines’ 15 points and spread the wealth amongst the rest of the team with 7 other Eagles getting in on the action, including Brett Oosdyke (6 points), Sjur Berg (9 points), Colin Ferrier (5 points), Joe Furstinger (9 points), Ray Shou (8 points), and Paul Schneider (1 point).
NEXT UP…
CIF Southern California Regionals
Division 3
Independence of Bakersfield (16-14) vs. SMCHS (23-8)
Wednesday, March 12 – 7:30pm
Moiso Family Pavilion
Wrestling
INDIVIDUAL CIF CHAMPIONS
106lbs – NATAHN FIER
220lbs – JEFF HOLSINGER
SMCHS has crowned individual CIF Champions as well, yes Champions, plural. On Saturday, February 22nd, Jeff Holsinger and Nathan Fier were crowned CIF Champions at this year’s CIF-SS Southern Division Individual Wrestling Championships. Holsinger is the defending CIF champion and has persevered through an injury-riddled senior year to defend his title at the 220-pound weight class. He won all 5 of his matches by pin and was named the co-MVP of the Upper Weight division. At the opposite end of the weight spectrum, senior Nathan Fier was crowned CIF Champion at the 106-pound division. Fier comes from a family of talented Eagle wrestlers but is the first family member to be named CIF Champion. As a result of their championship titles Saturday, both wrestlers advanced to the CIF-SS Masters Meet at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, where Fier completed his senior season and Holsinger extended his senior campaign to become the seventh individual state qualifier in SMCHS school history. Holsinger will compete in the CIF State Tournament on March 7-8 at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield. Holsinger is one of only 30 county wrestlers to qualify for the state tournament.
PHOTO BY STEVE WYLIE
