GIRLS SOCCER
The Berkeley High School (BHS) girls soccer team had a successful season last year, winning the conference title for the first time since the 2013-14 season with a 13-3-2 record. Two of those wins were notably against BHS rival Bishop O’Dowd. Their season last year got off to a bit of an uncertain start when their head coach of four years resigned weeks before tryouts. Longtime assistant coach Alejandro Mendoza stepped up, and the team ended up having an excellent season. “We are all so excited for this new season and to defend our title as league champions,” said senior Leah Freeman. Last year, they were eliminated in the second round of the North Coast Section (NCS) championship tournament. The Jackets now hope to continue last year’s success by advancing further into the playoffs and winning NCS.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
The BHS girls basketball team had a pretty strong season last year, finishing with a 19-8 record and being in fourth place in the league standings. They also won the West Coast Jamboree Tournament. Unfortunately, they were eliminated in the first round of the North Coast Section (NCS) championship tournament. This year they set a team record of points per game in a single season, with 56.8 points on average. The 2018-19 season was their second year with a new head coach, and one of their goals was to have a 20-win season, which they came very close too. This season, the team hopes to build on their success from last year and achieve both the goal of 20 wins and the goal of getting further in the playoffs and possibly winning NCS.
BOYS SOCCER
After an incredible season last year, the BHS boys soccer team is hoping to achieve the same success, even with the loss of last year’s seniors. “Despite losing 16 seniors last year we are still aiming high and hoping to win NCS again,” said senior Kalani Kossa-Rienzi. “We have a strong but smaller senior class this year and a lot of younger talent in our juniors,” he added. Last year, the Jackets had a stellar season, going undefeated in the regular season and cruising to a conference championship. They then went on to win North Coast Section (NCS) for the second time in three years in a thrilling 4-1 victory at Castro Valley High School. Their season came to a close when they lost in the second round of their run for the state championship. The Jackets have the talent and experience to win it this year, having cemented themselves as one of the most dominant teams in the state for the past few years. Hopefully they can take advantage of their younger talent to do well this season.
BOYS BASKETBALL
The BHS boys basketball team had a bit of a rough season last year, with a 10-16 record and finishing fifth in the league standings. However, the team has their eyes set on success this year, and with the right improvements, they should be able to achieve it. “Our goal for this upcoming season would be to make the playoffs, something we fell short of last season,” said senior Amani Masia. “I think the team this season has real potential and we have a chance at having a great season,” Masia added. The team will need to make specific improvements to their technique and strategy in order to achieve that goal. “As a team we’d love to see our defense improve as well as our three point shooting,” said Masia. With those adjustments, the team could have the ability to return to being more triumphant, as they were prior to last year’s season, such as in the 2017-18 season where they went 23-7. Hopefully this can also lead the BHS boys basketball team to the playoffs.