Berkeley High School (BHS) sports have a reputation for being strong and competitive teams. In the past, our teams have won countless games and become league champions. This year, our school’s legacy lived on.
The BHS boys’ water polo, girls’ tennis, and boys’ cross country teams soared past their competitors, ultimately winning the league. Boys’ water polo went undefeated with a record of 25-0, girls’ tennis only lost one game, ending with a 14-1 record, and boys’ cross country ended the season with a winning record in the league finals.
The boys’ water polo team beat Bishop O’Dowd on November 2 to win the league championship. Unfortunately, in the first round of NCS championships against Heritage High School, and on the 14 they went up against Amador High School in the second round. Unfortunately, they lost 5-2. A senior, and captain of the team, Zo Pancoast, credits her success to something similar to that of water polo.
She said, “This year we have a lot of depth in our lineup, which has allowed us to win and win by a fair amount.” Pancoast explained that three of the team’s singles players, Sarah Bruno, Maya Curry, Maya Ng-Yu, went undefeated this season, while the fourth, Solia Valentine, lost only one game. She also said that the thing that really brought them to the top was their “consistent players who are able to outlast the other team, which ultimately wins
Pancoast started playing tennis for fun while she was in middle school, and has been playing on teams ever since. She says the case is the same for many people on the team, as “most of the team picked it up for fun and fell in love with tennis. That is another reason behind our success this season; everyone on the team is doing what they love.” Pancoast adds that, “Many of our very talented players are juniors, sophomores and even freshmen, so we are set up for success in years to come.”
The boys’ cross country team has had an impressive season. Also, the girls’ team came in third place. Senior Emmett Gardella said that the team was very bonded this year, allowing the players to work closely together. The main thing that helped the team win league was the “moral support as well as working hard in races” said Gardella.
Also, he said that overall, cross country was a great community where the team was motivated to win.
The teams’ coaches, Brodin Jasper (boys’ water polo), Mary Bedford (girls’ tennis), and Bradley Johnson (boys’ and girls’ cross country), have also made a significant impact on these sports, encouraging athletes to try their hardest. The students’ and coaches’ actions have brought the teams to win league.
Boys’ water polo, girls’ tennis, and boys’ cross country have all made the Yellowjackets proud, creating a new standard for teams to follow.