See who shined in SLO County high school sports this spring
San Luis Obispo County athletes accomplished a variety of notable achievements in boys and girls sports this spring.
Here’s a look at the highlights from boys and girls high school sports.
Mission Prep softball, beach volleyball takes CIF section championships
Two Mission Prep teams can call themselves champions as their softball and beach volleyball squads each took home titles.
The Royals won the Division 4 CIF Central Section softball title. Mission Prep (18-16) beat South, of Bakersfield, 3-0 in the final, completing a strong postseason run after finishing third in the Mountain League.
Landrie Hinrichs, a junior pitcher, was named MVP of the CIF-Central Section playoffs.
Hinrichs struck out 10 in the shutout to give the Royals the championship victory, while going 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a triple. Danielle Rivas went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in the title game.
Rivas led the team in batting average on the season with a .393 average, Hinrichs batted .372 with four home runs, and Rose Guerra tallied a .364 average.
The Royals went on to upset Venice 4-2 in state CIF action before falling 5-4 to Hanford West.
In the sand, the Royals beach volleyball team went 21-3 on the season, winning its league (CCAA) with an 11-2 mark, before earning the CIF Central Section championship and recognition as the top scholar team in the Central Section.
The Royals beat Arroyo Grande 2-1 to win their section title, held at Cal Poly.
SLO wins big in multiple spring sports
It was a stellar spring season for the Tigers’ athletic program as multiple teams and athletes made their mark.
Among them, boys golf earned CIF Central Section Division 1 runner-up status, advancing to the regional tournament at Los Serranos for the first time in over 20 years, said Tigers Athletic Director Adam Basch. Standout players included senior M.J. Shepherd and sophomore Corey Miller.
Boys tennis finished as Mountain League champions, making it to the CIF Central Section Division 1 semifinals before losing to Bakersfield Christian. Alex Corbo was the league champion in singles; Neil Wells and Grant Vanclef posted a league title in doubles; Wells and Vanclef also won the CIF Central Section doubles championship. In boys track and field, Ethan Feeser qualified for the state championship and set a new school record in the 800m run. Nico Aebischer, Ethan Feeser, Kaden Gearhart and Maddox Lee set a new school record in the boys 4x800m relay. Colbin Garrison, Cyril Agoruah, Quentin Cramer and Cailan Sweeney set a record in the boys 4x100m relay. In girls track and field, the team finished as Mountain League champions and third in CIF Central Section Division 1. Among the success stories, Aurora Peterson was a CIF runner-up in pole vault and a state qualifier. Eriana Roberts was the first freshman girl in 20 years to qualify for the state meet in long jump. Ali Abercromby was a state meet qualifier in the 4x400m and long jump; Aria Pearce set the new school record in the 100m, 200m, and 400m (and 4x400m relay). Finally, the SLO High stunt team was the Division 1 CIF Central Section champion.
Arroyo Grande golf, baseball success
The Eagles were crowned the CIF Central Section boys golf champions, led by medalist Shane Moncrief, who shot a 67 at Monarch Dunes Golf Course in Nipomo.
The team totaled 359 to runner-up San Luis Obispo’s 376.
Arroyo Grande had a deep run in baseball as well, as the last standing team in the county by the end of the postseason.
The Eagles (25-10) were runner-up in Division 2, losing in a 4-3 heartbreaker in the final to Bakersfield Christian. Arroyo Grande went on to upset Loyola 4-3 in extra inning in Los Angeles in state CIF action, before falling 5-0 again to Bakersfield Christian.
Junior shortstop Ruben Servin was the Mountain League MVP, batting .456; Tane Kurth had a team-high seven home runs, and Grady Pope tallied a 1.39 earned run average.
North County, Nipomo track stars shine
Clara Miranda, Peyton Hamman, Bella Tomasini and Gabi Ramsey set a school record in the 4x800m for Atascadero, clocking at 10:10 at the CIF Masters Championships at Buchanan High School.
Justin Wilshusen, of Paso Robles High, qualified to compete at the state CIF championship, placing sixth in pole vault. He recorded his best jump of 17 feet earlier this year.
Nipomo’s boys track and field finished as the CIF Central Section Division 3 runner-up. Marcus Napoli was a CIF Central Section Champion in the 1600m and 3200m; Wyatt Nichols earned a CIF Central Section championship in pole vault.
In girls track and field, Nipomo’s Taya Maumausolo Matagi was the CIF-Central Section champion in shotput and discus. She finished second in discus at Masters and qualified for state in discus. Her discus throw at Masters is a school all-time No. 2 mark, said Nipomo Athletic Director Russ Edwards.
Paso Stunt has stellar season
Paso Robles High’s stunt team of 22 athletes finished as league champions with an undefeated regular season record, which earned them a spot in the CIF Central Section Championships, placing second overall and qualifying for the state championships, said Vanessa Espinoza, the team’s coach.
On the second day of state competition, the Bearcats defeated Birmingham High School and advanced to the state semifinals, falling to Freedom High School.
“We had many standout athletes throughout the season, but the success of this team was truly a collective effort,” Espinoza said. “Every member of our roster played an important role in helping us achieve our goals. Their dedication, work ethic, and commitment to one another created a culture of excellence that made this historic season possible.”
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