De La Salle Brings Home 10 Championships During 2024 Spring Sports Season

The De La Salle Athletics program concluded the 2024 spring sports season, securing four East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) titles in golf, lacrosse, swimming & diving, and track & field, alongside four North Coast Section (NCS) Championships in golf, swimming & diving, and track & field (2). Additionally, the rugby team clinched an All-Boys Schools State Championship and a Northern California Premiere title.

Individual achievements highlighted the season with Andrei Gran ‘23 earning recognition as the EBAL Defensive Player of the Year in lacrosse, while in volleyball, Luke Nobraga ‘23 was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year and Head Coach Stephanie Cline was named the California Coaches Association Boys Volleyball Coach of the Year. Notably, a total of 25 student-athletes garnered all-league honors this spring.

Below are recaps from each of De La Salle’s spring sports. 

Baseball
The De La Salle baseball team had an impressive season, culminating in a 21-8 overall record, highlighted by an 11-3 performance in EBAL games. Their journey saw them secure a runner-up finish in the NCS Division I Championship, before advancing to the semifinals of the CIF NorCal Champions. This marked the third consecutive year De La Salle qualified for the state regional tournament. Individual excellence was recognized with RJ Meyn, Tyler Spangler, and Hank Tripaldi earning first-team all-league honors, while Jack Karst, Alec Blair, and Ethan Sullivan received second-team recognition.

Golf
The De La Salle golf team continued their winning streak with another remarkable season, securing their third consecutive EBAL and NCS championships. Their consistent excellence propelled them to qualify for the CIF State Regionals for the third straight year. Following a commendable second-place finish at the NorCal Championships, the Spartans maintained their competitive edge, securing the runner-up position at the CIF State Championships. Junior Justin Kim emerged as the NCS and NorCal Individual Champion, adding to the team's accolades. Kim and teammate Collin Keith were honored as First Team All-EBAL recipients.

Lacrosse
In 2024, the lacrosse team demonstrated their prowess with a commendable 17-6 overall record, clinching their third consecutive EBAL title with an impeccable 9-0 performance. Despite earning the No. 2 seed in the NCS Division I Championship, the Spartans' journey halted in the championship game, falling short against Marin Catholic. The team's outstanding performance was recognized with seven players receiving All-EBAL honors. Senior Andrei Gran stood out as the EBAL Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Joining him in with all-league honors were first-team selections Hudson Lee, Mikey Lencioni, Henry Benner, Jackson Barth, and Kellen Dunn, while Hudson Hilal received second-team all-league recognition.

Rugby
De La Salle rugby had another outstanding season that culminated in the Spartans being ranked No. 1 in California and No. 3 in the country by Goff Rugby Report. Not only did the team win the All-Boys Schools Rugby State Championship in March, but they also won the NorCal Boys Premiere State Championship for the third time in May - becoming the first rugby team in Northern California to do so. In the end, they finished their 2024 season with a 14-1 record. However, the highlight of the season, beyond the two championship wins, was beating the Canadian team, Shawnigan Lakes, at Winton Drive 20-3. The following eight players have committed to play rugby at the college level: Kaleo Agustine (Arizona), Parker Beilke (Arizona), Chris Biller (Cal), Wyatt Boswell (USD), Joey Deichman (Saint Mary’s), Carter Hertstein (Arizona), Kai Maoananu-Apela (Arizona), Kaelan Meyer (Arizona), and Dominic Zapata (Arizona). 

Swimming & Diving
Under the leadership of Head Coach Tom Johnson, the De La Salle Swimming & Diving team achieved remarkable success, securing their third consecutive EBAL Championship and NCS Championship titles. Diver Tyler Galloway displayed exceptional performance by clinching fourth place at NCS and earning a spot at the state level, where he finished 25th. De La Salle's qualified teams for the state meet in the 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle relay, and 400-yard freestyle relay. Moreover, standout performances were showcased by Jed Johnson in the 200-yard individual medley, Matthew Nakayama in the 50-yard freestyle, and Blake Hill in the 100-yard backstroke, all securing qualification for the state level. The team's collective efforts resulted in an impressive 11th-place finish at the CIF State Meet. Recognitions continued with Galloway receiving second-team all-league honors, and Hill was named a second-team honoree for the 100-yard backstroke.

Tennis
The De La Salle tennis program continued to grow during the 2024 season under second-year head coach Anthony Carpio. Although the results were not what the team would have hoped for, the Spartans are continuing to build a program, with both varsity and junior varsity squads for the first time since 2020.

Track & Field
The De La Salle Track and Field team once again demonstrated their dominance throughout the season, securing multiple championship titles. They clinched first place in the EBAL Championships, the NCS Tri-Valley Championship, and the NCS Meet of Champions. Notably, sophomore Jaden Jefferson showcased his talent with a fourth-place finish at the CIF State Meet in the 100-meter run, following impressive victories in both the 100m and 200m events at NCS MOC. The team boasted four NCS Tri-Valley Individual Champions and two NCS MOC Individual Champions. Recognitions were abundant, with Anthony Dean (Triple Jump), Jayden Nicholas (400m), Jaden Jefferson (100m & 200m), Trey Caldwell (3200m), and Darrell Cenido (110m Hurdles) all earning well-deserved all-league honors.

Volleyball
Following another impressive season for the De La Salle volleyball program, Head Coach Stephanie Cline's outstanding leadership was recognized with the California Coaches Association Boys Volleyball Coach of the Year award. Under Cline's guidance, the Spartans achieved a 29-11 overall record and secured a second-place finish in the league with an impressive 11-2 mark. Despite being the three-seed in the NCS Division 2 Volleyball Championship, De La Salle showcased their strength by advancing to the semifinals, where they faced a formidable opponent in Campolindo, ultimately losing in four sets. Senior Luke Nobraga's exceptional performance earned him the title of EBAL Offensive Player of the Year, while Antonio Pinto received first-team all-league honors and Kyle Lemmons was recognized as a second-team performer.