Sports briefs: San Rafael, San Marin cheer teams win national titles
The San Rafael High and San Marin cheerleading squads each brought home a national title after the 2023 USA Spirit Nationals held late last month in Anaheim.
San Rafael’s title came at the varsity level in the coed show cheer non tumbling advanced division. The Bulldogs turned in a performance score of 96.3889 points to beat out second-place Oakmont High on 92.6111 points.
The national title was the seventh for the program, which also won single titles in 2017 and 2018 and two apiece in 2020 and 2021.
“We are incredibly proud to be the only team in the North Bay competing in an advanced division — bringing this title home in the Varsity Coed Advanced Nontumbling Division,” San Rafael coach Shawna Hoch said via email. “This accomplishment is even more remarkable as all of our athletes come into our program with no cheerleading experience.”
San Marin’s title came at the junior varsity level in the Show Cheer Non Tumbling Novice division. The Mustangs netted a performance score of 94.3889 points to take the title, beating out Yorba Linda and Damonte Ranch, which each scored 94.2222 points to tie for second place.
Prep wrestling
The MCAL released its all-league list for wrestling on Sunday with Novato leading the way with five first-team selections.
Novato’s Kekoa Madayag was named boys wrestler of the year and Novato’s Luana Stathopoulos was named the girls wrestler of the year.
Diego Ramos (108 pounds), Kekoa Madayag (115), Ikaika Madayag (134), Charles Onorato (222) and Braeden Carroll (285) represented the Hornets on the first team.
Redwood and Archie Williams placed three each on the first team. The Giants had Jose Ordonez (112), Nikolao Sellers (128) and Evan Daley (197) while the Peregrine Falcons had John McKenzie (147), Kestler Lloyd (154) and Alex McKenzie (162).
The other first-team selections were San Marin’s Akio Suzuki (140) and Jordan Gardner (184), and Tam’s Lukas Plotts (172). Gardner was also picked as the wrestler of the MCAL tournament.
The full list of selections can be found at mcalsports.org and will run in print later this month when the IJ makes its Winter Player of the Year selections.
Prep softball
Maizy Crawford had two hits and drove in a run as Redwood sustained its first loss of the young season with a 4-2 defeat against American Canyon on Saturday.
Crawford’s first-inning double drove in Ava Brown and gave the Giants (1-1-1) a 1-0 lead. Addison Dunn and Kaela Sparler both had a pair of hits to help Redwood outhit American Canyon 9-5.
American Canyon catcher Kylee Sandino hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to give her team the lead for good.
The Giants host Petaluma on Wednesday before opening league play at home against Archie Williams on March 13.