• Wayland High School boys volleyball lost in the Division 2 state championship for the second year in a row.
• The team’s three graduating seniors helped build the program into a consistent contender.
• Despite the loss, the team is optimistic about the future with many returning players.

SHREWSBURY –  Wayland’s group of three seniors joined the boys volleyball program with a freshman class of six players. Half left.

The ones that stayed – Liam Frenzel, Cooper Szeremeta and Zachary Thoen – finished their careers with two appearances in the Division 2 state championship game. They won the Dual County League title outright for the first time this spring.

“They’ve ushered in the most successful era we’ve had in our program’s history,” Wayland coach Phil George said.

The Warriors fell 3-1 against top-seeded Agawam on Thursday after losing in five sets a year ago against Westfield. Wayland led early in the first set before Agawam closed stronger and never gave up a lead in Set 2. The Warriors just couldn’t recover from a 7-1 hole early in a pivotal third set.

After receiving their runners up medals, the Warriors embraced each other and George, cherishing their final moments as a team.

“It’s beyond our playing, it’s the community we’ve made with all of these guys,” Szeremeta said. “I love this team, and that’s why we pays hard. Even more than our skill, it helps us so much more to love everybody else on the floor and grind every single day.”

They drive to get Pokemon cards together. Nearly every member of the team sported a new haircut or dye job for the playoff run, highlighted by star junior Finn Bell’s neon pink buzz cut.

‘Natural to him’: Wayland junior Finn Bell’s volleyball skills are rare to find in Mass.

That camaraderie developed slowly over early exits their first few postseason trips. Then the light bulb went off. More players became involved in club volleyball. The Warriors added larger and larger freshman classes that allowed for depth and flexibility.

“So many of them have committed to grow their game during the offseason, and that’s helped us develop,” George said.

Szeremeta has been a stalwart front row player for the Warriors for four years. Though he only stands 5-foot-9, the opposite hitter generates height and power that takes opponents by surprise.

“He can absolutely crush a ball,” George said.

Frenzel put on the white libero jersey as a back row exclusive defensive player for the past two years. He can also play in the front row and set earlier in the set.

“Just a diverse, talented player,” George said. 

Thoen hasn’t started but brings positivity and energy off the bench. 

“They’ve been fantastic players on the court and leaders off of it,” George said.

End of the road: 2025 spring MIAA state tournament schedule and results for baseball, lacrosse and more

While the senior class has helped usher in this new era of Wayland volleyball, they are leaving plenty in the tank to continue it. The Warriors will bring back 14 players from the state final roster. They started freshman Alex Pearlman.

“I am, you know, really disciplined about that conclusion of this season, but I’m very excited for the program’s future,” George said.

Contact Kyle Grabowski at kgrabowski@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kylegrbwsk.

EUGENE, Ore.—Long Beach State’s Ryan Gregory earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-America honors in the decathlon on the second day of the NCAA outdoor track and field championships on Thursday night at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.
 
Gregory’s day began with the 110-meter hurdles, in which he clocked a time of 15.03 seconds, securing 13th place. He continued his performance in the discus, reaching 130 feet, 9 inches, also finishing 13th. Gregory then cleared 14 feet, 9 1/2 inches in the pole vault, earning 12th place.
 
Gregory posted a toss of 181 feet, 2 inches in the javelin to place sixth. The competition concluded with the 1,500 meters, where Gregory recorded his best finish at the championships, placing fourth. He lowered his season best in the 1,500 by almost eight seconds to 4:25.05.
 
As a result of his performance, the junior earned second-team All-America honors, moving from 17th to 14th overall with 7,634 points. Peyton Bair of Mississippi State won the event (8,323).
 
Gregory is the fourth Long Beach State athlete to become an All-American in the decathlon and the first for the Beach since Aaron Booth finished sixth in 2021.
 
Claudine Raud-Gumiel begins the heptathlon Thursday at 11:45 a.m. PT with the 100-meter hurdles. Each of the heptathlon events will stream on ESPN+. Coverage on ESPN2 begins at 5 p.m.
 
Gregory’s decathlon breakdown

Event	Mark	Place	Points
100m	10.76	6th	915
Long Jump	22-5 1/4	15th	776
Shot Put	37-9 1/2	21st, T	577
High Jump	6-6	11th	785
400m	48.87	9th	867
110m Hurdles	15.03	13th	846
Discus	130-9	13th	662
Pole Vault	14-9 1/2	12th	763
Javelin	181-2	6th	666
1500m	4:25.05	4th	777

                                                                                                                                                                                     
 
 

~#LongBeachBuilt~

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State volleyball head coach Kristen Kelsay announced the addition of three student-athletes – transfers Breccan Scheck and Lia Schneider and rising freshman Bianca Mumcular – to the Spartans’ 2025 roster Thursday.
 
Scheck, a 6-1 middle blocker from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, joins the Spartans as a rising sophomore from Washington State. In one season with the Cougars, she started all 28 matches and ranked second on the team in total blocks (92) and blocks per set (0.84).  

She was named the West Coast Conference Freshman Player of the Week on Sept. 30 last season after setting career highs in kills (12) and points (14.5) in a 3-1 win over San Diego.  

Scheck played for Adversity Volleyball Club in Vernon Hills, Illinois, where she helped her team to a second-place finish in the American Division at the 2024 USAV Girls 18s Junior National Championship and was a four-year letterwinner at Glenbard West High School. 

“I’m thrilled to add Breccan to our Spartan family,” said Kelsay. “She brings a level of physicality to our middle position that fits right into the Big Ten. I’m excited for the experience she will bring our team after a standout season with the Cougars.”

Schneider, a 5-8 rising junior and native of St. Charles, Illinois, spent the previous two seasons at South Florida, where was a Second Team All-American Athletic Conference selection and helped the Bulls to an AAC regular season title in 2024. 

As USF’s primary starting libero last season, Schneider played in all 108 sets for the Bulls, recording a team-high 447 digs to post 4.14 digs per set. She also tallied 114 assists and 33 aces to rank second and third on the team in each category, respectively. Schneider’s 447 digs ranked third in the AAC in 2024.  

Schneider appeared in 22 matches as a freshman in 2023 and was named to the all-tournament teams at the Road to Tampa Bay Tournament and South Florida Invitational. She was a four-year letterwinner at St. Charles East High School and played club volleyball for Sports Performance Volleyball in Aurora, Illinois. 

“Lia will make an immediate impact in our program with her volleyball IQ, passing ability and undeniable work ethic coming off of a successful career at USF,” said Kelsay. “I’m so excited to add her to the fold.” 

Mumcular, a 6-3 outside hitter, arrives at MSU with a breadth of experience on the international volleyball scene. The Istanbul, Turkey, native currently plays for Volero Le Cannet in France and has represented Turkey at the U17, U20 and U23 levels at the European Championships over the last four years.  

Since 2023, Mumcular has helped lead her home country to a number of podium finishes on the international stage, including gold at the 2024 U20 European Championships and a second-place finish at the 2023 U19 World Championships. 

“Bianca is an experienced volleyball student-athlete who we are thrilled to welcome to the Spartan family,” said Kelsay. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her personality and intensity to win, which match her elite volleyball skill.” 

The trio joins transfers Malayah Long (Lincoln, Neb./Marquette) and Sarah Vellucci (Novi, Mich./Long Beach State) as well as rising freshmen Caroline Formankova (Slany, Czech Republic), Kalea Norton (Auckland, New Zealand) and Leela Ormsby (Billings, Mont.). MSU returns nine letterwinners from last season.

Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley is seeing more visitors thanks to new hotel developments. These hotels are also creating more local jobs and boosting income for both the city and its residents. More hotel space means more opportunities for businesses and tourism. It’s a win for the entire community.

The newest addition is the Cobblestone Hotel, which officially opened on Tuesday, June 10. Located on Koniar Way, the hotel features 73 rooms. The dedication event included representatives from the City of Foley, the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, residents and business leaders.

Foley City Administrator Mike Thompson said the Cobblestone Hotel is close to several major attractions that are helping draw visitors to the area.

“This particular project is very important to the city,” Thompson said. “We have a large sports tourism facility just to the north of here, and having another hotel that literally is walking distance to our event center, it really makes a difference in us retaining some of the lodging that we want to get from our Sports Tourism facilities.”

The hotel is part of an effort by the city and community to bring more visitors to Foley.

“I’m glad that Cobblestone is our next corporate citizen, very thankful for that,” Thompson said. “But the city has not stood still either. Just north of here, we built pickleball courts and sand volleyball courts. Those are two more sporting venues that we’ll certainly use for our own recreation, but also for sports tournaments, and we’ll be right here near Cobblestone. So we look forward to a very long and fruitful relationship with Cobblestone.”

Frank Shepard, director of membership at the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, said the hotel helps fill a growing need for more lodging space in a developing community.

“This is more than just a beautiful hotel – and it is a gorgeous hotel,” Shepard said. “All the teams have done a great job with this, but this is also an answer to a growing need in our community.”

Jeremy Griesbach, president of development for Cobblestone Hotels, said the chain has 162 facilities open or under construction in 27 states. The Foley hotel is Cobblestone’s second in Alabama. Construction recently began on a third Alabama Cobblestone hotel in Bay Minette.

Griesbach said the idea for a Foley Cobblestone began in 2019. He said city officials have worked with the company to make the project a reality.

“A lot of important people helped get this thing across the finish line,” Griesbach said. “Thanks to the mayor, Mike Thompson, everybody at the city of Foley, all the inspection teams, the planning commission, people over at Riviera Utilities. Everyone has been so helpful and made this a great project.”

TOP TEAMS

Boys’ water polo 

In 2023, the Bret Harte boys’ water polo team captured its first-ever league championship, finishing the season with just one loss. In 2024, the Bullfrogs went one step further – not only repeating as league champions, but doing so with an undefeated record.

Bret Harte was unstoppable from start to finish. The Bullfrogs went undefeated in both league and non-league play, posting a perfect 22-0 regular season record. Their historic run earned them the first home playoff game in program history, where they delivered a dramatic 13-10 overtime win against Dixon. The season came to an end in the second round with their only loss of the year, a hard-fought 12-10 defeat to Christian Brothers.

Senior Jakob Bouma was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. Airein Gish, Urijah Gish, Jesus Moncada, Simon Akers, and Gyver Crawford all earned all-league honors.

Girls’ golf

The Lady Bullfrogs hadn’t won a Mother Lode League title since 2018, when they shared the crown with Ripon. Their last outright title came in 2013 – until that changed in 2024.

Under head coach Diane Winsby, Bret Harte went a perfect 8-0 in league play, finishing two wins ahead of second-place Linden. The Bullfrogs also claimed first place in both Mother Lode League tournaments.

Senior Maggie Kristoff was named the Mother Lode League’s Most Valuable Player. Teammates Hannah Dillashaw and Mina Russell Choi earned all-league honors.

Boys’ cross country

In the first season under the newly realigned Mother Lode League, Bret Harte took full advantage of the fresh competition and unfamiliar courses.

The Bullfrogs went undefeated in league dual meets, picking up head-to-head wins over all five opponents. A third-place finish at the league finals resulted in a three-way tie for the league title – Bret Harte’s first since 2014.

At the subsection meet, the Bullfrogs placed first in the Division V race, giving them momentum heading into the section championships. There, Bret Harte delivered a dominant performance, finishing with 50 points – 14 points better than second-place Central Catholic – to win its first section title since 2009.

Declan Needham led the Bullfrogs with a time of 17:41.5. Peyton Heermance followed at 17:47.8, freshman Judah Schaffer clocked 18:21.8, Matthew Nord came in at 18:41.1, and Daniel Ross-Torrance secured the team title with a time of 19:03.8.

Girls’ basketball

Two years after winning a state title, the Lady Bullfrogs were back to making history. Bret Harte went 9-1 in Mother Lode League play to earn a co-league championship with Riverbank – first league title since 2014. A major milestone came with back-to-back wins over rival Calaveras, snapping an 18-game losing streak in the rivalry.

Bret Harte entered the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs as the No. 1 seed. The Bullfrogs cruised past Le Grand 65-15 in the opening round and defeated No. 9 John Adams Academy 47-26 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they rallied to beat No. 4 Fortune Early College 55-41, earning a spot in the title game.

After falling short in the 2021 and 2022 finals, Bret Harte finally broke through, pulling off another comeback to defeat No. 2 Woodland Christian 45-42 and claim its first section title in 44 years. The Bullfrogs were bumped up to Division IV for the CIF State Tournament, where they faced a tough draw against Mills, the Division III Central Coast Section champion, and fell 49-30.

Junior Maddie Kane was named co-Most Outstanding Player of the Mother Lode League, while freshman Emma Russell was honored as co-Most Valuable Player. Juniors Annelise Zumbach and Bailey Eltringham earned first-team all-league recognition, and junior Lexie McDaniel was named to the second team. The Bullfrogs finished with a 25-5 overall record.

Boys’ swimming

Since their 2015 league title, the Bret Harte boys’ swim team had been chasing Sonora in the standings. But with Sonora no longer in the Mother Lode League, the Bullfrogs seized the opportunity.

Bret Harte went 6-0 in league competition, winning each meet decisively. At the Mother Lode League championship meet, the Bullfrogs dominated again, finishing first overall with 250 points and collecting 10 individual first-place finishes.

Sophomore Silas Langdon advanced to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section championships, where he competed in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events – setting new school records in each.

BIGGEST WINS

Bret Harte volleyball vs. Mariposa, Oct. 31, 2024

As Brennen Brouillette walked toward the service line with the ball under her arm, she glanced at the scoreboard and saw her Bret Harte High School volleyball team trailing the Mariposa Grizzlies 18-10, in the fourth set.

The Bullfrogs had already dropped the first and third sets, and it seemed the end was near for Bret Harte’s 2024 season. Brouillette, a three-year varsity starter, wasn’t ready to see her volleyball career end in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V playoffs’ second round on Halloween night. However, the Bullfrogs had yet to show much spark in this set.

With the mindset that “a journey of 1,000 miles starts with the first step,” Brouillette focused on executing one good serve – and then another. Momentum shifted in Bret Harte’s favor as Brouillette continued to serve, and with each successful serve, the deficit steadily shrank.

The comeback felt inevitable as the points stacked up. By the time Brouillette’s serve streak ended, the Bullfrogs had taken a 20-19 lead. Down by as much as nine points, Bret Harte outscored Mariposa 16-2 to push the match to a fifth and final set.

Facing elimination, No. 4 Bret Harte completed a stunning comeback, defeating No. 5 Mariposa in five sets (20-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-20, 15-9) at Bob Bach Gym in Angels Camp.

Brouillette ended the night with two kills, went 83 for 85 in passing, served 29 for 29 with two aces, and recorded 12 digs; Izzy Valente contributed nine kills, five blocks, served 20 for 21, and had four digs; Gracie Anderson added an ace, 13 digs, and nine serves received; Annelise Zumbach had eight kills, one block, four digs, and a serve received; Peyton Lawrence recorded one kill, one ace, nine digs, and three serves received; Lily Vargas added eight kills, two blocks, went 34 for 36 in passing, served one ace, and had nine digs; senior libero Rylee Banks had one kill, 22 digs, and 34 serves received; and Eve Becker had three kills.

Bret Harte boys’ water polo vs. Dixon, Nov. 6, 2024

The Bullfrogs had an historic regular season, going 21-0 and 10-0 in league play to become back-to-back champions. When the playoff brackets were released, Bret Harte got rewarded with a home playoff game, a first in the short history of the program.

On a cold November night, Bret Harte pulled off a dramatic 13-10 overtime victory over Dixon in Angels Camp.

Bret Harte gave up the opening goal but responded with goals from senior Gyver Crawford and senior Simon Akers, but Dixon scored twice more, ending the first quarter with a 3-2 lead. The Rams widened the gap early in the second quarter, putting the Bullfrogs down by two goals and shifting the momentum. At halftime, Bret Harte trailed 5-3.

The Bullfrogs couldn’t be stopped in the third quarter. Akers scored with an assist from Urijah Gish to cut the deficit to one. Crawford tied the game at 5-5 with his second goal of the night. Late in the quarter, Akers scored, giving Bret Harte its first lead. And with 28 seconds left, Bouma scored to put Bret Harte up 7-5. However, a strong fourth quarter by Dixon sent the game into overtime with the score tied 8-8.

In overtime, Bret Harte outscored Dixon 5-2 for the 13-10 win. Akers led the team with four goals and one assist; Crawford had three goals and two assists; Bouma had three goals and one assist; Urijah Gish had two goals and two assists; Brayden Bowersox added one goal; and Jesus Moncada contributed one assist.

Bret Harte boys’ soccer at Calaveras, Jan. 7, 2025

Since soccer was moved from the fall to the spring in 2017, one thing has been constant whenever the Bret Harte High School boys’ soccer team took on Calaveras: Bret Harte’s not winning.

In the 14 previous matches between the two county rivals, Bret Harte has not outscored Calaveras in any of those games. There were two games that ended in ties, and one of those games, along with a 4-2 Calaveras victory, was changed to a Bret Harte win because of Calaveras being forced to forfeit those contests. However, with the exception of forfeits changed well after the games were played, Bret Harte hasn’t had any success against Calaveras.

In those 14 games, the Bullfrogs only scored more than one goal in any contest, which was the 4-2 loss that was eventually changed to a win.

Yet it seems that whatever happened in the past is something that doesn’t concern the current crop of Bullfrog players. Behind two first-half goals and strong defense down the stretch, Bret Harte began Mother Lode League play with a 2-1 victory over Calaveras at Frank Meyer Field in San Andreas.

Bret Harte looked to make a statement early in the game, and that’s exactly what happened. Less than two minutes into the contest, the Bullfrogs found themselves with a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Trent Dorsey. Midway through the first half, Bret Harte struck again. This time, the goal came off the foot of Edgar Gonzalez, as he blasted a deep shot into the back of the net to put the Bullfrogs up 2-0. Calaveras added a late goal, but Bret Harte held on for the 2-1 win.

Bret Harte girls’ basketball vs. Woodland Christian, Feb. 28, 2025

Since 1982, the Bret Harte High School girls’ basketball program has played for a section championship nine times. And in each of those nine games, the Bullfrogs have had to watch another team celebrate, hoisting the coveted blue section title banner.

It seemed as if history would repeat itself once again, with Bret Harte playing the role of bridesmaids as another school enjoyed its special moment. Twice – once in the first half and again in the second – Bret Harte trailed Woodland Christian by nine points in the biggest game of the year.

In years past, the game might have slipped away, leaving the Bullfrogs with nothing more than the moral victory of simply reaching the section’s biggest stage. But this isn’t an ordinary team.

After a shaky first two quarters, the Bullfrogs proved why they were the No. 1 team in the division, determined to be the squad that would finally break the nine-game championship drought. Bret Harte outscored Woodland Christian 30-24 in the second half and, at long last, got to celebrate a section title – its first in 44 years.

No. 1 Bret Harte defeated No. 2 Woodland Christian 45-42 on Feb. 28 at Golden 1 Center, securing the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship.

Junior Maddie Kane led all scorers with 16 points while also contributing three assists, nine rebounds, and five steals; Emma Russell followed with 13 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and three steals; Annelise Zumbach added six points, one assist, two rebounds, and one steal; Lexie McDaniel had two points, three rebounds, and three assists; Bailey Eltringham recorded five points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block; Daysia Bowlin chipped in with one point, three rebounds, and one assist; and Mariah Colwell added two points in the victory.

Bret Harte softball at Bear River, May 14, 2025

It had been 5,112 days since the Bret Harte High School softball team last celebrated a playoff victory – a 5-0 win over Mesa Verde.

Since that day, postseason appearances had been rare for the Bullfrogs. After the 2011 season, Bret Harte was absent from the playoffs until 2024, when a 10-0 loss to Le Grand ended its season abruptly.

But nearly 14 years later – just two days shy of the anniversary of the last postseason victory – Bret Harte’s playoff drought is finally over. The No. 9 Bullfrogs advanced to the second round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI playoffs with a 6-4 road win over No. 8 Bear River in Grass Valley.

The Bullfrogs couldn’t have asked for a better start. Bret Harte scored twice in the first inning and added two more in the second to take a quick 4-0 lead. Bear River got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Bret Harte responded with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to push the lead to 6-1. The Bruins mounted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring three times, but pitcher Maddie Kane and the Bullfrogs held on to secure the 6-4 victory.

Offensively, Bret Harte tallied six runs on 10 hits and swiped seven bases. Senior Allyssa Crumpton went 2 for 4 with a run scored; Mariah Colwell was 2 for 4 with a run scored; senior Kaliana Erdman finished 2 for 3 with an RBI, a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored; junior Delaney Dickson went 1 for 4 with an RBI and a stolen base; junior Keelin McDonald went 1 for 3 with a stolen base and scored twice; senior Ava Darby went 1 for 1 with a stolen base and a run scored; Kane went 1 for 4 with an RBI; and Rylee Banks walked, drove in a run, and stole a base.

Kane picked up the win in the circle, throwing seven innings while allowing four runs on eight hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. She tossed 114 pitches in the victory.

TOUGHEST LOSSES

Bret Harte girls’ water polo at El Dorado, Oct. 29, 2024

For the second consecutive year, the Bret Harte High School girls’ water polo team finished second in the league standings, behind the El Dorado Cougars.

The Bullfrogs had one last chance to earn a share of the Sierra Valley Conference title, but it required a road victory over El Dorado, who had already defeated them 21-4 earlier in the season in Angels Camp.

Complicating matters for Bret Harte, the team was without its top scorer, Zoe Ruggieri, due to injury. The absence of Ruggieri, who had scored 47 goals this season, was a significant blow to the Bullfrogs. Despite their efforts to adapt without their star player, the Bullfrogs fell short, losing 14-6 to El Dorado at Union Mine High School in El Dorado.

Giuliana Lucido finished the game with a team-high five goals, while Makena Rushdoony added one. Goalie Ayanda White recorded 13 saves.

Bret Harte volleyball at Big Valley Christian, Nov. 5, 2025

Heartbreak seems to follow the Bret Harte High School volleyball team wherever it goes. For the fourth year in a row, the Bullfrogs reached the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V semifinal game. The only time Bret Harte made it past the semis was in 2022, when it advanced to the section championship, ultimately losing to Ripon Christian.

In the other three years – 2021, 2023, and 2024 – Bret Harte could only watch as another team secured a spot in the title game. The most recent tough loss came on Nov. 5 when the No. 4 Bullfrogs fell to Mother Lode League champion and No. 1 seed Big Valley Christian in three sets (25-12, 25-8, 25-16) in Modesto.

Brennen Brouillette finished with four assists, three digs, and six serves received; Izzy Valente contributed two kills, three blocks, one ace, and one dig; Annelise Zumbach added three kills, seven digs, and five serves received; Lily Vargas recorded three kills, one ace, three digs, and four serves received; Rylee Banks had two aces, 10 digs, and 18 serves received; and Eve Becker and Emma Russell each had one kill.

Bret Harte boys’ basketball vs. Calaveras, Feb. 14, 2025

The tables were set for an all-time game. Bret Harte was 8-1 in the Mother Lode League standings. Calaveras was also 8-1. It was the final game of the regular season. The winner would be crowned as champions, while the loser would have to accept their second-place title.

Bret Harte had previously won its last three games over Calaveras, including an emotional road victory early in the league season. Yet with the league title on the line, the Bullfrogs were unable to deliver. On Valentine’s evening, the Red Hawks broke the hearts of every Bullfrog player and fan, defeating Bret Harte 61-48 in Angels Camp to win the league title outright.

Boston Williams led Bret Harte with 16 points, adding three rebounds, five assists, and one steal. Junior Tumi Owns contributed seven rebounds, five assists, and one steal; Niko Kreisberg scored two points; Sawyer Maurer finished with seven points, seven rebounds, and one steal; Mason Williams had 12 points, four rebounds, and one assist; Bear Berger chipped in five points; and Jakob Bouma recorded six points and five rebounds.

Bret Harte girls’ basketball at Mills, March 3, 2025

The die was cast the moment the CIF released the NorCal playoff brackets.

Instinctively, members of the Bret Harte High School girls’ basketball team checked the Division V brackets, eager to see who they’d face in the opening round of the NorCal playoffs. And why wouldn’t they? Just two days earlier, the Bullfrogs had secured the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship – an achievement 44 years in the making.

But when the players and coaches scanned the freshly released D5 brackets on March 2, the Bullfrogs were nowhere to be found. Confused, they shifted their attention to the Division IV brackets – and there they were.

Not only had the Lady Bullfrogs been placed in a division they didn’t belong in, but they were also given the No. 12 seed out of 16. Meanwhile, Woodland Christian – the very team Bret Harte defeated for the D5 championship – was awarded the No. 2 seed in the D5 NorCal bracket. It stands to reason that had Bret Harte remained in D5, where it belonged, the Bullfrogs likely would have received a top seed, or at the very least, hosted their opening-round game.

Instead, the Bullfrogs were dealt an unfavorable seeding in a tougher division, forcing them to travel 150 miles from Angels Camp to face No. 5 Mills in the first round of the playoffs. As if playing in the wrong division wasn’t challenging enough, they had to go up against a team that had just won a division III championship. Mills had claimed the CIF Central Coast Section Division III title and, like Bret Harte, had been moved out of its division. But unlike the Bullfrogs, Mills had been moved down a division – not up.

So, with Bret Harte playing a D3 section champion in the D4 NorCal playoffs, while coming from a D5 section and a D6 league, there wasn’t much that could be done to put a stop to the predetermined outcome. And in Millbrae, their season came to an end with a 49-32 loss.

Maddie Kane led the Bullfrogs with 13 points, followed by Daysia Bowlin with seven, Emma Russell with six, Annelise Zumbach with four, and Bailey Eltringham with two.

Bret Harte baseball vs. Amador, May 8, 2025

Four years ago, Jack Trent stood in left field in Linden after the Bullfrogs lost in the opening round of the playoffs to the Lions. As the season ended, he said goodbye to the seniors who had played their final game – a group that included his older brother, Erik.

Trent repeated that emotional ritual as a sophomore in Le Grand, and again as a junior in Sutter. Now, after four years as Bret Harte’s most skilled player, Trent experienced the bittersweet moment from the other side – this time as a senior, receiving hugs from younger teammates as the season came to a close.

Trent, along with fellow senior Wyatt Skrobecky, helped lead the Bullfrogs to their best season in over a decade – a campaign that included a home playoff victory. But the duo’s high school careers ended, as Bret Harte fell to Amador 6-0 in the second round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI playoffs in Angels Camp.

With a semifinal berth on the line, it was a bad time for the Bullfrogs’ offense to go silent. Bret Harte managed just two hits, drew two walks, and had one batter hit by a pitch. The Bullfrogs struck out 14 times.

Hensley Speyer and Bryce Lenard each went 1 for 3, Aiden Cole and Sean Poortinga drew walks, and Trent was hit by a pitch. Sawyer Maurer took the loss, pitching four innings and allowing three runs – one earned – on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Wyatt Skrobecky threw the final three innings, surrendering three unearned runs on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

Williams scores 44 in BH tournament championship game, Dec. 14

For the first time since 2011, the Bret Harte High School boys’ basketball team were champions of their own tournament. At the 34th annual Bret Harte Boys’ Varsity Basketball Tournament, held Dec. 12-14 at Bob Bach Gym in Angels Camp, the Bullfrogs went 3-0 to finish as tournament champions.

The highlight of the tournament could easily be the performance of senior Boston Williams in the championship game against Amador. Williams finished with a career-high 44 points, which was just four points shy of breaking Dan Radford’s school record of 47, set back in 2012. Williams also made eight 3-point baskets, which ties the school record belonging to Will Finn, set in 2008. Williams finished the three-day tournament with 102 points.

Kane sets a new school record on the hardwood, Dec. 28, 2024

The Bret Harte High School girls’ basketball team had a memorable three days competing at the 47th annual Jan Vitel Tournament, held Dec. 26-28 at El Dorado High School in Placerville.

The Bullfrogs wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 12-3 record, winning two of their three games at the tournament. Their only loss was a narrow one-point defeat to Roseville on the opening day. Bret Harte rebounded with victories over Union Mine and Destiny Christian in the subsequent games.

The highlight of the tournament came on the final day, when junior Maddie Kane delivered a record-breaking performance, scoring 36 points to set a new school record. The previous record of 34 points was held by Kelsey Switzer, who set it in a 2014 win over Summerville. Despite her individual success, Kane focused on helping her team secure the win.

“I felt that I was on, but I definitely wasn’t thinking about anything except for winning the game,” Kane said of her record-setting performance.

Bret Harte boys dominate MLL swim championship meet, April 25, 2025

At the Mother Lode League championship swim meet, Bret Harte finished with four swimmers – Marion Scott, Silas Langdon, Jesus Moncada, and Simon Akers – as the top individual scorers, each earning 32 points.

Of the 11 events at the Mother Lode League championship meet, the Bullfrogs placed first in 10. The only event that didn’t end with a Bullfrog victory was the 200-yard individual medley relay, which Bret Harte did not compete in.

Scott recorded a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (2:19.60) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:17.87). Langdon placed first in the 200-yard individual medley (2:20.70) and the 100-yard backstroke (1:08.59). Moncada placed first in the 100-yard freestyle (1:01.06) and the 50-yard freestyle (27.16). Akers placed first in the 100-yard butterfly (1:02.52) and the 500-yard freestyle (6:13.74). And the foursome of Akers, Langdon, Scott, and Moncada took first in the 200-yard relay (1:44.13) and the 400-yard relay (4:22.46).

Weidmann is unstoppable at MLL tournament, April 29, 2025

The whispers echoed across La Contenta Golf Club. From hole No. 1 to No. 18, everyone seemed to be asking the same question: “Do you know what Eli’s shooting?”

The Eli in question was Bret Harte High School senior golfer Eli Weidmann. To say that Weidmann had a good outing at the Mother Lode League tournament in Valley Springs would be quite an understatement.

After the first nine holes, Weidmann shot a remarkable 28 – seven under par. The senior sensation finished the 18-hole tournament by earning medalist honors with a match-low score of 63. The next closest score was a 74. Weidmann averaged 3.5 strokes per hole.

“I felt really good at the start of the day,” Weidmann said following his memorable performance on the links. “I missed a short one on hole-one for a birdie, and then after that, I started making some putts, putts started going in from a lot of different places, and when that happens, the score starts to go pretty low. With the 28 on the front, I just wanted to keep it up on the back nine. I had a few stumbles on the back nine, but I’m not complaining at all. I can’t complain with a 63.”

Trent shuts down Argonaut in playoff opener, May 6, 2025

Jack Trent had gotten the nod to start three prior playoff games during his Bret Harte High School baseball career.

Of those starts, one was outstanding, while the other two were far from spectacular. But the most important number from those three appearances was zero – the number of playoff games Bret Harte won.

Over the past three seasons, the Bullfrogs were one-and-done in the postseason, and Trent took the loss in each of those games. With one final shot at redemption, the senior ace delivered a performance for the ages.

Trent was nearly unhittable on May 6, throwing a complete-game shutout while giving up no runs on just one hit, walking one, and striking out a career-high 16 batters. Behind his dominant performance, No. 4 Bret Harte defeated No. 13 Argonaut 3-0 in the opening round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI playoffs in Angels Camp.

• by croatiaweek
• June 13, 2025
• in

  Sport

(Photo credit: HVS/Giorgio Scala/DBM)

Croatia has officially been named the number one men’s national water polo team in the world, according to the newly introduced World Aquatics rankings, unveiled for the first time in June 2025.

The announcement, while welcomed, comes as little surprise to those following the sport closely, particularly after an extraordinary run of form from the Croatian team, known as the Barakude (Barracudas).

New ranking system by World Aquatics

The International Aquatics Federation (World Aquatics) launched a comprehensive new global ranking system for men’s water polo teams at the start of 2025. This new system, much like FIFA’s football world rankings, is based on an extensive range of criteria.

Points are awarded based on the result (win or loss), the strength of the opponent at the time of the match, whether the game was played at home, away or on neutral ground, and the level of competition.

The highest weighting is given to matches played at the Olympic Games and World Championships, followed by continental championships, the World Cup, and down to friendly matches.

The ranking reflects performances from January 2024 onwards, including the European Championship hosted in Dubrovnik and Zagreb. The first edition of the rankings was officially published in early June 2025.

Thanks to a phenomenal year, Croatia has emerged at the top of the table with 1,275.80 points from 28 matches, ahead of Spain and Hungary.

Top 10 World Aquatics Men’s Water Polo Rankings:

1. Croatia – 1,275.80 pts (28 matches)
2. Spain – 1,265.40 pts (29 matches)
3. Hungary – 1,046.20 pts (28 matches)
4. Greece – 1,025.80 pts (29 matches)
5. Serbia – 992.40 pts (26 matches)
6. USA – 904.60 pts (27 matches)
7. Italy – 895.00 pts (21 matches)
8. Montenegro – 622.40 pts (28 matches)
9. France – 553.20 pts (23 matches)
10. Brazil – 517.85 pts (18 matches)

Croatia’s top position is backed by a stunning series of results in the past year. In January 2024, the team won silver at the European Championship on home soil.

A month later, they were crowned world champions in Doha, and in the summer, they reached the Olympic final in Paris, claiming another silver medal.

Remarkably, Croatia was the only national team to reach the finals of all three major competitions in such a short period—within just six months. Additionally, they secured 4th place at the 2025 World Cup.

Notably, Croatia leads the rankings despite having played one fewer match than second-placed Spain, yet they still managed to collect over 10 points more.

Brazil played the fewest matches (18) among the top 10 teams, while the rest competed in a similar number of fixtures. Italy, having played only 21 matches, was an exception due to a six-month suspension following the Paris Olympics.