In The Aftermath Of Newbury Park, Ventura Leads A New Landscape In California

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Boys California Preview

All of the major players at Newbury Park, primarily the Youngs and Sahlmans, have graduated and moved on to college. That ends a remarkable era of achievement for the greatest cross country team ever assembled (the 2021 version, in particular). 

Now it's time to recognize that there has quietly been a lot more going on in California, including a bumper crop of young talent that is rising up across the state. 

Last spring, 20 sophomore boys in California ran under 4:20 for 1,600 meters; 21 of them ran under 9:30 in the 3,200 meters. 

This fall, the attention will shift to some of the new powers in the state, all vying to win CIF titles and earn spots at Nike Cross Nationals. 

Ventura, led by seniors Anthony Fast Horse, Micah Grossman and Nick DeGeorge is the early favorite to succeed Newbury Park as the CIF Division 2 champion and looks like one of the best teams in the country. The Cougars last won a state title in 2014. 

Trabuco Hills returns its top four from last year's fourth-place team in Division 1. 

San Clemente brings back three of its top five (and four of seven) from last year's team that finished seventh at Nike Cross Nationals. 

Dana Hills brings back talented junior Evan Noonan, the Division 3 individual champion, and adds transfer Jayden Hernandez from Godinez to a group that brings back its top four. 

Cathedral returns five from a team that finished second in Division 4 last year, including individual champion Emmanuel Perez. 

And there are more than five teams who could vie for national berths. Great Oak and Newbury Park may have graduated the heavy-lifters from last year's teams, but they are not depleted. 

Crystal Springs Uplands, the defending Division 5 champion, returns six. Yosemite, third in Division 5, brings back all seven. 

1. Ventura. Sadie Engelhardt may be the school's best known runner, but the boys team is now out of the shadow of Newbury Park and will get its chance to shine. Fast Horse is the top returner from the Division 2 final and Grossman and DeGeorge were both in the top 16. Seniors Hollis Costa and Henry Hammel, and sophomore Blake Harris are key pieces for a team that could be one of the best in the country. 

2. Trabuco Hills. The Mustangs are loaded with the return of top four Carsten Williams (junior), Ryan Stanley (senior), Dylan Jubak (junior) and Micah Clemons (senior). Eli Griggs (senior) was the sixth man at state and is also back. Seniors Matthew Anderson, Will Hadley and Logan Fulford add even more depth and all three ran under 4:30 in the 1,600 last spring. Trabuco Hills last won the Division 1 title in 2011. 

3. San Clemente. The Tritons finished seventh at NXN last year and bring four back from that race. Overcoming the loss of graduates Rory Castimanes and Juan Chantaca isn't easy, but there are building blocks coming back. Seniors Brett Ephraim, Pierce Clark and Taj Clark and junior Dallin Harrington were all part of last year's effort in Portland. Seniors Kai Olsen and Isaac Gould add depth and experience. 

4. Dana Hills. Noonan's 8:49.38 in the 3,200 meters last spring was the second-fastest in the country among sophomores. The addition of Hernandez, who incidentally won the Dana Hills Invitational last year, is impactful. The Dolphins should have a strong 1-2 up front and senior Garrett Woodruff, sophomore Oliver Hunter and seniors Mike Ayala, Logan Harris and Joel Brda give this team a lot of potential. 

5. Cathedral. The Phantoms are yet another team that was successful in 2022 and brings back most of the key players. Perez was an individual qualifier for NXN last year and finished 44th in Portland. Teammate Emmanuel Hernandez was fifth at the state meet. Seniors Sebastian Skarr, Diego Guerrero and Giovanni Moreno all return from the D4 runners-up. 

WATCHLIST

Great Oak 

Mira Costa

Crystal Springs Uplands 

Newbury Park

Buchanan

Yosemite 

St. Francis 

Clovis East 

Matilda Torres