Spring Sports Wrap

Baseball

The baseball team had a spectacular season, which saw the Spartans go 23-5 overall and capture the EBAL and NCS Championships. The Spartans were led by Mercury News Player of the Year Graham Schlicht, who broke the state record with 62 consecutive scoreless innings pitched. Early in the season, the Spartans traveled to Southern California to compete in the National Baseball Classic. The team gained tremendous confidence from that tournament with a 4-0 record and winning a national tournament for the first time since 2006. The Spartans moved through EBAL play with only one loss to Foothill and captured the EBAL Championship with a 12-1 league record. In the NCS playoffs, the Spartans won three consecutive one-run games to reach the championship. In the championship game at Diablo Valley College, the Spartans shut out Granada, 6-0, to win their second straight NCS Championship. The Spartans ultimately fell to Valley Christian in the NorCal Semifinals. The baseball team was led by First Team All-EBAL selections Ben Hayden, Zach Tchejeyan, and Austin Grove and Second Team All-EBAL selections Jacob Gray and Nash Beckman.
 
Golf

The golf team added another remarkable chapter to one of the state's premier programs, capturing the EBAL Championship, NCS Championship, and CIF NorCal Championship before finishing as the CIF State Runner-Up. The Spartans consistently performed their best when the stakes were highest, demonstrating exceptional depth and resilience throughout the postseason. Drue Sanchez '27 made school history by becoming the program's first individual CIF State Champion and was recognized as the EBAL Player of the Year. Khai deSpretter '26 and Noah Eisen '26 earned First Team All-EBAL honors, while Tavin McKinley was selected to the Second Team All-EBAL.
 
Swimming and Diving

The swimming and diving program continued its tradition of excellence by capturing its fifth consecutive NCS Championship. Throughout the season, the Spartans showcased outstanding depth, dedication, and competitive excellence, continuing to establish themselves as one of Northern California's premier programs. Individual highlights included two school records broken by Dmitriy Oranskiy in the 200 and 500 freestyle with times of 1:37.73 and 5:28.49 respectively. Another school record was broken by Chase Lewis in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 55.00. The medley relay team of Blake Hill, Chase Lewis, Matt Nakayama, and Tanner Lustig broke the NCS and school record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:30.23. The 200 freestyle relay consisting of Matt Nakayama, Logan Larive, Dmitriy Oranskiy, and Tanner Lustig won the NCS Championship with a time of 1:22.72. 
 
Tennis

The tennis program continued to build a strong foundation with a talented and youthful roster that gained valuable experience throughout the season. The Spartans earned key victories while demonstrating steady growth and competitiveness, positioning the program for continued success. With a strong core of returning players, the team enters the offseason with momentum and optimism for an even stronger campaign next year. 


Track and Field

The track and field program delivered one of its most successful seasons in recent history, capturing the EBAL Championship, NCS Tri-Valley Championship, and NCS Meet of Champions title. The Spartans showcased exceptional depth and talent across multiple events, continuing the tradition of excellence that defines the program. Sophomore Chase Brown '27 led the way with a historic season, breaking the school record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.67 seconds. Brown earned a third-place finish at the CIF State Championships in the 110-meter hurdles and placed seventh in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 37.08, the second-fastest mark in school history. Sophomore Damari Dean emerged as one of the state's premier athletes, qualifying for the state finals in two individual events. Dean clocked 10.32 seconds in the 100 meters and soared 24 feet, 9 inches in the long jump. The Spartans also excelled in the relay events. The 4x100-meter relay team of Deuce Jones-Drew, Damari Dean, Jayden Nicholas, and Dylan Rogers qualified for the CIF State Championship final and posted an outstanding time of 40.67 seconds. The 4x400-meter relay team of Dylan Rogers, Chase Young, Dylan Scott, and Jayden Nicholas etched its name into the record books by setting a new school record with a time of 3:15.33.

Volleyball

The volleyball team continued its upward trajectory with another competitive season, finishing 8-6 in EBAL play to advance to the league tournament and qualifying for the NCS Division I Playoffs for the fifth straight season since Covid. The Spartans dealt with injuries throughout the season but still competed with resilience and determination before concluding their postseason run in the NCS playoffs, continuing to build a strong foundation for future success. Brett Batcheller '27 earned First Team All-EBAL honors for his outstanding play, while Kieran Brosnan '27 was selected to the Second Team All-EBAL, highlighting the program's promising future with key contributors returning next season. 

Lacrosse

The lacrosse team enjoyed another outstanding season, finishing with a 19-5 record and a perfect 6-0 in EBAL play. The Spartans captured another EBAL Championship and further cemented their reputation as one of Northern California's premier programs. The Spartans dominated their first three opponents in the NCS Playoffs to earn a berth in the NCS Championship game before ultimately falling to Marin Catholic. Senior Kellen Dunn was recognized as the EBAL Offensive Player of the Year after leading one of the league's most dynamic offenses. Seniors Andrew Bogdan and Brady Smith, along with sophomores JMO Mitzel and Parker Lee, earned First Team All-EBAL honors. Senior Hudson Lee and junior Luke Johnson were selected to the Second Team All-EBAL, highlighting the depth and talent that continue to make the lacrosse program one of the state's elites. 
 
Rugby

The De La Salle High School rugby team entered the 2026 season ranked No. 5 nationally and never looked back from a strong start. The Spartans rolled through their preseason tournament with a perfect 3-0 record, building serious momentum heading into Northern California Single School league play. That early confidence translated into a solid overall campaign. DLS finished the year 9-2 and #10 in the country, collecting several impressive victories over highly ranked opponents. The Spartans took down Rio Americano (No. 6), Jesuit (No. 8), Cathedral Catholic (No. 9), and Granite Bay (No. 10), proving they could compete with the region's and nation's best even if the ultimate championship appearance remained elusive. While the program missed the Championship game for the first time since 2016, the 2026 season underscored its continued excellence in player development. Seven Spartans signed with Division I college programs following the season: Luke Recketenwald (University of San Diego), Jimmy Rainsford (Long Beach State), Mikah Moan-Anu-Apela (Arizona), Turner Madge (University of San Diego), Calvin McCall (University of San Diego), Tyler Foley (Utah), and Keaton Erickson (Utah).
 
Badminton

Led by Coach Romaldo Orozco, the badminton program continued to build momentum by fielding a competitive roster highlighted by a talented group of freshmen who established a strong foundation for the future of the program. Throughout the season, the Spartans demonstrated steady growth and development while gaining valuable experience in league competition. Freshman Santiago Bean represented De La Salle at the EBAL Singles Tournament and James Barrueta and Gabriel Risk represented DLS in the doubles tournament. This capped an encouraging season that positions the program for continued success in the years ahead.