As the games close and scoreboards go dark, this year’s spring sports season extends past the accolades and matches: these athletes leave behind a tight-knit community forged through countless hours of practice, team-bonding events and competition.
Across nine varsity teams—Boys’ Lacrosse, Girls’ Lacrosse, Boys’ Tennis, Boys’ Volleyball, Track and Field, Swimming, Baseball, Badminton and Girls’ Softball—Lick-Wilmerding High School student-athletes spent this spring balancing competition with team culture, leadership and program-building. Competing in the Bay Counties League (BCL) West, these athletes played weekly schedules against other Bay Area high schools such as San Francisco University High School, Urban High School, Marin Academy, Convent & Stuart Hall and San Domenico.
Boys’ Lacrosse built on a strong previous season, reaching BCL Championship against Marin Academy on May 1, and securing a Division 1 seed for North Coast Section (NCS) playoffs for the first time in program history.
Captains Ces Morell ’26, Quentin Williams ’26 and Oliver McCulloch-Juilland ’26 emphasized the goal of having both success on and off the field. The Brotherhood—the name they call their team community—encapsulates the strong bond between teammates.
“I think the lacrosse Brotherhood is the strongest community at Lick…We are all friends with each other, and we all want to see each other grow and be the best version of themself,” Williams said.
Similarly, Girls’ Lacrosse delivered one of the school’s strongest seasons, earning a Division 1 seed for a NCS playoff berth, the first time since Christine Wilkinson (who, on the field, goes by Coach Miller) joined the program. The season was highlighted by a double-overtime win against University High School, sealed by a game-winning goal from frosh Mira Mathus ’29.
Captains Vivienne Nesmith ’26, Samantha Sherman ’26 and Vivienne Payne ’27 were clear in noting the team’s success, which extended far beyond the eight meter. “There is a lot of trust between us, we hold each other accountable, we laugh a lot and when games are difficult, we remain positive and support one another,” Nesmith said.
Varsity Baseball opened the year by winning four of their first five games, though the season ultimately fell short of the expectations of captains Marley Hammons ’26, Benjy Cho ’26, Thorne Wyman ’27, Kian Perrone ’27 and Tyler Yee ’26, finishing with a record of 9-12. Despite these challenges, the captains emphasized building a strong foundation for future success. “This year, we have a much more [well-rounded] team than last year,” Hammons said. “The program is in good hands, and I look forward to seeing the lowerclassmen continue to play and develop in the next few years.”
Girls’ Softball entered the spring uncertain whether they could even field a team with enough players. Despite a hectic four years—defined by turnover in the program’s coach staff and a lack of practice space—Captains Mika Omachi ’26 and Stella Luongo ’26 have rallied to build a supportive team culture focused on skill development and having authentic fun with each other. “I want to make sure the softball tradition and our team community are being continued by the lowerclassmen,” Omachi said.
photo courtesy of Vidigami
For Track and Field, captains Ella Mogannam ’26, Kai Scott ’26, Dylan Lachance ’27, Zachary Strait ’27, Etta Chung ’26, Max Mercer ’27, Zoe Polsky ’27, Samuel Brown ’27, Kara Kennedy ’27 and Margo Weber ’26 emphasized team unity, despite the sport’s individual nature. For the seniors, they looked to leave behind a culture rooted in inclusion and support. “I wouldn’t be who I am without the people I’ve been surrounded by. My teammates have pushed me in hard practices and hard workouts,” Mogannam said. “They have been there for me on and off the track, and it’s always been such a welcoming community and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
With over thirty-five active members, the Swimming team shared a similar focus on fostering a positive environment and building a connected team, rather than a group of individuals. Captains Charlie Fridman ’26, Ella Reddy ’26 and Sadie Ehrlich ’26 commented on the vital role that team bonding played in strengthening general morale between players. “[This season is] one of the most bonded we’ve been, and I think that comes a lot from our team bonding events…The spirits are so much higher this year,” Ehrlich said.
Badminton looked to continue last year’s success, highlighted by Ashton Wang ’26 and Hayden Allen ’26 making BCL all-league doubles second team last year. The team was originally a club, with meetings held in the gym during lunch periods. In the past few years, the team has grown immensely, with a roster that spans all four grade levels. Captains Caroline Waingortin ’27 and Henry Chang ’27 stressed their continued focus on developing the program and its popularity among LWHS students. “I really want to set this precedent of committing to the team because I feel like a lot of people don’t take badminton seriously as a sport…I want people to see that we are still a fiercely competitive sport,” Chang said.
photo courtesy of Vidigami
On the courts, Boys’ Tennis had a successful season, finishing the year with a 16-3 record and a trip to the BCL-West Championship. Despite their on-the-court success, captains Caden Lee ’27 and Armaan Mishra ’27 said team closeness defined the season. “It feels like a family. Every time I step on the court, it feels like I’m at home,” Mishra said.
This spring also marked the debut season for Boys’ Volleyball, the newest addition to LWHS athletics. Originally founded as a club by—then frosh—Gabriel Amar ’28 and Ike Luongo ’28, the team has grown to a fifteen-man roster and competed against schools around the Bay Area. Though the team finished winless, the captains expressed how this season represents a massive step forward. “We’re all friends, and it has been so much fun finally being able to play other schools as a [formally recognized] team,” Amar said.
Even as the season winds down, Tiger athletes continue to make their mark in the pools, on the courts, on the fields and on the track, carrying the energy of spring beyond the final whistle!
+ There are no comments
Add yours