At Lick-Wilmerding High School, the spring is prime time for sports, whether it be playing America’s favorite pastime or sprinting the 100 meter dash on the City College track. The spring sports offerings at LWHS consist of lacrosse, softball, baseball, boys tennis, track and field, co-ed swimming and co-ed badminton. There are 13 fielded teams, with seven Varsity teams and six Junior Varsity teams.
The spring sports season was the only one to get cut short during the 2019-2020 school year, and this is the first year with a full 12-week season since. According to Athletic Director Eliot Smith, “Spring sports are so exciting because you have more daylight and time. It’s sunny, it’s hot and the year is coming to an end, which makes it a really exciting time.”
The girls lacrosse team at LWHS currently holds a menacing 9-4 overall record, resulting in a 11th seed placement in the North Coast Section (NCS) Division II. The Tigers are 5-3 in the Bay Counties League (BCL) standings, placing them just above Urban High School who they defeated 10-6 on March 22. The girls lacrosse team has had a double digit over single digit win in seven of their eight wins, with six of those being wins with point deficits of over six goals. They recently played against Lowell High School in a neck to neck game, and came out on top with a 10-8 win. This incredibly successful girls lacrosse team is coming off a rough 2020-2021 season, but the coaching of Isabelle Regonini and LWHS science teacher Christine Wilkinson has brought the Tigers to the top. The team captains are Callie Hendrickson ’22, Sophie Spokes ’23 and Charlotte King ’24. The leadership of these girls has also been an extremely important factor in the team’s success.
photo courtesy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
The boys lacrosse team has matched the girls team’s energy eye for an eye, and the two teams frequently can be seen supporting each other at home games and on social media. The boys team is coached by Chauncey Kim and Stu Fisher, and is led by team captains Ivan Harris ’22, Max Young ’22, Colly Urdan ’22 and Matt Gibson ’22. Coming off an overall record of 5-2 during last year’s season shortened by COVID-19, the boys lacrosse team currently holds an overall record of 6-4 and a league record of 2-3. Within the BCL standings, the Tigers are ranked 3rd. They started off the season strongly with two important wins against non-league opponents Terra Linda High School and Burlingame High School, and more recently had an important win against league opponent Stuart Hall of the Sacred Heart. In the Tiger’s game versus school rivals University High School (UHS), the whole team battled to the end in a close game resulting in a 12-13 loss. Unfortunately, the lacrosse teams only play each league school one time during the regular season, but they will potentially get the opportunity for a rematch in the upcoming BCL postseason playoffs. According to Smith, “When covid was going on one of the most committed teams was boys lacrosse. They really have that feeling of family when they compete.”
photo courtesy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
The girls softball team at LWHS is a force to be reckoned with, coming off a COVID-19 season with only one loss and keeping up their winning record. They currently stand number two in the BCL, with a league record of five wins and four losses. Coached by Dee Orama and Anna Marjavi and led by team captains Carly Poggi-Li ’22, Kate Hoffner ’23 and Mila Grossman ’23. The team faced a rough patch at the beginning of the season with losses in the first two games of the season against St. Joseph Notre Dame High School and UHS, but proceeded to go on a six game win streak. The Tigers will get the chance to face off against school rival UHS once more on April 29. LWHS softball is ranked 13th in NCS Division 4, just above Saint Mary’s High School. The team does not have an official home field or practice facility, which has definitely been a big challenge to overcome. “It says a lot about the girls character that they are getting kicked off the field, but they keep up the positivity and just do their best,” Smith said.
photo courtesy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
The boys baseball team at LWHS is historically one of more successful teams at LWHS, with players in the program going on to play college ball in recent years. They are coached by Scott Carlow and Paul Swenson, and are led by team captains Ryan Choy ’22, Peter Brownrigg ’22, Ketan Hoey ’22 and Odin Marin ’23. Coming off a 5-5 COVID-19 season where they stood neck to neck with Marin Academy High School, the Tigers currently hold an overall record of 6-8-1. They have defeated Marin twice this season and are currently ranked number one in the BCL West league. Similarly to softball, the boys baseball team also had a rough start to the season in games against some non-league opponents, but went on a five game league win streak.
photo courtesy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
While the girls play tennis in the fall, boys tennis is a spring sport at LWHS. Coached by Michael Axtell and Joyce Ching, the Tigers hold an overall 16-3 record and a 7-1 record in league, putting them just behind UHS’ 5-0 record. They shut Urban out in their match on April 5, in one of eight shutout wins all season. The team is led by team captains Evan Aubry ’22 and Quinn Dur ’22.
photo courtesy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
Track and Field at LWHS has the biggest roster among all spring sports and is coached by the beloved Jeffrey Gardiner — who also coaches Cross Country in the fall. According to Smith, “You always know you are in great hands when you have Gardiner and the rest of the staff as coaches.” The track and field rosters are the highest compared to every other sport offered at LWHS in any season. The assistant coaches are Joe Fleming, Sharon Rymut, Cyntia Salazar and Emmanuel Atsin. The boys Track and Field team has an overall record of 15-1-0, only losing in a tight battle against UHS. The girls Track and Field team has yet to be defeated, holding a record of 16-0-0, with the only school coming close to their level being UHS once again.
photo courtesy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
The swim team is coached by James Ellingson, Andres Simauchi and Aaron Fluss, and is led by team captains Yaya Harman ’22 and Will Fuller ’22. The boys and girls combined record is 6-1, and they are second in the Bay Area Conference (BAC). They had a big win on March 15 against San Domenico, with a score of 172-142. The championship meet is on April 30.
photo courtesy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
Last but not least, badminton is coached by Smith, in addition to Leland Lo. The team captains are Carolyn Lau ’22 and William Yu ’23. Their record so far is 7-3. According to Daniel Tesfai, Director of Coaching & Compliance for Athletics, “Badminton is a vicious sport. Everyone should check it out.”
photo courtesy of Lick-Wilmerding High School
The spring is a special time for sports at LWHS, with more offerings than any other season and 327 students participating in them. The feeling of heading over to the field, track, pool, courts or gym on a sunny April afternoon with daylight until after 8 p.m. is unmatched, and the enjoyment that spring athletes feel in playing their sports contributes to the overall success of all of these programs.
