El Molino athletes succeed as academic stars

El Molino encourages students to be multi-sport athletes and El Molino’s integrated athletics program supports athletes to be successful academically.
This year seven varsity teams scored a grade point average of 3.0 or above, to be North Coast Section Distinguished Teams. Those teams include the girls and boys basketball, cross country, girls and boys soccer, girls volleyball and girls golf team, which had the highest GPA of all at 3.62.
In a smashing season, the varsity girls soccer team became the first in the school’s history to get third seed in NCS division playoffs and finish third in the semifinals. Anamaria Morales and Kristine Daniels made first team all-SCL.
In wrestling, a stunning seven out of eight Lion wrestlers in the SCL championship tournament qualified for the NCS championships. Sam MacDonell took first in the SCL championship at 138 pounds.
The Lions were riding the wave of success achieved last year, when the mountain biking club was the highest placing team from Sonoma County. El Molino kicked off the season in impressive fashion at the East Garrison race in Monterey, finishing an impressive 10th overall, representing the top placing team from Sonoma County.
The boys volleyball team are following up on last year’s trip to the North Coast Section Division-3 playoff semifinals. Boys volleyball just recently took the championship in the Silver Division at the Drake MCAL Tournament.
In cross country, first team all-empire athlete Brian Schulz won the SCL championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Schulz was first in the NCS championships until he took a wrong turn that brought him in second, earning him his third straight trip to the state meet.
In other highlights, Lily Diamond made first team all-SCL for girls golf, Joy Risley made first team all-SCL for girls tennis and Torrie Boles made first team all-SCL for girls volleyball. For football, Austin Sani and Leo Garza were SCL first-team offense and defense. Ryan Fernandez was first team defense.
The Lions couldn’t be what they are without their coaches; some who were given honors too. Tomas Morales, girls varsity soccer coach, was selected All-Empire Coach of the Year. Morales and Monty DeLozier, girls varsity tennis coach, were both named Sonoma County League Coach of the Year.
~Submitted by Jacob Rich