by Simon Wei

Coming into Trinity League play with expectations sky-high, St. John Bosco knew they had to prove themselves week in and week out. Over five grueling series, they showed resilience, depth and growth along the way, earning one of the top seeds in the CIF-SS division one playoffs and moving up the rankings to number 17 in the nation according to MaxPreps.

The Braves started league play with a series against Orange Lutheran that very quickly set a tone for the season. Game one was a fierce duel that began with both teams trading defensive blows and went all the way down to the late innings.

Freshman Aaron Garcia came through with a huge hit, a two-out, fifth-inning single that broke a tie and sent the Braves to a 2-1 win.

In game two against the Lancers, junior Gavin Cervantes threw a complete-game shutout that was pure dominance. Cervantes allowed just three hits and brought the Braves another 3-0 win in a game that featured some speedy baserunning from junior James Clark that set up an RBI situation for junior Jack Champlin, who had a nice day at the plate.

Junior Noah Everly had just a little bit more fun in Game 3, going 3-for-3 with a homerun and helping the Braves secure a 5-3 comeback win after being down 3-1 at one point.

“The whole series against Orange Lutheran was earned,” said senior Phillip Swinford. “Our mindset was to win every inning, and that’s what we did. We controlled what we could control; we competed in the box. And the results gave us a historic sweep. James Clark was a major factor offensively—going 7-for-11 in the series.”

Riding high after sweeping Orange Lutheran, Bosco stumbled out of the gate in Game one against the Santa Margarita Eagles, dropping a tough 10-5 loss where walks and defensive miscues piled up. Micah Taguiam helped keep the game close with two RBIs, but the Braves just couldn’t find their rhythm.

Game two was a turnaround. Gavin Cervantes returned to the mound and gave the team exactly what it needed, keeping the Eagles in check. James Clark led the charge again at the plate with a 3-for-4 day, driving in three runs. junior Jaden Jackson and senior Carlos Barajas added key hits, and Champlin closed out the 5-3 win.

Game three was more one-sided. Bosco’s pitching staff combined to allow just three hits. Offensively, Clark and Everly continued to produce, helping the Braves cruise to a 6-1 win and take the series 2-1.

“[Santa Margarita] punched us in the face in the first game with a 5-10 loss. We knew we had to punch back harder in the next two games, and that’s what we did,” said Phillip Swinford. “Our bats started waking up, and they started making errors on defense. We didn’t waste that opportunity to score runs.”

This led to Bosco’s series against the “Team in Red,” which was easily one of the most intense of the season. Game one went ten innings, with both teams refusing to give in. In extra innings, Cervantes and senior Trevor Heishman had the situation under control, keeping the opponents bats at bay. And so, with a final score of 3-2, the Bosco boys emerged victorious.

Game two followed a similar script; it was tight, low-scoring and dramatic. Cervantes was dialed in again, pitching eight innings and allowing just one run. The Braves walked it off with a 2-1 win, taking the series.

Game three was the outlier, where Bosco exposed the “Team in Red’s” defense and gained an 8-1 win. Junior Miles Clark went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Everly pitched the final three innings to seal the sweep. Everly also achieved the Press-Telegram Athlete of the week following that series. 

The Braves carried the momentum into consecutive sweeps of Servite and JSerra to secure sole ownership of the Trinity League Championship.

With league play in the rearview, the focus now shifts to the playoffs. After achieving a first-round bye, Bosco looks ahead to this afternoon, when Vista Murrieta plays comes to campus for the CIF-SS division one playoff’s second round.

Vista Murrieta enters the game with a strong 23-5-1 overall record and a 14-1 league performance, putting it in a tie for 14th in a top-heavy California. Vista Murrieta appears to have a balanced offensive attacks and strong pitching to challenge the Braves.

Bosco Baseball knows the road ahead won’t be easy, but their Trinity League journey prepared them well. They’ve been battle-tested, and more importantly, they believe in each other. If there’s one thing this team made clear over five weeks of hard-fought baseball, it’s this: they’re not backing down from anyone. First pitch at home this afternoon is at 3:15pm.

by Macade Maxwell, Sports Editor

When the school St. John Bosco comes to mind, most would often think about the powerhouse football program or the formidable basketball program. But an unsung team on campus would be tennis. 

This team has been steadily building its legacy year by year and making a unique story of its own. One made up of growth, determination and hard work put in behind the scenes that doesn’t always get noticed. 

Bosco tennis is slowly transforming from a small, under the radar team into a competitive, gritty team that can come out and show teams what they are made of. 

Head Coach Jacob Negro focuses on developing strong relationships with his players and developing them not only on the tennis court but off it as well. 

“For us, it’s not just about the wins and losses. It’s about building disciplined young men who are ready to compete in both tennis and in life. Every time we are out on the court is an opportunity to work on that,” said Coach Negro.

Unlike many other schools, the Braves do not have tennis courts on campus to practice and play on. Instead the team travels to the Lakewood Tennis Center everyday after school in order to get their work in. While some may feel like this is a setback, it builds character and shapes the team’s identity. 

“It’s not ideal, but it builds character,” said junior Noah Garcia. “Traveling to practice every day made us closer as a team, [and it] teaches us to be grateful for what we have.” 

The Braves capped off the 2024-2025 season, finishing with a 7-13 overall record while going 0-8 in the Trinity League, which features some of the toughest competition in California. Although it doesn’t show in their record, the Braves competed in each game and showed that they have what it takes to compete against the best. 

“I joined the tennis program in 2024 and have been a part of the team for two years now. When I first joined, it was sort of a rebuilding process with new players, coaches and opportunities to get back to being a top team in the Trinity League,” said senior Eratzmo Ovando. 

Looking past the losses were dominant victories, such as 13-5 over Hillcrest, 18-0 against Lynwood, 14-4 against Carson, 13-5 over Alhambra and 17-1 against Lakewood. These wins show the growth of the program, as they went totally winless two seasons ago. 

“This year, we won our first game in two years against Lynwood, and from there, we continued to win and fought hard all season,” said Eratzmo. “We only improved with the addition of new players with even greater talent. We went from not being able to win games to being able to actively compete against top teams in California.” 

A big part of this year’s success came from their senior class. The Braves had seven seniors leading the way for the team and bringing their experience in each match. A standout performer this year would be senior Ben Gillett.

As a singles player, he has to be on top of his game at all times. Gillett is a source of motivation and improvement for the whole team. 

While senior’s occupy most roster spots on the team, junior Diego Fonseca-Perez is captain of the squad. As captain, he assures that the team constantly stays focused on their goal: to get better and compete. 

“This is definitely a start to what we want to achieve. One of the team’s biggest accomplishments would be moving up in the rankings,” said Fonesca. “Last year, I believe were were top 350 and this year we finished in the top 100 in CIF rankings, so I definitely see the improvement.” 

Looking ahead, the Braves aren’t just focused on climbing up in the standings. They’re focused on setting a new standard for Bosco Tennis. They may not have all the resources, but the Braves have the will to get better and an unbreakable bond.

by Nels Nelsen

Renovation and construction on the St. John Bosco baseball field are underway and near completion, as Bosco Baseball hosted their first official home game this season.

The baseball field construction project began back in June 2024 on the Monday after the CIF State playoffs with the turf field being worked on first. By the first week of November 2024, the turf field was finished and the baseball team was able to practice on the new field for the first time.

Bosco’s Athletic Director, Vince Brown, has only been at Bosco for two years, but has been an athletic director for 23 years having prior experience at Orange Lutheran High School.

“The first phase was doing the field.” said Mr. Brown “The second phase is doing the dugouts and bullpens, and then hopefully – this summer – we will put in a new scoreboard.”

With a lot of work still to be done, rescheduling was necessary for the first six weeks of the season. The first official home opener was intended to be set for February 18th, but was pushed back to April 1st. Fortunately, the field was ready in time for the home opener against Trinity League opponent Orange Lutheran. 

This game was a great way to break in the new field, as the Braves made a statement with a thrilling 2-1 comeback and walk-off win. 

Not only is the field being rebuilt, but there will be the addition of new dugouts, a brand new team clubhouse, training areas and brand new fencing. The goal of the renovation is to make a transition from an older look to one of the most top-notch high school facilities in California. 

Having the new facilities will not only bring in more student-athletes, but also help families make decisions on where to send their children. New facilities, in general, also uphold the prestige and reputation of any institution like St. John Bosco.

Current players from the baseball team seem to be hopeful and excited about the construction project as well.

“Being a pitcher [I am] most excited about getting our dugouts done and our new bullpens going in. I think [it will] be really helpful in our development,” senior Trevor Heishman said.

Trevor believes the development of the baseball program will be improved because there will be a better space to enhance the training experience for the players especially.

Once the construction project is done, the baseball facilities on campus will be better than many others. They could potentially be better than some of the local college facilities, according to Trevor.

“I believe [we have] had some success in the past, but with the new buildings going up, I think that we will have more consistent success,” said Trevor.

Overall, the construction project has received nothing but praise, and it looks like the project will offer the best baseball experience for our Braves once it is finished.

by Jesus Biag, co-Editor-in-Chief

St. John Bosco’s athletic programs are notorious for featuring some of the most talented, most competitive teams in California. This year’s varsity volleyball team is striving to add to that legacy—holding a 14-2 record halfway through their season.

Last year, Bosco Volleyball held a record of 8-21, with each of those wins coming before Trinity League play—where they ultimately finished 0-10. Coming off such a rough season, a new coaching staff, led by Head Coach Gerald Aquiningoc, came to right the ship.

Before stepping onto Bosco’s campus, Coach Aquiningoc was an assistant coach for Long Beach City College’s Men’s Volleyball team. In his three years as an assistant, the Vikings were three-time Western State Conference Champions. Before that, he led Carson High School’s Varsity Boys Volleyball team to two CIF Los Angeles City Section titles in 2014 and 2019. 

In addition to his current position as Bosco’s Head Coach, Coach Aquiningoc also coaches Long Beach Poly’s Varsity Girls Volleyball team in the fall. In 2022-2023—the year before he took the reins—Long Beach Poly finished 11-18. In the two years since he began leading the program, however, his team has amassed a 55-23 record. 

Since Bosco and Poly’s situations were incredibly similar, Coach Aquiningoc and the rest of his staff had a blueprint to follow when they took control of Bosco Volleyball—one that started with creating a tough, competitive identity they’ve dubbed “The Bosco Way.” 

Additionally, with a team that hasn’t seen any significant league and playoff success in nearly a decade, there was a concern regarding the team’s mentality and whether they were hungry enough for success. Any fears the staff may have had about the Braves’ drive, however, were addressed at their very first team meeting.

“As a coaching staff, we were incredibly clear in letting them know that we weren’t just coming in to have fun. We came here to win,” said Coach Aquiningoc. “We aren’t on a five-year plan, we aren’t on a three-year plan. We’re on a win-now plan.”

Once the team was informed of the incredibly high standards they were going to be expected to meet, they rose to the challenge. 

“Being on the team these past few years, I’ve seen a lot of our struggles,” said senior and three-year varsity player Elijah Botros. “That motivates a lot of the returning guys to work even harder and live up to the coaching staff’s expectations.”

Bosco’s volleyball team features several returners, including senior captain Ayden Fariester and junior captain Jaiden Guitierrez, two players Coach Aquiningoc has relied on heavily throughout this year. The team, however, also features eleven new players.

Seven of these new players are the Shiekh brothers, who transferred to Bosco at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. They include sophomores Holland, Austin and Franklin, junior Sergio and seniors Leo, Martin and Oliver, who is the team’s third captain.

The opportunity to play with his brothers has been a huge blessing for Oliver since he’s played volleyball with his brothers his whole life. As a result, they have tremendous chemistry that has carried over to the volleyball court and their other teammates.

“Being a teammate and being a sibling aren’t all too different,” said Oliver. “Since [Bosco] embraces brotherhood, [the chemistry] comes pretty naturally.”

While Oliver, his brothers and all the other transfers have been able to build chemistry with their teammates on the practice court, they haven’t been able to play in many games as a result of CIF rules, which requires transfers to sit out for a certain amount of time.

Despite not playing at full strength, however, Bosco Volleyball started their season extremely strong. They opened the season with eight straight victories before dropping their first game against Redondo Union, the tenth-ranked team in the nation, according to MaxPreps. 

After their first loss, the Braves bounced back with three straight victories before entering Trinity League play—where they’ve struggled for years.

“Bosco has not won a league game in five years,” said Coach Aquiningoc. “Our mentality going into Trinity was to break records and make history.”

They had the chance to do that in their very first league game against Servite, a team they hadn’t beaten in nine years. The game was back and forth, with the Braves and Friars splitting the first two sets. After losing the third set 19-25, their backs were against the wall. Storming back, they won the next two sets 25-16 and 15-9, respectively—clinching their first league win in half a decade.

Following another victory against North High School, Bosco played another Trinity League rival, Orange Lutheran. In another back-and-forth game, the Braves won 3-2. A week later, on March 26th, Bosco Volleyball traveled to Anaheim to face Servite a second time—a game they lost 3-1.

Now sitting at 14-2, Bosco’s entering their toughest stretch of the season. But if they continue to win games and perform well, they’re looking at a possible CIF playoff bid. That said, they’ll continue to take days one at a time.

“We’re focused on taking things one game at a time, one week at a time,” said Coach Aquiningoc. “That said, the guys know that, right now, they need to be addicted to the work. The work is going to get us to our ultimate goal—a CIF championship.”

The work continues on this afternoon at 4pm, when the Braves will take on Long Beach Poly at Long Beach City College. On Monday, April 1st, they’ll face the “Team in Red” at 5:30pm in the Thunderdome.

by Simon Wei

The St. John Bosco Braves varsity baseball team traveled to Las Vegas for the Bishop Gorman Invitational last week against elite baseball powerhouses from around the country, playing four games and finishing with a record of 3-1.

Coming into the tournament with a 2-2 record with some close losses, the defending CIF State Regional Champions were destined to show that they are a much better team than what their record shows. 

The tournament was a roller coaster to the Brave’s spirit, with an easy win in the first game followed with a demoralizing loss in the second round. However, they bounced back in the third and fourth games with strong pitching and aggressive base running.

Game 1:

St. John Bosco started the tournament with a 9-2 victory against the Liberty Patriots from Henderson, NV. Bosco’s strategy was to take the rhythm from the Patriots from the first pitch. From then on, the Braves took control.

Freshman right-handed pitcher, Brayden Krakowski, was the key part in the execution of the game plan. He set the standard by throwing four scoreless innings with three strikeouts, which got the rest of the team to feel confident and play with aggression.

The offense was led by seniors Micah Taguiam and Macade Maxwell who both went 2 for 3. They consistently found ways to get on base and drive in runs. Junior Moises Razo added a cherry on top to this masterpiece with a solo home run along with three stolen bases and three runs scored. The Braves won and sent a message to the rest of the bracket.

Game 2:

In the second round, the Braves faced a Nevada powerhouse, the Basic Academy Wolves from Henderson, NV.

Senior left-handed pitcher, Trevor Heishman, ran into early trouble, where he allowed two runs in the first inning.

The Braves were able to immediately strike back thanks to junior Jack Champlin with a solo home run in the top of the second inning.

The Braves tried their best offensively but could not get any opportunities to break through against the Basic pitching staff. They unfortunately fell short in a 3-1 loss, making it their only loss in the tournament. This served as a wake up call to keep playing consistent and aggressive.

Game 3:

Ignited by the loss from the last round, the Braves fueled up their tank and took on the Calvary Day Cavaliers from Savannah, GA. Both teams put on a show, and the Braves came out stronger with their resilience and offensive firepower.

The main strategy executed was to be consistent and disciplined—- a core principle that senior outfielder and second baseman, Phillip Swinford, emphasized.

”Our strategy for each game was to come in and be consistent in what we do—our mindset, our approach, our energy and controlling what we can control,” said Phillip. “We came into each game competing to do our job in whatever situation we were in, to do damage and to be aggressive.”

The Braves followed this approach flawlessly. They set the rhythm of the game early on and maintained control throughout, helping them secure a 7-2 victory.

Game 4:

The final game of the tournament was the highlight of the Bishop Gorman Invitational. The Braves took on the Desert Oasis Diamondbacks and showcased their clutch genes.

Senior Jacob Alvarez got the start and went three innings with three strikeouts while only giving up one run. Coming out of the bullpen for the Braves was senior John Crowe, as he tossed two scoreless innings and earned himself a strikeout while doing so.

The bats were shockingly quiet for the Braves in this matchup, but when the top of the sixth inning came around, this all changed. 

With two runners on base, junior outfielder and third baseman, Noah Everly, stepped up and delivered a clutch single to tie the game 1-1. Junior right-handed pitcher, Aiden Dahlk, tossed two scoreless innings with zero hits allowed and three strikeouts.

In a still tied game, junior outfielder, Miles Clark, delivered a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, to give the Braves a 4-1 lead in what was the biggest hit of the tournament for the Braves.

Both Miles and Noah posted strong games at the plate, with Clark finishing the game 1-for-2 with three runs battled in (RBIs) and Everly going 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI in the 4-1 victory.

The Braves showed the Nevada teams that they were more than a talented unit, but also a team with resilience. The veterans’ leadership combined with rising young talent make Bosco a clinical team with precise execution.

Moreover, their ability to bounce back shows that they are a true contender for whatever is to come, especially their next opponent—the West Linn Lions from Oregon. The game will be played Great Park Irvine, where the USC Trojans currently play their home games while their stadium is under construction. First pitch is at 5:30pm.

by Macade Maxwell, Sports Editor

The Braves varsity basketball team wrapped up an impressive 2024-25 season with a 26-7 record, securing a co-Trinity League Championship, making a deep run in the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs and making an appearance in CIF State Open Division Playoffs. 

Despite falling short of a state championship, the Braves displayed nothing but resilience, determination and elite talent. Their ability to compete against some of the top teams across the country shows where they stand amongst other programs. 

Although they didn’t finish the way they wanted, the Braves found themselves ranked 10th in California and securing a number 38 spot nationally, according to MaxPreps. 

The Braves started the season off with expectations high coming off winning the CIF Division One championship the previous year. With key players like five-star juniors Brandon McCoy, Jr. and transfer Christian Collins as well as seniors Elzie Harrington and Chris Komin, the Braves were primed to have a successful season. 

The Braves wasted no time as they got off to a 14-0 start to their season. These were no average wins, as the Braves would dominate their opponents by 20+ points. In the midst of these games, the Braves would compete in the Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament in Illinois and leave as champions of the annual classic. 

They would continue this dominance heading into league play, as the Braves would secure wins over both Orange Lutheran and Servite. 

Despite star player Brandon McCoy being sidelined due to injury for a chunk of the season, the Braves still maintained their elite status. One player shined the brightest, as senior Chris Komin stepped up and became a key contributor to the squad. 

With their only two losses coming from the “Team in Red” and Santa Margarita, the Braves would share the Trinity League Title with the Eagles of Santa Margarita. 

Their stellar regular season performance would be enough to secure the Braves a spot in the CIF-SS Open Division Playoffs, a highly prestigious tournament considered the toughest playoff bracket in all high school basketball.

They started pool-play with a tough 77-75 loss to Redondo Union but immediately redeemed themselves with a big win against Sierra Canyon. This game ended in a tight 60-55 score in front of a sold-out crowd and NBA star LeBron James in attendance to support his son Bryce James. 

“It took playing with everything we got especially coming off a loss, and we played hard and together as a team,” said Christian Collins. 

If the Braves wanted to stay alive, they needed to keep winning. They would follow up with a 69-39 victory over Heritage Christian, in which McCoy produced a dominant performance dropping 23 points with 13 rebounds. They secured their spot in the pool championship in a rematch game against Roosevelt, a team that the Braves had faced earlier in the season and lost to by one in overtime.

If the Braves wanted to move on to the championship, they would have to make it past Roosevelt. They gave it their all, but it just wouldn’t be enough to surpass the Mustangs and their five-star senior Brayden Burries, losing by a final score of 58-51. 

“The difference in this one was not executing. We had some slip-ups and kind of swayed the game in their favor,” said Chris Komin. =

Although the Open Division didn’t go as planned, the Braves would secure the number five seed in the State Playoffs. The Braves were set to face off against Harvard Westlake, reigning Open Division CIF-SS and CIF State Champions who finished number three in the nation.

The Braves gave it their all but would ultimately put their season to an end, falling to Harvard Westlake with a final score of 70-55. 

“I’m still proud of our guys regardless of the result. They fought until the end, and our effort is the main factor we control,” said Coach Dunn.

The Braves’ performance this season was due to the consistency of their starting five. Brandon McCoy was the top performer averaging 16.5 points per game, Elzie Harrington averaged 16.4, Christian Collins with 13.6 and Chris Komin with 11.2. This versatility of these four top scorers was a threat to opponents in each game.

It was a great run for the Braves marked by notable achievements. They managed to secure a share of the Trinity League Championship, finished second in their Open Division pool and earned multiple individual accolades. Elzie was named Trinity League Co-MVP and recognized as First Team All-League alongside McCoy and Collins, while junior Max Ellis and Komin earned Second Team All-League honors. 

With five-start players like Brandon and Christian returning next season, the Braves are destined for another championship run. The experience they gained from this season’s battles against elite competition will help them as they look forward to taking the next step and securing a CIF Open Division State Championship.

by Jesus Biag, co-Editor-in-Chief

St. John Bosco’s varsity lacrosse team, a program that finished 2-14 last year, has started the 2025 season 3-0.

The last time Bosco Lacrosse went on a three-game winning streak was two years ago, when the team finished with a 10-8 record and secured a playoff berth. 

Jamar Taylor, a four-year varsity lacrosse player and a two-year member of the varsity basketball team, was a sophomore the last time the lacrosse team finished a season above .500.

“My freshman and sophomore years, we had a great team – dynamic,” said Jamar. “That, along with the leadership from upperclassmen, was what allowed us to be great.”

While last year was a struggle, this year, Jamar has seen some similarities between this year’s team and the more successful teams from his freshman and sophomore years.

“I can feel the brotherhood reviving on this year’s team, which I think can help us make a run in the playoffs,” Jamar said.

The 2023-2024 season was a bit of an adjustment year for the Braves because they had an entirely new coaching staff, led by Head Coach Nes Geffrard.

While last year was rough, Coach Nes’ dedication to constant improvement has motivated team leaders like Jamar and junior Dominic Perfetti.

“Since day one of last year, Coach Nes has looked to me to be a playmaker and a leader for the team,” said Dominic. “I truly feel like all the coaches on the staff want us to not just be great players, but great young men.”

Dominic has also played on the varsity basketball team for the past two years. But basketball isn’t his main sport. According to Inside Lacrosse, he’s a four-star recruit and a top 75 player in the Class of 2026. Last September, he announced his verbal commitment to Syracuse University, a top-ranked Division I program.

His commitment to Syracuse has further motivated him to take strides as a leader. 

“Being committed to Syracuse makes me realize that a lot of the guys look towards [the more experienced players to lead],” Dominic said. “I’ve seen guys like Jamar [Taylor], Noah [Arteaga] and Brady [Spak] make plays and help [the newer guys] find a true love for this game.”

The 2-14 finish last year didn’t sit well with anyone on the team, including newer players like senior Brandon Portillo. 

“Last year was my first year playing lacrosse,” said Brandon. “Even though I was new, finishing with [that record] definitely motivated me to work harder in the Summer.”

Playing with a huge chip on their shoulder to start this season has allowed the Braves to start the season off strong.

In their opener against Lakewood High School, Bosco dominated, winning 22-0. In that game, they were led by standout junior Rylan Connors, who scored eight goals, and Dominic, who scored four goals and had five assists.

Coming off of that victory, they defeated Millikan High School 15-5. Dominic and Rylan combined for twelve of their goals, while junior Caleb Johnson had four assists.

Six days later, the Braves took a long drive to Agoura Hills to play the Agoura Chargers. In yet another blowout, Bosco defeated Agoura 16-4. Rylan scored seven goals and five other Braves scored. Noah added three goals, while Jamar and junior Jose Rodriguez scored two. Dominic and Caleb each scored once.

While Bosco’s offense has been great thus far, they’ve been led by a great defense that has held each of their opponents to five or fewer points each game. Junior goalie Vincent Lin has saved over 65% of opposing teams’ shots, with 19 saves through three games.

With these performances, it’s clear that Bosco Lacrosse is eager to bounce back from last season’s struggles.

“We know that we’re better than what [our record last season] showed,” said Dominic. “But we have a huge week of games coming up that’ll really show us where we are [as a team].”

The Braves have their home opener today at 3:30pm against Corona del Mar High School (2-0). On Thursday, they’ll face off against Peninsula High School (1-2) at home at 4pm. The two games this week are the first in the string of six straight home games.

by Macade Maxwell, Sports Editor

The St. John Bosco Wrestling team has been a dominant program in California high school wrestling for decades, one with a rich history and an impressive record of achievements to their name. 

With two CIF State championships, four CIF Masters titles, 13 CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) championships and 22 league titles under their belts, the Braves have created a foundation as one of the most successful wrestling programs in the state. Entering the 2025 season under new leadership, the Braves have still been able to continue their tradition of success. 

Despite the departure of former Head Coach, Jeffrey Anderson, the Braves haven’t skipped a beat—employing new Head Coach, Jenaro Santillan. Santillan, a familiar face in the Bosco Wrestling program, has maintained the team’s high standards while applying his own coaching philosophy of hard work and enjoyment while doing so. 

His leadership displayed significant success in the early stages of the season with a victory in the Cossarek Classic Team Champions Tournament, securing the win with 342 total team points, 15 finalists and nine champions. 

“The guys take it serious. To us, this is business,” said West Point commit, Joseph Antonio. 

The Braves recently captured the 2025 Trinity League title in dominant fashion, defeating longtime rival Servite 73-0. They followed up this performance by securing the 2025 CIF-SS Division 1 Dual Meet Championship with a commanding 66-6 victory over Mayfair. These scores only show Bosco’s status as a premier wrestling powerhouse. 

Junior Zaydrein Hernandez, who recently returned from injury, emphasized the strong bond between him and his teammates. 

“It’s important to have fun and enjoy every single moment,” Zaydrein said. “[This win] means a lot. These guys are like family to me. [A lot of us have] grown up and wrestled together since we were five [years old].”

The sense of dedication and brotherhood between the team has been vital to the team’s continued success. Many of the wrestlers have trained together for years, developing not only their skills on the mat but the bond with their brothers that fuels the competitive spirit. 

Coach Stantillan attributed the team’s latest CIF-SS Division 1 Dual Championship victory to their unwavering dedication and work ethic. 

“It took a lot of hard work, effort and hours in the wrestling room,” said Coach Santillan. “Winning this title means [everything]. It’s my first year as Head Coach, but it took a long time to get where we are today. It didn’t just happen overnight.”

Not only were the CIF Dual Championships a high point in the season, they set the tone for the rest of the season as the Braves look ahead to Individuals, Masters and State.

“It took preparation and a lot of hard work. We practice year-round Monday through Saturday, so we get after it,” said senior captain, Joseph Antonio. “It took all of us. We all went in there, got points, executed takedowns and just put on a show for everybody.” 

It was indeed a show, as it turned out to be the third consecutive CIF Dual Championship victory. The Braves continued their dominance in the league finals, crowning champions at every weight class. 

106lb – Jorge Rios

113lb – Aaron Meza 

120lb – Sean Wilcox 

126lb – Nathan Carrillo (Oregon State Commit)

132lb – Zaydrein Hernandez

138lb – Jesse Grejeda 

144lb – Michael Romero 

150lb – Sergio Gomez

157lb – Tigren Greyen

165lb – Joseph Antonio

175lb – Isai Fernandez

190lb – Mason Savidan

215lb – Kevin Rodriguez

285lb – Milton Carter

With playoffs ahead, the Braves are determined to add more accomplishments to their phenomenal season. As they prepare for upcoming CIF State championships, they remain focused on their goals: to maintain the discipline and determination that have made them into the wrestling program they are today.