by Jesus Biag, co-Editor-in-Chief

The defending CIF Basketball Division One State Champions toured the cities of Chengdu, Hanzhong, Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai from Thursday, August 8th to Sunday, August 25th, in a trip organized and sponsored by Lartin Brothers Education. 

This trip wasn’t just a free vacation for the varsity team. In the first two cities that they visited, Chengdu and Hanzhong, they competed in six basketball games against the developmental teams of Chinese professional teams, such as the Shanghai Sharks. 

Head Coach Matt Dunn was incredibly impressed by his team’s performance, with the Braves going 6-0 off of some fairly easy victories. 

“I thought for [this] time of year, our group was really good together,” said Coach Dunn. “[The team] returned a lot of guys, and I think that all of those returners played extremely well.”

He especially had a great time watching junior big-man, Howie Wu, who was back in his native country.

Howie, however, wasn’t the only Chinese native that went on the trip. In addition, junior wings Eric Wang and William Wang also returned home. 

Eric, notably, was incredibly proud to be back.

“It was nice to be back home and show my teammates China,” said Eric. 

After their games concluded, Bosco Basketball hosted several basketball clinics in the other cities and some of the players got to compete in a three-on-three and one-on-one game, all to great amounts of fanfare from their Chinese supporters.

“We were treated like celebrities,” Coach Dunn said. “We needed security to get in and out of gyms and on and off the bus. All of the guys took a lot of pictures and signed a lot of autographs, so it was pretty special.”

The player fans were most starstruck by was Bosco’s junior guard, Brandon McCoy, who is currently ranked as the number one recruit in the class of 2026 by On3.

He was the Bosco Brave selected to play in the one-on-one game when they were in Hangzhou.

“It [was] intense playing in that environment because [there were] a lot of people and [the game was played] on a smaller court,” said Brandon. “It was also very hot in the gym, but it just made the game more fun.”

Another one of the players that the people flocked to the most was senior Chris Komin, which allowed the usually reserved guard to step out of his shell.

While they were in China, he was encouraged to post onto Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. After sharing a couple of videos of him playing in the three-on-three game, he amassed over 30,000 followers.

In addition to gaining widespread popularity on Douyin, Chris also felt extremely grateful to be in China. He hails from Chinese heritage on his mom’s side, who accompanied him on the trip.

“It was great to see the culture that’s out there,” Chris said. “My mom got to experience it too, and that felt good.”

Accompanying the team on the administrative side were Vice Principal of Student Affairs, Ms. Jen Schnorr, and Director of Marketing and Communications, Ms. Megan Nash.

Ms. Schnorr’s favorite parts of the trip had nothing to do with the basketball being played. Instead, she loved seeing all of the different sights and exhibits, such as the Giant Panda National Park in Chengdu, the Great Wall of China and Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

Another one of her favorite things that she witnessed on the trip was the camaraderie that was shared between the team, specifically between the international students and their American-born teammates.

“It’s cool to see how close the team actually is,” Ms. Schnorr said. “They’re all very connected and have a great team bond. Traveling together, we were on [so many] trains and buses, and [I observed] that they all get along so well.”

The group’s closeness and chemistry will go a long way as the team takes a few more trips, notably to Las Vegas in October, Chicago during Thanksgiving as well as Arizona and Massachusetts in January.

Coach Dunn believes that this initial tour of China will make things easier as they travel to those places in the coming months.

“I’m a big believer that all of your experiences make it easier to do the next one. So I believe that traveling internationally will make traveling inside the states that much easier,” Coach Dunn said.

With this particular experience in the rearview mirror, Coach Dunn and Bosco Basketball have turned their sights to their end goal—competing for a Southern Section and State Open Division Championship.

“I think we have the kind of team to do it. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and [defeating] a lot of good teams, but I think we have the chance to compete on the state and national level, and [we] look forward to that opportunity.”

by Macade Maxwell, co-Sports Editor

In a California versus Texas high school football matchup, the St. John Bosco Braves came out on top in dominant fashion. 

An ongoing debate about who has better football – California or Texas – was settled in this game between the St. John Bosco Braves and the Eastwood Troopers. Eastwood came into this game with high hopes, but ended up leaving with nothing but a beating, with a final score of 71-14. 

From kickoff, it was evident that the Braves weren’t going to be challenged, as they scored on their opening drive with a Matai Fuiava 78-yard bomb to junior receiver Madden Williams to find the end-zone for an easy touchdown. 

But this was only the start. The Braves would end up scoring 35 points before the end of the first quarter. Their dominant offense tore through the Eastwood defense with ease displaying their ability to put up plenty of points while getting deep in their depth chart. 

The almost basketball-like score showed the skill gap between the two schools, as the Eastwood Troopers were willing to travel and take on the challenge, earning applause and respect from high school football fans and the Brave faithful. 

“We came into this game focused,” said junior quarterback Matai Fuiava. “We kept the same mentality the whole game, and it showed.” 

Fuiava had another impressive showing Friday night, as he accumulated 285 passing yards finding targets all night. 

Some other standout players were junior receivers Madden Williams and Carson Clark who combined for 214 yards and three touchdowns. 

“I was locked in. [Matai] put the ball where it needed to be and all I had to do was take it to the house,” said Williams. 

This was only a sample for the Braves’ offense as there is still a lot more room left for improvement. 

“It was a good game but there’s always another game and always room for improvement,” said Clark. “We just gotta keep working and get better every day, that’s the goal.” 

On the defensive side, junior defensive lineman Dutch Horisk was a strong leader and an impact player with four tackles on the night. 

“We knew they were going to come here and try to prove themselves,” said Horisk. “But we weren’t going to let them come to our house and make a statement.”

Through their first two games, the Braves have definitely set the bar high for themselves, as they only look to improve and take that next step in earning another National Title.

As the Braves look ahead of their schedule, they will match up against a worthy opponent in Sierra Canyon, a usual California powerhouse who are currently ranked sixth in the state with a 2-1 record. The game is tonight on the road with kickoff at 7:30pm on NFHS Network.

by Jet Walls

St. John Bosco High School’s varsity football team, ranked number four in the nation, hits the road to take on a formidable opponent, the Chaminade-Madonna Lions from Hollywood, Florida, who are currently ranked ninth in the nation, according to MaxPreps. 

The game is slated as the number two game of the week by MaxPreps and will be televised nationally live on ESPN2. 

Given that this is the first game of the season and an out-of-state road game, preparation has been intense. Bosco Braves quarterback, junior Matai Fuiava, and linebacker, senior Cole Clifton have confirmed that the groundwork leading up to this game has been fierce with them and their teammates watching hours of video to break down the opponent’s offense and defense.

Matai’s individual training for this game has been specific to Chaminade-Madonna, and he feels that he and his team are ready to take the national stage on ESPN2 and open the year with a signature victory. 

Matai said that his plans for the game are to stay mentally positive. Physically he believes that hydration is paramount with the team traveling and being in a new, humid environment. Matai has been working with his coaches, offensive line and God to ensure that he is best prepared for the moment. 

“The Lord calms my storms,” Matai said. 

Matai lets Jesus take the wheel to help him and his team through whatever adversity they may encounter. The Braves plan to stay calm and play their game, not letting the hostile Florida crowd get to them. 

Matai says that as long as he puts his faith in the Lord that he can block out any outside noise against Chaminade’s “very fast and aggressive” defense.

On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Cole Clifton is excited to lead the Braves’ defense as a senior. He realizes that Chaminade-Madonna is a national power, just like Bosco, but as long as his guys do their jobs, they will come out on top. Cole is excited to get on the road with his team and play their first game.

Cole and his teammates are ready, despite the extra pressure from playing on national television. Cole is excited to make memories with his Bosco Brothers starting this year off with a win. Coles message to the members of Brave Nation who made the trip is simple.

“Make us feel like you’re right in the field with us,” Cole said.

But for the many Brave faithful watching on television, Cole also has a request.

“Keep us in your prayers [for God to] keep us in good health at all times.”

The Braves kick off against the Lions tomorrow, Saturday August 24th at 5:00pm (PST), on ESPN2.

by Macade Maxwell

As their season comes to a close, the St. John Bosco track and field team gears up for the CIF-SS Divisional Championship Finals on Saturday. 

The Braves have displayed an impressive amount of success this season from the athletes in their twelve total meets. With notable achievements across the leaderboard of various events, the Braves are putting their names on the map and displaying their talents. 

Out of the 33 runners who competed in the 100m, a whopping 27 have achieved personal records (PRs) so far. Leading the way is junior two-sport athlete Jacob Holmes (10.93 seconds). Holmes also holds the lead for the 200 as well. Seventeen out of 19 athletes reached new PRs in the 400s, as junior Kendal Handy leads in that category (48.40 seconds). Senior Caden Fuller leads in the long jump event, while junior Kijani Dumas leads the 110 and 300 hurdles. Senior Cal Poly San Luis Obispo-commit Aidan Aldana leads in the long-distance events, the 800m, 1600m and 3200m, showcasing his cross country experience.

The Braves had CIF Prelims on May 4th, followed by the CIF Divsional Championship Finals that will take place this Saturday, May 11th. Each event raises the stakes for the Braves, and they continue to live up to all expectations with the help of new assistant coaches.

“We’re working on goal setting, tailored workouts, progress tracking, communication and mental preparation to ensure our athletes perform at their best,” says new Assistant Coach and Bosco alumnus Steven Caudillo. 

“I feel that me and my teammates are having a pretty good season [so far],” said Caden Fuller. “There’s always room for improvement, but I’m happy with the way we performed these past few meets.” 

Fuller, in particular, has shown his versatility among different events.

“My coach put me in a wide variety of events, but I’m most confident in my long jump,” he said.

Adjusting to a new coaching staff can be a difficult task for a team, but for the Braves, it is evident that it has a positive impact.

“There’s a new coaching staff, and at first, it wasn’t very easy adjusting to their coaching styles,” said Jacob Holmes. “But I’m starting to enjoy it, and I believe it’s contributing to our growth as a team.”

“With a team of returning athletes, we are building our way towards winning that Trinity League title,” said Head Coach Tim McIntosh, as his team finished third in league competition this past season. 

The following athletes will compete in the CIF Divisional Championship Finals for division three on Saturday: Jacob Holmes (100m), Kendal Handy (400m), Kijani Dumas (110HH) and, for the 4×100 relay, Ja’Shaun Shaffer, Ethan Naudin, Azari Warren and Jacob Holmes. 

by Luis Hernandez, Managing Editor

The St. John Bosco Braves baseball team is wrapping up their first season with new Head Coach Andy Rojo, who has over 20 years of experience as a coach, with their first CIF Playoff appearance since 2017.

“It’s been a terrific experience coaching a motivated group of players who were excited about a new change in the direction of the program,” said Coach Rojo.

They are currently 17-10 after their first round playoff victory and finishing fourth in the Trinity League. MaxPreps currently has them ranked as the number eight team in California. The team has very impressive wins this year, including victories versus league rivals like Orange Lutheran, who is currently ranked the number one team in the state and seventh in the nation by MaxPreps.

The Braves beat the Lancers 8-2 at home in their last regular season game. The bats were hot that day with sophomore Jaden Jackson scoring two runs and having an RBI. Pitcher Anthony Cosme was throwing heat, making Orange Lutheran’s impressive offense look stale. 

The Braves offense has been stellar thus far, players like junior Macade Maxwell have been amazing. He leads the team in batting average with a .474 and an on-base percentage of .574.  

On the other side of the ball senior pitchers Anthony Cosme and Jack Champlin have had great seasons with an average of a 1.84 ERA between the both of them. Senior outfielder Julian Villasenor has also been efficient with a fielding percentage of .982.

While this team may seem dependent on its upperclassmen that is not the case with this team, as they are loaded with young talent.

Julian Garcia, a pitcher who is a sophomore, leads the team with 48 strikeouts and is improving with every throw. He believes that the team is very resilient and is excited to have a bigger role in the upcoming season. Coach Rojo also praised Julian saying he has had a tremendous impact on the season.

“I think this season has been pretty good. We have been successful and had a couple of tough losses, but we bounced back and we are looking good,” said Julian.

While the team’s record may not look special, they have only lost once against a team ranked outside the top 25 in the state and the Trinity League is one of the most competitive leagues in the country. 

The Braves have a few tremendous wins under their belt, including a 7-2 win earlier this month against the “Team in Red” who are ranked seventh in California. The game was a testament to the hard work and grit the team has been playing with this season.

“We accomplished our first goal, which was to end the regular season with a winning record. Our second goal was to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017, and we did. Now we play bonus baseball and will see how this team can finish the year,” Coach Rojo said.

The Braves were able to complete both their goals, and they’re currently making the most of their “bonus baseball” with a dominant game in the first round of the playoffs against Grace High School. Bosco won 14-0, due to the batters playing excellent and not missing a beat from the regular season.

The offense was not dependent on a few people either, as ten different people scored a run with Pepperdine-commit Zach Woodson leading the team with three runs.

The pitching could not have been better, only allowing five hits the entire game and obviously no runs. This was impressive, because in the game prior to facing the Braves, Grace scored a ridiculous 25 runs.   

Bosco is facing Corona Del Mar High School in the second round of the playoffs at home today at 3:15pm.

The Sea Kings have an overall record of 19-9 and are on a seven-game winning streak. They dominated Burbank High School with a 6-0 shutout of their own in the first round.

The site of their potential quarterfinal game against either Fountain Valley or El Segundo is yet to be determined.

by Macade Maxwell

This season was definitely one to remember for the 2023-2024 St. John Bosco High School basketball program. After an emotional rollercoaster of a season, the Braves managed to stay poised and focused, allowing them to achieve their ultimate goal by capping off their season with a CIF Division One State Championship. 

The team’s journey to a championship would not have been possible without their setbacks. With a long regular season full of trials and tribulations and following a disappointing run in the Open Division Playoffs, the Braves needed to maintain their edge to make a state playoff run, approaching each game with a fearless mindset and knowing that it was win or go home.

Following a first round bye in the state tournament, the Braves matched up against Windward High School. These two schools previously faced each other earlier in the season, where the Braves blew out Windward in the championship game of the Bosco Winter Classic by 35 points with a final score of 88-53.

But this time, Windward came for revenge. The Wildcats made this game a close one, but the Braves managed to come out on top, winning 65-63

“We knew it was going to be a hard one, especially coming out 13 days off and coming off a hard loss,” said Head Coach Matt Dunn. “I was so proud of our guys. We had a bunch of chances to give in to it, but we just kept plugging away, playing hard and making the right play, and we did just enough.”

The regional semi-final game was no easier than the previous one, matching up against the highly ranked Damien Spartans. The Spartans, who were once led by Coach Dunn before he started at Bosco, made sure that they gave the Braves a challenge, especially their seven-foot center. It was a close one all game, but the Braves came away with the victory, winning 63-59. 

“I took a lot. I mean it started [that] week with practice, and we played hard [the night of the game] and got it done. But I’m feeling more confident in my shot. My teammates are going to be there for me and create opportunities for open shots,” said sophomore Dominic Perfetti after his 14-point performance in the win against Damien. 

The Braves needed just one more game to make it to the CIF State Championship game, but standing in their way was league rival, the “Team in Red.” The “Team in Red” is a familiar opponent with a history that runs deep. This year, the “Team in Red” had the Braves number in the regular season, beating them in both matchups, once in Santa Ana and once at Crypto.com Arena. 

“[We] wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Obviously they beat us in the first two matchups, but we didn’t get the chance to play at our house,” said Coach Dunn.

Dropping two league games to the “Team in Read” didn’t faze the Braves because they knew that they would have to come to their house, The Thunderdome, where the Braves are most dominant against the “Team in Red.”

As the final buzzer sounded, the Braves came out on top in a nail-biting overtime win, 71-68. This punched their ticket to the championship game where they would face San Ramon Valley High School in Sacramento at the Golden 1 Center, home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. 

“It took every single one of us. We all played a role,” said junior Chris Komin. “Guarding [the “Team in Red”] was tough. They have a very structured defense, but we had to keep our minds in the game and be ready every play.”

In the season finale against San Ramon Valley, the stakes couldn’t possibly have been higher. With a state title on the line, it is safe to say that the Braves put their all into this game, at one point holding a 17-point lead. The Braves never looked back, winning 78-62.

Leading the way to victory for the Braves was senior Loyola Chicago signee Jack Turner, who dropped 20 points in his final high school game. Following Turner was number one nationally ranked sophomore Brandon McCoy, Jr., who scored 18 points. 

As the final buzzer sounded, the Braves secured the program’s second ever CIF State title, the first under Coach Dunn. Their journey to this point may have been a long and tiring one, but it is least to say that it was all worth it in the end. 

Completing their season with a record of 28-7 in addition to a solid 8-2 record in league play, the Braves left their mark as the 26th ranked team in the nation and the third ranked in the state of California, according to MaxPreps. 

The sweat, the tears, the countless hours, the ups and the downs all led to a moment of success where memories will last for a lifetime. The 2023-2024 Braves basketball team is a representation of a group who all came together and worked toward one common goal. 

“This was everything I wanted, and we put everything on the line,” said senior Amiri Meadows. “Obviously, playing with great players, I do what I can to help, contributing in multiple ways like getting our team started and just having that mentality of giving everything I got.”

That caps off a remarkable season for the Braves, as a group of hard-working athletes left their legacy in St. John Bosco High School history. Although the season may be over, it doesn’t just end here. Be prepared for the Braves to come back stronger and better than ever next year, setting a new standard for Bosco Basketball.

by Luis Hernandez, Managing Editor

The St. John Bosco Braves have had a successful football program for many years, and nothing has changed. Every year, there is a very large group of football players who can commit to college programs and our school acknowledges the hard work and dedication these student-athletes have exhibited by celebrating on Signing Day.

The Bosco Football program hosted a large Signing Day event in late December at the Mayne Event Center in Downtown Bellflower, where twelve Braves signed to excellent programs: LB Ashtin Kekahuna-Lopes, Utah; RB Cameron Jones, UCLA; RB Chauncey Sylvester Jr., Weber State; DB Frankie Edwards III, Weber State; DB Tamal Johnson, Weber State; DB Jason Mitchell II, San Diego State; LB Jordan Lockhart, Texas A&M; LB Khmori House, Washington; OL King Large, Southern Methodist University; LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Notre Dame; DB Marcelles Williams, USC; and DB Peyton Woodyard, Alabama.

This was a bitter-sweet moment for all. For many of the athletes, this would be their last time together as Braves because they would begin the Spring semester at their new schools. 

The most recent Signing Day was held on campus in February, where four players signed to the school of their choice: QB Caleb Sanchez, Columbia University; DB Dillon Rickenbacker, Yale University; WR Stacy Dobbins, University of California at Davis; and WR Tommy Maher, Colorado State University.

Signing Day marks an important culmination for all the players, coaches and parents, as it took a lot of sacrifice to make it to that moment. The players were all incredibly thankful to St. John Bosco High School and all the doors it has opened for them. Most of all, though, players wanted to thank their coaches, friends and, most especially, family for believing in them.

All of these players come from different backgrounds and have faced different challenges, but one thing they have in common is that they’ve overcome challenges and circumstances to achieve this great accomplishment.

Quarterback Caleb Sanchez, who led the Trinity League in passing yards this season, had been waiting for Signing Day since he was a child. He signed with the Ivy League’s Columbia University and is grateful that he was able to share the special moment with those who guided his success.

“The day was so special because I was able to share it with those I loved, not only my family but my coaches and teammates. I can’t explain how grateful I am for them,” said Caleb.

Safety Dillion Rickenbacker, who is another signee who is not only excellent on the field but in the classroom, also made the decision to go to the Ivy League with his commitment to Yale University. He felt it was the perfect choice for him as the University will help him succeed after his playing days.

The signing days are emotional for everybody involved as these young men are leaving to pursue their dreams. The Bosco family is sad to see them go but happy they were able to be a part of their journey.

by Macade Maxwell

After an unsuccessful showing in CIF-SS Open Division pool play, the St. John Bosco High School varsity basketball team holds the top seed in the Division One CIF State playoff tournament and, as a result, home court advantage throughout the single elimination southern regional.  

Bosco Basketball found themselves placed in arguably the most difficult playoff bracket in the country for the CIF-SS playoffs. The eight teams comprising the two Open Division pools were top teams not only in the state of California, but in the entire nation. The Braves finished third in their pool with a record of 1-2.

The team’s home matchup against Sierra Canyon lived up to all of the hype, as the Trailblazers proved themselves a more than worthy opponent for the Braves. Brandon McCoy Jr., who is the number one nationally ranked sophomore, dropped 21 points and secured five rebounds, while senior Loyola Chicago-commit Jack Turner added 18 points. Juniors Elzie Harrington and and Kade Bonam also scored in double figures with ten points each, but it just wasn’t enough to top the powerhouse Sierra Canyon program, as the Braves fell just short by a score of 72-67. 

In their following game against number eight seed Corona Centennial, the Braves welcomed the Huskies with an old fashioned beatdown with a final score of 72-55. The Braves received a great performance from Kade, who had a game-high of 20 points coming off a recent shoulder injury. 

“[It] felt amazing. I got uplifted by my family, my teammates and my coaches, and we could’ve played better but overall I’m proud of my guys,” said Kade. 

But in spite of a win in dominant fashion against Centennial, the Braves next opponent in Harvard Westlake returned the favor and handed the Braves their exit ticket in the pool, beating them by a score of 64-40. This was a tough loss for the Braves, as they started the game off slow and couldn’t manage to get the offense rolling. Although McCoy led the way with 14 points and 14 rebounds, the team struggled to find a collective rhythm offensively. 

“Just as a coaching staff, we didn’t do a good enough job getting our guys ready to be successful,” said Head Coach Matt Dunn. “We played against a well-rounded team with some good individuals and we just got beat in every way possible.”

Almost two weeks later, the Braves roll in to the Division 1 CIF State playoffs as the number one seed, resulting in a first round bye for Bosco on Tuesday night. 

“To have two weeks off at this point in the year is very challenging.  I do think our week of practice has been really good, and I know our guys are excited to have a chance to compete again,” said Coach Dunn. ” I am really excited that we have the opportunity to play our next few games at home and am very hopeful we will take advantage of that.”

With determination still lingering in the air, all of Bosco Basketball have their sights set on that championship ring. From the beginning of the season the Braves had just one goal in mind and that was to win it all. This is where the hard work pays off and when players show who wants it more. 

“Definitely seeing improvement and our players are making a lot of good adjustments and working hard,” said Brandon McCoy Jr., as he and the Braves look ahead to their first game of the state playoffs. 

All eyes will be on the Braves and their standout players, as they look to lead their team to the ultimate goal. They will face Windward Thursday at 7pm in the Thunderdome. Tickets can be purchased through GoFan.