by Isaac Mays, Sports Editor

St. John Bosco High School’s Cross Country team just completed another successful season, placing fourth in the Division Four CIF State Finals on November 29th. 

Led by Head Coach and alumnus Tim McIntosh ‘79, the coaching staff is proud as the Braves ran their very hardest this year. Coach McIntosh proudly holds 17 consecutive Trinity League Championship titles. The Braves are already excited as they look ahead to next season, as many of the younger members of the varsity team performed exceptionally well during the back half of the season.

A lot of the credit for the great season can given to the coaching staff. The runners reported that not only would Coach McIntosh assist them in all typical duties associated with his position, but he also went above and beyond with time predictions for each individual runner. This process is called “doping-out.” The athletes even stated that his precision was uncannily accurate.

“[Coach McIntosh] is one of the few coaches that will dope-out races for us, and that really helped us,” said senior Harold Munoz. “He predicts this based off previous times and is always right on the dot.”

Assistant Coach Ruben Solorza, an alumnus of the Class of ’13, also dedicated his time by running alongside the boys throughout many of the harder team exercises, which the boys said had a major boost on team morale.

Bosco’s star runner this year was junior Aiden Aldana, as he played a pivotal role on the team throughout their season. Other notable runners on the squad were seniors Harold Munoz and Isaac Becerra. Through their seniority, they both respectably served as dependable runners and leaders for the team. All three of these runners saw improvement in their personal records and overall performance throughout the season. This only helped rack up more points for the cross country team by the end of the season.

“There has to be a lot of practice and a lot of time put into getting faster,” Isaac Becerra said.

The team persevered through many challenges as illness plagued them, particularly during their CIF State Championship. The team reported that they were feeling generally under the weather and that their performance could have surpassed their fourth place finish if the situation was different.

The Running Braves hope to use this motivation for their season next year. Junior Aiden Aladna will have had another year to grow and fully leave his mark on the team as senior next fall. Many of the Braves will continue running during the track and field season, and the team is currently valuing their offseason while making the necessary preparations to perform to the best of their abilities during the Spring season. 

“Next year I’m going to go for all the records here,” Aiden said.

by Michael Barba

Bosco Football finds itself on the cusp of another national title after winning the Division One CIF Southern Section Championship at the Rose Bowl against their bitter rivals, the Team in Red. The Bosco Braves take on the Northern Section champions, the Serra Padres from San Mateo, at Saddleback College on Saturday in the Division One CIF State Championship, as they look to secure their third national championship in ten years. 

Bosco’s CIF-SS Championship match-up against the Team in Red was one of the most anticipated, if not the most anticipated, game of the season of the high school football season with nearly 16,000 fans in attendance.

The last time both titans met was on October 7th in Trinity League play, which ended in a close 17-7 loss for the Braves. The loss motivated the Braves to brush the dust off their shoulders and come back even stronger by the time the opportunity of the rematch came. 

“After we lost to Mater Dei the first time, we changed our mindset and put full focus on winning the championship. Our focus every day leading up to the championship game has remained the same,” said defensive backs coach, Darnell Lacy.

When the time came to show the results of that championship focus, the Braves did not disappoint. Despite the team in red leading Bosco 7-0 in the first quarter, quarterback Pierce Clarkson completed a forty-five yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jahlil McClain to tie it up 7-7.

After a defensive struggle in the second quarter, the third quarter saw Pierce Clarkson complete another touchdown pass on a jump ball to tight end Matayo Uiagalelei, making it a 14-7 lead for the Braves. The Team in Red answered with another touchdown, but Clarkson completed another touchdown strike to senior wide receiver DeAndre Moore. Mater Dei would answer back, but the Braves defense would make a critical stop on the Team in Red’s two point conversion attempt. The final score was a 24-22 championship victory for the Bosco Braves.

“It was a great win because it meant a lot for the team, especially all the seniors, and it just goes to show how we really came together as a team,” said junior safety Peyton Woodyard. 

Because of the championship win against the Team in Red, the Braves will be taking on the Serra Padres from San Mateo, the Norther Section Champion, for the CIF State Championship, with Bosco needing the win to keep their national championship hopes alive.

Currently, the Braves have a 12-1 overall record, and the Padres are 13-0. Bosco holds the top ranking in the state of California and the nation, while Serra is ranked fifth in the state and 27th nationally. The Braves average 40.5 points and 72.3 tackles per game, while the Padres average 31.5 points per game and 36.6 tackles per game.

Get your tickets now to support the Braves in their journey to a third national championship on Saturday at Saddleback College. Kickoff is at 8 pm.

by Michael Barba

The St. John Bosco Braves are prepared to take on the Mission Viejo Diablos on the road and propel themselves to CIF Southern Section Finals.

The Braves are only two games away from being CIF-SS Champions, but Bosco Football is staying focused on the task ahead of them, as Mission Viejo is ranked number 25 in the nation.

Heading into this contest, both semi-finalists have a record of 10-1. The Braves are currently riding a four game winning-streak, while the Diablos are on a eight game winning streak. So without a doubt, both teams are going into this game riding high with confidence.

“Everybody has been locked in. Our coaches have done a great job with helping us prepare for the playoffs, and this week is no different,” said senior wide receiver DeAndre Moore.

This is going to be one competitive game, and both teams are going to be seeing familiar faces heading into this matchup, as the Braves took on the Diablos in a seven-on-seven match over the Summer. The match ended in a loss for the Braves, but they’re now itching to face the Diablos in pads, where it counts most. 

A familiar face in particular on the opposing sideline is Mission Viejo Head Coach Chad Johnson, who used to be the Offensive Coordinator of the Braves during their first National Championship run.

Both of these competitors have some of the best stats in the country this season on both sides of the ball. The Braves currently have 149 pass completions, 69 touchdowns, 853 total tackles and 32 sacks, while the Diablos have 177 pass completions, 62 touchdowns, 930 tackles and 41 sacks. The national averages of these stats, according to MaxPreps, are 75 pass completions, 60 touchdowns, 450 tackles and 13 sacks, numbers both teams comfortably exceed.

If the Braves win this match, it will be their first time heading into CIF-SS Finals since their seven year streak of playing in the championship was broken last season. This allows them to have a competitive edge heading into the big game this Friday at Mission Viejo, as the Braves seek redemption. 

“Heading into this game, we have had a quiet confidence, which is what most of our team exudes and has been led by our senior group, as they have come together over the last few months.” said receiver coach Nate Munson. “So, we’re really excited to compete against some of the best teams in the state and that’s why we’re looking forward to tomorrow night.” 

Prior to this game against Mission Viejo, the Braves played their quarterfinal game against a familiar Trinity League foe, the Orange Lutheran Lancers, at the Panish Family Stadium last Friday. The contest ended in a dominant 49-14 win for the Braves. 

The Braves completed 22 passes and scored a total of seven touchdowns, which were scored by senior quarterback Pierce Clarkson, senior wide receiver DeAndre Moore, senior tight end Matayo Uiagalelei and senior wide receiver Israel Polk. The Braves defense also showed out with 38 tackles and five sacks.

Don’t forget to get your tickets to the game tonight, which starts at 7 p.m. at Mission Viejo High School.

by Michael Barba

The Braves pulled off an impressive 31-0 win against JeSerra to move to 2-1 in Trinity League play, and look to put on another show for the fans tonight against the Orange Lutheran Lancers.

Last Friday, the Braves added a seventh win to their collection in the Homecoming game against the JSerra Lions. This imposing win places the Braves second in the Trinity League, second in California and fourth in the nation, with their only loss coming to the “Team in Red.”

Entering the contest, the Braves were confident considering all of the work that went into this match up. Defensively, the Braves were dominant with 84 tackles in total, and senior defensive back Jshawn Frausto-Ramos secured two interceptions – one he returned for a touchdown.

“Heading into game day I was very confident because it was our Homecoming game,” said Jshawn. “The reason our defense was so on point was because of our defensive coordinators getting us ready for the game.”

Despite the lopsided final score, the first quarter of the game was very competitive with a score of 3-0, the only points being scored by junior kicker Marcus Lee.

Going into the second quarter the game’s score was 10-0, with a promising start for the Braves. Within the first minute of the second quarter, senior quarterback Pierce Clarkson completed a four-yard passing touchdown to junior wide receiver Tommy Maher.

The third quarter began with the Braves ahead 17-0. Two minutes into the quarter, senior defensive back Jshawn Frausto-Ramos caught one of his two interceptions. In the last two minutes senior quarterback Pierce Clarkson completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Israel Polk.

In the last quarter, the Braves sealed the deal with junior running back Cameron Jones completing a 13-yard rushing touchdown ending the game with a 31-0 win for the Braves

“It was a really productive week at practice. Coming off the loss to the “Team in Red,” we were energetic and excited to get back. We’re not where we want to be yet just because we do not want to peak that early. You know, we got playoffs coming up, so that is when we’re going to be at our best”, Israel said.

The Braves look sharper than ever heading into their match-up against Orange Lutheran. The game plan remains the same: go out and dominate.

“It’s going be the same thing as last week, like I said, we always go day in and day out and give it our all in practice, so it should be the same outcome. We don’t go into games underestimating anybody, but we do aim for blowouts and big wins,” said Israel.

The Braves are riding a 7-1 record while the Lancers are sporting a 6-2 record, which will be another competitive treat for the fans. This contest will take place at 7:00 pm at Bosco’s Panish Family Stadium.

by Michael Barba

The Braves completed their sixth straight dominant performance of the season with a 49-3 win against the Servite Friars, and will continue on to the Santa Ana Bowl to take on the “Team in Red” in the most anticipated match-up of the year so far.

Bosco Football retains their title as number one high school football team in America and seek to defend their mantle and win streak against the second best high school football team in the country in the “Team in Red.” 

The anticipation for this game is like no other, with the last game against the “Team in Red” drawing a total of 6,000 strong at Panish Family Stadium last season. Due to the talent on both ends of this rivalry, the Braves have been putting every ounce of effort and focus in preparation for gameday.

The last match-up between the two ended in a 42-21 loss for the Braves, but it is looking more competitive than ever with both teams holding on to a 6-0 record heading into this year’s contest.

“It was a very focused week of practice. Everyone knows the magnitude of this game and the players did a great job with practice preparations before heading into the game,” said Offensive Coordinator Coach Steven Lo. “The last game has left a sour taste in our mouth, and we have circled this game on our calendar for a while. The scheme we have been practicing and the training leading up to this point has been designed to make sure we change the result.”

The amount of hype behind this game offers the Braves the opportunity to perform in front 9,000 strong this Friday on the road at the Santa Ana Bowl. Although the Braves are performing on the biggest stage in the country, this does not phase the team a single bit because of the confidence and skills that they are bringing to the table.

“We’re very confident going into the game. We’ve been prepared really well throughout the week so we’ll definitely be coming to play Friday night,” said senior wide receiver Israel Polk.

Both teams have some of the best offensive and defensive stats in the entire country with Bosco Football having a total of 42 touchdowns and 474 tackles and the “Team in Red” having a total of 29 touchdowns and 270 tackles. Both of these teams are exceeding the national average of 17 total touchdowns and 251 total tackles for high school football teams, according to MaxPreps.

Both teams are the hardest match-up for the other, but the Braves are number one for a reason and the “Team in Red” is number two for a reason.

“They are a really good team, but so are we,” said senior offensive lineman Sean Na’a. “So I believe as long as we execute and trust each other we will be just fine against them.”

The Braves have been nothing short of dominant this season. They managed to avenge last year’s loss against the Servite Friars in dominant fashion with a 49-3 win, and hope to do the same to the “Team in Red.”

Against the Friars, the Braves racked up a total of seven touchdowns and 454 yards of total offense. The defense was also on their A-game providing a total of 89 tackles and an interception.

The Braves kick off against the “Team in Red” at the Santa Ana Bowl tonight at 7:30 pm. For those that could not get a ticket, the game will be broadcast on Bally Sports West.

by Michael Barba

After an unmerciful 65-0 win against the Central Catholic Raiders, the Braves head into Trinity League play undefeated against their long time rivals, Servite High School Friars.

The Braves have yet to disappoint with an impressive 5-0 win streak against some of the fiercest competition in the country. The title of the number one high school football team in the nation currently is awarded to the Braves, but the 33rd ranked high school football team of Southern California, the Friars, looks to knock them from that mantle.

The Friars were the last football team to beat the Braves, ending their run for CIF gold last season. Due to this, Bosco Football looks to be stronger than ever by the time they step onto the field to seek revenge. 

“What we have been doing over the past five weeks is to prepare for the entire Trinity League, not just Servite. We’re trying to get better as a football team and improve on some of the areas from week-to-week that we feel we’ve been deficient in,” Head Coach Jason Negro said. “Servite is a talented team. They ended our season last year, so we are motivated.”

The game will be located in Cerritos College’s Falcon Stadium, so the Braves are going to be playing in a familiar environment, as the stadium served as the Braves temporary home prior to the opening of Panish Family Stadium.

“We’re going to worry about ourselves, not the opponent. We are going to make sure that we get the job done,” said junior defensive back Peyton Woodyard.

Bosco Football has been unstoppable lately, especially in their 65-0 blowout of the Central Catholic Raiders. This was Bosco’s highest scoring game this season, with a total of nine touchdowns. Not only was the Braves offense on fire, but defense made a total of 103 tackles and one interception. 

Against the Central Catholic Raiders, senior quarterback Pierce Clarkson completed a 54-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver DeAndre Moore and a 60-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Khalil Warren. Junior running back Cameron Jones made a 65-yard yard rushing touchdown just three minutes later, and junior running back Chauncey Sylvester received a 16-yard touchdown shortly thereafter. The defense also got in the the scoring action with senior defensive back Aaron Williams securing a “pick 6” with a 34-yard return.

And that was only in the first quarter, as the Braves jumped out to a commanding 34-0 lead in the blink of an eye.

Bosco Football has been able to achieve mind blowing stats within their first five weeks. The Brave’s offense have racked up a total of 243 points, 35 touchdowns, 1082 rushing yards and 69 passes completed. The Brave’s defense has been dominant as well with 4 interceptions, 13 sacks and 385 tackles, while holding opponents to an average of less than six points per game.

Kick off tonight at Cerritos College against the Friars is at 7:00 pm.

By Isaac Mays, Sports Editor

St. John Bosco High School Athletics hoisted the sails this Summer, introducing a new seafaring team, adding to the already impressive range of sports to join.

Bosco Sailing plans to embark on a fulfilling and competitive journey, with hopes of gifting a passion for a world of seafaring to many students. This program is largely student-led, with co-captains Jack Snow and Samuel Mohinani helping to direct the team. The prospect of students being partially at the helm makes the environment more approachable and friendly for the Braves who are just getting into sailing.

The team currently sails in the Los Alamitos Bay in Long Beach at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club (ABYC). Their season has just started, although any students interested still have time to join. The team already plans to participate in a few sailing competitions, known as regattas, throughout the season, and the program is ramping up to be an exciting new opportunity for the Bosco community.

While the team is still in their preparation phase, they are nonetheless excited to unveil their talents and skills at the approaching regattas. Skippers sophomore Jack Snow and junior Samuel Mohinani both have prior sailing experience and are able to help aid in the learning process for new sailors.

Jack Snow grew up near the Los Alamitos Bay in Long Beach and has been sailing there since the age of four, where he has experience on many boats including rare hydrofoiling boats, which are boats that have wing-like “foils” that extends out under the boat to allow for less drag and greater speed.

Samuel Mohinani grew up in Hong Kong, where he was able to begin his sailing career. He favors lasers – small, single sailed, single-manned boats.

“It’s a really fun club where you can meet other sailors – sailing is a really good sport that can teach you lessons for throughout your life,” said Mohinani.

The team has access to a high quality boat called Club Flying Juniors, or CFJs, which they typically sail. They train with other teams and five man crews at their home facility in an effort to prepare for upcoming competitions. This club offers a unique and welcoming opportunity to foster new passions as well as friendships for Braves looking to engage.

“We need a lot more people to join, the more the better,” said Snow. “So just spreading the word helps a lot.”

Interested students can join the Sailing Team by contacting Julie Snow via email at julie.snow134@gmail.com. For a fee of $1400 students can join for this season, which runs year round, with practices on Mondays and Wednesdays. Make sure to join before they set sail.