Of the six local teams to win state titles during the past school year, perhaps none were challenged more on a daily and weekly basis than the Warriors.
Just being able to survive competition in one of the state's toughest leagues to capture a Mission championship was an achievement in itself. But after enduring several losing seasons in the past decade, Alemany wasn't content with just capturing a league title.
Led by seniors Marqueze Coleman and Max Guercy, the Warriors - ranked No. 5 in the state - rebounded from a loss to Harvard-Westlake in their regular-season finale to win all 10 postseason games, including eight by double-digit margins.
Alemany defeated Oak Park in the Southern Section Div. III-A final, St. John Bosco in the Southern California Div. III regional final and Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco in the Div. III state championship, becoming the first local team to capture a Div. III state crown since Harvard-Westlake in 1997.
The Warriors finished 33-4, with all four losses to Mission rivals in league or tournament games, but under the guidance of coach Tray Meeks, Alemany atoned for the setbacks to Crespi, Loyolaand Harvard-Westlake to captureits first boys' state championshipin any sport.
HONORABLE MENTION
CRESCENTA VALLEY BOYS' SOCCER: The Falcons - No. 5 in the Powerade national Fab 50 - produced several thrilling postseason wins to capture their first Southern Section Div. IV title, then knocked off
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OAK PARK BOYS' VOLLEYBALL: After four setbacks in Southern Section finals, the Eagles - ranked No. 10 nationally - got over the hump in impressive fashion by not only winning the Div. II championship, but also reaching the Southern California Div. II regional title match, losing a heartbreaking five-game battle against Div. I champion Mira Costa, their only setback in a best-of-5 match all year.
SAUGUS/SIMI VALLEY GIRLS' CROSS COUNTRY: For several years, the Centurions had no rival in the area, let alone the state. But Simi Valley demonstrated it was a legitimate challenger, capturing its first Southern Section Div. II title, before Saugus rebounded to win its record sixth consecutive state crown the following week, with Simi Valley placing fourth. The Pioneers went on to place 11 th at Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon, one spot ahead of Saugus.
WESTLAKE FOOTBALL: Although the Warriors' bid for an undefeated season came to an end against nationally ranked De La Salle, they were the first area team to compete in the state open division bowl game. Jim Benkert captured his fourth division title by leading Westlake to two victories over Oaks Christian, the second in the Northern Division championship to atone for last year's finals loss.
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