Season Updates with Zach Merrill
A mid-quarter review
Men’s Athletics:
Basketball
Heads up! Men’s basketball is starting Nov. 7, kicking off their campaign with a game at home against Eastern Washington. One of five additions to the squad is freshman center Christoph Tilly. Tilly, a German international, has competed vigorously throughout his career, even competing in U16 and U18 European Championships while representing his home country.
Beyond exciting additions, returning players will be rebuilding after losing key players including Jalen Williams, who was drafted first pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Cross Country, Track and Field
The season is coming to an exciting close for our runners. Most recently, the Broncos competed at the West Coast Conference (WCC) Championships on Oct. 28. Senior Nicholas Russell was named to the First Team All-WCC – a team composed of the best of the best from the tournament. Zach Litoff and Ian Twyman were named to the Second Team All-WCC, also having memorable performances.
“We knew we could be really competitive with those teams and it feels so good to finally mix it up with them in the championship season. We can't wait for regionals in two weeks!" said head Coach Felipe Montoro.
The NCAA West Regional Championships in Seattle, Washington are happening on Nov. 11. Eight days later, the NCAA Cross Country Championships will go down in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Good luck and best wishes in the South!
Golf
Though the guys will play all the way through April, the recent 7th place finish in the Alister MacKenzie Invitational in Sonoma and hard work in the Saint Mary’s Invitational mark the last big competitions before a nearly three-month lull. They’ll be back on the course Jan. 30 in the Arizona Wildcat Invitational.
Soccer
The men’s soccer season is looking up after a mid-October two-game losing streak made things look a bit hairy. October nearly went by without a win for the Broncos before they broke the curse with a 3-1 win over the University of San Francisco on Oct. 26. The record stands at 4-4-5, with just two games in early November before the playoffs begin. The final home game of the regular season kicks off at 7pm on Saturday, Nov. 12 against our hometown rivals, the St. Mary’s Gaels. The team hopes that the Bronco fan base will turn out for the game and push them into the playoffs with their supportive momentum.
Tennis
Men’s tennis recently competed at the Arkansas ITF M15 Tournament on Oct. 31, which concluded the fall season for top competitors Arthur Neuhaus and Guillaume Damasso after losing by a small margin. The rest of the team will head to the Pacific Hidden Dual on Nov. 4, and will continue throughout the weekend. The season will take a hiatus, and resume at Stanford on January 21.
Despite a rollercoaster season, the continued accomplishments of each athlete has taken the name of Santa Clara tennis to a new level and leaves much room for growth in the future.
Water Polo
Men’s Water polo took the pool by storm with a massive win at home on Saturday, Oct. 29., beating Concordia 19-3. Currently, the Broncos have a 9-12 record with a 2-4 in the West Coast Conference.
Sophomore attacker Zach Fales currently sits on 34 goals and 31 assists – he’s been having a demon season. Next up: face-offs against the Air Force on Friday, Nov. 4 and Fresno Pacific on the 5th. Looking ahead, the WWPA championships will occur on the weekend of Nov. 18.
Women’s Athletics:
Basketball
Women’s ball started Nov. 1 with a scrimmage against the Academy of Art. In what seemed more like a training clinic, the Broncos ran rampant, beating the Urban Knights 95-36. In the 2021-22 season the ladies went 16-15, breaking 15 wins for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
Further down the road, Santa Clara will host Stanford for a projected beat-down of the Cardinal team at the end of November – keep an eye out for that one.
Cross Country, Track and Field
The Broncos recently competed at the WCC Championships on Oct. 28. Coming up Nov. 11, the women’s team will be joining the Bronco boys at the NCAA West Regional Championships as well as the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Golf
The women golfers of Santa Clara came in 3rd and 6th at the Pat Lesser Harbottle Invitational on Oct. 4. The team will be inactive from the end of October until mid-February, coming off the hiatus to take part in the Black/Blue Invitational.
Soccer
The girls are far from feeble form, with a record of 9-6-2. Prior to a 0-0 draw at Brigham Young University, they were on a 6-game winning streak – a fantastic team effort. The home game against Gonzaga will decide if they will take part in the playoffs.
As it stands, star player Izzy D’Aquila has 17 goals and 5 assists, with – statistically speaking – the next best goalscorer being Farrah Walters with 5.
Tennis
Bronco Women’s Tennis took part in the Saint Mary’s Invitational throughout the Halloween weekend. In other scary news, the Santa Clara/San Jose State Hidden Dual was canceled – no makeup match will occur.
The season will pick up in late January, starting with a home match to University of Nevada on Jan. 27.
Volleyball
The NCAA tournament is this December with the Broncos hoping to qualify, but currently, straits are dire. A five-game losing streak throughout October has done the squad no favors as the Broncos sit with a 8-17 record.
Not to fret, volleyball fans: a packed November schedule will provide plenty of room for growth, including a match at home against Brigham Young University this Saturday, Nov. 5.