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William Kelley, Azalea Groleau earn 10K wins at 41st Firecracker Run | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s William Kelley and Felton’s Azalea Groleau earned wins in the 10K race at the 41st Firecracker Run at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz on Saturday.
Santa Cruz surfer Riviera Hunter wins two titles at NSSA National Championships | Local Roundup
Santa Cruz’s Riviera Hunter made four finals and earned the Open women’s and Girls Air Show titles at the National Scholastic Surfing Association National Championships, which concluded Thursday in Huntington Beach.
Gabriel Gonzales, 42, takes over as Santa Cruz’s boys basketball coach
It took Santa Cruz High’s hiring committee three shots, but a successor to recently retired Lawan Milhouse, the Cardinals’ wildly successful boys basketball coach, was officially named last week.
Soquel water polo star Rafael Suarez-Abraham thrilled about eventful month
After Soquel High water polo star Rafael Suarez-Abraham was named the 2025 Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League MVP in the fall, Knights coach Ryan Chapatte said his junior goalie as a “phenomenal talent.”
Soquel water polo talents Elizabeth Penny, Stryder Stelck commit to D-I programs
Two standout Soquel High student-athletes, junior Elizabeth Penny and senior Stryder Stelck, announced their college commitments to NCAA Division I water polo programs on social media last week.
Photos | Looking back at Santa Cruz County high school sports photos from 2025
To mark the end of 2025, Santa Cruz Sentinel staff photographer Shmuel Thaler is sharing some of his favorite Santa Cruz County high school sports photos from the previous year.
11 local girls, six boys named to All-CCS water polo teams
Eleven girls and six boys from Santa Cruz County were honored on the 2025 All-Central Coast Section water polo teams.
Soquel goalie Rafael Suarez-Abraham selected MVP | All-SCCAL boys water polo
When boys water polo coaches in the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League gather each fall to conduct all-league voting, it has been rare to see a goalie chosen as MVP.
Santa Cruz talent Violet Rubin caps four-year career with MVP honor | All-SCCAL girls water polo
All eyes were on Santa Cruz High water polo talent Violet Rubin from the outset of the season.
Max Aceves scores career-high 31 points in ‘Catz loss to Saint Francis Lancers | Local Roundup
Senior guard Max Aceves scored a career-high 31 points, but Watsonville High’s boys basketball team suffered a 68-52 loss to Saint Francis of Mountain View in the teams’ rare nonleague meeting Tuesday.
Sentinel Sports Editor Jim Seimas, photographer Raul Ebio honored at 48th annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards
Santa Cruz Sentinel Sports Editor Jim Seimas and freelance photographer Raul Ebio had their work honored at the 48th annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards gala at Julia Morgan Ballroom on Tuesday evening.
Soquel’s girls, boys water polo teams suffer narrow losses in CIF NorCal Regional playoffs
Sophomore Grace Graessle scored a season-high nine goals on 12 shots, but the No. 6 seed Soquel High’s girls water polo team lost 13-12 to No. 3 Acalanes in double overtime in the CIF Division I NorCal Regional quarterfinals on Tuesday.
UCSC cross country teams shine at NCAA D-III West Regionals | Local Roundup
Five UCSC cross country runners, Luke Holland, Camden Jaureguy, Elena Stanciu, Helena Janku, and Kenzie Seymour, earned all-region honors at the NCAA D-III West Regionals on Saturday.
Soquel, Santa Cruz suffer heartbreaking losses in CCS girls water polo finals
Soquel High’s girls water polo team came oh so close to winning the program’s third Central Coast Section Open Division title Saturday.
C2C Women’s Volleyball Tournament host UCSC loses in semifinals | Local Roundup
UC Santa Cruz, host for the 2025 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Women’s Volleyball Tournament, lost in the semifinals on Friday.
Soquel falls to dynasty Sacred Heart Prep in Open semifinals | Boys water polo
Soquel High’s boys water polo team came up short in its bid to topple dynasty Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton in the Central Coast Section playoffs on Thursday.
Soquel makes fifth straight CCS Open Division final; SC returns in D-II | Girls water polo roundup
It was one of those days. One of the good ones, where everything goes right.
Cabrillo men’s soccer posts shutout in regular-season finale | Local Roundup
Sophomore forward Yoan Ponio had a goal and an assist, and the Cabrillo College men’s soccer team beat host Gavilan 3-0 in its regular-season finale Tuesday.
Aptos’ Adelaide Friedley, Soquel’s Libby Forrest ready for next level | National Signing Day
Two local, female water polo players, Aptos High’s Adelaide Friedley and Soquel’s Libby Forrest, are among Santa Cruz County’s select few who will formalize their college commitments on Wednesday.
Cabrillo football suffers worst loss in school history to close season | Local Roundup
Cabrillo College’s football team suffered its worst loss in school history on Saturday, losing 99-3 to unbeaten De Anza in Cupertino to close the 2025 regular season.
Soquel boys overcome early deficit to reach Open semifinals; Knights and SC girls also advance | CCS water polo roundup
In the teams’ second meeting this season, and equally grueling, the No. 5 seed Soquel High boys water polo team slipped past No. 4 Los Gatos 12-11 in the Central Coast Section Open Division quarterfinals on Saturday.
UCSC women’s soccer advances to C2C Tournament championship | Local Roundup
Camille Anneet made a penalty kick in the seventh minute, and the No. 3 seed UC Santa Cruz women’s soccer team stunned No. 2 Mary Washington 1-0 in the Coast-To-Coast Conference Tournament semifinals in Salisbury, Maryland, on Friday.
Four of county’s five CCS qualifiers make prestigious Open Division | High school water polo
Santa Cruz County had five high school water polo teams, two boys and three girls, qualify for the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs, including four in the prestigious Open Division.
Soquel water polo earns sweep of SCCAL Tournament titles | Local Roundup
Soquel High’s boys water polo team outscored visiting Santa Cruz 4-0 in the fourth quarter to rally for an 11-8 win in the SCCAL Tournament championship match on Saturday.
Cabrillo men’s soccer suffers chippy loss to No. 3 state-ranked Evergreen Valley | Local Roundup
The Cabrillo College men’s soccer team lost 2-0 to No. 3 state-ranked Evergreen Valley in the teams’ Coast Conference crossover match on Friday.