Happy New Year to everyone! Although this is coming a little late, all of the fall sports deserve huge congratulations. The Palo Alto High School Athletics program would like to thank the fall coaches, athletes, families and all those involved with making the fall season such a success! Below are some words from the fall coaches speaking on the success of Paly’s fall athletes. Sko Vikes! 

CHEER

“The 2022 Sideline Cheer Team showed sportsmanship, discipline, hard work, teamwork, physical fitness, mental strength, confidence and self-esteem, leadership, and perseverance over the course of the season. It is very clear that these athletes have defied all odds and continue to do so as we overlap our Traditional Competitive Season (TCC) with Sideline. Athletes have and continue to work together to set short-term and long-term goals and build strategies to accomplish them. Cannot wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for these incredible individuals!”

-Head Coach Lea Santini

CROSS COUNTRY

“The Cross Country team had a good season overall for both boys and girls. The boys started out well, but had trouble down the stretch of the season with injuries affecting their team performances. The girls began a little slow with some injuries throughout the season, but came on-line down the stretch. Palo Alto had five athletes named to the All-CCS Teams — most by any other team competing in CCS this season.”

BOYS: 

“Varsity and F/S boys placed 1st in all regular season meets, with Varsity placing 5th overall in CCS Finals and one of those runners qualifying for the State Meet. That same runner competed in the Western Regional, which qualified him for the National Championship Race where he placed 18th overall.”

GIRLS:

“Varsity girls placed 2nd overall in SCVAL finals with 4 runners in the top 10, and JV placed 2nd overall with four runners also in the top 10. Girls placed 2nd overall in the CCS finals with the team qualifying for the state meet, and having three runners placing in the top 10. This is the highest finish for a Palo Alto Girls team at the state level.”

–Head Coach Micael Davidson

FIELD HOCKEY

“The 2022 Field Hockey team moved up to DeAnza this season (for the first time in the program’s 5 year history). The team dedicated hard work, humility, and resilience through the season. It is notable that the team fostered a positive environment for all players of inclusivity and teamwork! Looking forward to next season!”

–Head Coach Jenny Crane

FOOTBALL

“After a challenging start, the 2022 Palo Alto Football team qualified for the division 5 CCS playoffs as the number 2 seed. We ran off 3 straight victories winning CCS with a 27-24 victory over Monterey. The season ended on our home field with a close game vs. Santa Teresa in the NorCal Division 6AA Championship. The JV team enjoyed a 3rd place finish at 6-4 in a difficult DeAnza Division narrowly losing to 2nd place Los Gatos 9-0. What a great season for both teams.”

–Head Coach Dave DeGeronimo

GIRLS GOLF

“After our last three players from our 2019 state tournament championship team graduated last year, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. I’m happy to say this year’s team stepped up. We took 2nd in our league and 5th at CCS. I was so proud of the girls. They were committed to doing well and came to each practice ready to keep improving. A coach couldn’t have asked for more.”

 -Head Coach Doyle Knight

GIRLS TENNIS

“This season’s success was not defined by our win/loss record, not even close to our best. However, we made it to the CCS championships and won our first round decisively. Our second round match we lost, but improved on the score having played them earlier in the season. It was an up and down time, but success in its own way, and the girls had fun. We are in the toughest league in NorCal and maybe even all of California. So, that being said, we can only hope for the players having fun, making friends, and performing to their best.”

–Head Coach Andy Harader

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

“The girls volleyball team got off to a 13-3 start before their season got derailed by injuries. The team reached the finals of one of their tournaments, and posted three wins over teams that advanced into the NorCal playoffs. The Vikings capped the regular season with a thrilling win on Senior Night, coming back from being down two sets to none, right after the JV team played their best match of the year. Additionally, the Freshman team went 10-0 to sit atop the SCVAL standings.”

-Head Coach Chris Crader

BOYS WATER POLO

“The boys water polo program had another successful season. Varsity won the SCVAL Varsity Championship title for the second straight year — CCS Open Qualifier. Our record was 21-7. Our Varsity team had the All SCVAL Varsity Water Polo MVP, 4 players voted to the All-League Team, and 4 players voted to the All-CCS Water Polo Team. The F/S team finished 3rd in the SCVAL. Their overall record was 14-6. Our Frosh/Soph Team had 3 players voted to the All SCVAL Team. SCVAL Water Polo Coach of the Year.”

-Head Coach Bob Greene

GIRLS WATER POLO

“The Varsity team went 7-7 in league and made the semi-finals for CCS. They also beat Castielleja for the first time in 13 years. Our Varsity team had 2 players voted to the SCVAL First Team All-League and one player voted to the SCVAL Honorable Mention. The JV team went 12-0 and were the League Champs in the De Anza Division. Their overall record of 23-1 was the best in the CCS section. Our JV team had one player voted as the SCVAL All League MVP, 3 players voted to the SCVAL First Team All League, and 1 player voted to the SCVAL Honorable Mention” 

-Head Coach Deke Rowell

Interviews courtesy of Athletic Director Jennifer Crane and the Paly Athletics Department