A Celebratory Closing of the 2025-26 Club Sports Season

It was a great season for all of the Club Sports at Saint Mary's. Notably, many went further than expected and achieved significant standings in their divisions. Among these standout teams were Men's Club Basketball, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Rugby, Women's Rugby, Men's Club Soccer, Men's Club Volleyball, and Women's Club Volleyball. 

Starting off strong with Men's Club Basketball, this team has come a long way in a short amount of time. After a winless season two years ago, the Gaels ended last season with a 6-6 record. This season, the Gaels achieved more success with a 5-3 record thanks to many improvements and the addition of key players. This ultimately led these men to a conference championship. Coach Jose Miranda had some beautiful words to say about this team. "What stands out most to me is not just the record but the growth of the players and the culture we built together. The team supported one another and held each other accountable. I am confident that this is only the beginning, and progress will continue to be made. It was rewarding to watch their development and build strong relationships with them. Much more than wins and losses, this season created a brotherhood that I believe will last well beyond their playing days." It's evident from this statement that this team has a true bond and are putting in the hard work to succeed. 

Men's Lacrosse displayed an energetic drive all season that resulted in a semi-final post season appearance. The Gaels went up against the UC Davis Aggies in this high-stakes match. Tim Daly '26 and Curran Lanier '29 were among the top players of this game, contributing to the initial lead. By the time the clock winded down, the Gaels came up short. Despite this loss to close out their season, these men kept a positive attitude. Their attention has already been turned to what they plan to accomplish next season. Midfielder Dario Caccia '27 had nothing but wonderful things to say about their season. "We set our goals high and worked toward them day in and day out. From beating UC Santa Cruz for the first time in 8 years, to going to LA and Tahoe and winning both trips, this season has been a blast for me and my brothers on the field next to me". As they say in their huddles, "Let it sting, but move on. Let this light a fire under your *bottom*".

Men's Rugby had yet again another striking season. The team piled up the wins during California Conference play, and the Gaels were able to make it to the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) National Semifinals, playing quality programs like the University of Arizona and UC Berkeley. The Gaels triumphantly beat the Arizona Wildcats 38-19, and from there they went head to head with No.1 seed UC Berkeley. In this match, the Gaels initially matched the Bears momentum, but that quickly shifted out of their favor after a few official's calls not going their way. From there, the Bears took control of the game and ultimately took the 38-19 win. The many SMC fans watching left Witter Rugby Field in Berkeley feeling disappointed and distraught, but the Gaels undeniably had a strong season to be proud of. They ended their 2025-26 season with a 13-2 record. This team continues to remind us why they are one of the best in the country, and there's no doubt they will continue to strive for another national championship title.

Women's Rugby is rarely one to disappoint. Ending their season with a 6-1-0 record, these ladies have compiled one of their best teams yet. Beating Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal Maritime back-to-back on Senior Day has to be one of the biggest highlights of their season. Victoria Rapadas '28 and Daryanna Ceja '27 were among many of the standout players this season. They were both extremely consistent in their craft and the key contributors in every win, and their consistency along with the efforts of the rest of the team is why Women's Rugby earned their second consecutive West Coast Rugby Conference 10s Division Championship. This team has done impeccable work and we look forward to what the future holds!

Men's Club Soccer arguably had one of their best seasons yet. They started out their season in the fall, and by the spring semester it was looking increasingly possible that the Gaels could win their league. As they began to win games each week, Vice President Danilo Reece '27 and the Gaels shifted their mindset to focus on "One game at a time". This shift in mentality was helpful as it reminded the Gaels to focus first on the individual games at hand rather than the larger circumstances. When this team finally did make it to the playoffs, they were losing 0-1 at halftime of their first match. Oscar Mora '26 noticed his team's lack of energy and motivation. He said to his teammates, "If we're gonna play, let's play with passion, and let's play with everything". This ignited life back into the Gaels, and they went back out onto that field playing with immense vigor and strength. "Vamos Malakas!" was shouted by one of their friends who is an exchange student from Greece, translating to "Let's go, dudes!". The Gaels not only ended up winning this game, but went on to finish their post season schedule with a perfect 4-0 record! This team has improved greatly in a short period of time, and we can't wait to see what next season brings!

Men's Club Volleyball had another competitive season in 2026. They traveled to Kansas City, Missouri for the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation (NCVF) National Championship Tournament. After three days of grueling tournament play, the Gaels finished in the Bronze bracket finishing 29th in their division, improving a couple of spots from their 2025 finish. Looking closer at their regular season, these men earned a hard fought 1st place finish in the Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League (NCCVL) Division 2 North and placed 3rd overall at the NCCVL Division 2 Championships. This was by far the best finish in their program's history. Three players were recognized for their outstanding season play. President, Captain, and outside hitter Andrew Carney '27 earned All-League First Team honors, outside hitter Logan Milestone '27 earned All-League Second Team honors, and libero Dillon Rockwell '26 received an Honorable Mention. All three were recognized as top players in the NCCVL Division 2, which isis a major achievement for the program. They look to make bigger improvements next season with only one senior graduating and the rest of the roster returning in 2027.

Last but definitely not least, Women's Club Volleyball had a noteworthy season with big accomplishments. These ladies also traveled to Kansas City, Missouri to participate in the NCVF National Championship Tournament. During this major tournament, our Gaels played a total of six teams over the course of three exhausting days. They were able to earn a spot in the coveted Gold Bracket and finished (tied for) ninth. Many team members were selected for All-Tournament honors for their outstanding performances, including President, Captain, and setter Allison Chu '26, libero Angel Gumboc '28, and outside hitter Theresa Helfrick '27. The Gaels finished out their regular season placing 5th in the very competitive NCCVL, and the ladies felt immense pride by ending their season on a high note. We look forward to seeing what they conquer next year! 

A big congratulations to all the Club Sports student-athletes for completing another season. With all the work it takes to manage operations, fundraise, and be a student, the Club Sports student-athlete really embodies what it means to be a Gael. See you next year! Go Gaels!