The spring sports campaign was as busy as ever this season, highlighted by dominant seasons from Marin’s top lacrosse teams plus the efforts of swimming and track & field standouts who made it all the way to State.

The Marin Catholic boys and Redwood girls lacrosse teams both won North Coast Section Division I titles and, as such, cemented themselves as the top programs in the NCS.

Several track athletes and swimmers enjoyed big seasons with a number of section titles won on the way to appearances at their respective State Meets.

The Marin IJ honors these athletes and more with our selections for spring athletes of the season.

Baseball

IJ/MCAL pitcher of the year, San Marin’s Sean McGrath >> The MCAL saw a lot of great pitching this season, but McGrath remained the top of the class. McGrath (8-1) led the MCAL with a 0.30 ERA. He rang up 93 strikeouts and walked just 14 batters, while allowing just three earned runs.

IJ player of the year, Tam’s Tito Fierstein >> Fierstein helped anchor a solid Red-tailed Hawks lineup during a playoff run that ended in the North Coast Section Division III semifinals against Rancho Cotate. Fierstein was the Hawks’ leading hitter with a .382 batting average. He had a team-best 34 hits and 16 stolen bases.

MCAL player of the year, San Marin’s Matthew Baldino >> Baldino led the Mustangs in batting with a .310 average, in hits (26), RBIs (22), and tied for the team lead in home runs with three. Baldino, the team’s catcher, was also crucial to the success enjoyed by San Marin pitchers this season.

Other standouts >> Redwood’s Jack Moseley did it all … and did it very well. He was 4-2 on the mound with a 3.94 ERA and 54 strikeouts. At the plate, he carried a .333 batting average with a team-high 29 hits, including 10 doubles, and 13 RBIs. Sam Gersch and Theo Trono stepped up to the plate to help the Giants win the MCAL pennant. The Giants’ Matthew Knauer (5-2) was dazzling on the mound with a 1.83 ERA and a team-best 101 strikeouts.

Novato was on the rise with All-MCAL first-team picks Julian Oliver and JP Harmon, both juniors, as well as graduating senior Dominic Scafani. Oliver had a team-high 31 hits, including five home runs, and 29 RBIs for the Hornets, while Scafani boasted a .410 batting average in 99 trips to the plate. Harmon (7-3) had a 1.51 ERA with 85 strikeouts.

Boys golf

IJ golfer of the year, Tam’s Ben Friedman >> Friedman rose to the challenge as he shot an even-par 71 at Poppy Hills Golf Course to finish in a five-way tie for 12th place during the CIF State Boys Golf Championship in Pebble Beach. Friedman, an All-MCAL first team pick, recently qualified for the 77th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, July 21-26.

MCAL golfer of the year, Marin Catholic’s Theo Anderson >> Anderson had another strong season, highlighted by a pair of second-place finishes at the league championship and at the North Coast Section D-II tournament.

Other standouts >> Tam High’s Hayden Thill, an All-MCAL second team pick, finished in a four-way tie for 37th at 5-over 76 at State. Tam’s Max Berg earned the MCAL Bobby Jones Sportsmanship Award after a stellar season.

Redwood sophomore Cole O’Connell had a memorable round at the MCAL Championships with a 1-under 71 to claim the individual title.

San Domenico’s Oskar Valiauga claimed the BCL crown with an even-par 71. Marin Academy won the BCL team title behind a 74 from Charlie Hansen, who went on to qualify for the NCS D-I tournament at Rancho Solano. MA junior Charlie Wilheim was named the BCL West MVP.

Boys lacrosse

IJ/MCAL player of the Year, Marin Catholic’s Marek Elia >> Elia was a force to be reckoned with this season. Elia battled relentlessly for the ball in the backfield, setting up a transition that helped Marin Catholic claim the MCAL and NCS Division I titles for the second year in a row. The second-seeded Wildcats clamped down on top-seeded Monte Vista, 13-6, in the NCS championship.

Other standouts >> Marin Catholic scorers Jake Holmes and Tate Sedlachek, with middie Auggie Chapman and goalkeeper Tanner Warne, highlighted a talented Wildcats roster; Redwood was a title contender with John Anderluh, Graham Weir and Reed Werner; Tam, with All-MCAL first teamers Price Jeffris and Quinn Harte, saw its season climax with a 9-8 victory over rival Redwood in the NCS D-I quarterfinals; Novato’s Tyler Smith (60 goals) helped the Hornets to one of their best seasons in recent memory, before back-to-back playoff losses to Marin Catholic in the MCAL semifinals and NCS first round; All-league attackers Fineas DeGooyer and Tommy Winship with goalkeeper Matt McKane helped Marin Academy to an undefeated run to the Bay Counties League title before the Wildcats advanced to the NCS D-I quarterfinals.

Girls lacrosse

IJ co-players of the Year, Redwood’s Lucy Jeffers and Marin Catholic’s Elsa Greene >> Jeffers proved her grit during a demanding season as she helped lead the Giants to their second NCS crown in three years. Jeffers scored three goals and three draw controls as the Giants beat top-seeded San Ramon Valley, 10-9, in a rematch from last year’s title game. Greene, also named the MCAL’s player of the year, helped rally the Wildcats to their first MCAL title since 2014 with three goals in a 9-6 victory against Redwood. She later had one of the most dominating games of the season in a 14-11 NCS quarterfinal victory over nearby Marin Academy, as she netted a career-high nine goals.

Other standouts >> Marin Catholic’s Marlee Nies and goalkeeper Gianna Rinaldi were solid all season, but came on strong in the postseason to collect the MCAL crown and challenge for a berth in the NCS finals; Redwood’s Lucy Miller and Nina Baker were both All-MCAL first team picks and helped carry the Giants to the NCS championship; Tam got big seasons from Ellie McEvilley and Quinlin Dayton; San Marin was bolstered by Alex Chamberlain (75 goals, 109 points), Abby Bartholo (57 goals, 82 points) and defensive specialist Quincy Dean (28 ground balls); Marin Academy (16-4) won the BCL crown and was a serious contender in the NCS playoffs behind the offensive punch from the trio of Elsa Anderson, Stephanie Zola and Reese Goodenough; Branson’s Audrey Spaly turned her game up a notch to help the Bulls make the MCAL playoffs this season.

Softball

IJ/MCAL player of the year, Marin Catholic’s Morgan Carlson >> MC’s sophomore center fielder led the league in a variety of offensive categories as the Wildcats made a run to the MCAL championship game. Carlson batted a staggering .597 on the season, driving in 30 runs and scoring 38 times. Carlson also stole 32 bases and hit for power — with 10 doubles, 10 triples, and a pair of home runs.

IJ/MCAL pitcher of the year, Redwood’s Stella Belluomini >> MCAL pitchers tossed a combined three no-hitters this season and Belluomini had all of them. Perhaps more impressively, one came against league champion San Marin and another came against No. 4 seed Archie Williams. Belluomini had a 2.41 earned-run average this season with 139 strikeouts and 69 hits allowed in 113.1 innings.

Other standouts >> After a slow start, San Marin got rolling en route to an 11-3 record in league and its second consecutive MCAL postseason title. Sophomore pitcher Taylor Testa repeatedly came up clutch in big games, notably protecting one-run leads late in the MCAL semifinals against Archie Williams and the title game against MC. The Mustangs also got another strong season out of senior shortstop Lauren Fong — along with Testa a first team all-league selection. Fong hit .305, led the team in RBIs, and was one of the top defensive infielders in the county.

San Rafael got strong seasons from its standout players. Pitcher Thomara Drummer piled up 297 strikeouts and won 13 games. Drummer, who will hit and pitch for Southern Oregon next season, batted .549 with 23 RBIs. Sophia Everett was among the top candidates for MCAL player of the year, despite moving from her natural position at shortstop to catcher. Everett, who will play for Cal next season, hit .494 with nine home runs, stole 20 bases, and scored 40 runs.

Archie Williams pitcher/leadoff hitter Paige Murphy, the MCAL’s player of the year in 2024, had another strong season in the circle (19 wins, 183 strikeouts, and a 1.64 ERA) and at the plate (.523 batting average, 18 RBIs, and 32 runs). Murphy is committed to plays for Tufts University next season.

MC freshman pitcher Malliah Foster had a stellar season with 14 wins, 174 strikeouts, and a 1.99 ERA.

Boys swimming

IJ/MCAL swimmer of the year, Terra Linda’s Ben Butler >> The Trojans submitted one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory and, while they featured a slew of top-tier swimmers, Butler was the leader of the pack. Butler, who is set to swim for the University of Arizona next season, was a quadruple winner at MCALs, setting three meet records in the process. Butler was victorious in the 100 free and the 200 individual medley, plus two relays. Butler followed that up with a section title in the 100 free and a second-place finish in the 200 free the following week at NCS. Butler made it to four finals at state, placing fifth in the 200 free and seventh in the 100 free — plus two relays. Butler finished the season with MCAL records in the 100 free (43.91) and the 200 free (1:35.67).

Other standouts >> TL’s Nicholas Arinduque, Jackson Wright, and Jack Middleton also had fantastic seasons. The trio, along with Butler, finished fourth at State in the 200 free relay (setting an MCAL record in the prelims) and fifth in the 200 medley relay. Arinduque also set an MCAL record of 55.68 seconds in the 100 breast at NCS. Cameron Hellar also had a strong season for TL, winning the 200 free and 500 free at MCALs.

Marin Academy freshman Riggins Scheumann was dominant at the Bay Area Conference Championships, securing four victories at the event. Scheumann set a conference record of 21.14 in the 50 free and won the 100 free. Scheumann also swam on victorious teams in the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay as the Wildcats won the conference title. Another MA freshman, William Canori, placed sixth at NCS and qualified for State in the 500 free.

Girls swimming

IJ/MCAL girls swimmer of the year, Tam’s Addison Everage >> Everage was victorious in three events at MCALs, helping the Red-tailed Hawks break through for their first league title since 2018. Everage won the 200 IM and 100 back and was on Tam’s victorious 200 medley relay team. Everage went on to place third in both the 100 butterfly and 100 back at NCS, qualifying for State in both. Everage, bound for UC San Diego next season, set a pair of school records during the State prelims (54.34 in the 100 back, 55.53 in the 100 fly). Everage placed sixth in the 100 back and 17th in the 100 fly.

Other standouts >> Tam also benefited from the return of Sophia Uhlhorn-Thorton after she missed MCALs in 2024 after a devastating knee injury. Uhlhorn-Thornton won the 100 fly (1:01.00) and was on the winning 200 medley relay team at MCALs.

Several other swimmers were double winners at MCALs. Marin Catholic junior Esme Quay secured her third consecutive league title in the 50 free (23.91) and picked up her second consecutive 100 breast title (1:05.90). Redwood sophomore Avery Gunst led the way for the Giants with MAL victories in the 200 free (1:58.71) and the 500 free (5:28.79). Holly Hovey was a triple winner for Archie Williams, coming away with a victory in the 100 free (53.70), plus a pair of relay events.

Marin Academy freshman Cameron Forbes won three events at the Bay Area Conference Championships, highlighted by a conference record 1:50.70 in the 200 free. Forbes also placed second in the 100 back and was on two winning relay teams to help lead MA to the title. Forbes went on to place second at NCS in the 200 free and seventh in the 100 free, advancing to state in both events.

Boys tennis

IJ/MCAL player of the year, Tam’s Witt Bulger >> After sitting out last season to recuperate from a back injury, Bulger returned with a vengeance as a senior, going undefeated in MCAL regular-season and postseason play. Bulger, who also won the MCAL’s player of the year as a sophomore in 2023, went 17-0 against MCAL opponents this season, including a three-set victory over Redwood’s Casra Afsharipour to win the MCAL singles tournament. Bulger is set to play for Colgate College next season.

Other standouts >> Redwood went undefeated as a team in MCAL play, leaning on big seasons from the top players on its ladder — Julian Zhang, Casra Afsharipour, and Calado Fazal. Zhang and Fazal went the doubles route in the postseason, winning both the MCAL and NCS D-I titles. Afsharipour finished as the runner up in both the MCAL and NCS D-I singles tournaments. Will Greenwald made it to the MCAL semifinals and was named first team all-league. The Giants also got a big season from Lukas Berger, who posted a 14-0 record while playing everywhere but No. 3 doubles.

Branson’s Chase Hoeveler, who won the MCAL singles title last season, finished third in the tournament this year and was named first team all-league.

San Domenico’s Toby Sadzeck won the BCL West singles title and finished third in the NCS D-II tournament.

Marin Academy’s team of Rex Rutchik and William Young won the BCL doubles title and finished second in the NCS D-II tournament.

Boys volleyball

IJ player of the year, Redwood’s Becket Shewey >> Redwood put together a dominant campaign, going 18-0 against MCAL competition while dropping just four sets. Shewey was emblematic of that dominance, piling up an astonishing 477 kills on a 74.3 hitting percentage across all competitions. Shewey elevated his game in the section playoffs, helping Redwood become the first Marin team in recent memory to qualify for the NorCal playoffs in boys volleyball. Shewey had 131 kills across his final four games, including a season-high 40 in a five-set loss to Monta Vista in NorCals.

MCAL player of the year, Archie Williams’ Zach Wulff >> Wulff was a repeat winner of the league award after claiming it in 2024. Wulff helped guide the Peregrine Falcons to the No. 4 seed in the MCAL playoffs and had 304 kills on the season. Wulff was also the team leader in aces (51) among the team leaders in digs (140).

Other standouts >> Redwood’s other two captains, libero Jack Alley and Evan Wang, were named to the MCAL first- and second-teams, respectively, and were big keys to Redwood’s back-row defense and dominant campaign.

Tam made it to the MCAL finals and took three sets off of Redwood across three matches. The Red-tailed Hawks were led by first-team selections Yaseen Ashraf and Owen Penrose.

Terra Linda finished third in league behind another big season from first team outside hitter Camden Franjieh.