The WCAL has made another strong case this season to be recognized as the most dominant league not only in the CCS, but in Northern California. Indeed of the 5 sections in CCS tournament play, three of those champions came from the WCAL, including Bellarmine which went on to win the CIF Northern California championship.
Five of the eight teams from the WCAL qualified for the playoffs, with the sixth in Valley Christian fell just inches short of qualifying despite being ranked almost all year in Prep2Prep's top 25. Earlier this week the league announced its selections for its all league selection.
Three time defending league champion St. Ignatius had a shock quarterfinal round exit in the CCS' Open division to Branham, which meant they could not defend their CCS and Northern California crown. Despite the loss they still are represented heavily in awards season including winning both defender and forward of the year in Sean Bilter and Cormac Gallagher, respectively. Senior Kol Van Geisen joins his teammates on first team while Senior's Sean Fitzgerald and Paul J. Rich joined Junior GK Jack Shelley on the second team. One of the WCAL's player to watch next year in junior Reid Pollino from SI made honorable mention.
While Bellarmine could not grasp the WCAL crown from St. Ignatius they had no problem in the postseason claiming its first ever Open Division crown in CCS and the Division 1 Northern California Tournament crown. With 16 seniors on the roster, with many of the those seniors winning the CCS division one crown last year, this team was poised to make a deep playoff run. Senior Mario Baracio was the WCAL's Midfielder of the year and is joined on the first team by fellow seniors Max Morris and Casey Jaeb. It was not all seniors for the Bell's as sophomore Yoni Aidlberg and junior Gabi Martinez earned honors on the second team and sophomore Ben Do making honorable mention ensuring the Bells will be major players next season as well.
The third place team St. Francis found itself as one of the favorites in the Division 1 playoff field, but suffered a shock loss to Monterey in the quarterfinals. Surprisingly the Lancers only put one player on first team in Senior GK Willem Kelsom, who also earned WCAL GK of the year honors. The Lancers were heavy on second team honors with senior's Collin Hamilton, Demetrios Giannopoulus, Tyler Roey and sophomore Rory Follan. Senior Nicolas Vollmer earned honorable mention honors for the Lancers.
Sacred Heart Cathedral had an incredible season under first year head coach Mike Nielsen, finishing fourth in the WCAL before winning the CCS Division 3 crown and becoming runner up in the Northern California Division 3 playoffs losing to champion Madera South. Junior Ellis Brenneman was the only Irish to be on first team with senior forward Eli Streiker-Hirt being on second team. Senior Alec Perliss caps off a wonderful Varsity career for the Irish winning honorable mention honors.
The Mitty Monarchs entered the season returning twelve players who lost only one game the previous season as one of the league favorites, and yet a combination of injuries and a poor run of form in the middle of the league campaign derailed the Monarchs chances in league play. The Monarchs rebounded in postseason play to win the CCS Division 2 crown to win their sixth CCS championship in program history. The Monarchs were heavily represented with Seniors Matthew Urata-Espinoza and Oscar Toulet joining sophomore Noah Robertson on the first team. Junior Tyler Stevenson placed on second team and freshman Thomas Pellino was placed on honorable mention. Pellino is the only freshman on any team recognized.
Falling just short of qualifying for the playoffs is Valley Christian who was represented on first team by junior Kristian Yun with senior GK Eric Waltz, who will play at SJSU next fall, placed on second team. Sophomore Cole Pond earned honorable mention honors for the Warriors. Junipero Serra was represented by senior Rami Muhawieh on first team and sophomore Ivan Torres earning honorable mention honors.