This Week in Athletics

September 27, 2024

Cate School student-athletes delivered another week of thrilling performances across multiple sports, showcasing their determination and skill. From a dramatic double-overtime football victory to dominant displays in water polo, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and tennis, the Rams continue to set a high standard in their fall season. With key victories and standout individual efforts, Cate teams are proving themselves formidable contenders as they take on challenging opponents.

Cate Football Stuns Defending Champs in Double Overtime Thriller

The Cate Rams improved to 2-0 with an exciting 29-22 double overtime win against CIF defending champions Chadwick. After trailing 22-7 heading into the 4th quarter, the Rams rallied behind quarterback Quinn Pullen ’25, who scored twice, including a 48-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Gabbay ’25. Cate’s defense came up clutch in overtime, forcing a turnover on downs before Pullen sealed the victory with a 5-yard run. Despite offensive miscues, the Rams showed resilience and will now prepare for their next game on September 28 against Fresno Christian at home.

Cate Ultimate Frisbee Tops Dunn 15-8 in Big Team Win

Cate Ultimate earned their first victory over Dunn in years with a 15-8 win. The Rams took an early 7-1 lead, but after a slight dip in focus, regained control in the second half to seal the game. Luke Ashiku ’26 was the standout with 6 goals, while Nyle Ahmad ’25, Josh Ludviksen ’25, and Harry Su ’25 led with strong play and leadership. Kendrick Suen ’28 and Ryan Feng ’28 also impressed in their debuts. Cate will face a tough test against Santa Barbara Youth Ultimate on October 2nd.

Cate Water Polo Earns Two Wins, Falls in Overtime Thriller

The Cate boys varsity water polo team had a strong few weeks, securing two dominant wins and a hard-fought overtime loss. On September 13th, the Rams beat Oxnard 12-3, led by Sebastian Brine ’26 and Baye Breene ’25, both with hat tricks, while Andrew Sheshunoff ’27 had a standout performance in goal. On September 17th, Cate narrowly fell to Malibu 7-6 in overtime, with Breene scoring 4 goals and Jae Wykoff ’26 contributing 10 steals and a key goal. The Rams bounced back on September 24th with a 12-5 victory over Villanova Prep, led by Brine’s 4 goals and stellar defense from Wykoff.

Cate Volleyball Secures Three Wins After Tough Loss to Bishop

After a tough loss to Bishop on September 13, the Cate girls varsity volleyball team rebounded with three consecutive victories. They defeated Foothill Tech 3-1 on September 17, led by Oyin Opawumi’s ’25 22 kills and strong setting from Fallon Erickson ’26. On September 19, Cate edged Villanova Prep 3-2 in a thrilling match, with Opawumi again leading the charge with 29 kills. Cate then completed a 3-0 sweep over Thacher on September 24, highlighted by Sienna Charvel’s ’25 8-point serving run and Opawumi’s impressive .656 hitting average, recording 22 kills on 32 attempts. Opawumi’s standout performances earned her Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Athlete of the Week honors.

Cate Girls Tennis Dominates with Strong Start to Season

Cate Girls Tennis has started the season 6-1, including a 2-0 record in league play. The Rams opened with a 17-1 win over Thacher, followed by a 4-0 victory at Ventura College against Foothill Tech, extending their league win streak to 12 matches. They then competed in the Santa Barbara Invitational, finishing in 5th place. Despite a tough 4-2 loss to Rancho Bernardo, Cate bounced back with 5-1 wins over San Dieguito Academy and Arroyo Grande. Standout performances came from Jade Wang ’28, Lisa Hasebe ’27, and Ivy Huang ’28 in singles, while doubles teams led by Colette Chang ’25 and Elly Edwards ’28 excelled. Cate continues its march with a win against Laguna Blanca and looks ahead to more league play.

As the fall season progresses, Cate’s athletes have demonstrated grit, resilience, and teamwork in every competition. With pivotal wins across all sports, the Rams are building momentum and setting their sights on even greater achievements in the coming weeks. Fans can look forward to more exciting matchups as Cate teams aim to maintain their winning form and continue their push toward successful seasons.