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The 2022 CKM Baseball Optimist Players  

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CKM Baseball Advancing to Section Title

McCLATCHY SOFTBALL FENCE

 

We have reached our goal. Through the generous contribution of the Fence Sponsors, the 2022 Softball Team and other donors to Restore the Roar, the funding goal has been reached. This is a significant improvement to the Lions Softball Diamond. Funds have been transferred to the school district and we look to have a fence before this season is over and for many years to come.

Winter Sports have three Metro titles in the bag as January turns to February.
Both Women's and Men's Soccer,
as well as Women's Basketball.

Men's Hoops has had a complete resurgence and is now a big player in the Conference, and Wrestling is a periennially strong yet very youthful team that should have some big seasons in 2023 and 2024, according to their coaches.

Cross Country History

Led by Coach Julie Watkins, the 2021-22 CKM Cross Country Team has done amazing things. 

The squad has dominated the month of November, adding to a total of seven Metro Titles in the official 'Fall Haul'. 

Cross Country runs onward, thanks in part to the incredible Anna McNatt ('23), who has not only set but smashed school records on her way to a season that has put her in a place to be the single best long-distance runner in all of California in 2021.

A miltitude of other student-athletes have done amazing things for this team as they prepare for the State Championships in the final weekend of November. More info and specifics can be found on the official 
McClatchy - Restore the Roar facebook page.


#GoLions 
 

Fall Sports Haul

CKM had a historic Fall Sports season.

Coming out of absolutely unprecedented times, Players, Parents, Coaches and Admin did an incredible job of providing all teams with the support and flexibility to hit the ground roaring.

We are called, 'Restore the Roar,' and always will be, but make no mistake - our roar is being heard throughout the Sac-Joaquin section and beyond. Here is a peek at the summary, including 7 Metro League titles! 

#GoLions

2021 Metro League Champions: 

Men's Cross Country
Women's Cross Country
Women's Golf
Women's Tennis
Women's Volleyball
Men's Water Polo
Women's Water Polo

October 2021 Update

 

CKM Football has experienced a bright resurgence in 2021, and new Head Coach Zach Cuda has led the team (many of whom play both sides of the ball) to a 5-2 record thus far, most recently besting rival Kennedy by a score of 29-6. This is the best start for the program since the 90s. 
Women's Volleyball is also surging under the leadership of a first-year Coach. Rick Reyes followed Cory Houle, and the program is as successful as it has been in a long time, currently standing at 7-1 in Metro with a competitive schedule that will tell the story over the next few weeks.
Cross Country has had one of the best years ever, if not the best ever. The immaulate track and field has allowed many CKM long distance runners to train well, leading to a record-setting number of personal bests. Anna McNatt ('23) has already stamped her mark as the most successful female long distance runner in school history. 
Women's Golf went undefeated once again in Merto League, and Head Coach Daniel Ng has not lost a Metro match since he took over for the preinnally successful squad years ago. In late September, the team won the Metro League Championship by 40 strokes. 
Women's Tennis is dominating the Metro League, as usual. The six courts that were resurfaced a few years ago allow true bounces, and Willard Hom continues to do an amazing job of coaching the squad to home and road victories. They have the Metro title well within their grasp. 
Both Water Polo squads are representing CKM well. The Men's record is uncertain as of this time, but they put a talented group in the water on any given afternoon. The Women's team is mowing through the Metro schedule and on the brink of securing yet another title. Kelly Gray ('23) has two 8-goal games, a CKM record. 
Long story short, CKM is absolutely dominating Fall Sports, regardless of the hurdles, protocols and hangups. Go Lions. 
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Summer Update - August
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CKM Super-Swimmer Luca Urlando competed in the 200m Fly Final in the US Olympic Trials in late-June, finishing 3rd overall and missing a slot in the 2021 Olympics in Japan by .09 of a second. He will return to Athens to start his Soph year at Georgia soon, with his eyes on the 2024 Olympics in Paris.   

Women's Basketball stayed ready independently during a long period in which the 2020-21 season drifted between being in total jeopardy and momentarily coming into focus. The result was two games that the Lions dominated against opponents that we deeply respect for going through the process and effort to make any type of season happen. 

Men's Basketball was stacked with experienced athletes anxious to hit the historic CKM Hardwood, but they were relegated to practices on the blacktop, where they showed off high-flying feats. Sadly, the season was scrapped as a result of corona. 

The story of CKM Football in 2020-21 was similar, as many student athletes put in work on the field and were ultimately denied the cance to compete, aside form one lopsided game in Elk Grove. 

Men's and Women's Tennis flourished in tough conditions under the guidance of Coach Willard Hom, Coach Mary Johnson and a group of players who stayed busy during the down times thanks to one of the most socially-distanced sports in America. The results were outstanding. The Men went 8-2, the Women went 9-1.   

Baseball had a solid season, complimented by a new permanent fence. Junior Malcolm Moore cleared the chain-link barrier a handful of times, and Senior Ben Silva pitched and filled other roles on a squad that went 11-1 in Metro and 20-4 overall. 

CKM Softball has been strong since Coach Abar took over, and the 2021 team did big things, led by Senior Superstar Ashleigh Dendas, who will be pitching for CS Fullerton in the Fall. 

Both Water Polo Teams did big things in a small season, winning big over Kennedy twice.  

Water Polo Highlights -- Early June
Soccer Highlights -- Late May
Highlights from Baseball -- Late May
Highlights from Volleyball's Home Game
Highlights from Basketball's Home Game
Highlights from Track Meet -- Late May
Batting Practice with New Fence posts
CKM Softball off to Historic Start
First Swim Meet of 2021
Around Campus
(including huge dunk) ~ April 7th
Metro League Championships.
Bing Maloney ~ March 29th
A minute on campus. March 25th
Women's Golf Highlights. Bing Maloney. 3/24/21

Late-March 2021 Update

 

Reporting on the state of high school sports in California was a challenging endeavor in the last twelve months, as statements confirmed as truth one day ended up being outdated info 48 hours later. It was a tough situation for eveyone involved. Recently, the SCUSD provided clarity involving a path moving forward for athletics.

 

CKM Admin, Coaches, Student Athletes and Parents have follwed all the rules and adhered to the protocols put in place. Everyone who supports CKM Athletics can feel comfortable moving forward thanks to a community that embraces and treasures a tradition of diversity and success. 

Recently, the SCUSD provided clarity involving a path moving forward for athletics. CKM Admin, Coaches, Student Athletes and Parents have follwed all the rules and have adhered to the protocols put in place.

Women's Tennis and Cross Country are already in full swing. Both squads have flexed their muscles on campus. Cross Country Coahes have worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to carve a truly legitimate, exacly 5 kilometer path that weaves around the CKM Track the field and Cal Middle School's field.

 

The Football Team is practing and aiming to hit the gridiron running when they take on Laguna Creek at Elk Grove on the final Friday of March.

 

The first ever CKM Football game on the new field is scheduled for late-April.

 

Dating back to the 1960s, CKM Football home games have always unfolded on the hallowed ground of Hughes Stadium. Unusual times call for unusal measures. Here's to the near future. More updates to come.  

 

 

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CK McClatchy Athletics – an Update (Part 1) 

by Skye Dickenson  

 

The second Thursday in March was a huge day for CKM Athletics. The campus was alive with early-season activity as the Spring Sports schedule hit full stride. I arrived on campus with my daughter around 4pm to cover Men's Tennis, Baseball and a Swim meet. Men's Volleyball was playing their first home game at 6 o'clock that evening.

 

I parked on Bidwell Way and walked through the north gate, placing us in the middle of the action just a few paces in for around the hundredth time. Never has arriving on campus during a game or match gotten old, and every single time I cherish the opportunity to share these experiences with my kid, as well at RtR supporters and online followers. She has become one of the biggest fans of CKM Sports, in part because the women's teams have welcomed her with open arms. She will be class of 2032.

 

As we roamed around campus that day, immersing ourselves in the action while I took pictures and videos of the events, neither of us -- nor the hundreds of student athletes and parents on campus -- could have imagined that would be the last time the historic McClatchy campus would be alive with sporting activity for the remainder of 2020.

 

The baseball, tennis and swim teams came out confident and ready.

 

Baseball dominated in a win over Christian Brothers, and many senior swimmers and tennis players were starting to shift into fifth gear for a successful run through their final year of high school athletics. Tennis Coach Willard Hom was making his usual paces on the rocky pathway just south of the six courts, all of which were redone and resurfaced in advance of the 2018-19 year.

 

Baseball Coach Mike de Necochea was working in unison with his small fleet of coaches, and the squad was enjoying the newly re-turfed field and the benefits of an outfield fence. Athletic Director Rob Feickert was skillfully juggling the choreography of orchestrating a swim meet with as many as 40 races and north of 100 competitors. We were loving all of it.

 

At about 545, I dropped my daughter off at my parents, grabbed a quick bite and went back to campus. Men's Volleyball was locked in a battle, but I was able to chat with Head Coach Kent Kitade as they pulled away in the final set. Just then, I got a notification on my phone that the NBA had canceled the New Orleans Pelicans versus Sacramento Kings game, which a handful of my friends were already at Golden 1 Center to attend.

 

I read it out loud to Kent, and we looked at each other like "hmmmm. I wonder where this is going?"

 

A few minutes later, the "Flying Lions" smashed a spike off the hardwood of the Janice and Harvey Tahara Court that ricocheted off the gymnasium wall, and the referee's whistle blew for the final time that night. It concluded a 3-2 victory over West Campus, and ended up representing the final moment of sports at McClatchy in all of 2020.

 

After I picked up my kid, the first thing we did when we got back to my house was slide the SD card into my laptop and decide on the best pictures from the day. I use a small yet versatile Sony camera at all CKM events for a few reasons. The primary reason is I like to be able to put my camera in my pocket whenever I like, shaking hands and communicating with people. I also like to be able to move quickly through hallways, fields or other places when the situation requires without worrying about a large and very expensive camera bouncing with me.

 

We went through the pictures and found a few really good ones. As any photographer knows, you never know quite what you have until you look at it up close.

 

Later that evening, I, like many of you reading these words, got an automated call from the SCUSD saying that they were shutting down operations for the next three days, extending into the following week. Soon it was the rest of the week, then through the rest of April. Then came the announcement that there would be no in-person instruction or sporting events in high school for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. A few hundred CKM student athletes who had put in tons of hard work up front were informed that their seasons were done.  

 

What followed was a totally unprecedented situation where students, teachers, staff, coaches and parents began to navigate their way through choppy waters in uncertain times.

 

The emotional and financial support shown to the senior class of 2020 allowed McClatchy to honor this group in the best way possible given the situation. It is worth noting that the McClatchy 2020 Senior Class stepped up and showed true maturity and an ability to adapt quickly. There are so many incredible student athletes in the McClatchy 2020 Class, and covering their successes and getting to know them to varying degrees is a blast.  

 

Recently, the California Interscholastic Federation released an official schedule and outline, detailing how high school sports will proceed…… (End of Part 1)  

CK McClatchy Athletics – an Update (Part 2) 

 

Recently, the California Interscholastic Federation released an official schedule and outline, detailing how high school sports will proceed.  

 

The common theme is that everything has been put off until at least the last few weeks of 2020. The CKM Football Team and both Cross Country squads can begin practice on December 7. CKM Varsity Head Coach Malcolm Floyd is a master motivator and a very upbeat human being, and he will lead his troops into battle beginning with practices that may involve portable heaters and parkas instead of large buckets of ice water and cooling towels.

 

The Cross Country squad is always solid. Head Coach Julie Watkins leads a large group that continues to churn out solid runners. The Senior graduating Class of 2020 featured a few longtime superstars, and the Class of 2021 includes the first CKM female student athlete to run a sub five-minute mile.

 

The Men's and Women's Soccer Teams, the Men's and Women's Water Polo squads and Men's and Women's Volleyball will all begin practice as soon as December 14. This means that once the switch is flipped to the "on" position, juggling the task of making facilities available to all teams as needed will be a rubix cube type of situation. This falls on the sturdy shoulders of our Athletic Director, Robert Feickert.   

 

"It is going to be interesting," said the former Sacramento High Dragon who now bleeds McClatchy red. Coach Feickert has the top athletic position in a school with not only a storied athletic history, but a legion of teachers, coaches, parents and supporters that help put CKM sports in a position to be as successful as possible. "I want to thank everyone for being patient in this ever-changing situation we are in right now. I am ecstatic that my student athletes will be able to compete this year."

 

Anyone can donate any amount at any time to any CKM team (click here).

 

There is a reason that Soccer and Volleyball are played by the Women in the fall and the Men in the spring. It involves the availability of facilities, as mentioned in Part 1. In this unique and unprecedented situation, parents and coaches may have to embrace a schedule that is a bit fluid. But everyone involved with McClatchy has been up to every task asked of them in the last months.

 

"The earlier start date for the Metro League will not be a big deal. Sharing the season with Women's Volleyball will be a challenge. But no complaints." These are the words of longtime Men's Volleyball Coach Kent Kitade, who was leading his troops very successfully through the first few weeks of a Metro campaign that looked incredibly bright before the lights were turned off.

 

A new Women's Volleyball Head Coach will run the squad this year after the very popular and savvy leader Corey Houle respectfully stepped down. Houle said in a recent interaction that she will still be around and always be a fan, and her impact on the program will be felt for a long time.

 

The two McClatchy Soccer Teams have been incredibly fun to watch up close from the bench over the last few seasons. Both teams have a true chemistry and a knack for daring defense, pinpoint passing, and bashing the ball into the back of the net. The Women's and Men's squads are led by coaches on the pulse of their program, who manage each game closely with the intention of getting a victory while protecting the best interests of their players. Their seasons will begin as early as December 28.

 

Water Polo has long been played by both the Men's and Women's squad in the fall, so the sharing of the pool does not create issues. Because of the size of the CKM Pool and its L-shape, teams can actually warm-up in the easternmost section as the games unfold, decreasing the length of time between the next starting whistle.

 

Fingers crossed that the longtime and occasionally tinkered-with heating system keeps the pool warm for a season that is going to begin as early as a few days before Christmas.

 

To put things into perspective, a total of eight CKM Teams could start their seasons in the final days of 2020, which will run through the final days of February and the final days of March.

 

Other squads including both Golf teams, both Tennis teams, Wrestling, both Basketball teams, the Swim team, the competitive Cheer season, Baseball, Softball and Track & Field are all slated to start their seasons sometime in the final days of February and the first week of March...... (End of Part 2)

Women's Basketball

The CKM Women's Basketball squad entered the 2019-20 season full of hope and talent, riding the wave of many successful seasons and a lot of hard work put in during the summer. The tallest player on the squad was 5 foot 10, a height shared by both senior Samaya Beatty and sophomore Saray White.

 

Teams in the Metro Conference and throughout Northern California are well aware of the successes of McClatchy Women's Basketball over the course of the last several years, which means that every opponent is treating a matchup with the Lions as a big deal. They responded to the challenge well, winning 20 of their first 21 games as more and more fans filled the stands of the CKM Gym.

 

Other seniors include Kayla Fermil, who is headed to Hawaii to play college basketball next fall. Kayla is one of the most well-rounded players in modern McClatchy history, and fellow senior Jayden Wallace did big things on the court as a feisty guard who was a lock-down defender with lightning-quick hands, representing the Wallace name well. Her father and uncles also did big things for CKM Basketball in the late 80s and early 90s.

 

Nicole Gee was the fourth senior, and she provided an instant spark off the bench every time head coach Jeff Ota asked for her services.

 

The energy inside of CKM Gym is pulsating when the stakes get high as the season comes to a close, and McClatchy hosted two home games as part of the CIF Sectional Championship. They prevailed victorious over Folsom, who had a 6' 8" center. A few days later, they fell short to Oak Ridge, who demonstrated precision passing and highly efficient movement without the ball.

 

In the opening round of the CIF State Championships, CKM lost to Heritage HS. But it was another successful season by the numbers, and a collection of talented Juniors are on the doorstep of their senior campaign and a final run at a Section and State title.

 

Sophomores played substantial minutes this year, and Frosh Tamaria Rumph has speed that resembles something from a superhero movie. This will likely equate to a very successful 2020-21 season. Stay tuned.

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Men's Soccer

Men's Soccer is one of the most popular and successful of the many popular and successful McClatchy squads. They achieved the rare feat of having never lost a game in regulation throughout the 2018-19 season, eventually losing a playoff second round match in overtime. Head coach Vaughn Boyce said that was perhaps the most talented squad he'd ever coached. Going into this season, he said anything could happen.

 

A lot of good things did happen. The squad began to mow through their competition in the first weeks of the season, before they realized that one of their players playing in an unsanctioned match would result in them forfeiting a handful of victories.

 

"That was my fault," said Boyce, who took the fall for one of his players. The uncertainty and confusion of whether or not CKM soccer players can play in unsanctioned matches in the future is cleared up.

 

After four victories were changed to losses, the team went 12-9-3 on the year and 8-1-3 in Metro Conference. They finished with a California State ranking in the top 100, which would have likely been higher if the season unfolded without complications.

 

Nonetheless, the squad is once again stacked for the future. Talented goal scorers who combined with midfielders and defenders to make McClatchy one of the most difficult teams to be scored upon are going to graduate, but they put forth a wonderful example for sophomores and freshman hoping to make their name on the sparkly emerald pitch.

 

To register in the top 500 of the nation is an accomplishment, but it is certainly not the ultimate goal. Expect this team to continue to push the envelope in the upcoming year and largely dominate their competition.

Cheer Team

The CKM Cheer Team puts in a lot of practice and training behind-the-scenes in order to turn out in full force during football and basketball games.

 

Led by a talented and savvy coach who has accomplished amazing things in cheerleading throughout her career, the group is clearly in good hands. Every time they take to the hardwood at the CKM Gym during halftime, they put forth a routine full of entertainment and physical risks. Those who attend basketball games have seen the impressive halftime performances that involve some serious vertical action.

 

CKM Cheer qualified for the 2020 Nationals, which took place in Anaheim in February. Although they did not take home a medal or trophy, it was a very positive experience that will put the team an excellent position to continue to do big things into the future.

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Football

The 2019 team suffered from injuries from the start, but they are talented, determined and fully ready to lay it on the line every Friday night. 

"These guys compete!" Said Head Coach Malcolm Floyd, who played for the Houston Oilers and caught a few passes from Warren Moon. He is an upbeat, inspiring figure in the CKM Sports scene. 

Coaches and organizers behind-the-scenes set it up so that the Homecoming Game would be against Dixon, and a huge rivalry game against Kennedy would remain two weeks later. Both of these went down at Hughes Stadium in front of sizable audiences who were pumped up about the possibility of a Lions victory.

This included a vibrant student section full of passion and imaginative way to celebrate big plays. And a few dozen threw chalk into the Sacramento night following a touchdown, much like LeBron James did in a pregame ritual with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

 

The squad has remained very positive and energetic on a week-to-week basis throughout a season that spans the better part of three months. Changes have been made at the QB position as a result of the aforementioned injuries, but the Lions march on aiming to put a cherry on the top in their final game of the season. 

 

CKM and Burbank will each go into the match with a mark of 0-8, which means that someone's 0 has to go. Friday, October 25 is the date, and SCC's Hughes Stadium is the place.

Women's Golf

Playing at some of the best golf courses in the Sacramento area is one of the greatest things about playing golf for CK McClatchy. The women's team has developed to the point that they are dominating the Metro League, and Kayla Diaz is on the brink of becoming the most successful golfer in the history of McClatchy and the Metro League.

When the squad takes to the course, it is clear that many players have been at the game for a long time. There are also a few underclassmen who are going to represent CKM as seniors in years to come.

Head Coach Daniel Ng is very serious about his commitment to bettering every female athlete who signs up for McClatchy Golf. Kayla Diaz is rewriting history with each passing week during the fall sports season. The senior who is on the brink of being a four-time Metro League Champion recently took a flight all the way up the East Coast to become familiarized with a college very interested in her talents.

Other members of the team are gaining skills and observation points by watching Kayla do her thing, which puts them in a position to continue to grow McClatchy Women's Golf in the future years and continue to contend win Metro Championships. 

Covering golf is one of the most enjoyable endeavors of this job, as driving a golf cart up-and-down georgous grounds while profiling amazing athletes is truly awesome.

Women's Volleyball

The Women's Volleyball Team brought talent and experience into 2019, following a 2018 season in which they were very competitive with just one senior on their large roster. Julia Maloney has since graduated, and the team full of seniors has done battle with a bunch of talented squads in and out of the Metro Conference.

 

The result has been mixed, and the team that is currently 6-9 overall and 4-4 in league play has just a few games left before the season concludes. Head coach Cory Houle recently turned 29 years old, and she has a firm grip on the team and the future. It will likely be full of success, as the former college volleyball player seems to know exactly what it takes to get the best out of her players. 100% effort is a trademark of this team. 

Senior Sage Dickinson recently sat down with Restore the Roar for an Athlete of the Week interview. She spoke about how much fun it is to play on a squad with friends she has had  since middle school. She gave a shout out to fellow seniors who have helped to make the program what it is today.

Wins are obviously how a team is measured, and those are hard to come by in a very competitive Women's Volleyball landscape in the Metro League and Sacramento Valley in general. Nonetheless, the pieces are in place, the alumni has confidence in the squad, and big things are likely to happen in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Women's Tennis

The incredibly talented squad truly dominated the majority of their competition throughout a season that included a 10-0 record in the Metro Conference. For the third time in three opportunities, McClatchy Tennis Squads have won the Metro Conference since the tennis courts were resurfaced and brought back to nearly immaculate status.

Two wins on the season against Kennedy were complemented by two wins against River City, putting the CKM Women in a position to do big things in the postseason. The singles and doubles matches will unfold on different days, but the postseason is approaching quickly, and updates are going to be posted here and on the Restore The Roar Facebook page.

Following the graduation of Daisy Lewis, a #1-ranked player who was also a student body president, the bar was set pretty high for CKM and 2019 Women's Tennis. 

Head coach Willard Hom has once again put his troops in a position to dominate the competition, and they have largely done so thus far. A 9-0 win against Monterey Trail recently is a feather in a cap alongside two wins against rival Kennedy. The team is in a perfect position heading into the Metro League schedule, and possibly the postseason.

The #1 and #2-ranked players on the squad have held court on the newly-minted CKM Tennis Courts, which were completed in advance of the 2018 season. For those who may not remember, the former courts had grown into a state of disrepair that meant McClatchy tennis teams could not play on them. But a beautiful day has been ushered in thanks to proper funding, and both the Women's and Men's tennis teams are reestablishing their dominance.

Men's Water Polo

Men's Water Polo Head Coach Brian King graduated from CKM around the turn-of-the-century. He has put his squad in a good position to do big things in past years, and this has been another good one. An incredibly impressive 20-0 victory against Monterey Trail recently was a true feather in the cap, although feathers would get wilted and washed away in the choppy waters that his team creates in the CKM Pool.

The non-conference schedule is typically very challenging, but CKM always competes for the Metro Conference crown.

 

The squad is comprised of a large handful of seniors and a multitude of juniors. A recent raft race continuing a Senior Day tradition of CKM Water Polo saw the Men's Squad facing off against the Women's Squad in a semi-organized event involving the underclassmen on the JV teams pulling the rafts up-and-down the length of the pool.

 

It resulted in the men's team winning by a few feet, after they had accomplished the amazing feat of shutting out an opponent and scoring 20 goals in the process. The finale of the season and the postseason are coming soon, and the many talented players who have put in amazing amounts of practice time will be hopping in the water for the final time as high schoolers. 

Women's Water Polo

After a couple tough non-conference losses in the beginning of the year, the Women's Water Polo Team has bounced back and totally asserted their dominance as of late. They have won nine of their last 10 games, falling only to Laguna Creek at Laguna Creek -- a squad that is 19-0 on the season and currently at the top of the Metro Conference.

 

In order to attain a Metro Conference Title, McClatchy essentially would have needed to win that game. But they are clearly the second-best squad in the Conference, and only a few goals away from being at the top. The team is led by savvy seniors including Ella Culleton, and coached by Steve Plescia, a Florida-born swimming and water polo expert who knows how to put his players in the right position to succeed.

 

A couple large late-season games loom before this team will head into the playoffs with plenty of steam. Water polo games are typically very well attended at home, with the bleachers just to the West of the pool often filled with parents, alumni and fans. Stay tuned for updates.

Men's Tennis

- 14-1 overall

- 10-0 Metro Conference Champions

- Ranked #3 in Sac-Joaquin Section

- Deepest Postseason run Ever

- First year playing on new CKM Courts

Baseball

- 22-9 overall

- 9-3 in Metro Conference (2nd)

- Deepest Postseason run since 1998

- 10 All-Metro Players & Metro POY

- .440 team On Base Pct

- 9 of 10 pitchers will return in 2020

 

Softball

- 14-6-1 overall

- 11-1 Metro Conference Co-Champs

- .433 team On Base Pct & 73 Stolen Bases

- Ashleigh Dendas 210 K in 99 innings

- 11 of 12 players will return in 2020

Swimming

- Women's Team wins Metro Conference Championship

- Men's 400m free relay record set at CIF Meet

- Luca Urlando shatters CKM Pool and National Records

Diving

- 3 CKM Divers compete in Women's CIF Section Meet at CKM Pool

- Kiki completes Senior Year with Diving Honors

Track

- First full school year with new track and field surface

- Over 40 CKM Track & Fielders set Personal Records

- First sub 5-minute Mile by a Female in School History (Julia Heckey) 

Men's Volleyball

 

- 11-12 overall 

- 244 Serving Aces (Over twice the National avg) 

- Returning top 3 attackers and top 2 defenders in 2020

Look how similar these Softball & Baseball

7th inning home 5-4 walkoff victories are...

Track & Field

31 different student athletes set personal records at late-March meet at burbank!

Soph Julia "The Jet" Heckey sets All-Time CKM Women's record on March 30 with a 4:55:24 mile!

The meat of the 2019 Schedule is here. Upcoming meets extend through April and May, giving the large squad many more chances at personal and school high-water marks.

Softball

Soph Ashleigh Dendas continues to lead a young competitive squad built for the future, ranking 1st on the team in batting avg, runs, hits, RBIs, doubles, triples and home runs. She has struck out 87 hitters through 40 innings thus far.

Frosh Annalyn Brown is second on the squad with 12 hits, 10 RBI and 11 runs, and Frosh Claire Ynes is hitting a solid .423 with 11 runs and 11 hits. Junior Alex Curtis has proven to be a very tough out, and she possesses a .476 batting average thru March 31.

The squad coached by Chris Abar is 6-3-1 on the year and 3-0 in Metro League play.

Baseball

CKM Baseball has been a strong squad going on 20+ years. Coach de Necochea has been at the helm since 2005, and has a career record of over 100 games above .500.

The squad has a collective .408 batting average and 30 stolen bases thru 11 games.

 

Senior Theo Dopkins has been a force on the hill, striking out 48 in 25 innings and scattering a meager eight hits in the entire process. Frosh Malcolm Moore has opened a lot of eyes through the first dozen games of the year by hitting .457 and driving in an impressive 21 runs, helped by five doubles and five triples. Hit machine JoJo Fong is currently leading the squad with a .483 batting average. The meat of the Metro schedule is coming. 

Men's Tennis

Coach Willard Hom has been developing young talent in both the men's and women's squad for years now. The men's team is having another very successful season, and they are 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the Metro Conference as of press time. This includes an array of impressive victories, punctuated by a 7-2 victory over Rio Americano for the first time in a decade, as well as dominating road wins at Kennedy and Laguna Creek.

 

Senior Nathan Kravitz is the clear leader and the #1 -ranked player. He occupies the easternmost court at the newly-resurfaced CKM Tennis Courts when he plays, and the ball flies off the racket of the tall and lanky student athlete.

 

Sophomore Terrence Yee, Senior Jason Hom and soph Yuuto van Loben Sels are all undefeated in singles matches so far. The team is an excellent position to continue to mow through the Metro Conference and make a run deep into the postseason. The Metro League Singles and Doubles Tournament looms in late-April. Stay tuned.

Swimming & Diving

The CKM Pool recently fit in two home meets, and they dominated their competition in impressive fashion. Junior superstar swimmer Luca Urlando continues to blaze a trail through the lanes throughout the Major Division in the nation, and he will certainly compete in some big-time meets this summer designed to lead up to possibly qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Urlando recently broke the CKM Pool record for the 100 IM with a time of 49.59.

On the women's side, Ella Culleton is part of a diverse and talented squad that sent a handful of swimmers to an exclusive meet this past weekend. A half-dozen or so CKM Swimmers have put themselves in an excellent position to do big-time things in a postseason that is quickly approaching. One final home regular season meet will go down this Thursday the 4th against Monterey Trail.

Men's Volleyball

Men's Volleyball is yet another solid and feisty squad that is building a foundation for the near future. There is a lot of talent in the Metro League and the nearby surrounding regions, featuring hitters well north of 6 feet. CKM has some height, but has been fueled by two high-leaping mid-sized attackers who can hammer setups and send balls pummeling off Janice and Harvey Tahara Court at CKM Gym.

 

As of press time, sophomore Ryan Thao has an amazing 259 kills and a kill rate of 44%. Junior Michael Fong is second on the team with 113 kills. Both lead the team in aces with 45 and 41, respectively.

 

Junior Riley Jespersen has bounced back strong from a severe knee injury that resulted in surgery sidelining him for last season. The tallest member of the team, Jespersen does a bit of everything, leading the team by a huge margin with 214 assists and contributing diggs and blocks while also acing 27 serves. Folks who watch the squad can see them coming together before their eyes, and five-set volleyball matches require serious focus and physical effort.

Men's Golf

The Men's Golf squad has been dealing with the affects of a very wet spring while trying to fit in a full schedule. At times, this has meant playing on courses with puddles and lakes that were not initially intended.

 

But the team and coaches Navarette and Ricci are all about turning young hopefuls into solid golfers by the time they graduate. Such is the case for Seniors Bill Suitor and Dylan Stewart. Suitor is a sturdy righty who can put the ball far out into the fairways when he is making solid contact. Stewart is a crafty lefty with a sharp short game and a very calm demeanor on the course. Both are ample leaders on a squad otherwise filled with undergrads and juniors.

Men's Soccer

UPDATE: The squad continued to make the school and alums proud by besting Cosumnes Oaks 4-1 at home before falling in overtime on the road vs Whitney in the second round. Julian Boyce took home Metro League Player of the Year honors for the second year in a row. 

Following a dominating, undefeated 20-0-3 season in which the Lions overcame injuries, a tough call on a penalty kick and everything else thrown their way, Restore the Roar was a bit surprised to learn that it was only good enough for a #5 ranking heading into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Playoffs. This means that CKM will likely only get to host one home game, and it will go down at 3 PM sharp on Tuesday the 12th.

Had they been awarded a #1 or #2 ranking, they could have hosted a handful of home games, provided they kept on winning. Nonetheless, head coach Vaughn Boyce will certainly use the slight snub as big-time motivation for his talented troops to take to the pitch with passion. The versatile group is comprised of a variety of seniors, all of which were honored near midfield during recent Senior Day. It gave the coach a chance to express his thanks to the parents, the fans and the players themselves before they went out and smashed their opponent 6-1 to conclude the regular-season. 

 

Even with a stacked squad, a run at the State Championship is going to be anything but easy. Yet, the tallest and most jagged peaks often take the most work to summit. Stay tuned for updates, and please follow Restore the Roar on Facebook.

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 Men's Basketball

The Men's Basketball squad did not have a great year in terms of the win loss numbers, but they played hard, rebounded well and put some building blocks in place for future seasons.

 

The highlight of the season was two consecutive wins in late-December at the Folsom Tournament, which was good enough to win them the prize in the Consolation Bracket. It involved a thrilling 57-56 victory over Bradshaw Christian, which was followed by a 50-42 victory over Fairfield the following day. The team used their size and quickness again to almost score a big upset in Elk Grove against a tough Monterey Trail team a few weeks ago, but fell just short by a score of 68-64. 

 

Coach Antawn Greer has spoke of how the future is bright, and even graduating seniors agree. "Everybody on the team got better. We started working more as a team through the season," said PG/SG Nester Bojorquez ('19). 

Women's Soccer

UPDATE: Women's Soccer also fell in overtime in a very hard-fought and competitive game in Elk Grove against Franklin. The team has a spirit and togetherness that shows every minute of every game -- win, lose or draw. They'll be back just as strong next year.

The CKM Women's Soccer Team's solid 9-5-4 overall record includes an impressive 6-3-3 mark in a very competitive Metro League. The record was good enough to get them into the 2019 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs, and they will make the short trip down Highway 99 (or I-5) on Wednesday to clash with Franklin High in Elk Grove. 

The squad has been led by the energetic and sharp Katie Ulan for the last handful of seasons, and she is clearly able to communicate with her troops easily and get the most out of a talented roster. 

Between December 15th and January 8th, the squad went 1-3-2 while entering the beginning of their Metro schedule. But they rallied and came together as a team big time down the stretch, going 4-1-2 to complete their Metro run and outscoring their opponents 31-7 in the process. 

They were ranked #12 by the CIF committee going into the playoffs, which means they have very little chance of hosting a home game, but a truly legitimate chance to make some noise and finish a successful season with a postseason win or two. 

Wrestling

UPDATE: Tavi Heidelberg repeated as State Champion in her division, re-writing the all-time Lion record books. Sophie Muse finished 5th in her division in the entire state of California, and the Women's team combined to finish in the Top-10 in the state! 

Tony Yuke recently became the first male CKM Wrestler since the 1970s (Mario Betti) to qualify for the State Championship after compiling 42 wins on the year, enough to place 2nd all-time in CKM history.

 

Yuke beat a highly-ranked opponent in his weight class to advance to the second day of the State Championships. The sophomore has a very bright future ahead. 

The CKM Wrestling Squad is small in numbers but huge in talent and accomplishments. The Lions only sent four male wrestlers to the Metro Championships, but all four made it to the finals - Tony Yuke at 113 lb, Jacob Edwards at 152 lb, Tyler Culp at 160 lb, and Christopher Bevens at 170 lb. Both Edwards and Culp came back to campus with Metro League Titles, while Yuke and Bevens placed second. Yuke went on to impressively win his Division in a meet at Casa Robles this weekend. 

By winning the 2019 Metro Crown at 152, Edwards became the first ever McClatchy wrestler to be a three-time Champion, a feat he has accomplished in three different weight classes. You can read more about Jacob Edwards and this truly amazing accomplishment in the Athlete of the Week piece, scheduled for Tuesday (2/12).

On the women's side of the tightly-knit squad, Lynda Contreras and Jeoylina Keophoxai have had very successful seasons. Sophie Muse and defending State Champion Tavi Heidelberg have been superb, continuing to re-write the McClatchy record books as the season goes on.

 

Their most recent accomplishments involved winning their divisions in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Regionals this past Saturday at Natomas High School. Next is the culmination of the wrestling season, otherwise known as The Masters. Updates to come soon on the Restore the Roar Facebook page.

Women's Basketball

The work that the CKM Women's Basketball squads have been putting in since early summertime has the potential to pay off big. The postseason brackets were recently announced for the Sac-Joaquin Section Championship, and McClatchy earned a #2 ranking. This means that if they are able to win the first round at home, they will play their second round game at home. Should they win that one, they would play the third round game at home, and the championship is at Golden 1 Center on Friday, February 22.

The team has become one of the most popular in the region since their epic run to the State Championship in 2015. They are spearheaded by a handful of coaches, including former CKM hoops legend Jeff Ota. Those who seen them play live inside of the historic CKM Gymnasium know that their calling card is stifling, swarming and suffocating defense. They utilize very efficient footwork and busy hands to cut off passing lanes, sometimes making it a monumental task for opposing defenses to get the ball across half-court.

 

The level of competition is obviously going to be ramped up in the playoffs, and it is a good thing that several of these players have experience in huge, pressure-packed atmospheres in prior years. The whole squad recently got to visit the court before a Kings game and meet De'Aaron Fox and Harry Giles, both of whom wished them luck on their run to the State Championship. The fun starts Tuesday night when McClatchy (#2) hosts Enoch (#15).

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Women's Basketball

The Sacramento Bee ranked the CK McClatchy Women's Basketball Team #1 in the Section heading into the season. They have dominated their competition during their victories, and they have fallen twice this year by one point and two points during incredibly competitive games in which opponents brought their best.

 

The squad brings their best every time they take to the court. Unfortunately, they will not host another home game until January. In the meantime, they will travel all around California to play games as a result of the prestige that the squad has garnered in the last several years. Former head coach Jessica Kunasaki led the team to the State Championship in 2015 -- a feat that will forever make CKM grads proud. 

This year's squad has an array of talented players, two of which have already committed to well recognized universities. Juniors, sophomores and freshman also fill out a roster that is talented, deep and designed to put the CKM Women's Basketball Team in a position to do big things this year and into the future.

The Lions play a stifling and suffocating defense, and they actually held a 54-0 halftime lead against a former rival during a recent game. Led by Nia Lowery, Kam Hall and Samaya Beatty, they are a force to be reckoned with that is easily worth the price of admission. Stay tuned for updates and specifics involving when they will play upcoming home games.

Men's Basketball

The CKM Men's Basketball Team continues to focus toward the future as they give their best competitive effort every time they take to the hardwood. Led by the knowledgeable and patient Antawn Greer, the team often aims to play a half-court offense, and they have outscored talented teams throughout the first quarter.   

A victory against Florin High School on December 6 was a high point in the season thus far, and the squad heads into the late-December Klopp Classic hoping to score a victory or two. Home games on Tuesday the 18th and during the tournament will give fans ample chances to see the team live on Janice & Harvey Tahara Court.

Wrestling

CKM Wrestling has picked up where they left off following a successful 2017-18 campaign featuring then-Junior Tavi Heidelberg-Tillotson winning a CIF State Championship in her weight class. 

 

The now Senior recently romped through the Women's West Coast Tournament of Champions, featuring talented teams throughout the state. Her quickest pin coming just 8 seconds into a match. 

This followed the Lions Challenge, a successful event staged at CKM. Heidelberg-Tillotson sat it out with an illness, but Gabby Sanchez and Sophie Muse wrestled their way through their brackets to take home 1st-place medals. 

An upcoming tournament in Rocklin on the final days of the year will pave the way for the Metro League schedule, highlighted by a home match against rival Kennedy on Tuesday, Jan 8th.

Men's Soccer

The CKM Men's Soccer Team did big things last year, and the pieces are being put in place for the team to build on that success.   

The still relatively brand-new CKM Track and Field is a nearly perfect pitch upon which the team can host opponents. The Men's squad went undefeated in the first month of the schedule and won an early season tournament featuring teams throughout NorCal. 

Upon returning to their home pitch, they played to a 0-0 tie against a very game Grant team. Coach Vaughn Boyce is a heady leader on top of his team from the first minute through the 80th.

 

He granted RtR a few words following the final whistle. "First league game is a tie. Sends these guys a message. We got to be on our Ps and Qs every game. We'll learn from it and keep on moving."   

A Friday home match against West Campus will be the final home game until four are hosted throughout January. The team has an array of specialists, including players who can defend the attack. They also have two goalkeepers proven adept at keeping the net still. 

When the Lions midfielders are able to advance the slightly squishy sphere to speedy strikers and forwards, opposing goalkeepers are put in a tough spot.   

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Women's Soccer

Under the head coaching of Katie Ulan, the 2018 McClatchy Women's Soccer Team is 3-1 and 1-0 in league play a month into the season. The roster is filled with a variety of players ready to fill a variety of spots on the large emerald pitch.

 

Several skill position players are depend upon to defend the net and advance the ball, and they did both of these very well during a recent 7-0 victory against Grant. 

Very early into the 2018-19 season, Bella Garcia leads the team with three goals. Two of these were scored against Grant, and the other was a very important ball put in the back of the net in a 2-1 victory over rival Christian Brothers on December 5. 

Upcoming road games against Burbank and an Inderkum tournament will keep the team busy before three incredibly crucial home games unfold on December 18, December 20 and December 28 against Kennedy, Laguna Creek and Sac High. 

 

Stay tuned for updates about this very talented and spirited squad that continues to make McClatchy alumni proud.

Fall Haul

Metro Championships

(Conference Record)

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Women's Water Polo (9-0)

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Women's Tennis (9-0)