Finn Hura proved he was way underseeded in the NCS wrestling championships, finishing seventh after three wins over high seeds -- the last by a second-period pin. But Hura wasn’t the only postseason star for Miramonte, which sent every team onto the NCS playoffs -- and of course got a section title in girls’ basketball.
It was a successful winter season for all the Miramonte teams, as all had moved on to the North Coast Section playoffs, and both soccer teams pulled off first-round upsets.
The wrestling team had a historic season, sending the most athletes on to NCS in almost 30 years, and Finn Hura finished third, just one spot away from a berth in the State Meet.
Boys’ Basketball
The Mats drew the 14th seed in Division 3, but gave three-seed St. Bernard’s all it could handle in a 73-72 loss in Eureka. A driving basket cut the margin to one with less five seconds left, but since the clock doesn’t stop after a made basket in high school, time ran out before St. Bernard’s had to inbounds the ball.
Mike Shaughnessy’s team finished with a 16-12 overall record and a 6-6 record in Diablo Athletic League (DAL) play, which was good enough for a tie for seventh.
Boys’ Soccer
The eighth-seeded boys rolled over Lick-Wilmerding in the first game of the NCS Division 2 playoffs, but couldn’t get past top seed University in the quarterfinals, losing 2-0.
James Rogers, the DAL offensive MVP, led the way for the 13-4-1 Mats with eight goals and eight assists, while Marco Parramon-Arcos was right behind with eight goals and five assists.
Graham Jenkins had six assists en route to first-team all-DAL honors, and the award as second place Miramonte’s MVP.
Second-team all-DAL slots went to Joaquin Fitzsimmons, Gavin Hass, Grayson Keenan and Kyle Matthews (the team’s defensive most valuable player).
Girls’ Soccer
The Mats wound up as the 13th seed in Division 1, but shocked No. 4 Casa Grande in the first round with a 2-1 win. They then faced No. 12 Liberty but fell 1-0 to end their season.
After a slow start, Miramonte caught fire in January, reeling off seven straight wins and finishing with a 10-5-2 overall record and a 5-1-2 mark in DAL play (tied for second).
Taylor Stevens was the league’s defensive MVP, and was joined on the DAL first team by Inara Inesi and Camilla White. Eve Copeland earned second-team honors, and coach Taylor Abbott was also impressed with freshman Clara Sop’s improvement on the defensive end.
In the upset win over Casa Grande, Kate Knight headed in the first goal, and also helped the defense hold off Casa Grande through a tense second half. Goalie Talia Kardon and White also played key roles in the defensive stand.
Against Liberty, the very physical game was decided in the first five minutes when the Lions scored and the Mats could not take advantage of several good chances thereafter. But Abbott was pleased with the season, as Miramonte made to the NCS Division 1 playoffs for the second year in a row.
Wrestling
In their best season since 1998, 10 Miramonte wrestlers qualified for NCS, with Finn Hura taking third overall thanks to dramatic pin in the second period.
And coach Louis Suba’s rejuvenation of the program continues, as the number of wrestlers on the roster has jumped from nine in 2021 to 50 in 2026.
Hura was the star this year, as he was seeded 23rd in the North Coast Section 144-pound division but dominated the 10th, seventh and second seeds before taking third overall.
He trailed No. 2 seed Chase Bickmore of Arcata 7-2 after the first round, but didn’t wait long to assert himself. “Finn got him in a fireman’s carry,” said Suba, “threw him on his back and pinned him.”
His run ended in the semis, though, as Keith Christianson of Ukiah took over after an early Hura takedown, and won 9-3.
Elliot Orr lived up to his seventh seed, finishing seventh overall after losing twice to fifth-place Trent Christiansen of Ukiah. The double matchup came about because of the convoluted wrestling bracketing, but aside from Christiansen, Orr was unbeaten in the 165-pound bracket. His final win, a pin of Aiden Knight of Monte Vista, earned him the seventh place spot.
Jaxson Ziehn won twice and lost twice at 132 pounds, while Brody Suba went 1-2 in the 138-pound weight class, as did Julio Villaneuva at 150.
On the girls’ side, Ashley Silverman won three matches and lost two at 130 pounds, with Cayleigh Farrar going 2-2 at 140, but neither placed.