Charlotte Grayson is expected to be one of the top golfers on the girls’ team this fall – which will have the additional challenge of moving up to Division 1 for the first time.
There’s a lot more to fall sports at Miramonte than just football, and hundreds of athletes not wearing pads are practicing and playing games. Practice, in fact, started way back on Aug. 10, and most teams have scrimmaged or played a practice game or two already.
Here’s a quick look at what to expect this season:
Boys’ water polo
Though it would be hard to top last year’s outstanding season – the Diablo Athletic League (DAL) championship, the North Coast Section (NCS) Open Division title, and runners-up in NorCals – this year’s team might do just that.
One reason? Loads of senior talent and experience definitely does make a difference in high school sports. Zavi Ryder, one of those seniors, will be one of the two main goalkeepers (Caden Keene is the other), and coaches Drew Holland and Lincoln Kennedy have a host of talented swimmers ready to hit the water. Look for seniors Grayson Bloes, Brady Hassett, Griffin Maclear, Michael Robinson and Tyler Williams to play key roles, though given the depth of talent, earning minutes during games won’t be easy.
Pushing the seniors will be juniors Mason Tunney (who started last year), Bryce Batiuchok, Miles Gaffney, Simon Mains, Luke Sagara and Evan Thomas – and there are freshmen and sophomores right behind that group.
One big issue is that the Miramonte pool renovation will make the Mats road warriors until at least Oct. 1, with practices and games all off campus. That also means the always crucial match against Campolindo will not be in Miramonte’s home pool, along with an intersectional battle with La Jolla – but the emphasis is not on how the season starts, said Holland, but how it finishes in November.
Girls’ golf
NCS divides golf into two divisions, based on enrollment – and this year, Miramonte has shifted from being one of the larger schools in Division 2 to one of the smallest in Division 1. This will make it harder for the Mats to maintain their status as a top-five finisher in the NCS tournament, but sixth year coach Doug Senz isn’t that concerned.
He’s more focused on camaraderie than all-out competition, and he wants to make sure the girls enjoy their time practicing and playing.
“I only have one anti-free speech rule,” he said. “The girls can talk about anything at practice but academics. This is their break, and their time to get away from academic pressure.”
The Mats will battle “perennial power” Northgate in the DAL, led by senior Sophia Erickson, junior Charlotte Grayson and sophomore Teddy Davies, but Senz is also counting on co-captains Erickson and Kathryn Nguyen to supply
leadership.
“It’s a great group to coach,” said Senz. “They have a wonderful chemistry and camaraderie.”
Girls’ tennis
Another team coming off a glittering 2025 is girls’ tennis, which went 10-0 in the DAL, finished second in the NCS Open and made it to the NorCal semifinals. Highlighting that success was a dramatic win over American in the NCS semifinals that ended with the team and fans storming the court after a three-set win by the doubles’ team of Regan Lovell and Livia Segall.
This year, though, might be a bit of a step back, as four of the top six graduated. Madeline Stout has moved into the number one slot, and was 26-7 as a freshman, so coach Riki Sorenson is comfortable with her leading the way.
Seniors Maddie Essner and Lovell are the co-captains, and Maddie and her sister Izzie reached the NCS semifinals last year.
And though the Mats have won the DAL title for four straight years, Northgate and Campolindo will make it tough to repeat. “This group loves to work,” said Sorenson, “but they’re going to have to learn how to win at a high level.”
Volleyball
The Mats bounced back after a rough 2024 with a 20-7 overall record and a DAL Valley championship – and reached the semifinals in the NCS Division 3 playoffs.
Leading the way in 2026 will be senior and returning league MVP Sena Hens, and her senior teammate Maddie Yu will also play a key role. Look for youngsters Lucy Targonski and Gianna Caspari to build on the experience they gained last year, and Cindy Guo’s versatility and athleticism will also factor in.
Coach Leslie Ray expects Clayton Valley Charter to be one of the favorites to win the league, and she’s also looking forward to playing Salesian, a Division 2 power.
“We have a great combination of experienced seniors and talented young players,” said Ray. “We want to compete hard, play with confidence and continue getting better. More important, we want our players to enjoy the process.”