With only 16 players, the girls water polo varsity and JV teams struggled to find enough people for two full squads this year. However, the Indians (2-3-1) proved to be small but mighty. The varsity team finished third in the Golden Empire League and advanced to CIF.
Surpassing expectations, the team won its first two CIF games, and even reached the quarterfinals. In the first round the girls won a close 4-3 game against Warren High School on Feb. 7. Reaching the second round of CIF, the team played confidently against Heritage High School and won 10-5. The Tribe reached the quarterfinals and faced El Dorado in a very close match on Feb. 18. The game would determine which school would go to semifinals, and both teams were determined to win. A 3-3 tie in the last quarter forced the match into overtime. In the final moments, Fullerton lost by a close margin with a final score of 4-3.
The team’s advancement to CIF encouraged players that even with a smaller roster, they could still be successful. Aside from the wins, CIF was especially important as it united the team through tough competition. Senior Olivia Brazo said that she is going to miss many of the girls she met during her high school season.
“The past four years have been really fun but also really tough,” Brazo said. “A big struggle for us is getting enough people to play, but that led the team to get really close and become good friends this season. We have our moments, and that’s what comes with being on a team. It’s something I’m gonna miss.”
The girls wrestling team had a successful season with six girls advancing to CIF. Junior Izabella Luna and senior Janessa Gallardo both finished in the top 32 in their respective weight classes to go to the CIF-SS master meet. Luna went 2-2 in her matches and Gallardo went 0-2. Gallardo said the hefty amount of work she endured helped her reach where she is now.
“I think if I didn’t do preseason practices, I don’t think I would have gotten to where I did,” Gallardo said. “But again, it being my senior year, and making it to Masters and CIF was more than enough. I was very happy.”
Sophomore Jonah Moreno (pictured above) placed 4th in the Empire League, qualifying for CIF, along with seniors Landon MacGill, Gavin Blotti, and Christian Godinez, junior Alan Sandoval, and freshman Joseph Arredondo.
The girls basketball team finished league with a 4-4 record, landing the Indians in third place. Their record earned the team a CIF berth for the first time in 11 years. The team reached the second round of CIF before the Tribe suffered a close 32-27 loss against Hillcrest.
In the first round of CIF, the Indians beat Fillmore by a large margin, ending in a final score of 49-20. This year’s team has been the first in 15 years to win a CIF playoff game, marking an impressive historical feat for the girls basketball program.
Senior Karly Kakimoto, team captain, attributes the team’s successes to strong connections and friendships.
“I feel like our chemistry got better this year,” Kakimoto said. “We’ve had like a year of playing together because most of us played last year, so it carried over.”
The girls soccer team went undefeated in the Golden West League this season, marking the first championship for the girls soccer program since 2006 and the second league championship in team history.
Head coach George Maisterra attributes the success to depth, culture and passion. Maisterra said that players who transferred from Troy in 2023 added more layers to the team and diversified the environment.
“As a coach, we want to see depth because we can build into it and change the complexion of the team,” Maisterra said.
In years prior, Maisterra noted that the girls were unfamiliar and disconnected with one another. After he took over as coach, the depth of the team, as well as the culture, shifted significantly.
“In order for the girls to play better on the field, they needed to be comfortable with each other,” he said. “Trust is a huge thing. We had to change the culture of how they thought of themselves as a soccer team.”
Another key aspect that pushed the team to have a successful season, was their passion and willingness to play their part.
“We have players that don’t lose the ball and put their body on the line for their team,” Maisterra said.
Despite the historical season, the girls ended up losing to Long Beach Poly in CIF playoffs. Although the team’s CIF run was brought to an early end, the tone has been set for the coming years with raised expectations and confident hopes for more wins in the future.
The boys basketball team finished its season with a record of 17-11 with a 3-way tie for second place in the Empire League. The team’s 17 wins are the most season wins for the Fullerton boys basketball program since 2007.
A coin flip between the Costa Mesa Mustangs and the Fullerton Indians determined who would hold the second-place spot. The coin flip did not end in the Tribe’s favor, leading the team into a tiebreaker game for third against Calvary Chapel on Feb. 5, which resulted in a 54-32 loss.
The varsity boys soccer team (1-4-3) concluded its season with a valiant effort against Valencia (5-1-2), losing with a final score of 2-3 on Feb. 5.
Despite facing numerous challenges, specifically a new and more difficult league, the team showed several positive signs for the future, particularly in their offensive play led by junior Jahshua Harris. While their attack is promising, the team bids farewell to seven seniors, all of whom play a crucial role in defense.
The team continues to improve their skills and team chemistry through off-season practices in preparation for their next season.
