Yesterday evening, we celebrated the outstanding achievements of our 2023-24 athletes, coaches, and staff. The event reflected our community's dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship, as exemplified by the NCS Sportsmanship banner for the 2022-23 year. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to respecting each other and honoring the game: values that serve as the cornerstone of our San Domenico Athletics program.
Reflecting on our seniors’ journey since September 2020, our athletes have overcome unprecedented challenges, adapting to new norms and restrictions while maintaining their passion for sports. Our students have shown remarkable resilience, from practicing algebra in an art room to competing with masks on the court. This resilience has translated into a thriving sports program that has grown exponentially over the past four years.
This year has been nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing the true spirit of competition and the power of teamwork. We have continued our rise in the Bay Area Conference, particularly in the BCL West. We've made ourselves known throughout the North Coast Section, and now, in some sports, large teams from Divisions II and III get nervous when they see Division V San Domenico on their schedule. Over the past few weeks alone, we have had a strong presence at the NCS level, with swimmers, track athletes, and badminton players repping SD’s royal blue at their championships.
Our badminton team, led by Coach Kathy Hagee, has won three league titles and placed in the top three twice at NCS. Our basketball teams have become perennial powerhouses, with the women’s team following up a back-to-back State Championship appearances with a 2023-24 season that saw them go undefeated in the league on their way to winning the league championships and NCS tournament in Coach Mike Fulton’s final season. The men’s team, led by Coach Tyler Gaffaney, made huge strides this year, making a deep run in the NCS. Under the guidance of Coach Rachel Lloyd, our mountain biking team secured a runner-up at NorCals, and the swim teams, coached by Coach Mark Anderson, had a pair of BAC runner-ups. Our baseball and volleyball teams, coached by Coach Justin Hawkins and Coach John Headlund, respectively, went deep in NCS over the last few years, and the men's and women's soccer teams, led by Coach Tristan Bowen and Fiona O’Sullivan, respectively, went from winless seasons to playing in the second round of NCS this past season. Our cross-country team, coached by Coach Mark Churchill, secured its first invitation to the state meet in school history. This year in total, we had 13 teams compete at the NCS level, more than ever before.
We have 73 all-league awards this year, 24 more than last year. That is a 49% increase from last year and an 86% increase from two years ago. This level of success has put San Domenico on the map and instilled a sense of pride and achievement within our community.
Finally, a special thank you to our seniors. Your hard work, school spirit, great sportsmanship, and passion for competition have been instrumental in creating this momentum in our athletics department. We are truly grateful for your leadership and will miss you all next year. Your legacy will continue to inspire future generations of San Domenico athletes!
To all our athletes, coaches, staff, and Panther Parent Volunteers, your hard work and dedication have created a vibrant and thriving sports community. Here's to the continued success of San Domenico athletics!