The Wildcat Sports Report is your weekly roundup of the biggest moments in SI athletics. From thrilling victories to program milestones and community highlights, we bring you the stories that showcase the spirit of our Wildcats.
20 Wildcats Earn WCAL Winter All-League Honors
The West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) has announced its Winter All-League teams, and several St. Ignatius student-athletes have been recognized for their outstanding performances this season. Wildcats across soccer and basketball earned First Team, Second Team, and Honorable Mention honors, with Men's Soccer senior Aiden Higgins also being named WCAL Forward of the Year.
Men's Soccer
Forward of the Year
Aiden Higgins, Senior
First Team All-League
Aiden Higgins, Senior, Midfielder
Kristoff Kratz, Senior, Defender
Nicholas Bee, Senior, Defender
Second Team All-League
Thomas McKeon, Senior, Midfielder
Zaiden Armstrong, Senior, Midfielder
Honorable Mention
Dominic Deekin, Freshman, Defender
Women's Soccer
First Team All-League
Gussie Robillard, Senior, Midfielder
Alex Villalta, Senior, Defender
Second Team All-League
Taylor Bellotti, Senior, Midfielder
Keira Bromwell, Junior, Defender
Honorable Mention
Bryce Killion, Sophomore, Midfielder
Men's Basketball
First Team All-League
Steele Labagh, Senior
Shawn Boquiren, Senior
Second Team All-League
Noah Kirsch-Lopez, Sophomore
Alex Moore, Sophomore
Honorable Mention
Raymond Whitley, Senior
Women's Basketball
First Team All-League
Hayley McGee, Senior
Second Team All-League
Lulu Giometti, Sophomore
Julia Alcantara, Senior
Honorable Mention
Sophia Sanchez, Senior
Congratulations to these Wildcats for their achievements and for representing St. Ignatius with excellence throughout the winter season.
Wildcats Sweep SoCal Road Trip with Wins Over Loyola and Torrey Pines
The boys lacrosse team traveled to Los Angeles for two early season games against top-ranked Loyola High School and Torrey Pines High School.
The Cats got out to leads in both games and never looked back, never trailing in either contest and tallying 27 goals over two games. Stellar goalie play by Bryson Lewis and clutch offensive scoring propelled the Wildcats to a tough 12-11 win on Friday night. The scoring continued on Saturday, allowing the Cats to back up a big revenge win vs Loyola with another victory against rival Torrey Pines in a tight turnaround.
The boys knocked off some early season rust and found a way to win both games, led by the formidable senior class. The defensive unit tightened up in key late-game possessions, showcasing composure and communication under pressure. Contributions across all three lines highlighted the team's depth, balance, and growing chemistry as they continue to build momentum early in the season.
Wildcats Rally Past Buchanan in NorCal Playoff Opener
The Saint Ignatius Women's Basketball team opened the CIF NorCal Playoffs with a hard-fought 71- 66 victory over Buchanan High School on Tuesday evening in Clovis.
The Wildcats faced a challenging start to the postseason, traveling more than three and a half hours in the middle of the day for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off at Buchanan. SI entered the NorCal bracket looking to regain momentum after two tough losses during round-robin play in the CCS Playoffs.
Buchanan, a young and talented squad, was led by sophomore Gi'anna Smith, who scored 27 of the Bears' 66 points. The game remained tight throughout. Buchanan edged ahead 15-14 at the end of the first quarter and extended the lead to 36-32 by halftime.
Hayley McGee paced the Wildcats early, scoring 14 of her 18 points in the first half to keep SI within striking distance. Saint Ignatius battled back in the third quarter, closing the gap and tying the game 47-47 heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats' guard trio of Lulu Giometti, Julia Alcantara, and Sophia Sanchez took control. The three combined for 44 points in the game and led a decisive push down the stretch as SI pulled ahead.
Saint Ignatius finished strong to secure the 71–66 win and advance to the second round of the NorCal Playoffs. The Wildcats will return to Fresno to face Clovis in the next round.
Wildcats Punch Their Ticket to the NorCal Open Division Regional Semifinals
The #3 ranked St. Ignatius Wildcats delivered a commanding performance Wednesday night at McCullough Gymnasium, defeating the #6 ranked Sheldon Huskies to advance to the semifinals of the CIF Northern California Open Division Playoffs.
From the opening tip, the Wildcats set the tone with relentless defensive pressure and disciplined execution. SI's defense proved to be the story of the night, shutting down one of Northern California's most explosive offenses and holding the Huskies to just 54 points. The Wildcats also neutralized Sheldon's season-leading scorer, limiting him to only seven points and forcing the Huskies into a long, frustrating evening on the offensive end.
While the defense fueled the victory, the Wildcats showcased their depth and balance offensively. Nine different players found the scoring column, highlighting the unselfish style that has defined this team all season. Six Wildcats finished with eight points or more, and three reached double figures. Ty Landers led the Wildcats with 15 points, while Ray Whitley added 14. Anthony D'Acquisto chipped in 11 points in another strong all-around performance.
With the win, the Wildcats move one step closer to a NorCal championship and now turn their focus to the next challenge. SI will face the #2 ranked Salesian Pride in the NorCal Open Division Semifinal on Saturday night at Contra Costa College in San Pablo (East Bay). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM as the Wildcats look to continue their postseason run.
Tickets For SI vs. Salesian Game
And that's a wrap for the Wildcat Sports Report – Go 'Cats!
