St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy heads fall sports highlights with a CIF-SS football championship
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy Head Football Coach Devah Thomas with his team and their CIF Division 8 Championship trophy. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
As the 2024 calendar year turns the page to 2025, there were many highlights for the Downey-area teams this past Fall season.
Three of those area schools made it to a CIF-Southern Section Championship game, but perhaps the biggest story was the St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy Football team winning a title (See Dec. 6 issue).
The Warriors, who were 1-9 in the regular season, qualified for the post season due to the “competitive equity” clause and took it and ran with it to the D8 CIF Championship with a convincing, 38-19, victory over Serrano Friday November 29.
Junior quarterback Jassi Williams (See Williams feature/CIF State Championship in Dec. 20 issue) threw for 444 yards and four touchdowns, two of which went to junior wide receiver Kenny Peevy.
“This is very overwhelming and is a blessing,” said PMA fourth-year head coach Devah Thomas of the championship. “This is a dream come true for my family…
“The kids have overcome adversity and wanted it.”
Not only did they win a CIF title, but they also won the CIF State Southern California Regional Championship in Division 4-A and advanced to the CIF State Championship game.
They opened the state playoffs with a convincing, 28-7 win over St. Augustine, Saturday December 7. Three of the four long TDs came from the arm of Williams to Jaylen Stokes (56 yards), Greg Taylor (39 Yds.) and Demari Nunley (62 Yds.). The other score came on a pick six by Trayce Mallard.
In the state title game, Williams accounted for four of the five TDs in a 52-34.loss. He threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns (7, 55 yards) and ran for two more (9, 14 yards).
“There was this brotherhood in the locker room,” Williams said. “I feel like this playoff run showed a lot of that because we never gave up on each other. (See Dec. 20 feature on Williams).
Warren football falls in CIF Championship
Head coach Adam Leonard talks with players during practice at Warren High School in Downey on Tuesday August 20, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Warren had a title run but lost in the CIF-SS D7 Championship game. It was another unexpected playoff run, as they finished third in the Gateway League with a 3-2 record and 3-7 overall.
In addition, Warren started the season with five consecutive losses and was outscored, 140-49.
But they got hot and won three consecutive CIF games by convincing fashion – Palm Desert (35-7), Golden Valley (40-14) and Yucaipa (41-17), before losing to Rio Hondo Prep, 43-16 in the championship.
The title loss was the second consecutive for the Bears, as they lost a close game in 2023, 24-21, to St. Bonaventure.
Warren boys water polo, PMA girls volleyball reach CIF Championships
Warren’s Sonny Lopez (2) reacts after scoring a goal against Palm Desert in the CIF Division 5 water polo finals at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Two more area teams reached the CIF Championship game and finished as runners-up
Warren (14-14), which was aiming for its first CIF Boys Water Polo title in program history, fell to Palm Desert, 10-4, in division D5 (See story in Nov. 22 issue) and PMA Girls Volleyball fell to Rialto, 3-0, in the CIF D9 Championship match.
After a first-round bye, the Bears won two one-goal games in the second round (11-10 over Rowland) and quarterfinals (12-11 over Temescal Canyon).
A two-goal (13-11) win over Webb in the semifinals vaulted the Bears into the title game.
“I think the journey here was so fun,” said Warren coach Celeste Moreira, of the playoff run. “Although we came up short, I’m really proud of our season. This is the first time ever in Warren High School Boys Water Polo history that we’ve ever made it I believe past the quarterfinals. I think the fact that we made it to the championship game is something to be proud of and something that our younger boys can use as fuel moving forward.”
Senior attacker Sonny Lopez led the Bears with three goals in the game.
Another senior leader, Matthew Casalegno, said of the team and playoff run, “Going from CIF second round last year (2023) and just coming to the CIF finals is huge,” he said. “It means a lot to me to be able to get my boys up here. I’m not happy with the outcome, but I’m happy with our overall performance over the season.
“Although we didn’t win, we proved that we were champs.”
PMA Girls VB reaches CIF D9 Final
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy’s Stephanie Zesati (21) hits the ball over the net as they play Rialto during the CIF Championship volleyball game. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
The CIF D9 Girls Volleyball playoff run was also historical for the PMA Warriors, as it was only the fourth time in the last 21 years that the volleyball team has been in the playoffs, let alone advance to the title match.
The Warriors hadn’t advanced past the opening round in that time period but broke through with a 3-0 sweep in round one over Desert Mirage.
“This is our second season in a row making playoffs and the first time in a championship,” said Arial Guzman-Avila, who is also the PMA girls soccer coach. “Also, it’s the first time qualifying for the state tournament as well. (See stories in Nov. 8, 15 issues).
“We managed to do so playing through a full schedule with high level playoff teams from last year as a way to prepare ourselves for the season and ultimately it’s helped us with experience to make this amazing run.”
They defeated Century, 3-1, in the second round, but the big win was a five-set come-from-behind victory over San Gorgonio in the quarterfinals.
Down two sets to none, the Warriors rallied for the last three sets, 25-18, 25-20 and 15-7 to advance to the semifinals against Nogales, which they easily swept in three sets.
Leading the way for the Warriors was outside hitters Vera Vasquez and Monica Boone, who account for 70% of the kills. Vasquez was slightly ahead on kills for the season. They are spilt 50/50 in percentages.
Libero and senior captain Samantha Bayardo was the teams’ digs leader both for the regular season and in the playoffs.
“Our Captains are seniors Samantha Bayardo and Zoe Zamudio who brought strong leadership to the program and set a fantastic example and have served as catalysts for this run that we’ve put together,” Guzman-Avila said.
No. 10 Seed PMA, which qualified for the CIF D V State playoffs, upset No. 7 Seed Garden Grove in straight sets in Round I, but the run came to an end in Round II with a three-set loss to No. 2 Reseda.
“It’s been an honor to be coaching this team, especially with my dad (Chris Guzman – assistant coach). Not everyone can say they made it to a championship,” said Arial Guzman-Avila.
Calvary Downey wins first league title in 14 years
Calvary Chapel Downey’s Sydney Bass (5) scores a point against Orange County Christian in their league girls volleyball game on Thursday October 10, 2024. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
A successful season for third-year coach Elyssa Quintero finished with an Express League title, the first in 14 years for the program.
The Grizzlies (12-12), coming off a winless league season in 2023 and 3-17 overall record, finished the 2024 regular season winning 10 of its last 12 matches. (See story in Oct. 17 issue).
Down the stretch for the Grizzlies, they won eight in a row before a final game loss in five sets to Newport Christian to spoil an undefeated league record.
In those eight wins, they swept seven of those games.
“I don’t know, I can’t really believe it,” senior libero Brenda Gurrola said of the championship. “We look up and see the numbers and I didn’t go into this season thinking our number (championship banner year) is going to be there, but every single practice I just saw us, and I knew we were going to be up there. Like, 2024 is going to be up there hanging in our gym.”
Gurrola led the team with 214 digs and averaged 4.5 per set this season.
Quintero, who is an alum and played varsity volleyball from 2004 to 2006 has been coaching volleyball for 10 years.
“The group of girls I (had) this year (were) really dedicated,” Quintero said. “They are basically the same with the addition of a few new girls. All of my starting six are from last year.”
Assistant coaches, Julianna Muncherian and Jeremiah Mitte have helped to grow the program, along with Quintero.
Leading the team in attacking and serving stats this past season was senior middle blocker Sydney Bass with 122 kills (.345 kill percentage) and .247 ace percentage.
Downey, Warren has successful girls flag football seasons
Warren’s Samantha Tinoco (33), Isabella Gonzalez (9), Anahi Morales (10) and Natalia Campos line up for the coin toss before playing Woodbridge in their CIF Division 2 second round Flag Football game at Warren High School. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Downey quarterback Madeline Garcia (32) throws a pass as they play Millikan in their girls varsity Flag Football game at Millikan High School in Long Beach on Wednesday August 28, 2024. Downey defeated Millikan 19-12. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
The new high school sport, Girls Flag Football, which has taken the country by storm these past few years, found its way to Downey these past two years. (See Aug. 30 Issue).
Warren, which debuted its program last year and Downey, just finished successful seasons with each winning a CIF playoff game, before bowing out in the second round.
Downey co-coach Chuck Lozano had freshman quarterback Madeline Garcia lead the Vikings.
“When we created our schedule, we wanted to seek out the best to see what we needed to do to get where we want to get to,” Lozano said.
Downey Co-coach Bonnie Nishioka said of the first-year team, “It feels good to be a female in a predominately male sport and to create a foundation for something that when I retire it will still be here.
Also assisting in the program was Jesse Ferguson, Dominick Cortez and Yazmin Mendoza.
Lozano, who has been a legend of sorts in the men’s flag football leagues for years, received help from longtime football coach Jack Williams in a startup.
“We received a lot of help during the try-out process from Williams and his varsity assistants, as well as some school faculty members,” Lozano said. “We had 130 girls try out. That was awesome and challenging.”
Warren, behind second-year coach Felipe Aguilar, completed its second season and was on an eight-game winning streak before its season-ending playoff loss.
The Bears (17-8) were undefeated in the Gateway League with a perfect 8-0 record.
This season began with senior quarterback Anahi Morales looking forward to improving on her 2023 MVP season, but an early-season injury ended those dreams. However, with a ton of experience in the ’23 season, sophomore quarterback Isabella Gonzalez stepped in and led the Bears to another league title. (See Warren QB feature story Oct. 11 issue).
“The character of this team was second to none and it hurts,” said Aguilar, of his team and the second-round loss in the playoffs. “These girls grew individually as a team, and they set the standard for our program.
“Moving forward for however many years, that’s the legacy this team is going to leave for this program.”
Congratulations again to the All-Gateway League selections:
The All-Gateway League players were just named, and both Downey and Warren are well represented. MVP – Samantha Tinoco, SO (Warren); Offensive Player of the Year – Isabella Gonzalez, SO (Warren); First Team – Genesis Morales, SR. (Warren), Giselle Rivera, SR. (Warren); Katelyn Barron, SR. (Warren); Delilah Navarro, JR. (Downey); Chloe Cotton, JR. (Downey); Second Team – Amanda Velazquez, SR (Downey); Madeline Garcia, FR (Downey); Nataly Arevalo, SR. (Warren); Isabella Ponce, SR. (Warren).
Iamaleava and Chiles lead Tennessee and Michigan State
Warren High quarterback Nico Iamaleava against Downey in their San Gabriel Valley League football game at Downey High School last year. Warren defeated Downey 26-16. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Downey quarterback Aiden Chiles (2) in their non-league game at St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs last year. Downey defeated St. Paul 44-23. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
For the first time, no doubt, the City of Downey was represented with two NCAA DI quarterbacks leading their respective universities in the same season.
Warren alum Iamaleava, in his second season and first as a starter, led the Vols to the inaugural FBS 12-team playoffs.
After an MVP performance in last year’s Citrus Bowl game, the red-shirt freshman started all 13 games this past season and became the first quarterback to lead his team to a 10-win season since 2003.
He threw for 2,512 yards and 19 TDs this season and also ran for over 300 yards and a touchdown. He was also chosen as SEC Freshman of the Week four times and was a 2024 finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist.
Chiles, a graduate of Downey High, started his college career at Oregon State in the 2023 season. He played in nine games and was 24 for 35 with four TDs and rushed for 109 yards and scored three touchdowns.
When head coach Jonathan Smith moved on to Michigan State, so did Chiles and he started all 12 games for the Spartans, passing for 2,415 yards, 13 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and ran for 225 net yards and three touchdowns.