A new season starts — Berkeley High Jacket

Last season, the girls volleyball team made it through the first round of North Coast Section (NCS) playoffs but was defeated by the first seed, Monte Vista, in the quarter finals. “This year we really want to make it all the way through (NCS playoffs) and we think we can,” said senior and co-captain Elle Walker. To achieve this goal, the team has extended practices and put a focus on refining their individual skills. 

Since last season, the team has lost seven graduating seniors. Despite this, Walker believes that the team will be successful. They are hoping to beat one of their rivals, Bishop O’Dowd. “We really want to beat O’Dowd … I think we’ll really be able to,” said Walker. 

In the spring, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) approved girls flag football for California high schools. As a result, Berkeley High School has a girls flag football team for the first time in its history. “It’s a privilege to be the first,” said head coach Israel Carrero. 

In addition to winning, Carrero hopes to instill confidence and create a sense of community for the players. “I’m trying to really encourage the girls to get out of their comfort zones and really push themselves,” said Carrero. “You always hear about the brotherhood for football. I want the same thing for women.”

In 2022-23, the cross country team had a successful season with both the boys and girls placing first in the West Alameda County Conference, qualifying for both the NCS and CIF state championships. 

While the team had many achievements, they also had many injuries, which they are hoping to cut back on this season. “My main hope for this season is just being able to have more kids running and enjoying themselves and less people sitting on the sides,” said Senior Meghan Malone. To create this change, the team is trying to “start new things like, having more injury prevention sessions, led by the seniors after practice or even doing yoga,” said Malone.