Santa Margarita Catholic High School Girls Notch Second-Consecutive CIF Southern Section Commissioner’s Cup for Athletic Success
Tenth overall championship is best all-time and solidifies Lady Eagles as athletic powerhouse
By Chuck Nan | Sports Information Director | June 8, 2026
At the recently concluded 2025-2026 academic school year, the CIF Southern Section (CIFSS) announced its annual Commissioner’s Cup Champions. This honor recognizes the top overall athletic programs in Southern California based on success across all sports in fall, winter and spring seasons.
For the second-consecutive year, the Santa Margarita Catholic High School (SMCHS) girl’s athletic programs garnered the crown. This is the tenth time that SMCHS girls have captured the trophy in the thirty-three year history of the award. It is the seventh since 2013-14. The next closest school is Corona del Mar with five plaques -- their last coming in 2008-2009.
This girl’s title adds one more triumph to the school’s 13 total CIFSS Commissioner’s Cup wins. The SMCHS boy’s program has won three. They had a strong showing this past year as well -- tying for tenth-place overall with 13 points.
This recognition is based upon points earned by schools through CIFSS championships, runner-up finishes, semifinal appearances and other postseason success such as advancement to regional and state levels. The tracking system provides 5 points for a CIF Divisional Championship, 3 points for a runner-up finish, 2 points for advancing to the semifinal round or a third place team finish and one point for a fourth place finish. According to CIFSS guidelines all competitors must aspire to maintaining “excellence in athletic competition.”
For 2025-2026, Santa Margarita Catholic girl’s athletics earned a total of 300 points with championship titles in golf, soccer, volleyball and swimming & diving. The Lady Eagles were runners-up in cross-country, tennis, traditional competitive cheer and lacrosse.
It was a two-school race for the title as Trinity League rival JSerra Catholic finished just 3 points behind. Mater Dei, another league competitor, finished a distant number three as third through tenth places were closely bunched. All three schools were the only schools from Orange County in the top-ten.
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