Track & Field
TRACK & FIELD
CIF Champions Boys Track & Field 1996, Runner-Up 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2018
- Legacy
- Standards
- Eagle Invitational
- Incoming Freshman Meeting
- Parent Meeting Power Point
- Team Store
- How to Team Snap Attendance
- Track Summer Camp Power Point
Legacy
Alumni
History
BOYS HISTORY | Santa Margarita High School opened in the fall of 1987, welcoming 218 freshmen to its beautiful 42-acre campus. Coach Dave Zeitler arrived in 1989 after leaving Mater Dei and had been the Head Coach up until 2012, when he passed the baton to his son, Sean Zeitler. Coach Dave Zeitler's first team in February 1990 consisted of 26 athletes, today, the Eagles boast 228 (Boys and Girls) athletes on their roster. With increased numbers came greater success. The Eagles Track & Field team has won seven league championships, one Angelus, five Serra League and one Sea View League. In 2001, the Eagles earned the prestigious Orange County Championship. The Eagles have also finished in the runner up spot at Orange County on three other occasions; 1996, 2000 & 2002. When it really counts, at C.I.F. Finals, the Eagles have one third place finish in 2000, four 2nd place finishes, 2001 - 2003 and 2018 and a C.I.F. Championship in 1996.
Individuals from the team have also excelled. The track program has produced 20 individual/Relay C.I.F. Champions: Matt Blasdel in the 300IH in 1996, Pat Luke won two Pole Vault Championships in 1999 & 2000, Sean Zeitler won his C.I.F. Championship in the 300IH in 2001 and Jeff Jacobs won a C.I.F Championship in the 400m in 2002 and repeated in 2003. Andrew Prodoehl was C.I.F Pole Vault Champion in 2005, Ryan Martin in the 800 in 2006 and 2007, Jimmy Martin garnered the 300IH championship in May of 2009. Parker Curry carried on the pole vaulting tradition as he was crowned CIF Champion in 2013. Austin Tinsley won the Division 3 CIF Championship in the 300IH in 2014 before becoming SMCHS’ first individual Masters champion when he won the 300IH in a time of 37.25. Blake Hennesay earned CIF individual titles in the 100-meter and the 300IH, with times of 10.71 and 38.20 in his junior campaign. Hennesay would go on to advance to the CIF State Championship Finals in both events, including running school record times of 10.54 and 36.95. Blake's 36.95 makes him the fifth fastest in Orange County history and the fastest junior ever in Orange County history. Hennesay would double down his senior year, defending both CIF titles in the 100m (10.57) and the 300 hurdles (37.72), guiding his team to a runner-up finish in Division 3, the best finish for the boys since 2003.
Relays have also played a major part in the success. C.I.F. Championships have been won by the 1996 4 x 100m relay team, the 1998 4 x 400m relay team, the 2000 4 x 400m relay team and the 2001 4 x 400m relay team. Numerous individuals and relay teams have qualified for the Masters Meet, the southern section's State qualifying meet. Individual athletes that have qualified for the California State Meet are: Pat Luke in the Pole Vault, Jeff Jacobs in the 400m, Brandon Clark in the 400m, Jim Lunnen in the High Jump, Matt Blasdel, Andrew Prodoehl in the Pole Vault, Ryan Martin in the 800m, Parker Curry in the Pole Vault, Austin Tinsley in the 300IH, Blake Hennesay in the 100 and 300 Intermediate Hurdles in 2017 as well as 2018, and Sean Byrne in the 1600 also in 2018. The 4 x 100m relay team of 2002 also qualified for the State Meet. The 4 x 400m relay teams qualified for the State Meet for four consecutive years, from 2000-2003. In all, the Eagle boys boast 20 Individual CIF Champions in less than 30 years of Santa Margarita school history.
GIRLS HISTORY | The girls track & field program has produced six CIF team championships, with the first coming in 1999 and the next five consecutive from 2015 to 2019. In addition to the team championships, the Lady Eagles have 31 individual/relay CIF championships as well, with a rich history in several specific events. Since 2005, the Eagles have had nine CIF pole vault champions, including a stretch of six consecutive years from 2012-2016 between just two vaulters. Kaitlyn Merritt was a four-time CIF Champion (2012-2015), followed by back to back titles from Kate Thomas (2016-2017). Merritt would go on to earn the first ever individual state championship in school history, earning the California state title in the pole vault in 2013 and 2015.
2017 was a very special year for the Eagle track and field program. Not only did the team secure their third straight CIF Championship at that time, but also set a Division 3 record for points in doing so, with 112 to outdistance themselves from a talented Calabasas team. That saw year, the girls 4x100 team of Mallory Barnes, Lauren Drysch, Nikki Merritt and Tessa Green set the Orange County record with their time of 46.28. The stretch from 2015-2019 left a dent in the All-Time Orange County record books, to the tune of 26 marks in the Top-30. Of those marks, 13 crack the top 10 All-Time.
The Eagles have produced several, multiple CIF champions in the last 30+ years, including Katie Nuanes in the 1600 (1996, 1997), Amanda Shanklin was a three time individual CIF Champion, winning the triple jump in 1998, before going on to sweep the hurdles in 1999. Hurdle standout Lauren Collins won the 100-hurdles in back to back year (2003, 2004), while Claire Hawkins was a double-CIF Champion, pioneering the rich pole vault history by earning the first two vault titles in 2005 and 2008. The Eagles earned their first ever relay CIF title in 2015 when the 4x400 team of Sheridan Scifres, Lauren Drysch, Nikki Merritt and Kaitlyn Merritt put the bookend on the team title by winning the 4x400 in a time of 3:52.15. The second relay to ever win a team title, and the first 4x100 championship came in 2018 courtesy of Mia Roth, Jessica Elizalde-Rendon, Nikki Merritt and Tessa Green. Nikki Merritt capped off her 2018 and high school campaign by helping to lead the Eagles to their fourth consecutive team title, courtesy of her four individual/relay titles that day. After helping the 4x100 team, Merritt's final CIF championship competition consisted of her also winning the 100-meter, 100-meter hurdle, and the 300-meter hurdle, giving her five individual/relay championships for her career, more than any other Eagle ever. That was until the 2019 season. After winning the 200-meter her junior year in 2018, Tessa Green picked up where Nikki Merritt left off, by leading her team to another CIF Championship (fifth straight) in 2019, before going on to win the 100-meter, defend her 200-meter title, and closing out her day by helping the 4x400 team to a CIF Championship of their own, 3:52.27. Green helped guide the 4x100 relay team to a 7th place finish at the California State Meet, before placing 6th herself in the 100-meters, in a new school record time of 11.78, the 2nd fastest in Orange County History. Also making a cameo on the podium in 2019, in her first year of track and field, was sophomore Lauren Memoly, who would place 6th in the 400-meters at the California State Meet as well and also run a school record and the #6 time in County history the week before, 54.97. Memoly won her first individual CIF title in the 400 just two weeks before with her time of 55.33.
Since 2013, the Eagles have rewritten the record books, breaking 14 of the 21 school records and have sent five athletes into the Eagle Hall of Fame since 2015.
This year, the Eagle tradition continues.
Records
Mission
The mission of the Eagle Track & Field program is to take a group of collective individuals and teach them how to become a team. Eagle track and field athletes will all be held to the same standards and expected to up uphold the Catholic-Christian standards and values of the school and the program. Our goal as a program is to teach these young men and women the value of hard work, patience, sacrifice, and teamwork, all of which will be used well beyond high school.
CORE VALUES: Effort | Integrity | Accountability
Hall of Fame
Santa Margarita Track & Field Hall of Fame Requirements
In order for an athlete to gain entry into the Santa Margarita Track & Field Hall of Fame they must have maintained a positive academic & disciplinary record during their tenure at Santa Margarita (no periods of academic ineligibility or disciplinary probation). Additionally, once an athlete began their track & field, they must have completed their track participation with no interruptions (i.e. quitting, taking a year off, not competing in a post season meet for which he/she qualified, etc.). Admission to the Hall of Fame will only take place after the completion of the athletes’ senior year of competition & graduation.
In addition to the above-mentioned criteria, the athlete must acquire 17 points in order to be considered for entrance to the Hall of Fame. Of those 17 points, at least 8 points must be earned through individual accomplishments. The athlete must also have earned a minimum of 10 CIF points. Points towards Hall of Fame induction can be earned in the following ways:
- California State Meet Champion in an individual event: 10 points
- California State Meet champion on a relay team: 4 points
- California State Meet finalist in an individual event: 7 points
- California State Meet finalist on a relay team: 3 points
- Ranking in Top 100 nationally in an individual event: 5 points
- Ranking in Top 100 nationally on a relay team: 2 points
- Masters Meet qualifier in an individual event: 4 points
- Masters Meet qualifier on a relay team: 1 point
- CIF Champion in an individual event: 6 points
- CIF Champion on a relay team: 3 points
- Orange County Champion in an individual event: 3 points
- Orange County Champion on a relay team: 1 point
- Compiling 15 career CIF Finals points (individual & relay): 3 points
- Compiling 20 career CIF Finals points (individual & relay): 4 points
- School Record holder in an individual event: 1 point
- Santa Margarita Team Captain: .5 point
Please note: Each point total is based upon one accomplishment. For instance: winning 2 separate CIF individual Championships would accrue 12 points (6 points x 2 titles = 12 points).
Also, when calculating career CIF Finals points, relay points awarded to the team are divided by 4 in order to tally the individual’s point total. For example, if a relay team places 2nd at CIF Finals, the team earns 8 points and each member earns 2 towards their career total points ( 8 points divided 4 team members = 2 points)
- 1996 | Matt Blasdel
- 1997 | Katie Nuanes
- 1998 | Matt Brooks
- 1999 | Amanda Shanklin
- 2000 | Pat Luke
- 2001 | Sean Zeitler
- 2001 | Lori Mann
- 2003 | Brandon Clark
- 2003 | Jeff Jacobs
- 2005 | Lauren Collins
- 2006 | Julian de Rubira
- 2006 | Jessie Lucier
- 2007 | Ryan Martin
- 2009 | Jimmy Martin
- 2014 | Parker Curry
- 2015 | Kaitlyn Merritt
- 2017 | Kate Thomas
- 2017 | Erin Gerardo
- 2017 | Lauren Drysch
- 2018 | Nikki Merritt
- 2018 | Blake Hennesay
- 2018 | Sean Byrne
- 2019 | Tessa Green
Click Here for the full comprehensive list in alphabetical order
Trinity League Records
Standards
Because we are limited in the amount of entries we are allowed, the Eagle Track & Field Program utilizes a set of standards for consideration to participate in invitationals, away dual meets, and League Prelims. For our home dual meets, all athletes will participate in the events they sign up for, or are assigned to. See below for the standards as well as our team contract.
- Standards: Click Here for the Invitational, Away Dual Meet and League Prelim Standards
- Team Contract: Click Here for the Track & Field Team Contract
Eagle Invitational
The 27th Eagle Invitational | february 18, 2023Edison | Esperanza | Newport Harbor | Orange Lutheran | Notre Dame | Santa Margarita | St. John Bosco | St. Joseph's
Directions
Santa Margarita High School, 22062 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Current weather in Rancho Santa Margarita
Details
3/16" Pyramid Spikes Only. No athlete will be permitted to participate in their event until their spikes have been checked first. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. Spikes will be for sale at the Clerk of the Course for $1 per shoe.
All throwing implements will be weighed prior to competition.
Surface: Installed in 2014 - Brand new BEYNON Synthetic BSS 1000 ML Full-Pour Blue Track Surface.
Running Events:
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100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 100/110H & 300H: 3 entries per team per level for each of these events *note: Boys Frosh/Soph 110 hurdles will 36" (intermediate height)*
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1600m: 3 entries per team per level.
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No 3200m - the 4x800 will be run instead.
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4 x 100m Relay 1 entry per team per level.
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4 x 400m Relay 1 entry per team per level
Field Events:
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A 1 minute time limit will be in effect for all field events.
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Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Shot Put & Discus: 3 entries per level. 3 Attempts for lower levels, 4 for varsity
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LJ & TJ: Boys in the east pit, girls in the west pit. We will use an open pit but Varsity has priority on the runway.
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Pole Vault: 3 entries per team, per gender, per level
Opening Heights:
- High Jump Opening heights or a higher agreed upon height: G Var 4'06" | B Var 5'06" | G JV 4'02" | B JV & F/S 5'02"
- Pole Vault 3 entries per level; Opening heights or a higher agreed upon height: G Var 7'00" | B Var 10'00" | G JV 6'06" | B JV 9'00" | B F/S 8'00"
Schedule
Past Results
Incoming Freshman Meeting
Parent Meeting Power Point
Team Store
How to Team Snap Attendance
Track Summer Camp Power Point
Click Here to see the Track Summer Camp Power Point
Schedule & Roster
Coaches
An Alumni of SMCHS, class of '03, Coach Powers was D3 OC Champion (15:04), Trinity League Champion, CIF SS 
champion (15:07 at Mt.SAC), and 5th at the State Championship (15:42) cross country. In track, he was Trinity League Champion in the 3200m with personal bests of 1:57 (800), 4:21 (1600) and 9:24 (3200). He went on to run at UCSB and majored in English Lit. There he ran 30:31 for 10k in cross country at the NCAA Wester Regional Championships and was named USCSB MVP and Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Athlete of the Year for cross country. In track, he excelled at the 3000m Steeple chase and was Big West Conference Champion, ran 8:48 at the NCAA Western Regional Championships earing him All Wester Region, and qualified for the D1 NCAA Championships where he finished as an All-American Steeplechaser. After college, he went on the run semi-professionally, finishing in the top 100 at the USATF XC Club Championships with a time of 30:59 in 2016. He also has personal bests of 14:29 in the 5k, 3:56 in the 1500m, 51:50 in the 10 mile.
Coach Powers has been coaching for eight years. He started at SMCHS then went to El Toro before taking a break to go back to school to get his Masters in Education, followed by Portola HS and now back at SMHS where he is also a teacher. He has coached a number of talented athletes, most notably coaching Jason Engle (’13) to an SM school record in the 1600 with a time of 4:14. Jason went on to compete at the Air Force Academy. He hopes, through athletics, to instill the virtues of discipline, hard work, and sportsmanship, so that they can then apply these principles to their lives outside of sport. Coach Powers' philosophy approaches each athlete as an individual, hoping to help his students set and reach their athletic goals, resulting in a lifelong love of running and fitness.
Assistant Distance Coach | Martin Dugard
Martin Dugard is among the most successful distance running coaches in Southern California. Prior to arriving at Santa Margarita in 2020 in search of a new coaching challenge, Coach Dugard served for fifteen years as Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at JSerra Catholic High School. There he transformed both programs from brand new entities into perennial state championship contenders. Coach Dugard's cross country squads hold the best record in Trinity League history, winning a combined thirteen team championships and twelve individual crowns. At the CIF level, his teams have recorded five team championships, three runners-up titles, and four individual champions. Coach Dugard's teams also excelled at the State level, winning three State Championships, one runner-up, and two third-place titles. In one remarkable streak between 2015 and 2019, his runners won four individual State championships. 2019 also marked the first time on the national stage for one of Coach Dugard's runners, which concluded with an All-American honor. In track and field, Coach Dugard has seen several runners break 4:11 (1600m) and 9:00 (3200m). His runners have gone on to top NCAA schools, including Navy, UCLA, Cal, Wake Forest, Gonzaga, and USC. Coach Dugard serves on the Board of Directors for the USA Track & Field Foundation, chairing the Olympic Developmental Program. He is also a member of the Southern Section CIF Advisory Committee. Outside of coaching, Mr. Dugard is an eight-time New York Times #1 bestselling author, writing books of history and the memoir, To Be A Runner. Coach Dugard is also a Fellow of Britain's Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). His personal competitive background includes NCAA racing for Northern Michigan University. He has also has run the Boston, New York and Los Angeles marathons, completed the legendary Raid Gauloises adventure race, and is co-holder of the around-the-world speed record, having flown from New York to New York in 31 hours and 28 minutes at twice the speed of sound aboard an Air France Concorde in 1996. Coach Dugard and his wife, Calene, have three sons and are long time residents of Rancho Santa Margarita.
Throws Coach | Hollie Schillig
Coach Schillig competed for El Toro High School from 1985-1989 in both the shot put and discus. Hollie was a league champion and CIF qualifier both junior and senior year and was chosen as the Varsity Team Most Valuable Player. After high school, she competed at Saddleback Junior College from 1989-1990 and was actively recruited, receiving scholarship offers. She was unable to pursue her throwing career at the next level due to a family illness, but never lost her love of the sport. Coach Schillig has worked in the fitness industry for the last fourteen years as both a trainer and group fitness leader. She has held certifications in a variety of exercise and fitness formats such as cardio kickboxing, body combat, weightlifting, interval training, dance, indoor rowing, and cycle/spin formats. She is still currently teaching strength training and cycle classes at 24 Hour Fitness. Coach Schillig graduated from CSULB with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a Master’s Degree in World and U.S. History. She has been a teacher at CSU Long Beach for the last thirteen years in the Departments of History, Geography and Liberal Studies. She currently teaches critical thinking, World, U.S. and California History, and works in the College of Education in teacher training with the Liberal Studies Department. Hollie resides in Lake Forest with her husband and three children, all students at SMCHS, Brandon, Jason and Jacqueline.
assistant Sprint Coach | James Martin '09
Class of ‘09, Coach Martin competed at SMCHS in the 300IH and 110HH and was a CIF champion in the 300HH. He went on and competed at UCSB running the 400IH and was on the 4x400 meter relay team where he qualified for NCAA regionals in both the 400IH and the 4x400 relay. In love for the sport and fitness, Coach Martin is studying to become a personal trainer as well a strength and conditioning coach. Coach Martin brings what learned from his running career and looks to pass it on to his athletes to achieve their goals on and off the track.
high jump/ long jump Coach | Albert miranda
Coach Miranda has an extensive background in Track and Field. He started his coaching at Canyon High School in Anaheim in 1980. While at Canyon, he was an Assistant Girls Cross Country coach and Track and Field coach from 1980-1990. He became the Girls Head Track Coach there in 1985 and while he was there, the Comanches won 5 Century League Championships and several athletes went on to compete at major Universities including USC, Cal Poly SLO, and University of Huston. Coach Miranda was also an Assistant and Head Coach at Tesoro High School from 2011-2016. He was named the boys head Track and Field coach in 2012 and helped guide the boys track team to its first Sea View League Track and Field Championship. While at Tesoro, several of the athletes he coached received full or partial scholarships to major Universities including Oklahoma, MIT, and Harvard. Coach Miranda joined the SMCHS Track and Field coaching staff in 2019 as the boys and girls High Jump coach. During this time, he has helped coach two Trinity League Champions and has helped send four High Jumpers to compete in the CIF D3 Prelims and Finals. Coach Miranda is a Vietnam Combat Veteran and served with the First Infantry Division. He has a very strong faith and has been living in Rancho Santa Margarita for 28 years. Track and Field is Coach Miranda's way of giving back to the community by helping young athletes set goals and work to become all they can be, not just on the track, but also in life and in their communities.
Roster
2024 Girls Track & Field Roster
| Last Name | First Name | Grade |
| Agarwal | Ava | 9 |
| Alfageme | Ximena | 9 |
| Allado | Kiera | 11 |
| Altro | Sydney | 10 |
| Anderson | Amanda | 10 |
| Awan | Alisha | 9 |
| Barber | Brooke | 11 |
| Barry | Margaret | 10 |
| Bauman | Lauren | 12 |
| Beltran | Samantha | 10 |
| Bouchereau | Ava | 10 |
| Bucaro | Allison | 11 |
| Collazo | Jessica | 10 |
| Collazo | Samantha | 9 |
| Coulston | Taryn | 9 |
| Counte | Leyla | 9 |
| David | Jastel | 10 |
| Dodson | Katherine | 9 |
| Dodson | Kelly | 12 |
| Duarte | Sophia | 10 |
| Ekizian | Kate | 11 |
| Elizalde-Rendon | Sophia | 12 |
| Gloriani | Claire-Anne | 11 |
| Groves | Avery | 12 |
| Herbert | Sophie | 9 |
| Hu | Diana | |
| Johnsonbaugh | Madeline | 9 |
| Jordan | Elysse | 10 |
| Kelmar | Sophia | 10 |
| Kao | Kiera | 10 |
| Kreb | Kara | 10 |
| Li | Jiayin(Amy) | 10 |
| Loel | Ashlyn | 9 |
| Martinez | Allie | 11 |
| McDonald | Cameron | 9 |
| McLain | Brooke | 9 |
| Meier | London | 9 |
| Metoyer-Taylor | Olive | 10 |
| Nguyen | Felicity | 9 |
| Partridge | Riley | 10 |
| Phillips | Claire | 10 |
| Priebe | Makena | 10 |
| Quong | Sophia | 10 |
| Redfern | Lauren | 12 |
| Roshdieh | Aneese | 9 |
| Russo | Angela | 11 |
| Salsamendi | Isabella | 10 |
| Shepard | Erin | 12 |
| Smyth | Olivia | 10 |
| Southworth | Elena | 11 |
| St. Hilaire | Sofie | 11 |
| Streit | Athena | 12 |
| Szuba | Riley | 10 |
| Tavaglione | Grace | 10 |
| Temple | Lauren | 10 |
| Thomas | Alahna | 10 |
| Truong | Kailee | 12 |
| Veneziano | Chloe | 11 |
| Wei | Sutian | 10 |
| Whelton | Sydney | 9 |
| Wodtke | Imogen | 11 |
| Wu | Jiahao | 10 |
| Young | Cassandra | 9 |
| Young | Ryanna | 10 |
| Zichy-Thyssen (Gort) | Shiloh | 10 |
2024 Boys Track & Field Roster
| Last Name | First Name | Grade |
| Anyiam-Osigwe | Ekene | 11 |
| Baren | Miles | 9 |
| Bell | Roman | 9 |
| Bradford | Carter | 10 |
| Bradley | Jackson | 10 |
| Burke | Colin | 10 |
| Caragao | Jacob | 9 |
| Carrigan | Ivrick | 10 |
| Chai | Ziyi | 10 |
| Chavez | Enrique Diego | 11 |
| Chien | Marcus | 9 |
| Choi | Ethan | 9 |
| Cottone | Lucas | 10 |
| Crowder | Jayden | 10 |
| Cummins | Leo | 9 |
| Dose | Jayden | 12 |
| Embree | Sean | 11 |
| Etter | Henry | 10 |
| Francis | Leo | 11 |
| Fugate | Johannes | 10 |
| Furr | Brady | 11 |
| Gibson | Zac | 12 |
| Guerdat | Jules | 10 |
| Guido | Andrew | 10 |
| Hanne | JJ | 11 |
| Herbert | Parker | 12 |
| Horowitz | Dylan | 11 |
| Ivory | Michael | 12 |
| Johnson | James | 11 |
| Junker | Jack | 9 |
| Klatt | Aaron | 9 |
| Klatt | Warren | 9 |
| Laster | John | 12 |
| Lee | Tyler | 9 |
| Lyndsey | Skylar | 10 |
| Maiava | Jacob | 11 |
| Manutai | Izley | 11 |
| Manutai | Aleki | 12 |
| Martinez | Kahlel | 10 |
| McDaniel | Jack | 10 |
| Miyoshi | Taiyo | 9 |
| Moenoa | Judah | 12 |
| Morales | Davide | 9 |
| Morosoff | Peter | 9 |
| Patterson | Clayton | 10 |
| Perizo | Che | 11 |
| Pla | Aiden | 10 |
| Raney | William | 12 |
| Reder | Mason | 11 |
| Relvas | Colin | 12 |
| Reyes | Mason | 10 |
| Rilko | Sorin | 9 |
| Ring | Owen | 11 |
| Rogers | Dorian | 9 |
| Rusli | Preston | 12 |
| Savant | Luca | 9 |
| Signorile | Luca | 9 |
| Smith | Jonah | 10 |
| Spragno | Darin | 10 |
| Stifter | John | 12 |
| Sulzbach | Alexander | 10 |
| Sulzbach | Christian | 9 |
| Swanson | Tyler | 10 |
| Terry | Will | 12 |
| Thompson | Bradyn |
11 |
| Thomas | Ethan |
11 |
| Tilton | Tristen | 11 |
| Trombino | Wyatt | 9 |
| Volz | Ben | 12 |
| Volz | Tommy | 10 |
| Whitworth | Gavin | 10 |
| Yang | Brady | 9 |
| Zerrer | Braden | 12 |
| Zupanski | Nick | 11 |