The Plank - Sports
Wrestling team plans to suplex their way to victory
After an outstanding 2023-2024 season, the Jesuit High School Sacramento wrestling team aims to continue their success this winter. The team has refined their skills throughout the off-season, training to dominate the competition.
“A lot of the wrestlers, including me, have been doing off season practices throughout spring, summer, and fall,” said Xavier Pizano ’25. “And outside of just practicing, we’ve also been going to tournaments and wrestling camps. We’ve done a lot of off-season competition and practices to prepare for this upcoming season.”
Flames blown out by the Big Red Machine
On Friday, Nov. 8, the Jesuit High School Sacramento varsity football team beat the Lodi High School Flames 42-14, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Division 2 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs.
After forcing a punt on the opening drive of the game, the Marauders started out strong offensively with running back Jack Patock ’25 scoring an 11-yard rushing touchdown early in the first quarter. Kicker Yudiel “Dragon” Mondragon converted the PAT to take an early 7-0 lead.
Jesuit dominates Whitney in final regular season game
On Friday, Nov. 1, the Jesuit High School Sacramento varsity football team beat the Whitney High School Wildcats 48-7.
Following a punt from the Wildcats, Jesuit started off the scoring by taking a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter after a 42-yard rushing touchdown from Joshua Rucker ’26 and a made PAT from Yudiel “Dragon” Mondragon.
Folsom triumphs over Jesuit in wire to wire win
On Friday, Oct. 11, the Jesuit High School Sacramento varsity football team lost at home to the Folsom High School Bulldogs 55-10.
On the first drive of the game, Folsom moved down the field quickly before punching in a 1-yard rushing touchdown and added a successful PAT, the Bulldogs held a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes to go in the first quarter.
Jesuit gets revenge against Del Oro
On Friday, Oct. 18, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s varsity football team won an away game against the Del Oro High School Golden Eagles 34-14. This win avenged Jesuit’s triple overtime loss to Del Oro in last year’s section playoffs.
To start the game, Jesuit received the opening kickoff, and after a strong drive, they finished with a 10-yard touchdown run by quarterback Teddy Rios ’26. After an extra point by Yudiel “Dragon” Mondragon ’26, the score was 7-0.
Jesuit offense stalls in loss to Oak Ridge
On Friday, Oct. 11, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s varsity football team lost an away game to the Oak Ridge High School Trojans 23-3.
To start the game, Jesuit received the opening kickoff, and drove down the field before fumbling and turning the ball over on the Oak Ridge 23-yard line.
Jesuit Cross Country rises to the occasion in Portland
On Sept. 28, the Jesuit High School Sacramento cross country team traveled to Portland, Oregon for the Nike Portland XC invitational meet. The Marauders dominated, beating the second-place team by 55 points.
The competition marked the continuation of an already successful season for the Marauders, who had taken first place at all of their meets so far this season. The difference in Portland was that Jesuit wasn’t just competing against local teams, but dominating competition from all over the west.
First Big Red Golf Tournament tees off tomorrow
The First Annual Big Red Golf Tournament takes place on Friday, Oct. 11. The event gives alumni and other members of the Jesuit community the opportunity to connect on the Haggin Oaks MacKenzie golf course. This tournament is several years in the making, and serves as another way for people to support Jesuit.
“The purpose of the Big Red Golf Tournament is to create an annual function where alumni and Jesuit supporters can come have a great time on the golf course, talk about old times and future times, as well as help to support the great institution that is Jesuit,” Coach Morton said. “Mr. [Matthew] Ramos [’05] and Mr. [Hank] Weinberger have wanted to do this for a few years and luckily the time came to make it a reality.”
Jesuit demolishes Davis under the lights
On Friday, Oct. 4, the Jesuit High School Sacramento varsity football team dominated Davis High School 53-0.
One minute into the game, Davis was forced to punt, and Jesuit quickly capitalized on their first offensive opportunity when quarterback Teddy Rios ’26 connected with wide receiver Ryan Reeves ’26 on a 22-yard touchdown pass. Kicker Yudiel “Dragon” Mondragon ’26 added the extra point, making the score 7-0 Jesuit.
Jesuit gets blown out by thunderstorm
On Friday, Sept. 27, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s varsity football team lost to the Rocklin High School Thunder 52-14.
RHS received the opening kickoff and quickly went down the field to score a 6-yard rushing touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead, with nine minutes to go in the first quarter.
Jesuit falls to Granite Bay in first league game
On Friday, Sept. 21, 2024, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s varsity football team lost to Granite Bay High School 17-30.
Midway through the first quarter, the first touchdown of the game was scored by GBHS wide receiver Darnell Turner ’26 on a 17-yard pass completion. GBHS kicker Jimmy Deslaruier kicked in extra point to make the score 7-0 GBHS.
Playing for each other, the Legacy of Coach Paul Rose
After 45 years as the head soccer coach at Jesuit High School Sacramento, Coach Paul Rose is retiring from coaching, leaving behind an incredible career that cements him as a titan of high school sports in California.
Jesuit Water Polo: aiming high
Following a strong 16-11 season, the Jesuit High School Sacramento varsity water polo team aims to continue their success this year. The team believes they can compete at an even higher level by growing in all areas of play.
Last year, the Marauders finished second in the Delta League, and finished fourth in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Division 1 Section Playoffs. This year, Head Water Polo Coach Josh Ford and the team seek to build on their past success.
Jesuit defeats CB in a low scoring Holy Bowl
On Sept. 14, 2024, Jesuit High School Sacramento beat Christian Brothers High School 7-0 in Holy Bowl 53.
The game was dominated by defense from the very beginning. Jesuit had the first possession, but they fumbled the ball on the 3rd play of the game.The defense made up for it, however, by forcing a 4th down and then stopping CB’s fake punt. The two teams went on to trade possessions for the rest of the quarter.
Marauders sail confidently into the Holy Bowl
Saturday, Sept. 14 marks the 55th annual Holy Bowl at Sacramento City College’s Hughes Stadium.
After commanding victories against Rio Americano and Bellarmine College Preparatory, Jesuit High School Sacramento football is looking to secure a third victory against Christian Brothers. The pressure is on for the Marauders this year, as they have not lost a Holy Bowl since CB won 30-27 in 2019.
Jesuit Dominates Rio In ‘The Battle for American River Drive’
In yet another victory over Rio Americano High School, and the first under the new permanent stadium lights, Jesuit High School Sacramento put on a dominant display in their season opener, defeating their American River Drive rivals 56-7.
The Big Red Machine began the game with a strong drive that ended in a ten yard rushing touchdown by running back and linebacker Jack Patock ’25. After only three minutes of play and a successful point after touchdown (PAT) by Yudiel “Dragon” Mondragon Jr ’26, the Marauders established a lead that they never relinquished.
Jesuit Cross Country: excelling with depth
As Jesuit High School Sacramento’s fall sports kickoff, its cross country program, headed by legendary Head Cross Country Coach Walt Lange, looks stronger than ever.
After Saturday, Aug. 17’s intrasquad race, “The meeting of the Marauders,” Assistant Cross Country Coach Thomas Witzgall ’98 is confident that the team will excel this season.
“As a team, I think we’re probably one of the best teams Jesuit’s ever had,” Coach Witzgall said.
Kicking off, under the lights
A new era of Jesuit High School Sacramento football has arrived. With the move into the Sierra Foothill League and the addition of permanent stadium lights, the atmosphere at home games will never be the same again. The first of these matches, which takes place on Friday, Aug. 30 against Rio Americano High School, is crucial to setting Jesuit off to a good start.
Quarterback Theodore “Teddy” Rios ’26 believes that this highly anticipated game will give the team a chance to prove themselves in a new year.
“[The lights] will just bring another level of energy and excitement before the game,” Teddy said. “The Rio game is going to be really energetic, we’re really pumped, it’s a great rivalry, everyone is super close together at both schools and we’re just trying to go out and make a statement that we’re for real.”
Jesuit football: fueled by ambition
On Friday, Aug. 27, the Jesuit High School varsity football team played De La Salle High School in their only scrimmage game. Their season officially opens against Rio Americano High School on Aug. 30.
Although score is not kept in scrimmages, this matchup still served as a solid benchmark for the team’s performance going into the season.
“Friday’s scrimmage was a great learning experience for us,” said running back Jack Patock ’25. “We saw where our strengths were, and found areas that we need to work on. We struggled being consistent – some drives we played well, and others we played poorly. Our goal is to be more consistent and make less mistakes each week, which I know we can achieve.”
Laiatu Latu ’19: unstoppable
In the 2020 collegiate football preseason, Jesuit High School
Sacramento alumnus Laiatu Latu ’19 suffered a neck injury during
practice. He was told he would never play again, and the
University of Washington (UW) announced his retirement.