From historic firsts to playoff runs and record-breaking performances, Gabrielino’s fall athletes made their mark. Whether on the field, the court, or the course, each team brought determination, growth, and school spirit to the season. Read on for a snapshot of how our Eagles soared this fall.
Fall Sports Recap
Girls flag football team poses after win at a rival school (Left to right; Christina Cabral, Chloe Trieu, Maite Lopez, Danae DeJesus, Sydney Tran, Jeralyn Tapia, and Kimiko Chang, Katelyn Chung, Amber Ha, Grace Jarquin, Ngami Ly, Sydney Martel, Abigail Mcnutt, Valentina Moreno, Ashley Nguyen, Olivia Nunez, Zaleen Oliva, Geneisis Rivas, Lola Rodriguez, Megan Tran, Sarah Velazquez, and Caitlin Wong.) (Adam Calleja )
Girls Flag Football
This season for girls’ flag football has gone extremely well, considering it’s the team’s first year ever competing as an official sport here at Gabrielino High School.
As the season went on, challenges started to appear for the team. Sophomore player Chloe Trieu states, “I feel that the season has been good, especially because of the struggles we faced with teammates getting injured and players leaving the team.”
Even with obstacles in the way, the team finished with a record of 8–4 and qualified for CIF. Their achievements not only mark a milestone for the promising program but also set a foundation for future seasons.
Pepster Squad stands with Sparky the Eagle at homecoming game vs Marshal (Left to Right; Mila Katz, Sofia Romero, Alyssa West, Julina Mireles, Katherine Alvarado, Amanda Alvarado, Amiyah Ayala, Liliana Ojeda, Alana Zamora, Claire Dowell, Gianna Castro, Ava Diaz, Keira Trang, Samantha Muro, Amy Yuan, Kelly Castillo, Riley Chang, Cyrina Chang, Melanie Tun, Anna Mendez, Elizabeth Labya, Milly Murphy, and Ashley Gonzalez.) (Anissa Marie )
Pepster Squad
Although cheer has been part of Gabrielino for years, this particular season seems to be shaking things up with the addition of a song team and JV team. Cheerleader Mila Katz said that, “The season has gone so well for us, especially because our squad looks more full on the sidelines with song.”
Although our beloved Pepster squad is present at every football game, representing our school, the Fall Rally specifically showcased the Pepsters’ new and improved moves. Songleader Amy Yuan expresses, “I feel us Songies made an iconic first impression at the Fall Rally.”
Even though fall might be the Pepsters’ season, they show a continuous amount of school spirit throughout the school year.
Ozzy Ayala goes for the kick at Gabrielino football game against Marshall. (Joyce Yu )
Football
Varsity football has had a strong season this year, filled with many accomplishments. One highlight was ending a nine-year losing streak against South El Monte.
In addition to team achievements, junior wide receiver Peter Ruiz is among the top 30 wide receivers in the SGV and has scored 11 touchdowns this season.
Many students have been wondering what contributed to the team’s success. When asked, football player Gabriel Beltran responded with, “After the death of Arthur, we really came together to play in his honor.”
The loss of their teammate motivated the team to work together more than ever, and clearly it paid off with a final record of 6–2.
Boys Cross Country line up at the Bell Gardens Invitational.(Left to right; Landen Vien,Danny Yu, Andrew Lai, Archibald Lai.) (Katie Ho )
Cross Country
This season has been one of the best for the cross country team, as many runners have consistently set new personal records at each race.
According to runner Kyle Hu, having a strong foundation is key to success. Hu explained, “If you have a good base, you can continue to build it throughout the season.”
That hard work and dedication definitely showed when the Woodbridge Meet, located in Orange County, came up earlier this season. The meet is notably one of the biggest in the nation, where runners come from all over the world.
“The meet went well for our team—almost everyone got their best time there,” shared Landen Vien.
The team finished their season with even more record-breaking performances.
Brianna Ta puts for birdie on the 8th hole at Alhambra Golf Course. (Philip Zamora )
Girls Golf
Following the retirement of Steven Swanson, the former coach of the girls’ golf team, Grace Huang took over as the new coach this season.
The team was faced with challenges—some players were just learning how to play golf—while also competing against schools like Temple City, which has many girls trying to go pro.
Although the team overall had a tough season, freshman Brianna Ta was just a stroke away from qualifying for CIF. “I’m very proud of her. She's only a freshman, so I definitely think next year she'll make it,” Huang stated.
With a determined roster, the team is looking forward to building on this season’s experience and coming back even stronger.
Zeleste Cova serves at a Volleyball match hosted by Gabrielino. (Joyce Yu )
Girls Volleyball
This season has been an outstanding one for the girls’ volleyball team, who have achieved an impressive 26–8 record and continue to advance in the CIF playoffs.
The team’s success has been fueled by their chemistry on and off the court, as well as the hard work they’ve put in since the start of the season.
Freshman Jameela Aisha expressed her excitement about being part of such a talented group, saying, “I’m grateful to be here […] and yeah, they push me to be better.”
Despite the challenges of joining varsity as a freshman, Aisha has stepped up alongside her teammates, contributing to the team’s strong performance.
With their relentless drive and unwavering support for one another, the girls’ volleyball team is determined to keep their momentum going and make a deep run in the playoffs.
