Through the preseason and league, the goal of every winter sport coach has been the post-season.
With the announcement Saturday of the boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer and the girls water polo playoff brackets, and the boys divisional wrestling championships wrapping up on the same day, the fields were set for what many call the “second season.”
Two sports will be under a major microscope.
Poway’s boy’s wrestling team, the defending state champions, qualified all 14 into this Friday and Saturday’s Master’s Meet at Christian High.
Although they struggled at the end of the season after entering Palomar League soccer play where they finished 2-7-1, the Titans boys enter the playoffs with coach Gene Morris sitting at 299 wins for his career.
So, here is a look at how the local schools stood heading into the playoffs, many of which started Tuesday and Wednesday — the results of which were too late to make deadline.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Del Norte—The Nighthawks finished the season with a 15-13 record and as the 13th seed, traveled to No. 4 Victory Christian Academy in Chula Vista for a first round Division 1 matchup. If Del Norte upset Victory Christian, it would meet the winner of Mater Dei Catholic-Mission Hills on the road Friday night.
Rancho Bernardo—The reward for being seeded No. 4 in Division 3 was Rancho Bernardo hosting Oceanside on Tuesday. Win there and the Broncos would play the Mount Miguel-Calexico winner at home on Friday night.
Poway—The advantage of being the No. 8 seed in Division 2 was the Titans had a home game Tuesday against No. 9 La Jolla. Win there and Poway meets the winner of No. 1 Olympian and No. 16 Ramona Friday night.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Del Norte—One of the top teams in the section a year ago, the Nighthawks are seeded No. 15 in Division 1 and opened at No. 2 Victory Christian Tuesday. With an upset, they’d meet the San Marcos-Helix winner Saturday.
Rancho Bernardo—It was no surprise that the Broncos (22-6) earned the No. 8 seed in the Open Division. RB will travel to No. 1 Francis Parker Friday for a 7 p.m. game and are assured a post-season playoff contest.
Poway—As the No. 12 seed in the Division 1 playoffs, the Titans opened on the road at Carlsbad Wednesday. If they upset the Lancers, they would advance to the quarterfinals Saturday against the winner of the No. 4 Torrey Pines and No. 13 La Costa Canyon game.
BOYS SOCCER
Del Norte—Ranked No. 1 most of the season, Del Norte (13-0-5) is the top-rated team in the Open Division, outscoring its opponents 40-13. The Nighthawks faced No. 8 Torrey Pines Wednesday and battle the Falcons again tomorrow at 5 p.m. at home.
Rancho Bernardo—Earning the No. 4 seed in Division 2, the Broncos hosted No. 13 Sweetwater Wednesday with the winner playing Friday against either No. 5 Pacific Ridge or No. 12 Santana.
Poway—The Titans gained the No. 3 seed in Division 2 and opened against No. 14 San Marcos Wednesday. The winner plays either No. 6 Monte Vista or No.11 Vista.
GIRLS SOCCER
Del Norte—With a No. 4 seed in Division 2, the Nighthawks (4-9-6) hosted No. 13 El Camino in the first round and with a victory, would play at home against either No. 5 La Costa Canyon or No. 12 Steele Canyon this evening. The Nighthawks beat LCC 2-1 earlier this season.
Rancho Bernardo—After finishing the season 12-3-3 and winning the Valley League, the Broncos earned a No. 6 seed in Division 2 and hosted Otay Ranch Tuesday. Win there and the Broncos would face the winner of the No. 3 Scripps Ranch-No. 14 Valhalla contest tonight. RB entered the playoffs on a roll, winning nine straight games.
Poway—Sporting a 12-5-2 record overall, the Titans grabbed the No. 1 seed in the Division 2 playoffs where they met Pacific Ridge at home Tuesday evening. A win catapults Poway into the quarterfinals at home against the winner of No. 8 Rancho Buena Vista and No. 9 El Capitan this evening at 5.
GIRLS WATER POLO
Del Norte—Seeded No. 5 in Division 2, the Nighthawks downed Point Loma 11-6 before upsetting No. 4 Eastlake 13-9 Saturday to march into today’s semifinals against No. 1-seeded Cathedral Catholic at the La Jolla High Coggan Family Aquatic Complex. Game time is 5:45 p.m.
Rancho Bernardo—The Broncos earned the No. 6 seed and beat No. 11 Santana 17-9 in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs. Rancho Bernardo stunned No. 3 San Marcos, 12-5 to move not the semis Wednesday versus La Costa Canyon.
Poway—The Titans did not qualify for the Division 2 playoffs.
BOYS WRESTLING
Del Norte—Heavyweight Jaiden Samuels finished second to lead four Nighthawks wrestlers into the Masters meet.
Rancho Bernardo—The Broncos placed fourth in the Division 1 championships, advancing 12 into the Masters meet led by Chris Villegas’ second place finish at 150.
Poway—As expected, the Titans dominated, winning all but one of the 14 weight classes and having all 14 wrestlers move on to the Masters meet.
GIRLS WRESTLING
Del Norte—Although six wrestlers advanced into the Division 1 championships, Keira Zeidan fared well at 135 pounds but was unable to advance into the Masters meet.
Rancho Bernardo—With returning state placer and Division 1 titlist Mary Snider (140) plus Division champ Maisen Vesco (145) leading the way, the Broncos qualified six wrestlers into the Masters meet.
Poway—The Titans placed third in the state a year ago with just six wrestlers and after qualifying nine of its 10 competitors to finish second in the Division 1 championships behind Olympian, new head coach Jordin Humprey thinks the remaining group could make a major statement in the Master’s meet. Division champions Isabella Fodera (100 pounds), her sister Ava Fodera (105), Ava Ebrahimi (120) and Alyssa Jones (125) are key components.
