Chargers Shine in CCS

By Brandon Koo Apr 1, 2026

As winter blurs into spring, the school’s winter sports teams have concluded their regular seasons and begun postseason competition. Months of practices, conditioning and late-night games have led to the Central Coast Section (CCS) playoffs. This year, co-ed wrestling, girls soccer, boys basketball, and girls basketball and girls cheer qualified for CCS. Together, these teams reflect a season fueled by grit, growth and Charger pride.

The co-ed wrestling team put together a competitive season, finishing with a 4-2 dual meet record in the Santa Teresa East division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League (BVAL). The Chargers showed steady improvement, highlighted by a hard-fought 48-36 victory over Pioneer High School in the Battle of the Den. Leading the way at CCS, Aiden Ro ‘27, Adam Mushell ‘28 and Laila Hayatgaeb ‘27 represented the Chargers on the big stage, capping off a season of resilience. Several underclassmen competed throughout the season, gaining valuable experience that will fuel future success.

Behind a dominant regular-season run, the girls soccer team finished second in the BVAL Mt. Hamilton Division with an overall record of 13-3-3 and a league record of 10-1-3. On the offensive side, Kaylani Ahn ‘29 and Allison Park ‘27 led the team with six goals each, with Park also recording seven assists and a team leading 19 points. Strong defensive play powered the Chargers to a 5-0 shutout over Christopher High School and a 7-0 rout of Evergreen Valley High School. At CCS, the Chargers fought hard before being eliminated by Los Gatos High School with a final score of 8-1.

The boys basketball team powered through a demanding league schedule and finished with an 18-9 overall record and a 9-1 league record in the BVAL Santa Teresa division, earning first place in the division and the BVAL Santa Teresa title. In one of their most commanding performances of the season, the Chargers stormed past Oak Grove High School with an impressive 79-41 statement win. Several seasoned senior leaders played a major role in the team’s success, with Mattia Nucci ‘26 leading the team in scoring with 12.5 points per game, while Steven Watson ‘26 averaged 5.5 rebounds per game.

“Many of the seven seniors on the team have played together since sixth grade, which really helped our chemistry. Our juniors brought energy and hustle every day and pushed us in practice to improve, helping us maintain a high standard as a team,” Eric John Wong ‘26 said.

The team advanced through multiple rounds of CCS competition, defeating Overfelt High School 66-43 in the first round and Monterey High School 42-38 in the second round before falling 46-56 to Soquel High School in the third round of the CCS Division III playoffs. Even with a season ending short of a title run, the Chargers proved they could battle with anyone, building momentum that sets the tone for next season.

The girls basketball team completed one of its strongest seasons in recent years, finishing mid-table in the BVAL Santa Teresa division with a 13-13 overall record and a 2-8 league record.

Key players include Saanvi Gunukula ‘26, who led the Chargers in scoring with 10.0 points per game for a total of 249 points, and Emily Moen ‘26 averaged 9.3 points per game, leading the team with 8.9 rebounds per game. Behind these efforts, the Chargers came away with a 65-39 victory over Santa Clara and a close 45 36 win against Branham High School. The Chargers advanced past the first round of CCS before falling in the quarterfinals, marking a significant achievement reflecting the team’s cohesive play.

Although the boys soccer team did not qualify for CCS, the team delivered flashes of strong play, including a 3-0 victory over Live Oak and a close 2-1 win against Gilroy High School. The Chargers finished the winter season with a 4-12-2 overall record and a 2-7-1 record in the BVAL, placing sixth in the division.

Girls cheer also had a standout winter season, winning the CCS championship again on Jan. 17 to extend its multi-year title streak. Carrying that momentum onto a bigger stage, the Chargers later competed at nationals in Anaheim, where they placed ninth out of 17 teams, marking one of the program’s strongest finishes in recent years. Alongside preparing for postseason performances, girls cheer supported several teams throughout the winter season, attending and performing at multiple basketball games and school athletic events. JV cheer kept spirits high at boys JV football and girls varsity basketball games, while varsity cheer supported the boys varsity football and boys varsity basketball teams.

“This season marked the first time the girls basketball team had cheerleaders, which they really appreciated. We even cheered at the CCS girls volleyball game. Balancing games and competitions was challenging since they often overlapped and we had to devote more time to cheer, but being able to support different teams made it worthwhile,” Zara Bhullar ‘28 said.

This winter season highlighted the depth of talent across Leland’s teams, with athletes stepping up in key moments and building momentum for the future. With returning talent and valuable experience gained across sports, the Chargers look ahead with confidence and motivation for seasons to come.

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About the Contributors

Brandon Koo

Staff Writer

Brandon Koo is a sophomore at Leland High School and a staff writer for The Charger Account. He can be found on the tennis courts practicing, working out, or listening to R&B in his room. Brandon also enjoys going on sunset walks or taking bike rides on the hills.