The 2026 spring athletic season in Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) featured CIF championships, league titles, record-breaking performances, and outstanding individual achievements across all four high schools. Student-athletes continued to demonstrate excellence, perseverance, and sportsmanship while representing their schools and communities with pride.

“Our student-athletes continue to excel in competition while developing leadership, teamwork, and resilience,” said Deputy Superintendent, Secondary Education Kerrie Torres. “Their accomplishments this spring reflect the strength of our athletic programs and the opportunities available to students throughout NMUSD.”

Here is a recap of spring athletic achievements:

Corona del Mar High School (CdM)

• Boys Tennis capped off a remarkable season as CIF State Regional Division 1 finalists and CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinalists. The Sea Kings finished 21-3 overall, captured the Sunset League Championship, and were ranked No. 1 in the final CIF-SS Division 1 regular-season poll. Senior Ivan Pflueger earned Sunset League MVP honors.
   
• Boys Lacrosse won the Sunset League Championship and finished 12-6 overall. Ranked No. 7 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 final regular season poll, the Sea Kings advanced to the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals. Junior Dom DiFrancesco earned League MVP honors.
   
• Boys Volleyball advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals and qualified for the CIF State Championships after a standout 26-7 season. The Sea Kings finished second in the Sunset League and were ranked No. 5 in the final CIF-SS Division 1 poll.
   
• Boys Golf finished 12-3 and placed second in the Sunset League. The Sea Kings placed ninth at both the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships and CIF State Regional Championships.
   
• Swimming delivered an outstanding season, highlighted by CIF Southern Section Division 1 championships from Sofia Szymanowski in the girls 100-yard breaststroke and Ethan Lim in the boys 100-yard breaststroke. Both the boys and girls teams finished second in the Sunset League, with the boys posting a 5-1 record and placing 12th at the CIF-SS Division 1 Finals, while the girls finished 4-1 and placed 14th.
   
• Baseball finished 15-14 overall and advanced to the second round of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs. 
   
• Girls Lacrosse finished 14-5 and placed third in the Sunset League. Ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 final poll, the Sea Kings advanced to the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals
   
• Boys Track & Field finished third in the Sunset League and ranked No. 12 at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 Finals.
   

Costa Mesa High School

• Swimming had one of the most successful seasons in school history. The girls team captured the CIF Division 3 Championship, the first CIF title in program history, while the boys team finished sixth in CIF Division 2. Junior Melanie Pang led the way for the Mustangs, winning the CIF Championship in the 100-meter breaststroke. She also helped two relay teams claim CIF titles, swimming on the championship-winning 200 Medley Relay alongside Karolina Sangasy, Emma Freeland, and Chloe Wool-Smith, and the 200 Free Relay with Chloe Wool-Smith, Mia Walker, and Karolina Sangasy. The boys team was led by senior Avrum Xagorarakis, who competed in the 100 and 200 freestyle events and two relays, and AJ Pang, who competed in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and two relays.
   
• Baseball captured the Empire League Championship with a 21-8 overall record and a 9-3 mark in league play. The title was the Mustangs' third consecutive league championship—and remarkably, their third in three different leagues over three years. Wylan Rottschafer was named League MVP, while Will Morales earned Co-Pitcher of the Year honors.
   
• Softball completed one of the program's most impressive turnarounds, improving from three wins a year ago to a 15-8 record, a second-place league finish, and a CIF playoff berth. Juniors Victoria Rios and AnaLeah Vaca led the offense, while senior Alyssa Ochoa anchored the pitching staff. 
   
• Track & Field featured several CIF qualifiers, led by seniors Brody Leonard and Michaela Folkerts. Folkerts competed at CIF in both the 100- and 200-meter dash, while Leonard set a school record in the 400 meters and narrowly missed state qualification. In recognition of their athletic and academic achievements, both were honored with the Kiwanis Student-Athlete Award.
   
• Beach Volleyball captured the All Sports Cup with a decisive 3-2 victory over Estancia in the competition's final event. The Mustangs also finished second in league play and qualified for the CIF playoffs. 

Estancia High School

• Track & Field celebrated its first girls league championship since 1991, with the team finishing undefeated in league competition. The program also saw a resurgence in participation, fielding 57 student-athletes—the largest roster in recent memory. Individually, Aisleen Avalos swept all four of her events at league finals, while Isaac Hernandez won the 200-meter title and broke the school record in the 400 meters. Overall, 17 Eagles earned top-three finishes at league finals, nine advanced to CIF competition, and the boys team placed third in league standings.
   
• Boys Golf captured its second consecutive undefeated league championship, finishing a perfect 12-0 in league play and 18-5 overall. Led by three-time team MVP Jack McNiff, the Eagles continued their postseason success by qualifying for both the CIF Team and CIF Individual Championships.
   
• Baseball earned the CIF Academic Team Award while advancing to the CIF playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. The Eagles finished third in league play and closed the regular season on an eight-game winning streak. Senior catcher Sawyer Atkinson, the returning CIF Player of the Year, led the program and will continue his baseball career at the University of Mary.
   
• Boys Tennis finished third in league and qualified for the CIF playoffs, continuing the program's strong momentum throughout the season. For the first time in more than a decade, the Eagles fielded both varsity and JV teams, reflecting the program's continued growth and depth. Zachary Abramson qualified for the CIF Individual Tournament, while Alex Mejia and Raymond Sanchez led a successful doubles campaign.
   
• Swimming qualified multiple athletes for CIF competition, led by Mackayla RouRock and David Gruebel, as the program continued its upward trajectory under second-year head coach John Canbakal. The Eagles also successfully competed at the conference's highest level after moving up this season, demonstrating the program's continued growth and competitiveness.
   
• Boys Volleyball celebrated Zech Rehak-Lepore's selection as Orange League Offensive Player of the Year while continuing its steady rise as a program. The Eagles narrowly missed CIF playoff qualification by one match, and team captain Mac Laurenz Romua helped lead the team's continued growth and development.
   
• Girls Beach Volleyball earned a CIF Tournament berth from doubles partners Abby McIntyre and Stella Shandalove, highlighting a successful season for the Eagles. The program also recorded the highest participation numbers in its history and secured several key victories throughout the year.
   
• Softball showed tremendous growth under new leadership, establishing a strong foundation for the future with a young roster. Team captains Jackie Gomez, Fabi Basurto, and Josie Vidales provided steady leadership throughout the season as the program continued to build momentum and develop for years to come.

Newport Harbor High School

• Baseball - The Sailors also won the CIF State SoCal Regional Championship. finished the regular season at 19-9 and advanced to the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals. Senior Gavin Guy was named to the All-CIF 1st Team and Sunset League Pitcher of the Year.
   
• Track & Field delivered exceptional postseason performances. Sophomore Morgan Starkenburg finished runner-up in the long jump at the CIF-SS Finals, while senior Natalie McCarty won the high jump and finished runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles. McCarty went on to place third in the 300-meter hurdles at the CIF State Championships, setting an Orange County record and breaking the Newport Harbor school record with a time of 41.74 seconds.
   
• Swimming captured the Sunset League girls team championship for the second consecutive year. Senior Connor Ohl was named Sunset League Swimmer of the Year and earned CIF-SS championships in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.
   
• Boys Volleyball finished 23-9 and qualified for both the CIF-SS and CIF State playoffs. Seniors Mats Arens, Tyler Pence, and Alex Wick earned First Team All-Sunset League honors.
   
• Boys Tennis finished 11-6 and placed second in the Sunset League. The Sailors advanced to the CIF-SS Division 4 quarterfinals.
   
• Boys Lacrosse finished 12-4 and qualified for the CIF-SS playoffs for the first time in five years, advancing to the second round. Luke Holley, Ryan Palmer, Wesley Orange, Spencer Krieg, and Brody Wilson earned First Team All-Sunset League recognition.

The achievements celebrated this spring highlight the impact of athletic programs across NMUSD. From first-year participants to CIF champions, students had opportunities to challenge themselves, build meaningful connections, and represent their schools at the highest levels of competition. These experiences continue to enrich campus life and support NMUSD's commitment to developing well-rounded students prepared for future success.