It was a year to remember for high school sports in Southern California, as 2025 delivered a cascade of unforgettable moments, historic firsts, and emotional championship runs. From the soccer fields of Downey to the baseball diamonds of Fullerton and the wrestling mats across the region, teams and individuals alike etched their names into the record books, making the past year a true celebration of athletic achievement.
Perhaps the most remarkable highlight of 2025 came on March 1, when Warren High School’s boys and girls soccer teams pulled off an unprecedented feat: both squads captured CIF Southern Section championships in back-to-back games at the same venue. The boys clinched their second CIF title—having last tasted glory in 2013—while the girls secured the school’s first-ever championship, marking a day that will be remembered for generations in Downey sports lore.
“It was big, unheard of and never happened before, and for it to happen at the same time for both programs is something special,” said Warren boys head coach Karlo Soto, reflecting on the magnitude of the achievement. The emotion was echoed by girls head coach Lily Dussan, who added, “It was so neat to share (the championships) with the boys soccer and for soccer itself and for our city and the community. It lets people know that in Downey it put (us) on the map and we got ourselves out there. Our soccer program at Warren just says a lot.”
The Warren girls’ journey to the crown was a testament to their grit and resilience. They began their playoff run with a narrow 2-1 victory over Vista Murrieta, followed by a 1-0 shutout against Oak Hills and a convincing 2-0 quarterfinal win over El Rancho. The semifinal provided high drama, as the Bears edged Mira Costa 5-3 on penalty kicks after a tense overtime. In the championship showdown, senior midfielder Mayilen Salazar struck in the first half, and junior midfielder Allison Bravo sealed the deal in the second, earning a 2-1 win over Thousand Oaks. Senior forward Alexis Delgado led the Bears with four goals in the postseason, while Bravo contributed three.
The girls’ campaign didn’t end there. Their CIF So Cal Regional adventure saw them defeat La Costa Canyon 1-0 in the opening round and prevail 3-2 in the semifinals before falling 5-0 to Patrick Henry in the title match. Still, their season stats sparkled: a 21-4-3 record, 49 goals scored, and 11 shutouts, anchored by sophomore goalkeeper Rin Soto, who tallied 86 saves. “This championship winning squad has been building toward greatness for four years,” Dussan noted. “From the moment they stepped onto the field as freshmen, their coaches saw something special.”
Players savored the moment, too. “It’s very exciting just knowing that both teams won on the same day and the same field with the same amount of parents. It was very nice and exciting. I feel really blessed to be part of this team. Last year we just stepped it up,” said junior goalkeeper Rin Soto. Senior defender Helen Soriano added, “It’s super exciting and just grateful to be part of the program that could take it all the way. And the outcome was really good and making it to the state finals. We all push each other. I was super shocked that it would be something this big and I’m really appreciative of everything. It happened in March, but it’s still continuing now.”
The Warren boys were equally dominant, storming through four playoff games with 17 goals and two shutouts. They survived a wild 4-3 double-overtime penalty kick win over Fountain Valley to open the postseason, then blanked Banning 5-0 and edged Beaumont 2-1 in the quarters. In the semifinals, they dispatched Torrance 3-1 before capping their run with a 3-0 shutout of Anaheim in the championship. Senior forward Ezequiel Santana was the driving force, netting six playoff goals, while sophomore defender Diego Montes coolly converted four penalty kicks.
“It’s amazing to get a shutout in the championship,” Montes said. “It just shows the type of focus we had on the other team.” Santana’s brace in the title game, including a first-half header and a second-half strike, bookended Montes’ pivotal penalty, sealing the victory. The Bears finished with a 20-9-3 record and advanced to the CIF So Cal Championships, where they edged Point Loma on PKs before bowing out to Harvard Westlake in the semifinals.
The dual triumphs weren’t lost on the players. “It’s amazing to share the moment with the girls. To be part of history for this school. Hearing that both the girls and boys won on the same day and in the same place, you never hear of it. It’s extraordinary,” said junior defender Diego Montes. Senior goalkeeper Daniel Jimenez remarked, “It’s exciting that both teams won. It’s a great accomplishment for the school and it’s really rare to see boys and girls win it together.”
Yet Warren wasn’t the only school to make waves. St. John Bosco’s baseball team, after falling just short in 2024, captured its first CIF Championship in school history with a dramatic 3-2 walk-off win over Santa Margarita in extra innings at Cal State Fullerton. Junior centerfielder Miles Clark’s single up the middle scored freshman Aaron Garcia, igniting celebrations. “It was indescribable,” said coach Andy Rojo. “You hate to see a loser in a game like this. This is the first CIF Baseball Championship in school history, and these guys just fought all year long.” The Braves parlayed their success into a CIF So Cal Regional Championship and carried a 19-game win streak into the 2026 season.
Individual brilliance shone as well. John Glenn’s Aaliah Enriquez captured her second CIF wrestling title, becoming the fifth in her family to do so and the first to win two. “I’m so proud of Aaliah,” her father Monico said. “She has worked so hard these last three years. I am a little sad that her high school career is now over, but I am so excited to see her compete in the future.”
The Downey girls water polo team made its second championship game appearance in eight years, finishing as Division 2 finalists after a hard-fought 8-6 loss to Murrieta Valley. Senior Aleaha Gonzalez and sophomore Marissa Fierro each scored two goals, helping the Vikings to a program-best 22-4 record and a berth in the CIF So Cal playoffs. Senior attacker Berlynn Mani summed up the team’s spirit: “I always go by the motto, ‘leave everything in the pool’ and I think that’s what I did. I think the program is really good right now and not everybody gets to CIF and not everybody plays for a division 2 championship and I’m really proud of playing with my teammates. I think they are amazing people.”
Elsewhere, the Calvary Chapel Downey boys volleyball team reached its first-ever CIF final, falling to CAMS, while St. Pius-St. Matthias Academy football finished as runners-up in the D6 Championship, cementing their status as perennial contenders. PMA’s baseball team also made history, qualifying for the CIF playoffs for the first time in 30 years, and Calvary’s boys soccer team won its first league title since 2009, led by a hat trick from junior striker Gerry Carrillo.
As the 2026 season looms, the echoes of 2025’s triumphs and heartbreaks will no doubt inspire the next wave of high school athletes. If this past year proved anything, it’s that the spirit of competition and community pride in Southern California sports is alive and kicking—and ready for whatever comes next.