Golden Memories: Bay Area's Top 5 Sports Moments
By Jeremy Strause
January 18th, 2024
Sports in the Bay Area experienced an electrifying surge throughout 2023. This year witnessed remarkable achievements: the Warriors clinching a playoff berth once more, the creation of a new NWSL team in the Bay Area, the 49ers securing the NFC Championship and clinching the NFC West title for a consecutive second time, and the exciting announcement of a new coming Bay Area women's basketball team in the WNBA, among other notable events. While these moments are familiar to you, my focus will be on uncovering the lesser-known sports highlights of the year. Join me as I dive into the top five standout moments that might have escaped your attention.
5: High school girls basketball: No. 3 Archbishop Mitty upsets No. 1 Long Island Lutheran 73-72 at Nike TOC
Archbishop Mitty has historically been one of the best girls basketball programs in the nation. The program has claimed 31 CCS, 15 Norcal Titles and six CIF state championships and a national crown. The program has produced the three-time WNBA All-Star guard Danielle Robinson and standout Stanford and Atlanta Dream guard Haley Jones.
In the 2023-24 season, the Monarchs’ program reached new heights, as the team qualified for the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona, the most prestigious interscholastic competition in the country. At the tournament, Archbishop Mitty made the title game and had to go against the number one team in the country: Long Island Lutheran.
Lutheran came into the game with a 9-0 record. This game was a rematch of last year's quarterfinals where Archbishop Mitty lost 70-48 to Long Island Lutheran.
Archbishop Mitty lost six seniors from that squad, so they came into the Lutheran game as significant underdogs. Archbishop Mitty held a 54-51 lead going into the fourth quarter, a thriller which featured five lead changes. With 16.4 seconds left in the game, Mitty’s Morgan Cheli was given two free throws down 72-71. She used her clutch gene to give Mitty the lead.
Lutheran had one shot to win the game but came up short, giving Mitty the Nike TOC title and the number one spot in the country.
4: Serra is the Best Team in Norcal 3 Years in a Row
Serra High School for Boys has been a notably historic program in Norcal football. The program has won nine Division titles, 13 WCAL Titles and one state championship.
They have produced the likes of the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady, One of the best tackles of all time in David Baktahri and three time pro bowl and four time super bowl winning wide receiver Lynn Swann. When you think of great football schools in Northern California, Serra is one of the first schools that come to mind.
This year, the Padres once again represented Norcal in the CIF Open Division State Championship. 2023 was thought to be one of Serra’s best teams in recent memory. Being led by three star recruit and Oklahoma State commit Maealiuaki Smith, They had impressive wins over such longtime rivals De La Salle(28-0) and Valley Christian(24-13).
These impressive accomplishments helped Serra go undefeated and ranked as high as 19th in the country. These accomplishments allowed a record 9 Serra Athletes to commit to Division 1 programs. Serra had one of the best seasons in recent memory, finishing as the 31st ranked team in the country.
3: Six Bay Area Natives get their names called during 2023 NFL Draft:
In a remarkable display of talent and hard work, six football players hailing from different areas of the Bay heard their name called during the NFL draft. Here are their stories
Mekhi Blackmon: Originally from East Palo Alto, Blackmon showcased his skills as a cornerback at Menlo-Atherton High School before honing his abilities at the College of San Mateo. His standout performances led him to a successful collegiate career, notably with the Buffaloes at Boulder and a final season at USC. Blackmon's impressive journey built up to his selection by the Vikings as the 102nd overall pick in the third round of the draft.
Villami ‘Junior’ Fehoko: Another East Palo Alto native, Fehoko, made a name for himself at St. Francis High School before making his mark at San Jose State. Despite initially flying under the radar, Fehoko's relentless work ethic earned him recognition, securing three All Mountain West Defensive team honors and ultimately the Conference Defensive Player of the Year title in his senior year. His efforts were rewarded with a selection by the Cowboys as the 129th pick.
Isaiah Foskey: Hailing from Antioch and having played for De La Salle, Foskey's prowess on the field was evident early on. Committing to Notre Dame, he showcased his defensive abilities, amassing an impressive 11 sacks in each of his final two college seasons. Foskey's standout performances earned him a place with the Saints as the 40th pick, marking him as the first selection from the Bay Area in the draft.
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Jake Haener: Representing Monte Vista High School, Haener drew attention for his quarterback skills, leading him to Washington initially. Despite facing challenges as a redshirt, he found his stride at Fresno State, emerging as a standout quarterback. His stellar performances landed him a spot with the Saints as the 127th pick in the draft.
Atonio Mafi: Raised in San Mateo's Shoreview neighborhood and attending Serra High School, Mafi showcased his versatility by transitioning from defensive tackle to guard. His adaptability and skills shone brightly at UCLA, earning him recognition and ultimately leading to his selection by the draft's 144th pick.
Henry To’oTo’o: To’oTo’o was a star linebacker for De La Salle. After receiving countless offers, To’oTo’o committed to Tennessee before transferring to Alabama, where he continued to excel. His standout performances at both institutions earned him the 167th pick.
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2: Brandin Podziemski from Bay Area University to Playing minutes for the Warriors
You probably know the Warriors next up and newcomer Brandin Podziemski. He was the 18th pick of the 2023 draft and has been getting better everyday. He has been starting over veteran star point guard Chris Paul on some occasions and has also been a valuable piece off the bench. Podziemski shot creation and tireless defensive effort have made him a bright spot on a subpar Warriors team. However, many fans don’t know how he got to this position.
Podziemski is from Muskego, Wisconsin and attended St. John's Northwestern. He was an excellent player in high school, averaging 35 points and 10 rebounds a game. This outstanding production earned him Wisconsin’s Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year. He was a four star recruit and decided to commit to the prestigious University of Illinois.
As an Illni, Podziemski did not play in 17 games and in the games he played, he barely received any game time, sparking Podziemski to transfer to the University of Santa Clara, following the footsteps of legendary Phoenix Sun Steve Nash.
At Santa Clara, he started in all 32 games, averaging an incredible 19 points and eight rebounds a night. Against Pacific, he dropped an astounding 38 points. He was just one of 3 NCAA Division one players to be averaging 19/8/3. He led the WCC in rebounds and was third in scoring. He also had the fifth highest three point percentage in the nation. These accolades had NBA teams starting to take notice of Podziemski’s talent.
After this historic event season, Podziemski decided to enter the NBA Draft.
1: Stanford comeback down 29 to beat the Coach Prime led Buffaloes
On Friday the 13th of October, the (4-2) Colorado Buffaloes welcomed the (1-4) Stanford Cardinals at Folsom Field, drawing a packed crowd of 53,154 fans. The Cardinals aimed to rebound after a brutal 6-42 defeat against the Oregon Ducks.
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In the first half at Folsom Field, the Cardinals struggled immensely, trailing 29-0 at halftime. Colorado's dynamic offense, led by Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, appeared unstoppable, leaving the Cardinals searching for answers.
However, Stanford executed a stunning turnaround, amassing 336 offensive yards and netting an impressive 36 points in the second half. A seemingly lackluster match transformed into the most-watched Friday game since 2018. In the game's final moments, with Stanford trailing 36-33, Joshua Karty's 46-yard field goal as time expired pushed the game into overtime. An unexpected turn of events for a team on a four-game losing streak.
The Buffaloes received the ball first in overtime, promptly scoring a touchdown, putting the pressure on Stanford. On Stanford’s initial play, quarterback Ashton Daniels heaved a throw to star receiver Elic Ayomanor, who secured the ball around star cornerback Travis Hunter’s helmet, evening the score. It was one of the most immaculate catches I have ever seen. It was very similar to Kevin Owusu’s catch in 2015 against UCLA.
In the second overtime period, Sanders threw an interception in the endzone meaning all Stanford needed was a kick to complete the wildest comeback, and Joshua Karty delivered once more, nailing a 31-yard game-winner. The stadium fell into an eerie silence, everyone left in disbelief.
Even on my couch, I was taken aback. I had switched off the TV at halftime, assuming the game was decided. An hour later, I stumbled upon the Ayomanor catch on Instagram and saw the astounding score, utterly shocked.
In 2023, in the middle of the Bay Area's sports scene, standout yet overlooked moments featured Archbishop Mitty's girls' basketball securing a national title, Serra High's football conquest, local NFL draft success stories, Brandin Podziemski's journey to the Warriors, and Stanford's awe-inspiring comeback victory. These lesser-known highlights emphasize the region's diverse athletic prowess and unexpected achievements.