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AHS Golfers Are WACC Champs; SJND Rowers in Nationals

AHS golfer Kailer Stone named WACC Player of the Year

Alameda High School’s varsity boys golf squad dominated the green on their way to becoming the 2024 West Alameda County Conference (WACC) league champions. The Hornets’ golfers went 18-1 for the season and 14-0 in WACC league play, and sophomore Kailer Stone was named WACC Player of the Year.

Alameda Post - The Alameda High School golf team poses on the green.
AHS Boys Golf poses with pennant. Photo Gabriel Caraballo.

The Hornets golf squad consisted of Stone, Will Roizen, Cyrus Jones, Mathew Thornton, Josh Howard, Anthony Lamoureux, and Trane Higuchi made up the Hornets golf squad, led by head coach Joe Pearse. Pearse took over for former coach Nick Wolf, whom he credited for molding the group.

“I kinda rolled into it,” Pearse said. “Coach Wolf had it going, he developed the guys and unfortunately life got in the way of coaching. There wasn’t much I had to do until Josh went down (with an injury) and we had to find guys to step up.”



Pearse was referring to senior Josh Howard’s injury, which took him out of competition and was a devastating loss for the team. “It was next man up, but a big blow,” Pearse said. “Josh was irreplaceable. He came to our last home match, wheeling himself around and sticking with the guys.”

Despite his injury, Howard supported the team on their journey and really exemplified the heart this team had. “You can have Tiger Woods on a team, but if you don’t have four other guys to get the job done you’re not going to win,” said teammate Will Roizen. “We had to persevere through that to succeed.”

Alameda Post - Kailer Stone with second place NorCal Medal
Kailer Stone with second place NorCal Medal. Photo Gabriel Caraballo.

The Hornets perseverance defined this season’s success as league champions and the honors that came with it. Along with Stone’s selection as WACC Player of the Year, Roizen earned WACC First Team All League Golf praise. Stone averaged an impressive 35 strokes through nine holes to lead the team, while Roizen followed suit averaging 38 strokes through nine.

After winning the WACC League Championship, the Hornets went to the North Coast Section (NCS) tournament on May 13. There, Stone fired for a resounding 4-under-par 68 that qualified him for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) NorCal Regional Championship on May 20. Stone dominated championship play, tying for second place after he shot a 3-under-par 69.

“His goal everyday is to just get better and keep that groovy feeling of hitting the ball well and sinking putts,” said Coach Pearse. A simple goal can nurture success and it certainly did for Kailer Stone and the 2024 Alameda High School boys golf squad.

Saint Joe’s Students Headed to Florida for USRowing Youth National Championships

After winning two golds at the USRowing Southwest Youth Championships at Sacramento’s Lake Natoma on May 4, Saint Joseph Notre Dame students Jack Hume and Cosmo Hondrogen are headed for the USRowing Youth National Championships in Saratoga, Florida, June 6-9. The pair will be competing for the Oakland Strokes in the Youth 8+ race.

Alameda Post - The rowing team holds up their trophy by the water.
L-R: Jack Hume, Logan Raymond, Zach Feldstein, Cosmo Hondrogen. Photo Melissa Raymond.

At 8 a.m., Hume and Hondrogen won their first gold in the Men’s Youth Varsity 8+ race. The dynamic duo participated in beating second place Marin Rowing Association, who clocked in at 05:58.76, by 1.35 seconds with a first-place time of 05.57.41.

Next, at 3:45 p.m., the duo participated in the Men’s Youth Straight 4- race, again out-pacing and out-placing the Marin Rowing Association. The Oakland Strokes soared across the water for a first-place finish of 06:32.07, beating Marin by 2.55 seconds. Marin finished second in 06:34.62.

The victory marked back-to-back Straight 4- titles for the Strokes, who previously captured the trophy in 2023. It also got Hume and Hondrogen a chance to compete at the USRowing Youth National Championships.

Contributing writer Gabriel Caraballo covers local sports for the Alameda Post. Contact him via [email protected]. His writing is collected https://alamedapost.com/Gabriel-Caraballo.

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