Bulldogs bumped up to Division III, achieving goal of reaching
state meet is now unlikely
Morgan Hill – Heading into the Central Coast Section cross country championships Saturday at Toro Park, Sobrato faces a tougher challenge than it previously thought – perhaps jeopardizing its chances to go to the state finals.
Because of a greater than 15 percent increase in the school’s enrollment, the Bulldogs have been moved up to Division III from Division IV and into stiffer competition.
Coach Dave Wolfsmith said his two squads, which won the Blossom Valley Athletic League West Valley Division title, now have a slim chance to advance to the state meet.
Wolfsmith said sophomore Lance Wolfsmith is likely to be the only Sobrato runner to advance after Saturday.
Last year as a freshman, Lance finished fourth in the Division IV race and advanced to the state meet.
As a result of the change, Dave Wolfsmith is hoping to just have a strong showing.
“The goal is to be in the top five teams for the boys and the girls and get our best team times ever,” Wolfsmith said.
In the way for the boys includes Willow Glen, which finished first overall at the BVAL meet on Oct. 30, taking the Mount Hamilton title.
The Rams had the top two finishers in the race, both who finished ahead of Lance.
Wolfsmith noted that along with Willow Glen, St. Ignatius and North Monterey County are favored to dominate the meet.
St. Ignatius and Willow Glen finished second and third, respectively, in last years CCS Division III championships.
On the girls side, Wolfsmith said Sobrato will have to go against four teams that have “cemented” themselves as the top squads in the section.
Harbor took the title last year, followed by St. Francis and Presentation.
Competing along with Sobrato in Division II, will be Live Oak’s Olivia Duran and Eric Matsumoto.
The boys and girls will be the last races of the day on Saturday at Salinas’ Toro Park. The girls are scheduled to begin at 2:20pm, followed by the boys at 2:50pm.
