The spring sports season is finally underway in the Pacific Coast League, and UHS athletes are preparing for league matches in March as the season progresses.
Boys’ Lacrosse
Boy’s lacrosse has won four straight games, two of which came against league opponents Irvine High School and Northwood High School. After their commanding 15-6 win over IHS, the team has a perfect 4-0 league record and is 7-3 overall. One of the team’s prominent upperclassmen leaders is senior midfielder Max Dreben. Dreben is in his fourth season with UHS lacrosse. He has lots of experience, including playing in a Division II CIF playoff run that ended in the semifinals earlier in his career. Dreben was a freshman when the current lacrosse coaches arrived at UHS and claimed to have benefited from their efforts.
“[The coaches] have helped guide me and my teammates to become better players and all-around teammates,” Dreben said.
The team has made the CIF playoffs every year since Dreben’s freshman year and the players have high hopes of continuing this trend through this current season.
“I believe this could be the best year in program history,” Dreben said. “It has been an amazing four years, and I hope to finish out our final season on top.”
UHS Boys’ Lacrosse heads to the turf at 4:00 p.m. on Mar. 25th for their next league game against Beckman High School. They are looking to extend their seven-game win streak.
Girls’ Lacrosse
Following their first league win over Irvine High School, girls’ lacrosse looks ahead to what could be a big season for the UHS program. The team stands at 2-2 in conference play and is in good shape to compete for a playoff spot at the end of the regular season. Senior Sophia Ridder, who is in her fourth season with UHS Girls’ Lacrosse, commented on the team’s positive thoughts on the season ahead.
“These girls are eager to play,” Ridder said. “Our team is always looking to grow and improve, and I have high hopes for this season.”
The team is looking forward to their next game at Sage Hill on Mar. 20 and wants to turn around their rocky start in hopes of making the playoffs again.
Boys’ Swim
UHS Swim and Dive athletes have been placing high in the new 2024 season. Senior Daichi Hiraoka has been swimming since he was a child. His childhood hobby eventually developed into a more serious endeavor when he was driven to join the swim team to get better at water polo.
“I originally joined swim in tenth grade to get better at water polo, but the camaraderie with my teammates and the team culture drew me into the sport and allowed me to become better every day,” Hiraoka said.
Hiraoka claims to have found a good group of people through the swim team and is grateful for the person that swimming has helped him become as he prepares for the team’s next meet on Mar. 20 at Laguna Hills.
Girls’ Swim
Clarisse Facredyn, a senior on the UHS Swim and Dive team, has been competing in events with the team this season and, like her teammates, has been doing well in the water. Facredyn, like many others on the swim team, joined to get better and stay in shape for water polo but found more value than expected in the team experience.
“I love the community around swim and the tight bond we’ve made through swimming,” Facredyn said.
Facredyn and her teammates have created a unique sense of community within the team, and they hope they can continue with their next meet on Mar. 20 at Laguna Hills.
