Fall Sports Information
Dear AHS Community,
Albany High School is excited to announce that Fall Sports are back! We are also excited to announce the hiring of our Head Varsity Football Coach, Danny Wilcox!
REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW UNTIL AUGUST 9th FOR ALL FALL SPORTS
(Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Women’s Tennis, Golf & Water Polo) Here is the link that will take you directly to the registration home page: Family ID Registration
What will the season look like?
Upon selection into the program, and completion of the registration process, students will be able to condition, practice, and play! Please check the FAMILY ID website for information on tryouts.
Volleyball August 9th time TBD, Tennis August 10th time TBD, Cross Country the entire week of August 9th 9am-11am each day. Water Polo, Golf & Football probably will not have tryouts
MEDICAL CLEARANCE
All students must have a current physical signed by a physician to participate. If you can’t get an in-person meeting scheduled with a doctor, virtual meetings are fine as long as the doctor provides clearance.
Albany Athletics Boosters Needs You! Board Position Openings
It's thanks to the incredible work of our AAB board members that makes Albany High and Middle School sports possible. We have a few graduating board members and are looking for volunteers for the Treasurer, Secretary and VP/Fundraising roles. If you are passionate about youth sports in our schools, please contact Bahrt Arellano, AAB President, at bahrt.arellano@gmail.com.
Support Albany School Sports-- Donate to AAB Today!
We cannot offer these terrific sports opportunities for our 1200 student-athletes in 25+ sports programs without your support. AUSD's Athletics budget cannot cover the $345,000 every year it takes to sustain our Athletics program, so AAB's goal is to raise $180,000 annually. However, with seasons cut short last year and the cancellation of major fundraisers, instead of raising this amount, we had a loss of $40,000. We need your help to ensure our students can continue to enjoy school sports-- please consider a charitable donation to AAB at https://www.goalbanyathletics.org/donations. Thank you
I look forward to updating you with further details once they become available.
Zachary Babitt, Athletic Director
Albany Athletics Boosters – December Meeting 12/16
Please join the Albany Athletics Boosters (AAB) for our December meeting this Wednesday 12/16. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM and the meeting will be conducted via Zoom.
We are pleased to introduce our new Athletic Director, Zach Babitt. During the meeting, Zach will be providing an update on athletics at AMS and AHS. Zach will share league updates and important information for parents and coaches.
Please join us at our meeting as we work together to support our athletes, coaches and school community.
Thank you - AAB
Join Zoom Meeting —>
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87620607506?pwd=VUxjdlhZcFNLc29ab0tXODRNcFRQdz09
Meeting ID: 876 2060 7506
Passcode: 245998
Congratulations to Our Senior Athlete Award Winners!
The Albany Athletic Boosters have compiled a list of all the seniors who won athletic awards. Click here to view.
Albany Athletics Boosters - Spotlight on Success!
A Look Back - AHS Winter Sports
Boys Soccer
The boys varsity soccer team won the TCAL championship, advanced to the finals of North Coast Section, and were selected for the CIF regionals…Go Cougars!
Fynn Hayton-Ruffner was named MVP of the TCAL for boys soccer!
Girls Soccer
The girls varsity team qualified for the NCS tournament
Boys Basketball
Boys basketball was selected for the NCS tournament
AJ Gilbert was named first team all-league in the TCAL Rock!
Girls Wrestling
Francesca LoPresti and Joanna Qiu advanced to the State finals in Wrestling!
Boys Wrestling
Alex Ferguson qualified for the NCS wrestling championships!
Wrestling coach Jason Griffin was named NCS Honor Coach!
Girls Basketball
The Cougar hoopsters fought hard in league play, winning 3 of their last 4 games and
finishing up in 3rd place in Tri-County Stone.
Julianne Ivtchenko was named first team all-league for TCAL Stone basketball!
“The team was led both on and off the court by 2 terrific senior leaders, Moxie Evan and Julianne Ivtchenko. Julianne stepped up and did a terrific job at a new and unfamiliar position, leading the team from the point guard spot.
Moxie lead by example on both ends of the floor and in practice as well as games. Her trademark grit lifted the level of play for her entire team. Both these girls are the kind of leaders around which any coach would love to build a team”, Coach Missy Park.
Update on Coaches from Athletic Director Treseler
As we anticipate a return to the things we love, Cougar athletes can look forward to their sports being led by dedicated, passionate coaches- including three new leaders who have the experience and determination to provide great opportunities for our community.
Dave Beza was recently hired as Girls’ volleyball coach for 2020. Coach Beza comes to the Cougars with extensive experience on the high school, college, and club levels. He is currently the director of the Berkeley Albany Volleyball Club. Coach Beza enjoyed success coaching at Mission Bay, Montgomery and Summit high schools, and previously led the club team at UC San Diego.
“I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Cougar community,” Coach Dave said upon taking the reins. “Everyone has been very gracious so far, and I am anxious to give as much as I can to our players.”
“Coach Dave has excellent credentials and we’re excited to welcome him to Albany High,” said athletic director Bill Treseler. “He was impressive during the interview process and is the right person to help us maintain the quality volleyball program Albany has always enjoyed.”
In football, Albany did not have to look far to find an ideal man to continue building the program. Alberto Johnson, the Cougars’ offensive co-ordinator the past two seasons, steps up to assume head coaching responsibilities heading into 2020. Coach Berto, a Pinole Valley HS grad, played both football and baseball at Shaw University, helping his team to a conference championship in 2010. Prior to coming to Albany High, he coached wide receivers at Contra Costa College.
“I am honored and very humble to be the new head coach at Albany High,” said Coach Berto recently. “Our program will be one built on competitive excellence and self-discipline, we will work hard to develop and sustain a winning culture on and off the field. My main goal is not to go undefeated, although my competitive DNA would say otherwise, but to give all the students who play for us the best high school football experience you could ask for.”
“Coach Berto has all the qualities you hope for in a leader,” says Treseler. “He has a great grasp of the skills and strategies of football, a strong personal presence with the boys, and a determination to be a positive force in their lives. He is staying in communication with them and is already hard at work making the program solid and first-rate.”
The Girls’ basketball team will be led by an experienced and passionate coach for 2020-21. Missy Smith, who assisted with the Cougars last season, moves over a seat to take head-coaching responsibilities. Coach Missy has college experience as an assistant at Yale and head JV coach at Harvard, and more recently developed the successful East Bay Triple Threat program. She recently coached a successful boys club team including several of last season’s Cougar standouts.
“With it’s committed community, and a K-12 school system, Albany is the perfect place to build a great basketball program,” enthuses Coach Missy. “It will take time, but together we can build a hoops program that will be both fun AND, more importantly, fulfilling.
“The basketball court is one of the greatest classrooms on earth. We hope to use it to its fullest to help each of the girls become the best player and the best person she can be. Go Cougars!”
“It’s a game-changer for our girls’ program,” says Treseler. “I’ve watched Missy coach for several years, she is the total package of a knowledgeable, passionate leader who really cares about kids. The girls enjoyed working with her last season and I know our program is in great hands moving forward.”
The Albany athletic program continues to await direction from school officials regarding resumption of our activities.
Albany Athletics Boosters – Spotlight on Success!
Please join us in celebrating and congratulating our athletes on their success…Go Cougars!
A Look Back - AHS Fall Sports
Boys Varsity Football
Jaime Trujillo, Dameon Potts, Owen Ray, Jason Wood, William Pennington-Kent, and Gianno Rodriguez were selected 2nd team all-league for football!
Girls Volleyball
Varsity Volleyball defeated El Cerrito to win the TCAL championship! Defeated San Marin in NCS tourney.
Claire Conners was named MVP of the league for volleyball. Ali Fraga, Dayna Riggio-Kerley and Deriana Brown first team all-league!
Girls Golf
Girls Golf dominated TCAL play and qualified for NCS! Erin Montagh, Kaitlyn Bailey and Minju O'Rourke first team all-league!
Boys Cross Country
Boys Cross Country won TCAL championship
Henry Burditt won the TCAL final. Freshman Sean Morello qualified for the California State meet!
Girls Cross Country
Sophia Nordenholz won the TCAL cross country finals and qualified for the State meet for the second year in a row!
Girls Tennis
Girls Tennis qualified for the NCS tournament!
Girls Water Polo
Lucy Dunn and Madison Bayse were named first team all-league for girls water polo!
AAB Spotlight on Success – Week of 2/10
Soccer
Boys Soccer won the TCAL Stone championship 2-0 over Vallejo... Go Cougars!
First team: Fynn Hayton-Ruffner, Jaden Arfa, Ishaan Das
Second team: Alex Curran, Dode Sanjaya.
Honorable Mention: Olaf Kamperman, Will Church, Antoine Ivtchenko. Fynn Hayton-Ruffner was also named the league MVP...Go Cougars!
The Girls Soccer team lost on penalty kicks to Richmond last week in the league playoffs. They are awaiting selection for NCS next week.
Basketball
Boys Basketball Player Recognition: Albany players named to the All League team...Congratulations to all players!
Boys basketball lost on Tuesday 55-43 in the TCAL playoffs to DeAnza.
AJ Gilbert was selected first team All TCAL Rock
Boys await selection to NCS tournament next week
Girls basketball plays Richmond in the first round of TCAL playoffs. Juliane Ivtchenko was named first team all league and Moxie Evan was named honorable mention in the coaches' voting.
Wrestling
Wrestlers were off last week. Boys compete Friday in the TCAL championships at Pinole Valley HS.
Girls participate in WACC championships at San Leandro on Saturday.
AAB Spotlight on Success – Week of 2/1
SOCCER
The boys soccer team had a busy week, topping Vallejo Monday 3-1 in a first place showdown in the TCAL Stone Division. The boys tied Hercules 0-0 on Friday and then drew 1-1 with El Cerrito on Saturday to wrap up the regular season.
The boys finished 9-1-2 and tied with Jesse Bethel for the regular season title...Go Cougars!
The girls Cougar squad picked up some serious momentum heading into the postseason with wins over Richmond and Vallejo to finish the regular season in third place in the uber-competitive TCAL Rock!
BASKETBALL
The boys basketball teams had a good night at El Cerrito on Friday. Max Yoshida nailed two clutch free throws to close out the varsity's 69-65 win, while the JVs cruised to a victory! The Cougar frosh also picked up a couple of impressive late season wins, defeating SPSV and Alhambra at home
The boys closed out regular season play with games against DeAnza Tuesday and rival St. Mary's on Friday. Both games were at home and Friday was "Senior Night" for Cougars Billy Donovan, AJ Gilbert, Jeffrey Hobson, Tenzin Norsang, Zander Motamedi, Richard Young, and Max Yoshida.
The girls basketball team played two tough and very impressive games this past week.
The first game was a hard fought victory on the road @ Hercules High!
The second game was at home on Friday. The team held a special Senior Night and they were able to impose their will on both sides of the floor to achieve a great home victory against a league opponent...Go Cougars!
WRESTLING
Both the boys and girls team wrestled their last league dual matches this past week.
The girls competed against Arroyo and Mt. Eden and won both dual meets!
The boys team competed against El Cerrito and won the dual as well!
We also had a boys JV tournament at Dougherty Valley High School and Josh Ambrosio took 3rd place...Go Cougars!
Register For Spring Sports by This Thursday
Parents are reminded to register their students for spring sports (baseball, softball, boys' tennis, boys' golf, swimming and track and field) by THIS Thursday. Athletes must be cleared on the www.familyid.com website to tryout when practice begins Monday February 10th.
AAB Spotlight on Success - Week of
Congratulations to all our teams and athletes!
BASKETBALL
The AHS girls basketball teams had an exciting night Friday, sweeping Richmond at Cougar Gym! After the JV won a thriller, Julianne Ivtchenko and Maggie Paulovich hit clutch shots in the final moments of the varsity matchup to lead Albany to a 40-33 win, avenging an earlier season loss to the Oilers...Go Cougars!
The Cougars will honor seniors Moxie Evan and Julianne Ivtchenko this Friday, as the Cougars conclude their home schedule against DeAnza. The Senior night ceremony will begin at 6:45 with the game following at 7pm.
SOCCER
The Cougar boys soccer team defeated John Swett on Friday to set up a first place showdown at Vallejo this Monday 1/27...Go Cougars!
The boys soccer team will honor their seniors Friday at Cougar Field prior to their 6pm match against Hercules.
The Cougar girls soccer team honored their seniors last Friday, then played an inspired match, defeating Pinole Valley 2-0!
WRESTLING
The Albany boys wrestlers defeated Athenian and Hercules in dual meets Thursday!