Two of Dublin High School’s most successful programs just concluded their seasons on the final week of the academic year, packing in a lot of excitement into their abbreviated seasons.
The Varsity Boys Basketball team played an astonishing 14 games in 18 days, finishing 11-3 overall against competition in which virtually every opponent was ranked in the Bay Area’s top 25. In their final two contests, Dublin knocked off Monte Vista 57-49 behind 13 points from Courtney Anderson Jr. and 12 points by Thomas Labat before falling to #6 ranked Piedmont 94-89 in a wild final game the following evening. The Highlanders were buoyed by a record-setting near from beyond the 3-point arc, making 12-of-15 three-pointes in the first half to build an 18-point advantage. Dublin roared back behind 25 points from Caleb Oden, 24 points from Anderson, and a career-high 17 from Labat, but it was not enough to withstand a shooting performance that saw Piedmont end up making 19-of-30 from 3-point range. Despite not being able to play in front of large crowds or for postseason accomplishments, virtually every night of the shortened season felt like a playoff game, and the experience playing against such stiff competition should help fuel a potential title run in the upcoming 2021-2022 campaign.
While Dublin’s boys basketball team was at the epicenter of Bay Area high school basketball for much of the year due to playing so many high-profile contests, the Dublin High Track and Field team similarly enjoyed its perch at the center of the high school track and field world within Northern California. The Gaels hosted a record three of its signature distance fiestas, aptly named in 2021 the “Dublin Social Distance Fiesta.” Thousands of student-athletes had the opportunity over the course of three weekends to compete in the highly anticipated event, which earned praise from throughout the track community for its ability to safely host large events while maintaining safe health and safety protocols due to COVID.
In their final event of the year on May 29th, several student-athletes from the Gaels’ boys and girls squads finished in the Top 3 at the season-culminating Tri-Valley Track and Field Championships. Tristan Oliver won the 100m Dash and Michelle Chen won the 100m Hurdles to highlight the team’s accomplishments. Chen also finished 2nd in the Triple Jump, while other 2nd place finishers included Victoria Bradley in the Pole Vault, Antonina Fillari in the 200m Dash, and Rachel Okwudiafor-Johnson in the 200m Dash. The team consisting of Brandon Burns, Alexander Franco, Manogya yara, and Manyu Yara also finished 2nd in the 4×400 Relay. Franco would end a successful day by finishing in 3rd in the 400m dash. Other 3rd place finishers at the meet include Aliza Sarwar in the Triple Jump and Kyle Chang in the Pole Vault.
