The captains of the fall sports at Sonoma Academy are very hardworking and passionate student athletes who put time and effort into their sports.
Captains of the Cross Country Team, Coe Dexter (‘26) and Claire Hirsch (‘26), are both top runners on the team. The captains have a positive outlook for the Cross Country team in their upcoming season. The captains shared their enthusiasm that the boys’ and girls’ teams will make it to CIF this year.
Captains of the Boys Varsity Soccer team, Mateo Elliott (‘26), who is #1 and the goalkeeper, and Elian Diaz-Zepeda (‘26), who is #10 and a center mid attacker, have said that their season so far has had some ups and downs, but they are looking forward to more upcoming games.
The Varsity Volleyball Captains are Mikaeala Resch (‘26), who is #11 and mainly plays middle hitter, Caitlin Koida (’26), who is #2 and setter, and Margeaux Davis (‘26), who is #3 and libero. The volleyball team has had many games, winning a couple of pre-season games. However, they lost their first game of the season to Analy, but have since won their first league games.
How are the different sports seasons going so far? How many meets/games?
The Cross Country team has three meets so far, a 2-mile on the track against Maria
Carrillo, CMC League Meet #1 at Spring Lake, and the Viking Opener Classic also at Spring Lake.
Dexter says that the Cross Country team has been doing very well this season so far, with massive PRs at their Viking Opener meet. Hirsch says that this year they have started strong, and pointed out the increased number of athletes on the girls team. Last year, the girls’ team had seven runners, but now they have about 12. She has also faced some setbacks this season, including an injury and the college application process, but is working hard.
This is how a Cross Country meet scores points: In Cross country meets, generally, you have about seven runners running. And five of the runners are scoring, while the sixth and seventh runner push down other runners and points for other teams. You’re not just trying to score points, but also get PRs and race hard in general.
Elliott says, “We are in division two, but when we play division one teams, our weaknesses have been very much exploited by the better teams.”
Diaz-Zepeda said, “We tied our first game and we’ve been playing a lot more opponents that aren’t in our league. But league, we’re in first place right now. We’ve been winning.”
Captains of the Volleyball team, Resch, Koida and Davis all agreed that the season is starting off very strong in comparison to other seasons. The team has many strong players, including some strong new freshmen. They also note that the JV Volleyball team is heading into the season strong.
Davis said, “I’d say in comparison to previous seasons, we started off more powerful and are connecting with all the new players a lot more.”
How close is the team?
Dexter and Hirsch comment that the Cross Country team seems to be very close because they had summer training together and do all their warm-ups and cool downs together as a team. Both have said throughout all the summer training and the workouts, and runs, the team has a strong bond, and the different grade levels talk to one another.
Elliott discussed the Boys Soccer Team’s bonding experience during tough times, such as completing laps during practice and enduring long bus rides. Elliott said, “Being out there for practice, suffering through, like, 10-15 laps, definitely strengthens us.” A moment Elliott recalled as making the team closer was when they all watched football together on the bus. Diaz-Zepeda also agrees that the team is close and that the boys are very connected throughout the different grade levels.
Resch says the Varsity and the JV Volleyball teams are friendly with each other, and the Varsity team is super close, saying, “I think everyone’s so talented and we all work really hard and we’re all really committed to [the team], which makes it a really good environment.” Resch discussed the traditions they do together, such as Secret Sisters. The captains also mentioned that the team gets together outside of practice for dinner and movies, similar to a big friend group.
How do you lead as a captain of your sports team?
Dexter and Hirsch both said that they help lead the warm ups, and support coaches with the team drills. Hirsch also said that she helps the coaches with communication and team connection. Both captains want to help the Cross County coaches have a better running program at Sonoma Academy and lead the younger ones, so they can prepare to be leaders when they are upperclassmen.
Elliott and Diaz-Zepeda make sure to hype up the team, help with the gear and as Mateo is the goal keeper, he helps the players on the field, leading the team basically. They also hype up the team and help with the coaches, going into David’s room and leading cheers.
Diaz-Zepeda said, “I mean, I don’t try to boss, but I try to, you know, just bring the energy up, even if we get goals scored on, just keep trying to, just keep the motivation going, because I know, especially younger players that that are playing a lot of minutes, just getting unmotivated after a goal or two, but just trying to keep that going, like saying we don’t give up to the last minute.”
Resch, Koida and Davis help out with leading drills and helping the coaches when needed. Even if the captains are having a bad day, it does not take away from their job to hype up the team and keep them motivated. They also encourage the team to push harder and also lead by example with kindness and strength. They agree that an important part of being a captain is knowing how to lead with example in all different situations.
Koida said, “I think trying to, stay calm like the upperclassmen on the court, just, being calm so then other people, feel less stressed out in those situations.”
How do the captains help keep the team motivated and focused when needed?
Dexter says he yells at his teammates to run faster, as it is encouraging words and they seem to enjoy the yelling and encouragement at the same time. Hirsch says when she says something realistic about the run, workout or meets.
Hirsch said, “It makes the team feel better knowing that I am realistic about it, making the team feel more motivated and comfortable as well.”
The soccer boys like to usually go into David Hyde’s classroom, do some different chants and walk onto the field. When times get tough, Elliott and Diaz-Zepeda try to keep the team in a positive attitude, so they don’t become unmotivated. They think it’s important to keep the positive energy up, even through tough games.
Resch says that feedback from other players helps with improving and helping the team, and keeping a goal, staying focused for every game. She also comments on how it keeps the team motivated to cheer after every point. Koida and Davis say the captains help keep the team motivated during the tough games and when a point doesn’t always go the team’s way.
What meet/game are you looking forward to this upcoming season?
Since Dexter is almost sure the team will make state, he is looking forward to the CIF state meet down in Clovis. He sprained his ankle last season at the NCS championships and is hoping he will be able to race in Clovis his senior year. Hirsch is looking forward to the Artichoke Invitational down in Half Moon Bay, and is excited for the experience and the course.
Elliott is looking forward to the game against Calistoga, and says they have lost to them in the last couple of years, but are ready to make a comeback, and feel more confident this year. Diaz-Zepeda is looking forward to the game against Head Royce, and says they are the toughest opponent, but is also looking forward to NCS, excited for the night time cheer and crowd.
Resch was looking forward to the tournament that happened on the weekend of September 20-21, looking forward to playing old teams and seeing how they do overall. Koida and Davis are looking forward to playoffs, seeing how far they can get and seeing the team’s success.
What is an interesting fact, hobby or activity you do outside of your sport?
Dexter is also on the robotics team and is a member of the Climate Advocacy for Count Us. Hirsch used to live in San Francisco, and likes to go back there every once in a while, to visit her San Francisco friends.
Elliott likes to watch different movies whenever he can, and his favorite genre is crime and thriller movies. Diaz-Zepeda leads the DEI club, and works leading protests outside of the school, and helps his mom with some politics going on in El Salvador.
Davis and Resch used to be gymnasts, and still like to do cartwheels and flips very occasionally and Koida is an all season athlete for fall, winter and spring sports.
