Saugus High
2017 Year in Review 2018
Sometimes, on days when there is a softball game happening at the same time as basketball practice, Saugus girls basketball coach Jason Conn will stop practice. He’ll accompany his team to the softball field and together, they’ll watch Libbie McMahan, who plays softball and basketball, and support the softball team in general.
“All levels will go outside and we’ll watch the softball team play,” Conn said. “I want to support other athletes who play not only girls basketball but other sports. We get out there and support them. It’s fun.”
Centurions softball coach Julie Archer echoed that sentiment thinks that the mutual support extends beyond the athletes and into the coaching staff as well.
“Going to football games, basketball games, even softball,” Archer said. “Everybody wants every program to succeed and we do a lot of supporting each other. Same thing with coaches … we all are on the same page and we want our athletic department as a whole to get stronger.”
The result has been a well-rounded athletics program and the 2017-18 prep sports year is evidence of that. Plenty of veterans made their mark as a Centurion and a few fresh faces came crashing into the picture, too.
Saugus distance runner Mariah Castillo turned heads on nearly a weekly basis with accomplishments like placing third at the Nike Cross Nationals or winning the
1,600-meter race at the Brooks PR Invitational. Over the course of the track and field season, she broke program records in the 800; 1,200; 1,600 and 3,200 events.
The boys and girls cross country teams upheld the standard of success. The girls reached the CIF state championship podium for the 12th straight year, placing second. The boys placed seventh at the state level.
The football team charged into the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs and reached the semifinals. Boys basketball had only three Foothill League losses on the season and earned a postseason bid, but lost in the first round.
Girls soccer finished third in the Foothill League after a league season that ended with a scoreless, quadruple-overtime game against Hart.
First-year head coach Carl Grissom and the Saugus baseball team finished fourth in a competitive Foothill League. The softball team ranked third in league play and went to the Division 1 tournament behind a team that featured just three seniors.
“This last season was probably my hardest working team and I think it’s because we had so much talent,” said Archer. “Everyone was fighting for a spot. But also they’re all really sweet girls. It was one of our best teams chemistry wise.”
Another team that thrived on a youthful roster was girls basketball. The Cents were the last team standing in the Foothill League, making it all the way to the CIFSS Division 3A semifinals where they fell to Beverly Hills. They also received a bid in the CIF Division 3 state tournament, but lost in the first round.
It was the longest postseason run in Saugus girls basketball history – and the Cents aren’t done yet.
“It just gave us confidence that we’re growing into an elite team,” Conn said of the run. “That’s what it showed. Wow, we defeated these teams and we went on the road and had to beat two really strong teams. The girls gained a lot of confidence that they could really compete.”
With the combination of inspiration from veteran athletes and the determination of upcoming talent, Saugus is willing and ready for the future.
“Everybody is extremely competitive,” Conn said. “The Saugus sports doesn’t take a back seat to anybody. All the teams want to win.”