The 2023 high school football season was a success for Santa Monica, producing two squads that made deep playoff runs. To add further commendation on the season, both Samohi Vikings and Saint Monica Mariners players were represented on California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) All-CIF Southern Section squads, according to a CIF news release on Jan. 29.
Selected by the Football Coaches Association, the highest honors went to both a player and coach for Saint Monica after the team went 11-4 and won the CIF Southern Section Division 13 title in 2023. Senior wide receiver, cornerback and Mariners team captain Joshua Barnes was named the Division 13 Offensive Player of the Year, while Coach Thomas Barnes was honored as the division’s Championship Coach. At the receiver position, Barnes shined all season en route to the Mariners’ first division title win since 1998, leading the team with 32 receptions, 812 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. In December, the standout committed to the University of Idaho for football beginning in fall 2023.
The Division 13 squad was full of Mariners outside of Barnes, with eight other contributors selected. The team’s youth was showcased as five different freshman were picked: Quarterback Bradley Cassier, running back Elijah Wilson, wide receiver Anthony Mason, defensive back Martin Tate and punter Matt Martinez.
Cassier made an instant impact on the Mariners offense, throwing for 1,707 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2023. His backfield made Wilson was dominant in his freshman campaign, taking 168 carries for 1,344 yards and 13 touchdowns, along with a receiving touchdown. Mason was a complement to Barnes in the wideout corps, grabbing 16 balls for 315 yards and 5 touchdowns. On defense, Tate aided the cornerback Barnes by contributing 16 tackles and 2 pass deflections.
Also picked from the talented Mariners crop were junior safety Luke Griffin, junior offensive lineman Christian Gonzalez and senior defensive lineman Tyree Lewis. Griffin was an interception machine in 2023, picking off quarterbacks 7 times, and added 9 pass deflections, 4 fumble recoveries and 52 tackles to his resume. The senior Lewis was also all over the field for the Mariners’ defense, racking up 44 tackles, 3 sacks, 9 quarterback hurries, 3 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass deflection.
The Samohi squad also made a considerable run at a CIF-SS Division 9 championship, making it to the title game before falling to Rio Hondo Prep. The 9-5 Vikings had six selections to the all-divisional team, four of them a part of the team’s senior class.
Seniors selected were running back and linebacker Caden McCallum and wide receiver Griffin Seals, along with offensive and defensive linemen Jayden Montanez and Mason Oliva. McCallum had monster production in 2023, carrying the ball 288 times for 1,604 yards and 24 touchdowns, also catching 26 passes for 187 yards and 2 scores. The senior also led the Vikings with 108 tackles on defense. Seals served as the team’s leading receiver, catching 86 balls for 1,289 yards and 11 touchdowns. Montanez was a powerful force on the defensive front, pacing the squad in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (15.5).
Earning all-divisional selections outside the senior class were sophomore quarterback Wyatt Brown as well as junior wide receiver and free safety Charles Cravings. Brown was highly efficient in 2023, completing 67.4% of his passes for 2,955 yards and 21 touchdowns. Cravings made a two-way impact for the Vikings with 44 receptions for 685 yards and 4 touchdowns on offense, while also pacing the squad in interceptions (7) in the secondary.
Santa Monica Boys Basketball
Tuesday, January 30: Vikings at Mira Costa, Vikings win 50-45
Thursday, February 1: Vikings at Culver City, Culver City win 72-59
Vikings Final Regular Season Record: 16-12 (4-6 Bay League)
Next Game: Wednesday at Westlake, CIF Southern Section Boys’ Basketball Championships- Division 2A, 7 p.m.
Santa Monica Girls Basketball
Tuesday, January 30: Lady Vikings at Mira Costa, Mira Costa win 57-23
Thursday, February 1: Lady Vikings at Culver City, Culver City win 48-38
Lady Vikings Final Regular Season Record: 4-21 (0-10 Bay League)
Santa Monica Boys Soccer
Monday, January 29: Vikings at Mira Costa, Mira Costa win 4-2
Wednesday, January 31: Vikings at Culver City, Vikings win 2-1
Vikings Final Regular Season Record: 9-10-1 (4-6 Bay League)
Santa Monica Girls Soccer
Monday, January 29: Lady Vikings vs Mira Costa, Mira Costa win 4-1
Wednesday, January 31: Lady Vikings vs Culver City, Tie 2-2 (2OT)
Lady Vikings Final Regular Season Record: 9-8-2 (2-7-1 Bay League)
Next Game: Thursday, CIF Playoffs at Harvard-Westlake, 5 p.m.
Santa Monica Girls Water Polo
Monday, January 29: Lady Vikings vs Mira Costa — Bay League Carousel at Redondo Union, Mira Costa win 7-6
Lady Vikings vs Redondo Union — Bay League Carousel at Redondo Union, Redondo Union win 12-5
Wednesday, January 31: Lady Vikings vs Culver City — Bay League Carousel, Lady Vikings win 8-1
Lady Vikings Final Season Record: 12-16
Saint Monica Boys Basketball
Monday, January 29: Mariners vs Culver City, Mariners win 58-46
Wednesday, January 31: Mariners vs Cathedral, Mariners win 66-41
Mariners Final Regular Season Record: 18-10 (6-2 Camino Real League)
Next Game: Wednesday, CIF Playoffs vs West Torrance, 7 p.m.
Saint Monica Girls Basketball
Thursday, February 1: Mariners at Mary Star of the Sea, Mariners win 66-23
Mariners Final Regular Season Record: 19-9 (10-2 Camino Real League)
Next Game: Thursday, CIF Playoffs vs Heritage Christian, 7 p.m.
Saint Monica Boys Soccer
Monday, January 29: Mariners vs St. Bernard, Mariners win 10-0
Wednesday, January 31: Mariners at Verbum Dei Jesuit, Verbum Dei Jesuit win 1-0
Mariners Final Regular Season Record: 7-8-1 (7-3 Santa Fe League)
Next Game: Wednesday, CIF Playoffs at Rim of the World, 3 p.m.
Saint Monica Girls Soccer
Tuesday, January 30: Mariners vs St. Paul, Mariners win 6-0
Mariners Final Regular Season Record: 17-0 (12-0 Santa Fe League)
Next Game: Thursday, CIF Playoffs, opponent TBA at Airport Park, 3 p.m.
