Cross Country
The Aragon cross country team is looking to repeat their success from 2025 and qualify for California Coastal Section championships again this season. Last year’s team were able to grab the Peninsula Athletic League Frosh/Soph Championship title, and with many athletes returning as juniors this year, the Dons have a strong line up for this season.
“The main goals are always for the varsity teams to make it to the CCS Championship,” said head coach John Abrams. “So the boys have been training during the summer … They have their vision set on being very successful, and they would love to get [to California Interscholastic Federation Championships].”
Every athlete runs a different amount during off-season, leading to varying starting points when the season starts.
“Overuse, not training and not coming in with a foundation of endurance and miles during the summer is usually a recipe for athletes to be injured,” Abrams said. “If you get injured during cross country, you can be derailed from the training program, which can set you back, and so it can be very hard.”
The team’s next meet will be the Artichoke Invitational on Oct. 3.
Boys Water Polo
Following a successful 2025 season, the Aragon boys water polo team will play in the Bay Division of the Peninsula Athletic League in 2026. The Dons won the Ocean division last year, earning them a playoff match against Burlingame and a promotion to the more competitive Bay division.
“This is [our] first year being moved up, so I know the games are gonna be pretty difficult,” said senior and utility player Kurt Nguyen. “We haven’t been to [CCS playoffs], officially before, so it’d be really nice just [to] make it into the first round.”
The team is also starting the season with a new head coach, Julian Garcia-Mendez, who coached the junior varsity team last year.
“It’s going pretty good with the new head coach,” Nguyen said. “Coach [Garcia-Mendez] is a great guy. He’s reasonable, and he’s very experienced. He played water polo at Menlo [School] … [and at College of San Mateo].”
The Dons will play Mountain View High School on Sept. 19.
Girls Volleyball
After winning against Monta Vista High School with a score of 3-1 in the CCS DII finals last season, earning the title of champions, Aragon’s girls volleyball team is aiming to do the same this season.
“Every game is tough,” said head coach Annette Gennaro. “Everyone’s out to get Aragon.”
Although the Dons have won three of the last four CCS DII Championships, the team has not seen a Bay Division title since 2014. With teams like Carlmont and Menlo-Atherton, both of whom compete in CCS DI, in the Bay Division, competition is hard. This season, the team is going back to the basics to solidify their foundation.
“Volleyball is a game of knowing each other,” Gennaro said. “We’re really working on team building to work on our trust, our communication and our cohesiveness.”
The Dons have a team of accomplished players returning this year: all-league first-team selections junior and outside hitter Poppy McKenzie along with senior and setter Devyn Lee, as well as second-team selection senior and outside hitter Caitlyn Robertson. With this team, Aragon hopes to make a run for championships again this year.
The team played their first game against the Menlo School on Aug. 28 losing 3-1. They will next play Burlingame High School on Sept. 17.
Football
After failing to reach the postseason in 2025, the Aragon Dons football team returns with a new team, a new coaching line-up and eight months of off-season training. This season, the Dons look forward to doing their best.
“Hillsdale is always what we’re looking for,” said head coach Ash Parham. “[But also] week by week, because if you look ahead, you get distracted, and someone who shouldn’t beat you beats you. So you have to take it week by week.”
For the team, health is the number one priority to stay strong throughout the season.
“We have a lot of linemen, but we don’t have a lot of experience along the offensive and defensive lines,” Parham said. “So it’s gonna be just make sure we stay healthy, so we can last the entire year.”
The Dons also have new offensive and defensive coordinators who are trying new strategies and line-ups. Former Palo Alto High School head coach Dave DeGeronimo will be the offensive coordinator, and Johnny Richardson joins as the defensive coordinator after coaching at Palo Alto as well.
With this combination, Aragon won their first two games against Silver Creek High School and Oak Grove High School. Their next game is on Sept. 18 against Piedmont High School.
