Falcons have rollercoaster season
By Hector Trujillo
The Scripps Ranch mens varsity soccer team had what can definitely be labeled as an eventful 2024-25, which included finishing with another season at or above .500 for a third-straight year.
Unlike the previous regular season, this one started off on the right-foot with a dominant 3-1 victory over Gompers Preparatory Academy on Dec. 5 before falling to University City High 2-1 on Dec. 10.
“We had a lot of really close games and, in some, we could have done a bit better,” said head coach Hans Witzell. “Our schedule was fairly similar to last year. We have a little bit tougher competition now but it’s not a ton different.”
Scripps Ranch High played in Western League Division I this season, alongside San Diego High School, which was the school that eliminated the Falcons from play-off contention in the semifinal round when they were both still part of Eastern League in 2023-24.
After the game versus University City High this season, Scripps Ranch High proceeded to bounce back by winning three of its next five matches with victories over Hoover High, Valhalla High and Olympian High by a combined 13-0 scoreline, while the two defeats came at the hands of Helix High School on Dec. 14 and Rancho Buena Vista High School on Dec. 17.
After losing to Hilltop High 1-0 on Dec. 21 and earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw versus Poway High on Jan. 7, the Falcons went on a three-game winning streak. The first of those wins came on Jan. 9 in a 2-0 victory over Westview High, which was followed by a 1-0 win against Point Loma High and culminating with a 2-0 victory over Mission Bay High.
“We have quite a few players doing really well,” Witzell said. “We have a good spirit with this team. They are really positive, and we have a deep roster with more players than we’ve ever carried.”
Witzell has been coaching the mens varsity team for several years.
Among the standout performers this season were seniors Ian Bae and Enrique Ramos, along with goalkeeper Brooks Petterson.
Scripps Ranch High proceeded to earn four-straight 1-1 draws, first against league powerhouse St. Augustine on Jan. 21, and then versus San Diego High, Cathedral Catholic High and Point Loma High. The Falcons entered the final three-game stretch to wrap up the regular season with a 7-4-5 record at deadline.