The Hillmen are champions! For the first time since joining the Pioneer Valley League, Placer has secured all six varsity PVL championships for the fall sports season. Placer’s Football, girls Volleyball, boys Cross Country, girls Cross Country, girls Golf, and boys Soccer teams all won PVL, making it seem very likely that the Hillmen will once again win the PVL All-Sport Banner, which is given annually to the school which wins the most varsity PVL championships that year. This would be the sixth consecutive year our school has received the honor.
The Placer Football team finally captured their elusive first PVL championship under coach Joey Montoya, completing their perfect regular season with a 15-14 win over Center. Placer(10-0), sealed the final win with a sack of Center(8-2) quarterback Tyrel Anderson after he slipped in the mud dropping back to pass on fourth down from the Placer 22 yard line. Currently ranked #1 in the state in Division 3 by Cal-Hi Sports, the Hillmen will most likely be placed in a state championship bowl if they can win out in the playoffs and win the section title.
In Cross Country, Placer came up with a clean sweep. The junior varsity Boys, junior varsity Girls, varsity Boys, and varsity Girls, all won PVL titles and both varsity teams will look to continue their success in hopes of section and state titles. The varsity boys also won sub-sections and hope to continue their success at the section championship. Senior Toby Qualls was the overall champion in his division at sub-sections and he placed second overall among all of the runners at the event in any division.
The varsity girls Volleyball team(23-5, 9-1 PVL) started fast, winning their first 5 games before a 3-1 loss to Rocklin.They quickly regained their composure and were off to a 11-1 start. The champions’ lone league loss came against Bear River in the second-to-last game of the PVL season. The teams are 1-1 against eachother, while the other four teams in the PVL all lost their season series against Placer 2-0. Qualifying for the playoffs as a league champion, Placer Volleyball looks now towards a potential section championship.
The varsity Soccer team, which spent most of the season without Andrew Carducci after he was seriously injured in a car accident, won the league in the final game of the season against Lincoln 4-1 after a 3-0 loss against the Zebras(13-2-3, 7-1-2) a team which finished secon to Placer in the PVL, followed by Colfax, Foothill, Center with Bear River in last at 0-9-1 in league play. They lost against Galt in the first round 4-2 on November 2nd to end their season as they were eliminated from the playoffs.
The Girls Golf team, winners of the PVL again, were perfect in league play and look to continue their success through the California state championship, which takes place November 12th. The team, which is coached by Carol Fisher, placed second at sections.
After the perhaps the best fall sports season Placer has ever had, the Hillmen will look to continue PVL success and beyond in the winter and spring.