Here is my summary of the top teams in CCS this fall. This is not a ranking. However, this breakdown has been divided into teams that I think will make open division and those who will ultimately contend for a D1 or D2 banner.
CCS Open Division
SHP
The Gators only lose 2 key players from 2023. Oliver Marcin (2026) is among the best centers in HS and will demand heavy drops. Clay Carrington (2026) is a top 10 lefty in HS and is a key outside shooter for SHP. Murdock Baker-Matsuoka is one of the best 2026 goalies in HS and brings national team experience. Hugo Thinard-McLane (2025) is a very strong option in goal. Wilkes Rohlen (2028) is a key up and coming goalie. Nelson Harris, LH Jake Reinke, and Navy commit Luke Kirincich (all 2025) are key returners for the Gators. Gates Gamble is a top 2027 player and has an exceptional outside shot. Defender Charlie Baker (2026) will play key minutes in 2024. Eddie Eiref (2027) is a sturdy 2M player. Other players to watch for SHP are Karl Sylvester (2025), Ryan Karr, David Edelman, Ario Hamrah, Sebastian Shrader-Suriyapa (all 2026), Charlie Wagner, and Teddy Parrett (both 2027).
Bellarmine
5 key players graduated from last year’s squad. The bells have a very strong starting 6. Jackson Boettner (2025) is a 4-year varsity player and a top 5 player in CCS. Returning starter Luke Kalynij (2025) is a talented all-around player. Andrew Hunyady (2025) is a top 5 center in the section. Max Mason (2025) and Kosta Ceprnic (2026) both played key minutes last fall. Stefano Gerodimos (2025) is a solid utility player. Ari Schechtman (2026) steps into the cage battle ready for 2024. Goalie Romin Amburgey and Neil Isaac (both 2028) will be key for Bellarmine in the future. Other players to watch this fall for the Bells are: Ivan Owen (2025), Noah Massaband, LH Emilio Olavarria (both 2026), and Dax Zucek (2027).
St. Francis
The Lancers lost 7 key players from last season. Chase Krupitzer (2025) is relentless on offense and is a top 10 attacker in NorCal. Dmitri Verstak (2025) is a key returner for SF and one of the better overall players in CCS. Mathias Viollier (2025) will be a key defender in 2024. Ari Rosenfeld (2027) is one of the best young goalies in his class. Darius Sayar and Finn Swanson (both 2026) were key contributors to last year’s team. Cooper Ebbitt (2026) will play crucial minutes this fall. Other names to look out for this year are: Johnny Carr, Tobin Ford, Ethan Wang, Luke Sharp (all 2026), and Rollan Tannert (2028).
Menlo
Menlo graduates 5 key contributors from 2023. LH utility Jackson Coleman (2025) is a top 3 lefty in CCS. Calvin Barad (2026) is a 6’6 center that has improved significantly from last year. Alex Stoffel (2026) is a high IQ utility player that played critical minutes a year ago. Hunter Guyer (2025) may be the most underrated goalie in CCS. Connor Burks (2026) is another very solid option in the cage. The Knights were blessed with some young talent this year. Lincoln Bott, Hunter Coleman (both Development NT), and LH Adam Afar (all 2028) all come into this program battle ready. Other players to receive key minutes for Menlo: Lucas Capasso, Isaiah Lee (both 2025), and Lucas Wang (2026).
St. Ignatius
SI lost 5 key players from 2023. Cal commit Gigo Sarimsakci (2025) is a force at 2M and will cause a lot of problems for other teams. Brody Paine (2025) is a 4-year varsity contributor. Desmond Garzee (2025) also played key minutes for the Wildcats the past few years. Brooks Taylor (2025) and Nick Rodoni (2026) are other key returners in 2024. Alex Salentine (2026) and Cadet NT member Yummy Mills (2028) are the two options in goal. Timmy Murray, Dylan Osher (both 2025), Joaquin McGuigan (2026), Joe Parente (2027), and Beckett Kaye (2028) are other players to watch this year.
Los Gatos
LG had their best season in program history last year, but 4 pivotal players from that squad have graduated. However, this public school returns some elite talent that will keep the Wildcats in the open division. Ryan Madsen and Mathijs Dirven (2026) were two of the top young players in CCS last season. Richard Runge (2027) is one of the best sophomores in the section. Jacob Weber (2025) and Henry Bakota (2026) played key minutes in 2023. Frederick Hobson (2025) takes over in the cage. Other players that will see meaningful playing time are Colin Murphy, Thien Mai (both 2025), and Ben Borenstein (2026).
Santa Cruz
Only 2 key players from 2023 graduated. Four 1st team All-League players return from last fall: Matthias Cruz, Pakalani Vaka-Saxton (both 2025), Hayden Johnson, and Tate Wilson (both 2026). LH Nikolaus Kay (2026) played key minutes last fall. Laird Bowser (2027) will be the starter in goal this season. Judah Maulder, Gio Marini (both 2025), and Xavier Hunter (2027) are other players to watch for the Cardinals this fall.
Mitty
The Monarchs lost 5 key players from their D1 championship team last year. Tucker Gavin (2026) was the top goal scorer for Mitty in 2023. Luke Lajeunesse (2025) and Gordon Vernooy (2026) have made heavy contributions for the past two seasons. Zayn Latif (2026) has improved and will step into a bigger role this season. Joshi Shaunak (2025) will step into the goalie starting role. Other players to look out for this fall: Sean Walsh, Lucas Sampson (both 2025), LH Chase Zanghi, and Bryce Rapport (both 2027).
D1/D2 contenders
Harker
The Eagles lost 3 key players from last season. A big threat for any team is Vyom Vidyarthi (2025), a top 3 lefty in CCS. Oskar Baumgarte (2025) has played key varsity minutes since freshman year. Adam Pawlinger (2025) is a key returner that brings good speed. Alejandro Cheline (2026) and Caio Cammer (2025) are both strong in the cage. Ruhan Arora (2026) and Akash Dubey (2027) played quality minutes in 2023. Ian Cheline (2027), Ossi Carrico, and Aden Liu (both 2028) will all play big minutes this fall.
Valley Christian
VC graduated 6 players from their roster last year. The Warriors always seem to play their best polo at the end of the season. Garett Crabb (2025), Micah Hernandez, and Chase Blitzer (both 2026) can all really put the ball away. Kevin McCarroll (2025) and Roshan Khanna (2026) are both good options in goal. Darius Deac (2026) is a rising center taking on a starting role in 2024. Brandon Altmaier (2025) and Joseph Shin (2026) also look to take on big roles this fall. Other players to watch: Kimi Yao, Lucas Moyers (both 2026), Kaden Cochran, and Kalob Huesca (both 2027).
Palo Alto
Paly lost 4 players to graduation after a D1 runner up effort last fall. Will Backstrand (2025) is one of the best players in SCVAL and has been an All-CCS player the past 2 seasons. Roan Haney and goalie Paul Schacht (both 2025) had big roles on last year’s team. Jack Spitzer (2026) is one of the better centers in SCVAL. Vincent Wong (2025) and Felix Ryans (2026) played meaningful minutes in 2023. Rylie Reklis and Henry Germain (both 2027) look to play key minutes for the Vikings in 2024.
Soquel
Soquel lost 4 players from their D2 championship squad a year ago. Jacob Henshaw (2025) is the best goalie in SCCAL and a top 5 2025 goalie in CCS. LH center Cash Wolf (2025) is a big presence at 2M. Stryder Stelck (2026) was a 1st team All SCCAL & CCS honorable mention player from 2023. Stepping up for the Knights in 2024: Noah Mitnick, Tanner Connors (both 2026), Sam Robertson, LH Cane Mitchell, and Nico Palandrani (all 2027).
Los Altos
The Eagles graduate 4 key players from 2023. Last fall, Ferran De Witt (2026) had a standout sophomore season and earned All-League and CCS accolades. Tiernan Braun (2026) is a big body at 2M and has started varsity since freshman year. Weston Carballar (2025) returns for his 3rd season as the starting goalie. Benji Barkovich (2026) has also poured in key minutes over the past two seasons. Joseph Tadros (2025) will step up and play big minutes this fall. Zach Po and Jameson Murdock (both 2028) are key up and coming players for LA.
Leland
Last season’s D2 runner-up squad lost 3 important seniors to graduation. One of BVAL’s very best, Louis DeScioli (2026) returns for two more dominant seasons. Luke Raimondi (2025) was awarded MVP of BVAL a year ago and earned Co-Sophomore of the Year honors in 2022. 1st team All BVAL goalie Xavier Martinez (2025) returns to the net. Jake Primmer (2026) is looking like the best center in the league for the next two years. Max Buran (2025) was BVAL’s Junior of the Year in 2023 and has been a 1st team All-League player since sophomore year. Aidan Tran-Longtin (2025) and Devin Cosgrove (2026) are other key names for the Chargers.
Serra
5 key seniors departed the Serra program after the 2023 season. This squad is looking to dig deep and make the CCS playoffs for the first time since 2017. Attackers Sean Coffin (2025) and Colin Wright (2027) provide a solid scoring punch. Twins Blake and Reed Hagmueller (both 2025) step into much larger roles after playing up on varsity the past two years. Gabe Hilliard (2025) will be the likely starter in goal this fall. Crafty attacker Henry Graham (2026) will also take on a bigger role. Other contributors next year include Sully Kinney, Max Vargas (both 2026), Ben Shoup, Alex Haag, Hunter Dempsey (all 2027), and Jackson Knapp (2028).
Pioneer
Pioneer loses four key players from last year. Dylan Spence (2026) is a top 3 player in BVAL and has explosive scoring ability. Glenn Birnbaum (2025), the league’s top goalie from 2023 provides a solid backbone for the Mustang defense. Defender Jake Schweizer (2026) has earned All League honors the past two seasons. Other big names for Pioneer in 2024 are: Owen Zimbauer, Sean Gwin, Jax Taylor (all 2025), and Gavin Armbruster (2026).