Historic Heights: Saint Francis Girls Wrestling Delivers Breakout 2025 Season Under Coach Joey Bareng
The 2025 winter wrestling season was nothing short of historic for the Saint Francis High School Girls Wrestling program. Under the leadership of Head Coach Joey Bareng, the team shattered previous program records, claimed multiple championships, sent a strong contingent to the state level, and crowned the school’s first-ever state placer. With an undefeated dual meet record and a young roster returning next season, Saint Francis has officially arrived as a rising powerhouse in California high school girls wrestling.
Unstoppable From the Start: Key Contributors Drive Team Success
The backbone of Saint Francis’ record-setting season came from a group of committed, high-performing athletes who not only delivered on the mat but helped build a winning culture.
At the forefront was April Gao (117 lbs), the team captain and a leader in every sense. Gao claimed league, regional, and section titles before finishing 1-2 at the state tournament. Her consistency and dedication anchored the team throughout the season.
Also making waves was Eva Bhattacharya (102 lbs), who earned her spot in Saint Francis history by becoming the school’s first-ever girls wrestling state placer, finishing 7th in her weight class. Eva’s path included a league and section championship, and her performance on the state stage served as both a highlight and a sign of what’s to come for the growing program.
Another standout was Katherine Love (127 lbs), who repeated as a top-12 finisher in the state while also sweeping her way through the league, regional, and section championships. At 157 lbs, Gabrielle Celaya added to the team’s dominance by capturing the league title and qualifying for state, finishing with a 1-2 record at the championship level.
A Season to Remember: Undefeated Duals and Historic Firsts
Coach Bareng couldn’t have asked for much more from his team this year. Saint Francis finished the dual season undefeated at 11-0, clinching first place at league duals, league championships, and CCS regionals. The team narrowly missed out on the CCS Masters title, placing second by a mere 2.5 points—a result that speaks both to their elite performance and how close they were to total dominance.
“This season was amazing,” said Bareng. “We made school history in so many ways—first regional champs, first section champs, and our first state placer. The growth of the team has been incredible.”
Even their state team ranking of 44th marked a new high, capping off a breakthrough year that pushed the Saint Francis program into the spotlight across the state.
Mid-Cal Wake-Up Call: A Turning Point
Every great season has its turning point, and for the Lancers, it came at the Mid-Cals tournament. After leading the tournament all weekend, the team suffered eight consecutive match losses to close out the competition and ended up placing second.
Instead of breaking their spirit, that near-miss ignited a fire.
“After that tournament, we were on fire in our practices,” Bareng said. “It was a wake-up call. The girls knew they could compete at the highest level, but they had to finish strong.”
That renewed focus translated into stronger performances down the stretch, culminating in postseason success at the league, regional, and section levels.
Rising Talent: Growth Across the Lineup
While the veterans delivered big wins, emerging talent made a significant difference as the season progressed. Both Diana Maldonado and Gabrielle Celaya made strategic moves down a weight class midseason, giving Saint Francis a stronger, more balanced lineup that proved difficult for opponents to match.
Their adjustments were critical to maintaining momentum and gave the team greater flexibility in matchups as competition intensified.
Resilience and Composure: Responding to Adversity
Coach Bareng pointed to the team's ability to rebound from setbacks—whether from tough losses, lineup shifts, or tournament pressure—as one of the season’s defining strengths. After Mid-Cals, the team didn’t just recover—they got better.
“That was the story of our season,” Bareng noted. “We faced some adversity, but these girls are resilient. They responded the right way—by putting in the work.”
This mental toughness helped the team navigate the ups and downs of postseason wrestling, where the pressure is highest and the stakes are unforgiving.
Leadership That Lasts: The Senior Class Legacy
Though the roster skews young, the team did benefit from the guidance of a key senior: Krithi Sagayaraj, who served as the senior captain. Krithi’s impact went beyond wins and losses—her leadership helped create the team-first, work-harder culture that drove the Lancers’ breakout year.
“She brought a lot of leadership on and off the mat,” said Bareng. “Her example set the tone for our younger girls.”
With Krithi’s mentorship and the example set by stars like Gao and Bhattacharya, the next generation of Saint Francis wrestlers has a clear blueprint to follow.
The Future Is Bright: Entire Lineup Returning
Perhaps the most exciting detail of all? Saint Francis is bringing back its entire starting lineup next season.
That includes five returning state qualifiers, plus the addition of incoming freshmen with club experience—a rare and powerful combination that gives the team the tools to climb even higher in 2026.
“On paper, we’re set up for a huge year,” Bareng said. “But it’s not just about talent—we’ve got a group that loves to work, that’s motivated, and that knows what it takes to win.”
Offseason Goals and Continuing the Climb
Looking ahead to the offseason, Coach Bareng and his staff are focused on sharpening technique, mental strength, and mat strategy. With the right improvements, there’s no reason this team can’t aim for multiple state placers and a top-20 finish.
Fans and followers can track the team’s offseason developments and in-season results via TrackWrestling, where stats and match updates are posted regularly.
Conclusion: A New Era for Saint Francis Girls Wrestling
What Saint Francis accomplished in 2025 was more than just wins—it was the emergence of a program with real championship DNA. The mix of experience, youth, talent, and coaching has created a winning formula, and with nearly the whole lineup returning, the Lancers are just getting started.
From making school history to laying the foundation for future dominance, Coach Joey Bareng’s squad has turned heads across California—and they’re hungry for more.
If the 2025 season was the breakthrough, 2026 could be the coronation.
, the team captain and a leader in every sense. Gao claimed league, regional, and section titles before finishing 1-2 at the state tournament. Her consistency and dedication anchored the team throughout the season.
Also making waves was Eva Bhattacharya (102 lbs), who earned her spot in Saint Francis history by becoming the school’s first-ever girls wrestling state placer, finishing 7th in her weight class. Eva’s path included a league and section championship, and her performance on the state stage served as both a highlight and a sign of what’s to come for the growing program.
Another standout was Katherine Love (127 lbs), who repeated as a top-12 finisher in the state while also sweeping her way through the league, regional, and section championships. At 157 lbs, Gabrielle Celaya added to the team’s dominance by capturing the league title and qualifying for state, finishing with a 1-2 record at the championship level.
A Season to Remember: Undefeated Duals and Historic Firsts
Coach Bareng couldn’t have asked for much more from his team this year. Saint Francis finished the dual season undefeated at 11-0, clinching first place at league duals, league championships, and CCS regionals. The team narrowly missed out on the CCS Masters title, placing second by a mere 2.5 points—a result that speaks both to their elite performance and how close they were to total dominance.
“This season was amazing,” said Bareng. “We made school history in so many ways—first regional champs, first section champs, and our first state placer. The growth of the team has been incredible.”
Even their state team ranking of 44th marked a new high, capping off a breakthrough year that pushed the Saint Francis program into the spotlight across the state.
Mid-Cal Wake-Up Call: A Turning Point
Every great season has its turning point, and for the Lancers, it came at the Mid-Cals tournament. After leading the tournament all weekend, the team suffered eight consecutive match losses to close out the competition and ended up placing second.
Instead of breaking their spirit, that near-miss ignited a fire.
“After that tournament, we were on fire in our practices,” Bareng said. “It was a wake-up call. The girls knew they could compete at the highest level, but they had to finish strong.”
That renewed focus translated into stronger performances down the stretch, culminating in postseason success at the league, regional, and section levels.
Rising Talent: Growth Across the Lineup
While the veterans delivered big wins, emerging talent made a significant difference as the season progressed. Both Diana Maldonado and Gabrielle Celaya made strategic moves down a weight class midseason, giving Saint Francis a stronger, more balanced lineup that proved difficult for opponents to match.
Their adjustments were critical to maintaining momentum and gave the team greater flexibility in matchups as competition intensified.
Resilience and Composure: Responding to Adversity
Coach Bareng pointed to the team's ability to rebound from setbacks—whether from tough losses, lineup shifts, or tournament pressure—as one of the season’s defining strengths. After Mid-Cals, the team didn’t just recover—they got better.
“That was the story of our season,” Bareng noted. “We faced some adversity, but these girls are resilient. They responded the right way—by putting in the work.”
This mental toughness helped the team navigate the ups and downs of postseason wrestling, where the pressure is highest and the stakes are unforgiving.
Leadership That Lasts: The Senior Class Legacy
Though the roster skews young, the team did benefit from the guidance of a key senior: Krithi Sagayaraj, who served as the senior captain. Krithi’s impact went beyond wins and losses—her leadership helped create the team-first, work-harder culture that drove the Lancers’ breakout year.
“She brought a lot of leadership on and off the mat,” said Bareng. “Her example set the tone for our younger girls.”
With Krithi’s mentorship and the example set by stars like Gao and Bhattacharya, the next generation of Saint Francis wrestlers has a clear blueprint to follow.
The Future Is Bright: Entire Lineup Returning
Perhaps the most exciting detail of all? Saint Francis is bringing back its entire starting lineup next season.
That includes five returning state qualifiers, plus the addition of incoming freshmen with club experience—a rare and powerful combination that gives the team the tools to climb even higher in 2026.
“On paper, we’re set up for a huge year,” Bareng said. “But it’s not just about talent—we’ve got a group that loves to work, that’s motivated, and that knows what it takes to win.”
Offseason Goals and Continuing the Climb
Looking ahead to the offseason, Coach Bareng and his staff are focused on sharpening technique, mental strength, and mat strategy. With the right improvements, there’s no reason this team can’t aim for multiple state placers and a top-20 finish.
Fans and followers can track the team’s offseason developments and in-season results via TrackWrestling, where stats and match updates are posted regularly.
Conclusion: A New Era for Saint Francis Girls Wrestling
What Saint Francis accomplished in 2025 was more than just wins—it was the emergence of a program with real championship DNA. The mix of experience, youth, talent, and coaching has created a winning formula, and with nearly the whole lineup returning, the Lancers are just getting started.
From making school history to laying the foundation for future dominance, Coach Joey Bareng’s squad has turned heads across California—and they’re hungry for more.
If the 2025 season was the breakthrough, 2026 could be the coronation.)
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