'Big Red Saturday' — San Francisco high school to host four section title games back-to-back

University High School in San Francisco is a small (421 students) but mighty institution of high achievers — academically, in the arts and on athletic fields.

Twenty-year athletic director Jim Ketcham is a busy man tracking the 36 teams among 15 sports which travel throughout the North Coast Section, which itself stretches South to North 445 miles from Fremont to Crescent City.

• Images in slideshow above courtesy of University athletics

The Red Devils constantly vie for section titles, in particularly in cross country — they have won most section and state titles than any other program — soccer, volleyball, lacrosse and basketball.

It definitely keeps Ketcham on his toes, putting the pedal to the metal to attend and supervise as many sporting events as possible.

On this night — affectionately known as “Big Red Saturday” — Ketcham and the Red Devil faithful and student body have little movement to make. They just might require some throat lozenges.

In what is believed to be a first in North Coast, or perhaps state history,  University is hosting section finals in four sports and all will be played back-to-back. From 3:30 to approximately 9:30, it will indeed be University nation in the heart of San Francisco. 

University’s second-seeded boys soccer team (12-5-5) is hosting No. 8 seed Piedmont (11-4-6) at 3:30 p.m. at Beach Chalet (No. 2 field).

At 4:30 p.m. (yes, there will be some crossover) at Beach Chalet (field No. 3), the top-rated Red Devils girls soccer team (16-3-2) take on No. 3 Piedmont (12-5-1).

At 6 p.m. at Kezar Pavilion, the second-seeded University girls basketball team (23-4) host fourth-seed Upper Lake (28-1) which will be followed at 8 p.m. on the same court with the Red Devils’ boys basketball team (27-3), the top seed and defending champion, hosts No. 2 Justin-Siena of Napa (26-4).

These venues are in the heart of San Francisco and quite historic. The soccer field sits in the middle of beautiful Golden Gate Park, while the basketball games sit adjacent to Kezar Stadium, which once housed the San Francisco 49ers.

The boys basketball team moved into the championship with an absolutely dominating 82-42 win over Marin Catholic-Kentfield as 13 different University players scored.

The girls basketball team moved into the championship with a 48-27 win over San Domenico, a team that won the state title last season. The Red Devils go after their second section title and first in 25 years.

The girls soccer team reached the finals with a 2-1 win over Marin Catholic on goals from Kelley Grove and Kaitlyn Dang, the latter was the game winner with 15 minutes left.

The University boys soccer team will seek its seventh section crown and first in a decade after beating league rival Lick-Wilmerding 1-0 on a late goal from freshman Rowan Sellers after a nice cross from senior Jose Argueta.

All four teams will advance to regional play next week in both sports no matter the outcomes on Saturday.

Ketcham, who said this will be his last year as athletic director, sees the big picture in the accomplishment. No matter how the games turn out.

When asked what gives him the most pride in this culmination of excellence, Ketcham said:

“Every season is an adventure. That is the beauty of high school sports. And they almost always end with a loss. And there is no shame in that. The intense disappointment, the tears are all signs of a group of kids that put everything on the line to achieve something difficult.

“What I know is that those losses will come to be good memories over the years because of the relationships that were forged out of the effort. But, when a team does get to the final game and, hopefully, does have success, there is a level of elation that is so well earned and will be an enduring memory forever.”

“I love that our kids are so close to having that happen for them, but also know that, if it does not happen, it won’t be nearly as bad as they might expect it to be. The bad results are when a team does not put forth a massive effort or they let personal goals get in the way of the team.

“None of our teams are in that position.

“That is what gives me the most pride.”

All photos below courtesy of University High School athletics department