by ALEXIS MARTIN and ALANA REYES
Nov. 18, 2023, will go down in history for Chadwick athletics.
The football team captured the CIF Southern Section Division 1 8-Person Championship, concluding an undefeated 11-0 season, the greatest run the program has seen since winning its last title in 1986.
The Dolphins dominated Valley Christian Academy of Santa Maria, 33-14, before an enthusiastic crowd of students, parents and alums at Commander Field. It was the largest turnout of fans this season, and included a lively pregame tailgate barbecue.
With the hard work and total commitment of both players and coaches, the dream became a reality.
For senior lineman Daniel Rosenzweig, the game was like none other. “It was emotional because we’ve been working for this for years,” he said. “I remember my first day with [seniors] Max [Polin] and Tom [Rosso]. You know, just learning the fundamentals of football. And little did I know,, a couple of years later we’d be winning it all.”
The season held a special touch of nostalgia for Rosso and fellow senior Josh Goodman, with the championship game providing the perfect cherry on top.
“Tom and I have been working together and working toward this since, like, fifth grade,” Goodman said. “So it means a lot to finally just get there. Since fifth grade, we’ve been practicing and tackling each other and throwing to each other, and Tom has been my quarterback for eight or nine years now. So it means a lot for him to be with me and for us to do this together. It’s probably one of the most impactful things I’ve ever done.”
Chadwick Coach Jordan Ollis had also been waiting for this moment for years. “It was a combination of tremendous achievement and relief,” he said. “We had worked so hard just to be in that situation, and when Daniel made that game-sealing sack followed by the Gatorade shower, it was a feeling that I will never forget.”
The team executed at a high level for 11 consecutive games, an all-time program record for games played. Still, there were a few struggles along the way.
“The toughest thing was our trip to Catalina Island in the semifinals,” Ollis said. “That’s never an easy voyage, but the administration and parents really went above and beyond to ensure our well-being. [Senior] Austin Ransford having to fly into the game 30 minutes before kickoff was not easy to plan, but it all came together in the end.”
Each victory was a testament to the hard work and dedication that the players committed to the football program.
“We battled obstacles and hurdles the past three seasons, but this season–both on the field and off–our team did the right things and the results of our accomplishments prove that.”
A significant increase in participation and overall interest in football made the difference this season, according to Ollis.
“I’m so proud of us,” he said. “We went from 17 players three seasons ago to 31 this season. We recruited kids from all over this campus to be a part of our program, and they did not disappoint. Every single player on the team contributed in their own way to our team goal. Players and coaches made sacrifices to dedicate themselves to this team without the guarantee of success, but the opportunity.
“This is by far the best team I have ever been a part of.”
For each Chadwick player, the team represented a journey of growth and camaraderie. With each and every practice and game, the team grew closer.
Said Polin: “I’m definitely grateful to be playing with all the guys that I was able to play with from freshman year. It was so awesome, getting to do it all over again … and build up on what we started freshman and sophomore years.”
The Mainsheet 