They always say its harder to stay at the top than get to the top. Well a bunch of area teams have learned to deal with the pressure that comes with repeating and have established nice traditions.
So today’s top 10 is top active streaks. The length of the win streak isn’t necessarily the most important factor. Quality of competition in that sports in that conference was an even bigger factor.
10. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men’s swimming 5 straight SCIAC titles
Much like on the women’s side, CMS has so much depth it’s hard for other teams to really challenge.
9. San Bernardino Valley men’s cross country 17 straight Foothill Conference titles
The Wolverines could easily be ranked higher than this but competition in the conference isn’t quite up to snuff. Of course the fact that SBVC is so good is one reason the rest of the conference looks so bad. More on this team later.
8. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women’s swimming 10 straight SCIAC titles
The Athenas have maintained their stranglehold on the top spot with superior depth. Other teams may have more individual winners but CMS tends to have a couple of those, as well as place multiple swimmers in each event. That doesn’t look like it will change any
time soon.
6. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men’s tennis 8 straight SCIACs The Stags have repeatedly finished at the top of a conference that also has high-caliber programs in Redlands, Pomona-Pitzer and Cal Lutheran. This year the Stags (30-4) were national runner-up, and may well have won a title had it not been for the suspension of its No. 1 player before nationals.
5. Cal State San Bernardino volleyball 7 straight CCAAs.
The Coyotes have established a dynasty under head coach Kim Cherniss with seven straight and 10 in the last 12 years. This year’s might be the most unlikely because the team had graduated 7 players from the previous team and was relying primarily freshman. If another school didn’t wrestle the crown from the Coyotes this year, it might not happen for awhile. They went 24-9 overall, 19-3 in CCAA play to win by three matches. More on this team to come.
4. San Bernardino Valley men’s cross country 7 SoCals
The Wolverines are a dominant force, led by coach Wes Ashford. During this streak SBVC also went on to win five straight state championships from 2006 to 2010. SoCal is more competitive than NorCal, so win the region and you have a good shot to win it all.
3. University of La Verne men’s golf 7 straight SCIAC titles
The Leopards can change players and change coaches but have remained the best team in what is arguably the top conference in the country in Division III. How good is it? Well La Verne may have gotten the AQ, but three others were given at-large berths to nationals. That’s three of seven given for the entire country.
2. University of Redlands softball 9 straight SCIACs
The Bulldogs (36-12, 22-6) retained their title again this year, despite losing All-American outfielder Amanda Lievanos to an injury before the season even started. Coach Laurie Nevarez also had a lineup, primarily of underclassmen and overcame a huge challenge from nationally ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps as well as SCIAC newcomer Chapman, which had been a national title contender even when competing as an independent.
1. Cal State San Bernardino volleyball 13 straight appearances in regional final
Winning a conference title is one thing, but doing better than that and making it all the way to the step before the Elite Eight is even more admirable, especially given the level of competition in the West region. This program is by far the premier program in the Inland Empire in any sport. A footnote here . . . The first win by the Coyotes next year will be the 500th in the tenure of Cherniss.
Share this
