Recently, the varsity boys soccer team at Dos Palos High School has been gaining traction. This year, the team had either won or tied all of their games. Undefeated, they secured a spot in the 2026 California Interscholastic Federation Central Section Boys Soccer Championships.
They were placed in the sixth bracket and were ranked third, where they went on to play their first game against Granite Hills on Feb. 14. The match ended with a score of 1 to 0.
The win sent the DPHS boys to the quarter finals on Feb. 18, playing against Woodlake, who ranked 6th in the bracket Dos Palos placed in. They won with a score of 3 to 1.
The team had one of their most eventful championship games on Feb. 20, the semi-finals. Mara Torres, a soccer enthusiast and spectator, stated, “It was so crazy watching them play, I experienced so much adrenaline as if I was the one playing.”
Two notable players who contributed to the game’s success include Arturo Mendoza, a senior, and Alexis Martinez, a junior. Both scored 2 goals each while assisting teammates on the field. The final score was 5 to 1, advancing them to the Championships against Nipomo High School.
In a small town like Dos Palos, news spread quickly. To wish them luck, the school organized a walkout where students clapped and cheered for the team as they left for Nipomo on Feb. 25.
The final game determined who would be the Boys Soccer Champion of 2026. At the beginning, the boys’ soccer team seemed to have had a good start and an advantage. Spectators watched carefully as the boys played against their opponents, nervously waiting for the final score.
However, things began to fall apart as the game progressed. The final score was 1 to 6, with Nipomo taking home the Championship.
Although the Dos Palos High School boys varsity soccer team lost, they persevered and still advanced to the California Interscholastic Federation championships is an accomplishment in itself.
