October 27, 2025

Written by Mario Machuca

VIDEO OF BOYS VARSITY RACE

WALNUT: The Wolves took on the infamous Mt. SAC Invitational this past Saturday, navigating a meet that boasts thousands of runners, dozens of races and the very hilly terrain of its three mile course.  They also gained valuable experience heading into the postseason as this course hosts the CIF-SS Championships.  Racing the invitational gave the team a chance to preview what could be an exciting November.

The early morning races belonged to the underclassmen boys. Maverick Machuca led the freshman squad with Hayden Maxwell just five spots behind, as the pair worked together to lead a strong Wolf pack effort. In the sophomore race, Andrew Phillips impressed in his first Mt. SAC appearance, finishing 13th overall and leading his team with poise and confidence.

On the girls’ side, Hayden Shelton and Emma Castillo worked side by side to both set new personal bests, with Emma running an incredible five minutes faster than her time from last year’s meet.

The boys were first to the line in the prestigious Sweepstakes race. Maximo Zavaleta led the charge, going toe-to-toe with one of the nation’s top-ranked runners from Arizona and finishing third with a blazing 14:52—his new personal best on the legendary hills of Mt. SAC. Logan Carlson followed with a massive 30-second PR, showing he’s hitting his stride at the perfect time of year.

Next up, the girls’ Sweepstakes race saw the Lady Wolves come out aggressive from the gun. Elizabeth Jacklin took the lead early and fought hard to the finish, placing sixth with a 27-second PR from her time at CIF Finals last fall. Jordyn Ramirez also delivered, matching that 27-second improvement to close out the scoring for the Wolves with another strong postseason preview.

While both varsity squads didn’t quite come away with their ideal team results, they left Mt. SAC with a clear understanding of what it will take to reach their goals in the weeks ahead.

The JV boys earned King’s lone victory of the day with a dominant 43-point win. Smooth Watkins led the way in third, posting his best race of the season, followed closely by Chase Collopy, Frank Stewart, and Andrew Moyo in fourth, fifth, and sixth. Juan Carlos Leiva rounded out the scoring with a strong personal best performance to secure the team title.

With a week and a half to prepare, the Wolves now set their sights on the Big VIII League Championships on November 5th, ready to battle for titles and postseason momentum.