The pads are back on, and both of San Pedro’s teams are swinging for more in 2026.
SAN PEDRO HIGH SCHOOL
San Pedro High football had its 2025 season cut short in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Open Division quarterfinals, as heavy rain and a dominant performance from eventual runner-up Crenshaw of Los Angeles put a damper on what turned out to be a record-breaking season of aerial artistry.
Returning senior All-City quarterback Seth Solorio shattered nearly all regular-season passing records for a wonderful junior campaign, tossing for 2,671 yards and 30 touchdowns on a 59.6% completion rate. Solorio has three elite wide receivers returning in fellow seniors Jaxon Brown (41 receptions, 659 yards, 10 touchdowns), Braeden Villegas (11 rec., 279 yards, 2 TDs) and Bentlee Chandler (12 rec., 162 yards, 2 TDs).
Solorio will need all the protection he can get from an offensive line that features the returning Marine League & CIF-LACS Open Division Offensive Lineman of the Year in David Medina, entering his fourth year as a starter on the front line. Medina has yet to allow a sack on his side of the football field.
Pacing the running game for San Pedro is senior running back Michael Artiga and Mary Star transfer, junior Johnny Rivera, an All-CIF Southern Section selection who will be eligible when Marine League begins in October.
Defensively, San Pedro will be anchored by senior defensive linemen Nehemiah Gaither and Jaxon Moore, senior linebacker Nicolas Galloway, junior linebacker Phillip Overholt, senior FB/LB Ty Contreras and senior defensive back Dennis Overholt. San Pedro also will count on the special team combination of senior kicker Dylan Moreno and senior TE/DE/P Joaquin Fernandez to turn tides around in the Pirates’ favor.
“We’re really excited about this group and the opportunity in front of us,” says San Pedro coach Corey Walsh, entering his fifth season. “Our guys have put in tremendous work throughout the offseason, and I’ve been proud of the way they’ve continued to grow together as a team.”
The Pirates went 3-1 in the Marine League, with the only defeat being to defending CIF-LACS Open Division champion Carson, who is once again favored to defend both the City and league titles. San Pedro’s 2026 schedule is stacked again, with matchups against two of the City’s best in King-Drew of Los Angeles and Palisades Charter, along with a home game against Laguna Beach of the CIF-SS.
San Pedro opened the 2026 season on August 21, a Week 0 showdown versus King-Drew at Los Angeles Southwest College. San Pedro drew the win 21-6 after the game was halted late in the third quarter when a loud sound triggered safety concerns, and fans ran out of the stadium midgame, fearing it was a gunshot.
MARY STAR HIGH SCHOOL
Meanwhile, over on Taper Avenue, Mary Star of the Sea High football has undergone an incredible paradigm shift since they hired alumnus Tyler Sestich to take the reins as coach.
In just two seasons, the Stars have reached a semifinal berth in the CIF-SS playoffs, and in 2025, the resurgence continued with an outright Camino Real League championship.
Mary Star went 8-3 last season, winning all five Camino Real League games.
Returning senior athlete Dallas Christopher is one to watch, catching 18 passes for 305 yards and 7 touchdowns. Losing Rivera’s 1,055 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on offense, along with 50 tackles and four sacks defensively, will sting, but it gives other Stars waiting in the wings a chance to shine.
Ian Ditch, a sophomore quarterback, enters a starting role and will be protected by one of the strongest lines, which includes senior OL/DL Ethan Mejia and returning senior All-CIF selection OL/DL Lotu Taufa, a 6’4’’, 310-pounder. Also patrolling the line are 6’6’’, 310-pound senior Sione Finau and 6’3’’, 290-pound senior Adrian Moreno.
Offensively, the Stars should once again pile on the points with both Christopher and senior WR/DB Mahki Huff alongside returning sophomore WR/S Nathan Gonzales.
“I’m very excited about this year’s squad,” Sestich says. “The best word I would use to describe this group is ‘fearless’. They asked me to beef up their schedule so they can prove their standing in the area. Very mature group with a lot of football IQ.”
And beef up the schedule they did.
Mary Star will have nonleague clashes with Valley Christian of Cerritos, North High of Torrance, Pahrump Valley of Nevada at San Juan Hills on September 12. Their season finale is at Carson on October 30, one week after the Colts host San Pedro on October 23 for their Marine League finale.
Mary Star’s opener is August 28 at home against Valley Christian. spt
Jamaal K. Street has been writing sports articles and features for San Pedro Today magazine since September 2013. His main objective is spreading the good news of high school sports all over San Pedro, California. Street is also a public address announcer and plays organ/keyboard at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in San Pedro.
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