What is Great Oak's Place in CA History? Examining the Best Overall Programs of All-Time

Jeff George

The Results: Best Combined Program in CA History


Tournament Champion: Great Oak



My Top 5: MileSplit Senior Editor Jeff George



1. Great Oak

I think the fan voting got it right this time - the best two programs in recent California history in the final, and the best combined program comes out victorious. What sways it for me: the Wolfpack have won all 11 of their titles in Division 1. Plus, they have the most incredible championship streak in state history, with 4 consecutive boys and girls sweeps. The truly amazing thing is that we haven't seen the end of this dynasty yet!


2. Saugus

The only knock that I can find against this program is that their success has been largely on the girls' side, so they're not as balanced between the two genders as some of the other schools on this list. Still, the Centurions have had sustained success in a very competitive division and section, and I don't think they're going away anytime soon. The more I research their team and learn about their coaches and athletes, the more impressed I get - I think I sold them short last year, but I'm a believer now.


3. Nordhoff

I have to respect the balance of this program, which has 6 girls titles and 5 boys championships. I think this program gets overlooked because their last title was in 1998 and they competed in Division 3 & 4. The Rangers undeniably dominated the 90's, however - no other team had as much success in both genders over that decade. Nordhoff has some solid young talent on the girls' team, and I would love to see them rise back to the top of Division 4.


4. San Francisco University

When we're talking about a single-gender program, I think the red devils can go toe-to-toe with anyone, especially when you look at their astonishing 23 podium finishes at the state meet. However, they only have 1 boys' state title to balance their California-record 10 girls championships. On the other hand, their boys are going to be favorites to win Division 5 again next year, and we could see this program improve its credentials over the next few years and move up the list! That's the fun thing about this kind of discussion - there's no fixed end, and teams can change the way history views them with ongoing success.


5. Flintridge Prep

Speaking of balanced programs that have enormous long-term success, this is one: 5 boys titles to go with 4 on the girls side, and a whopping 24 podium finishes! If you think it's easier to win in Division 5, then you might downgrade this program. It would be a mistake to overlook the Rebels entirely, though, and with their girls in the midst of a 4-year win streak the history of this team is far from written.


Honorable Mention: Palos Verdes

Unfortunately, I don't think I can give credit for "what if" scenarios in this list, even though the Sea Kings have a legitimate one. Their school was closed in 1991 and reopened in 2002, and during that time the combined populations of three schools competed together for Peninsula High. If it had just been a case of a single school's population moving from one school to another, then certainly we could aggregate all the titles, but that's not the case here. Despite that, Palos Verdes clearly has one of the best all-around programs in the state, and I suspect there may be more titles in the future.


My Top 5: Albert Caruana, MileSplitCA Editor


1. Great Oak Boys & Girls:

What the Great Oak program has done the past few years is unprecedented in California Cross Country history.  This past season, the girls won their 6th straight state championship while their boys recorded their 4th straight state championship. Both teams also qualified for NXN once again and without question, Great Oak has been the best distance program in California.

2. Saugus Girls & Boys:
Their girls have won 9 state championships (7 straight at one point) and are still aiming at tying University's record of 10. Their boys have made the podium 6 times including a state championship in 2013. As long as Rene Paragas continues to coach there, the Centurions will continue to compete at the elite level in California.

3. San Francisco University Girls & Boys:

University HS (photo above) holds the state meet record for girls team titles with 10. They are a division 5 team but there was a time when they could run with anybody in the state. In a 3 year period starting in 1996, University scored 24, 18 and 20 points. It will be a very long time before a team records scores like that in any division. The girls have 15 total podium finishes with 10 first and 4 seconds. Their boys have now won a state title and have now recorded 8 podium finishes with a victory, 2 seconds and 5 third place finishes. 

4. Jesuit Boys:

Jesuit has been one of the best boys programs in California for a long time with coach Walt Lange. They hold the state record of 9 victories along with McFarland. They won their first state title in 1989 and their last one in 2006. I believe that they would have more state titles if placed in the same division as schools their own size. 

5. Nordhoff Boys & Girls:

If one coach discovered the cheat code on how to win state championships and collect as much hardware as humanly possible, that would be Ken Reeves when he coached at Nordhoff. Between 1990 and 2000, Nordhoff collected 11 state championships (6 for the boys and 5 for the girls) and 19 podium finishes (10 for boys and 9 for girls). I think when you look at the most successful program in terms of success by both their boys and girls teams, Nordhoff is definitely in the conversation. As a side note, Reeves is now coaching at Foothill Tech and over the past two years, their boys and girls have recorded 3 state victories and one 3rd place finish.