| History |
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY AT SANTA MARGARITA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL The history of X-Country at Santa Margarita nearly coincides with the arrival of Coach Zeitler in 1989. At that time Santa Margarita sports were in the Olympic League with other small, private schools. In 1990 most Eagle sports programs were moved to the more challenging Angelus League that included much larger, more established sports programs such as Mater Dei, St John Bosco & Loyola. In 1991 the boys of Santa Margarita X-Country won the Angelus League, their 1st league championship, & went on to place 3rd in C.I.F.
Since 1999 the Eagles have been in the Serra League. The Serra League is composed of large, highly competitive Catholic High Schools that strongly resembles the old Angelus League. The Eagles have failed to win a league championship in the Serra/Trinity league but have placed 2nd six times. Since our placement in the Serra/Trinity League, the Eagles have qualified for C.I.F. Prelims every year. In addition, the Eagles have gone on to qualify for C.I.F. Finals in 6 of the 8 years. In 2002 Santa Margarita placed second at C.I.F. Finals to eventual State Champion, Barstow. In 2006 we also placed 2nd at C.I.F. Finals and went on to place 3rd in the California State Meet. Since placement in the Serra/Trinity League, the Eagles have gone to the State Meet 4 more times. In summary, during the past 17 years, the Eagles have 4 league Championships, 8 league runner up places, 16 C.I.F. appearances, 12 C.I.F Finals appearances which includes 1 C.I.F Championship, 3 second place finishes, one 3rd place & one 4th place finish. Our trips to the State Meet number 6 for the team + 4 other appearances for individuals. Speaking of individuals, there have been 4 individual C.I.F Champions in the history of the school. They are Michael Murray in 1994 & 1995, Steven Murray in 2000 & Mike Powers in 2002. In 2005 the Eagles had their first Orange County Champion when Julian de Rubira won the sweepstakes race in the time of 15:00. Julian also became the 3rd Orange County Runner of the Year, after the Murray brothers, Michael in 1995 & Steven in 2000. . |
1992 saw another change in leagues, this time the Eagles were moved into the Orange County public school sector & placed in the ultra competitive Sea View League along with other perennial X-County powers Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor & Woodbridge. The Eagles stayed in the Sea View League through the 1998 season. During this 7 year tenure, the Eagles were league champions 3 times, placed 2nd one time & qualified for C.I.F. Prelims in 6 of the 7 years. During this time, 1993 to be specific, the Eagles won their 1st & only C.I.F. Championship to date. The Eagles also made their first 2 appearances at the State Meet in Fresno while representing the Sea View League. In 1993, our C.I.F. Championship season, the placed 5th at the State Meet. In 1996 The Eagles missed winning their second C.I.F. Championship, losing to Hemet H.S. by 1 point but went to place 2nd at the State Meet.
