For anyone interested in getting an early look at the 2026 boys’ high school season, here is the schedule for next weekend’s summer tournament to be held at Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton:
The tournament features most of the top Northern California high schools and Punahou, probably the second-best team from outside of California. Here is the list of schools participating:
Sacred Heart - Atherton
Menlo - So Penn
St Francis - Holy Cross
Valley Christian - Outlaws
Soquel - Santa Cruz
Miramonte - Orinda
Redwood - Sharks
Archie Williams - SHAQ
Campolindo - CCU
San Ramon Valley - 680 Green
Los Gatos - LG WPC
Punahou - Punahou WPC
Joel Francisco and I hope to issue our annual preview of the boys’ high school season in late August. For now, I’ll note that, for the first time in many years, our preseason choice to finish the season as the unofficial No. 1 school in the country will not be Newport Harbor, JSerra, or another school from the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section. It will be Cathedral Catholic. The last time a school from the San Diego Section finished the season as the unofficial No. 1 school in the country was Coronado in 2001. In addition, for the first time in many years, our preseason unofficial Top 10 list will probably include more schools from Northern California (three) and San Diego (three) than Orange County.
Given the rumors that Cathedral Catholic will be missing both Grayson Taylor and Jett Taylor this season, I’m surprised at the #1 preseason ranking. Looking forward to high school preview.
Grayson Taylor spent a good chunk of last year playing in Spain. The rumor I’m hearing is that Grayson is staying there and now his brother is going to join him in Spain. Neither will be playing for Cathedral Catholic. I do not personally know the Taylors, nor do I have any direct involvement with Cathedral Catholic, so take this with a grain of salt, but that is what I’ve heard.
If Jett and Grayson Taylor don’t play for Cathedral Catholic this season, Cathedral Catholic will still be a Top 10 team but they won’t be the No. 1 team.
Heard same from Dons parents in the past month. “The brothers are beyond these high school kids” was one of the assessments offered by a Dons dad. I too have no involvement with Cathedral or SD polo but have heard the same.
Newport Harbor was my preseason No. 1 school in 2019. However, they lost to Harvard-Westlake in the CIF Southern Section finals. Harvard-Westlake was my preseason No. 1 school in 2018. They beat Newport Harbor in the Southern Section finals.