For the first time in Branson history, boys varsity soccer won the inaugural CIF Division V State Championships.
Before advancing to playoffs, the team also won the NCS Championship for the first time in 15 years, after defeating Petaluma High School 5-3. After claiming the NCS victory, the team beat Crystal Springs Uplands in a tense penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 stalemate to win the NorCal championship, also for the first time in Branson history. On March 14, they defeated Garfield High School from Los Angeles 2-0 to secure their third title this season.
The first goal of the state final was scored in the first half by Larry Calle LeBou ‘27. He was instrumental in the postseason, also scoring key goals in the NCS championship. His goal against Garfield gave the Bulls the lead, and the momentum they would need to win the game.
“I was just happy I could bring it home for the team. I missed out most of the season due to injury, so I wanted to get back into it any way I could,” LeBou said.
The Bulls had a close call when Garfield had a free kick near the goal, but goalie Niccolo Machotka-Farley ‘26 easily scooped up the ball to deny Garfield an equalizer. Then, Jonah Sher ‘26 cemented the Bulls’ lead with a breakaway goal in the second half.
“The centerbacks had the ball, and I was lucky enough to get a good poke on it and steal it. Usually I don’t think when I have the ball, I just do, but I had every single thought in my mind when I was running up. It caused me to stumble a bit, but I kicked it and got lucky, and from there, 2-0,” Sher said.
For the seniors on the team, the state championship victory represented an incredible achievement to cap off their time playing soccer at Branson.
“It’s fantastic, it’s the best last senior ride ever. I think this is one of the greatest moments of my life. I’m super happy for the team,” Mateo Tremmell ‘26 said.
The players also reflected on the journey the team has made over the course of the season.
“It feels great. The goal we had at the start of the season was to get here, but we weren’t just in it, we won,” said Will Swift ‘27.
Despite a losing record in the MCAL league season, the team stepped up in the postseason. Head Coach Tom Ryan credited the team’s competitive drive in the face of their losses as the catalyst for the team’s postseason accomplishments.
“We had some success, but once we lost in the [MCAL] playoffs against Terra Linda, there was a renewed commitment to what we were going to do going forward into [NCS], and then it just snowballed all the way to the state championships,” Ryan said.
Ryan said that while he felt usual pre-game anxieties before the state final, he also felt confident in his players’ abilities after the growth the team made over the postseason.
“I felt like they had already won seven games, all single elimination games, and I felt like, well, here’s one more, now we’re getting seasoned, we know how to do this. And having said that, we played a fabulous Garfield from East LA, so we had to be at our best to get the result,” Ryan said.
The victory was all the more incredible of an achievement after a less-than-successful regular season. No one could have predicted the team’s incredible arc that carried them from NCS champions to NorCal champions to state champions.
“It hasn’t hit me yet, to be honest. Out there on the field, it was chaotic, everyone was just playing their game, and as soon as it was over, I was kind of just in shock, and I think I still am. I’m so happy to be here. It’s such a great environment, and as a team we feel so collectively proud,” Drew Holden ‘26 said.
Cooper Little ‘26 expressed similar sentiments about the team’s achievement.
“It feels surreal. It’s something I’ve always dreamed about in high school, but I never really thought it would happen. I’m very proud of the team, very happy with the coaching this season,” Little said.
Little was awarded a sportsmanship award for his commitment to sportsmanship throughout the postseason and during the final game in Sacramento.
“I’m proud to hold that around my neck,” Little said.
The values of sportsmanship, honor and community defined the entire team this season. Ultimately, this historic win was only achieved through the team’s unwavering unity. Their camaraderie pushed them to incredible growth over the season in their possession and teamwork on the field, and gave them the rallying momentum to succeed in the postseason.
“We really talk a lot about community and family, so I’m very excited we get to be the inaugural state champions for Division V, and I definitely want to share it with the Branson community. When it comes to this team, there’s a resilience, coupled with a ‘we can do it together’ attitude, and, for lack of a better word, a family outside of their own family, a family within the team, and I think that carried the day,” Ryan said.
