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Looking Back at 2019-20

Conference championships and standout performances highlight the year

Three conference championships. Several All-Americans. Second-most team wins by any WCC school.

The 2019-20 season was cut short but has officially closed, so here's a look back at the season it was.
 
FOOTBALL
If Toreros fans did not know who Reid Sinnett was before the 2019 season, they certainly do now. Jumping in as USD's starting QB after biding his time as a backup to Anthony Lawrence for four years, the Johnston, Iowa native wasted no time in making a name for himself. 

Passing for 3,528 yards and 32 touchdowns, Sinnett made the most of San Diego's talented receiver corps that featured All-Americans Michael Bandy and Dalton Kincaid to lead the Toreros to their sixth consecutive Pioneer Football League championship — the program's eighth title in the last nine years. Head coach Dale Lindsey was named the PFL Coach of the Year as well.

After USD competed in the FCS playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons, Sinnett signed a free agent contract with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he will again serve as a backup. This time, however, he'll be learning from Tom Brady. 


VOLLEYBALL
The 2018 season saw USD women's volleyball come tantalizingly close to taking down national powerhouse and conference rival BYU, losing two hard-fought matches to the Cougars. But in 2019, the series between the West Coast Conference's top two programs was all USD, all the time. 

First the Toreros upset BYU on the road, going into a packed George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo and emerging with a stunning 3-2 win over the then No. 9 Cougars.

Then the fight returned to the Jenny Craig Pavilion, where USD defeated 10th-ranked BYU again by the same score in front of an electric home crowd. The sweep of the season series versus the Cougars proved to be instrumental in San Diego securing their 11th WCC Championship. 

The Toreros would go on to win their first-round match in the NCAA Tournament, as well as a flurry of conference awards. Senior Anna Newsome was named Setter of the Year. Opposite Grace Frohling was named Freshman of the Year (as well as all-region Freshman of the Year and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention). Jennifer Petrie took home Coach of the Year. All of this alongside Newsome, Frohling, Fayad and senior middle blocker Megan Jacobsen earning All-WCC first-team selections. 


MEN'S SOCCER
Coming into their October 4 matchup at No. 23 West Virginia, San Diego men's soccer already boasted a 8-1-1 record, with wins versus crosstown rival SDSU and against UC Irvine in an overtime thriller. On the road in Morgantown, however, the Toreros would reach a new level. Four different USD players — Jimmy Ryan, Freddy Polzer, Miguel Berry, and Alex Churness —  scored goals in what ended up being a dominant 4-1 upset victory over the Mountaineers.

The win would vault San Diego into a national ranking of their own, eventually clocking in as high as No. 23 in the country later in the year. After the season concluded, Berry was drafted seventh overall in the first round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew, tied for the highest professional selection in program history. 

The MLS draft selection was a capstone to a stellar senior season for Berry. He was named the WCC Co-Player of the Year, All-American and Academic All-American - the first Torero in program history to accumulate all three honors. The Poway, Calif. product was also a semifinalist for the national player of the year award.

Fellow senior Henry Lander was also named an Academic All-American.


WOMEN'S SOCCER
Given everything that the team's seniors had contributed to the program over the years, it was only fitting that 2019 ended on a highlight for the veterans of USD women's soccer. Amber Michel, a four-year starter and dominant presence at goalkeeper, recorded her third shutout of the season in the 1-0 win. And fellow senior Milan Moses got four shots off in the first period with three on target, capping a superb All-WCC campaign for the midfielder. 

Michel ended her college career as USD's all-time saves leader and the program's first WCC Goalkeeper of the Year. Though USD will lose Moses, Michel, and several other seniors to graduation, the 2020 season promises to be a good one, as San Diego returns a wealth of experience with 11 upperclassmen and three freshmen who started most of 2019. 


MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Ian Converse and Patrick Bruce led the way for the Toreros in 2019. Both recorded top-25 finishes at the NCAA West Regional in Colfax, Washington. Converse emerged as San Diego's number one runner, registering a time of 31:45.3, while Bruce rounded out the top three for USD with a 32:14.4 finish.

"We would not have been able to get it done without the senior leadership of Patrick," said USD cross country head coach Will Guarino. "He showed tremendous fight and served as a captain for us today. It was exciting to see the men emerge together on the regional stage."

Even better? Bruce was named as an honorable mention to the WCC's All-Academic team after the season concluded. 


WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Not to be outdone, the USD women's cross country team exceeded the results of the men's side. San Diego finished 19th overall in the team standings at the NCAA West Regional, beating out Cal Poly and WCC opponents Saint Mary's, Santa Clara and LMU. Junior Hannah Rasmussen paced the team, finishing strong to place 40th overall. This marked Rasmussen's best finish at NCAA Regionals to date. Cammy Manes also ran well to pace as San Diego's second runner. Manes finished in the top 100 with a new personal record of 21:36.1.

After the season ended, Rasmussen was named to the WCC All-Academic team, the first since Ashton Padberg in 2014.


WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Toreros finished the 2019-20 campaign earning an automatic berth to the 2020 WNIT after making their first appearance in the WCC Championship game since 2017-18. San Diego was led by senior Leticia Soares, who put together her second double-double of the year, while guards Myah Pace and Jordyn Edwards also added double digit performances. The championship contest saw overtime action as the Toreros battled Portland to a one-point contest.

San Diego was known for its defensive prowess during the 2019-20 campaign as the Toreros finished the year as one of the best in NCAA Division I ranking in the top 25 in steals, steals per game, turnover margin and turnovers forced.

Head coach Cindy Fisher earned her eighth 20-win season and was named the WCC Coach of the Year for the third time in her career. Pace, Edwards, Soares and Madison Pollock all received All-WCC accolades as well. The Toreros will return 10 letterwinners and have added two incoming freshmen along with Utah State transfer Steph Gorman.


MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Toreros faced an onslaught of injuries before the season even got started, slowing the team during a challenging start to the season in November. Despite the setbacks, the Toreros bounced back starting around Thanksgiving by winning five of eight games before entering the WCC schedule.USD showed fight as the season neared its end after taking down Portland in double-overtime at home and putting Pepperdine and BYU on the ropes before losing on final-second shots in mid-February. 

Behind All-WCC Honorable Mention Braun Hartfield and fellow senior Yauhen Massalski, San Diego returns 75% of its scoring in 2020-21 and welcomes a group of five transfers so far who have a combined more than 250 games of experience at the collegiate level.


SWIMMING & DIVING
With wins against Pepperdine, LMU and Dixie State to start the dual season, the Toreros worked their way to the MPSF conference championships and posted 27 career-best times at the biggest meet of the year. USD also picked up the WCC Cup in January, taking down Pepperdine and LMU once again for further bragging rights.

Always standouts in the classroom, the Toreros earned 14 MPSF All-Academic team honors, the third-most in the conference.


MEN'S TENNIS
After six straight WCC championships for the Toreros, high expectations are natural. And the Toreros were not afraid of those elevated expectations after they scheduled one of the most-challenging nonconference slates. And while the season was cut short, the Toreros got out to an 8-3 start and looked prime to take another WCC title.

Senior Joel Gamerov was poised to be a key piece for the Toreros as he opened the spring with a perfect 10-0 record in the spring, mostly at the No. 3 spot. 

No. 1 player August Holmgren, who finished the year No. 52 in the national singles rankings, was 6-3 in the spring, proving the junior was still one of the best players in the WCC and country.

While the Toreros have the opportunity to bring back senior Gui Osorio due to the NCAA eligibility relief due to the shortened season, they will have a strong returning roster no matter what. Both freshmen Marvin Schaber and Sacchitt Sharrma were in the starting lineup in 2020 and the incoming recruiting class of Illias Zimmermann and Blake Kasday was ranked 24th-best in the country.


WOMEN'S TENNIS
After a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2019, San Diego women's tennis had its sights on returning to the national stage from the outset. With ranked wins over No. 43 Washington State and No. 22 USC, the Toreros were certainly on that path as they reached a national team ranking of No. 40 to end the season.

Freshman Elizabeth Goldsmith broke out in her debut season by going 7-2 in singles, including 5-1 at the No. 2 position, and reached nationally-ranked status to end the year. All-American Solymar Colling, in her sophomore year, fought her footing as the season wore on and picked up four singles wins in eight completed matches.

The Toreros will welcome the 14th-best recruiting class in 2020-21, in what will be head coach Sherri Stephens' 36th year at the helm of USD.


BASEBALL
The Toreros were off to a hot start in 2020 before the season was abruptly cut short due to Covid-19. With nonconference wins over Oregon, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Indiana (x2), USD looked primed for a run in the WCC after starting the season 12-4.
 
It was the San Diego pitching staff that stood out in the early going. Sophomore Jake Miller completed San Diego's first no-hitter since 2008 with an 8-0 victory over Monmouth, while Carter Rustad and Conner Thurman were named Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-Americans. The talented pair both ranked No. 2 in the nation in wins, going 4-0 in the young season.
 
USD had three conference players of the week during the five-week season, including Thomas Luevano, Jake Miller and Jack Dolak. The big bats of Luevano (.356), Shane McGuire (.469) and Caleb Ricketts (.351) helped USD finish 8-0 in the friendly confines of Fowler Park and poised for a run to the postseason. Due to a change in NCAA eligibility rules for the spring season, the Toreros will return a wealth of talent and experience, while adding an exciting group of newcomers in 2021.


SOFTBALL
Despite an abbreviated 2020 campaign, the Toreros earned their best start since 2013. Culminating to a 15-12 record, San Diego finished the season on a three-game winning streak after sweeping its final double header against CSUN. Sophomore Sophia Bjerk completed the sweep with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Matadors 4-3. 

Members of the senior class finished their careers atop the WCC and NCAA Division I as Sara Silveyra became the toughest hitter to strikeout in Division I after recording no Ks in 82 at bats. Delaney Heller also finished her intercollegiate career leading the WCC in batters struck out (77) and in the top 10 in multiple statistical categories at USD. Despite graduating four seniors, the Toreros return a wealth of experience in 2021 along with multiple incoming freshmen.


GOLF
USD not only had its best season in five years, but it also turned in one of the best turnaround performances by any team in the country. The Toreros were honored with the 2020 Mark Laesch Award for Division I, which goes to the team with the biggest improvement in stroke average per round from season-to-season.

Leading the way for the Toreros was sophomore Harrison Kingsley, who was the team's top scorer with a 70.8 in 20 rounds. He also had nine rounds in the 60s. Other key contributors included junior Donald Kay (72.0) and sophomore Evan Kawai (71.8).

As a team, the Toreros had three top-five finishes, their most in a season since 2014-15.


WOMEN'S ROWING
Under the direction of first-year head coach Stesha Carlé, San Diego looked strong during fall competition. The varsity eight consisted of Kadee Sylla, Susie Taylor, Caitlin Burns, Katrina Strash, Isla Blake, Elli Schroeder, Clare Adams, Reyna Kirschel and Roshni Pole at cox.
 
The Toreros capped their fall slate with a first-place finish for the V8+ at the San Diego Fall Classic on Mission Bay and were geared up for an exciting spring.
 
USD excelled in the classroom as well with 18 scholar-athletes earning WCC All-Academic recognition, including Adams, Schroeder and Taylor who were first-team selections. Adams also earned the university's prestigious Alcalá Award, given to two students in the 2020 graduating class.

The Toreros will return the majority of their roster in 2020-21 and look to build on the promising performances from this year. 


MEN'S ROWING
The Toreros were guided in 2019-20 by first year head coach Ben Hise. Hise led San Diego in three fall regattas and at Lake Las Vegas in February before seeing the spring season come to an end. 

USD saw success on the water during the San Diego Fall Classic as the men's open 8+ beat out two UCLA boats and the San Diego Rowing Club and the freshman/novice 4+ placing first, beating Arizona State by over a minute. The Toreros  will graduate two seniors in Max O'Toole and Lucas Walbeck, while welcoming numerous newcomers.

 
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Players Mentioned

Anthony Lawrence

#18 Anthony Lawrence

QB
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Shane McGuire

#21 Shane McGuire

C/1B
6' 0"
Sophomore
Solymar Colling

Solymar Colling

5' 6"
Sophomore
Delaney Heller

#4 Delaney Heller

RHP
5' 9"
Junior
Sara Silveyra

#7 Sara Silveyra

SS
5' 6"
Junior
Sophia Bjerk

#15 Sophia Bjerk

3B
5' 10"
Freshman
Jack Dolak

#16 Jack Dolak

RHP
6' 4"
Freshman
Jake Miller

#32 Jake Miller

RHP
6' 2"
Freshman
Caleb Ricketts

#19 Caleb Ricketts

UTL
6' 4"
Freshman
Michael Bandy

#5 Michael Bandy

WR
5' 10"
Senior
Dalton Kincaid

#46 Dalton Kincaid

TE
6' 5"
Sophomore
Reid Sinnett

#7 Reid Sinnett

QB
6' 4"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Anthony Lawrence

#18 Anthony Lawrence

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
QB
Shane McGuire

#21 Shane McGuire

6' 0"
Sophomore
C/1B
Solymar Colling

Solymar Colling

5' 6"
Sophomore
Delaney Heller

#4 Delaney Heller

5' 9"
Junior
RHP
Sara Silveyra

#7 Sara Silveyra

5' 6"
Junior
SS
Sophia Bjerk

#15 Sophia Bjerk

5' 10"
Freshman
3B
Jack Dolak

#16 Jack Dolak

6' 4"
Freshman
RHP
Jake Miller

#32 Jake Miller

6' 2"
Freshman
RHP
Caleb Ricketts

#19 Caleb Ricketts

6' 4"
Freshman
UTL
Michael Bandy

#5 Michael Bandy

5' 10"
Senior
WR
Dalton Kincaid

#46 Dalton Kincaid

6' 5"
Sophomore
TE
Reid Sinnett

#7 Reid Sinnett

6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
QB