Hollister football’s star linebacker Tripp Felice was a dominant force and leader for the Balers. He closed his four-year career as a First-Team All-Leaguer whose 102 tackles were the most in the ultra-competitive Pacific Coast Athletic League, Gabilan Division.
Highlights were many, from scoring a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery at Aptos in 2024 to huge tackle totals in game after game, topped by a 22-tackle effort against powerful physical Wilcox in 2025.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Felice was awarded the 2025 Golden Helmet Award as the Hollister football MVP, and he will begin his collegiate career this fall at the University of La Verne in southern California.
Salvatore Felice III, always known as Tripp, was also a Second Team All-League selection as a junior. He will take the gridiron this season in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, halfway between Pasadena and San Bernardino.
La Verne’s teams, known as the Leopards and colloquially as the Leos, compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, an academic-athletic mix of schools in southern California.
Hollister football 2026
Hollister football has been making steps forward. The Balers struggled in 2024 with a 5-7 mark, 1-5 in league play. In 2025, they finished 3-7 overall and 3-5 in league, but except for games against powerhouses Soquel and Salinas getting out of reach, Hollister was competitive in every other league game and split those six contests.
This year’s schedule begins on Aug. 28 with a 7:30pm game at home versus Soledad. The Balers then hit the road and play at Everett Alvarez on Sept. 4. Next is a home contest on Sept. 11 versus Wilcox.
League play begins on Sept. 17 at home with Alisal, and follows with a Sept. 25 hosting of Soquel before Hollister takes a break with a bye week.
The league slate resumes on Oct. 9 at Palma, and follows with Monterey at home on Oct. 16, a visit to Carmel on Oct. 23, a home battle with the Salinas Cowboys on Oct. 30 and a regular season finale at North Salinas a week later.
Other football news
Practices for CCS teams began on Aug. 7, with initial games scheduled for Aug. 27-29. Squads compete in 10 regular season games over an 11-week interval. Playoffs begin on Nov. 13, leading to the CCS finals two weeks later. The best teams move on to Regionals Dec. 4-5 and state playoff games Dec. 11-12.
There are some new rules this year. They include a head-slap prohibition for all players, allowance of players to wear play cards on their belts in addition to wrist and forearm locations and a requirement that mouthguards be plain and clear, avoiding bling or messaging.
Additional directives emphasize penalizing “helping the runner” by pushing or pulling, unsportsmanlike sideline behavior and flagrant contact.
Flag football news
There is a big piece of news for prep girls flag football with an exciting rules change. Without football’s kickoffs, flag football games saw play begin after a score with the scored-upon team taking possession—similar to a football kickoff into the end zone for a touchback.
Now there will be a virtual “onside kick” option for a team trying to catch up late in a game.
The new rule allows the losing team to get the ball after a score with a one-play attempt to retain possession, an option similar to a football team trying an onside kick. The ball is placed on the 20-yard line and they must get a first down at the 40 on one play to keep the ball.
If they can make that big play, they will have accomplished the equivalent of a successful onside kick.
This will, of course, be most relevant to teams rallying within range late in a game.
As the CCS progresses forward year by year with the sport, highlighted by post-season playoffs that began last year, one might note the explosion of flag football around the state. There was 84% growth from 2023-2024, and the surge continued with another 25.4% gain from 2024-2025.
“Education-based athletics continues to thrive in California,” said CIF Executive Director Ron Nocetti in a news release. “We’re especially encouraged by the continued momentum in girls’ athletics, led by the remarkable growth of girls’ flag football, which demonstrates the impact of expanding opportunities for all students through education-based programs.”
Last year provided the first CCS playoffs. Menlo won the Open Division, with St. Francis, San Mateo and Priority capturing crowns in the other divisions.
In 2026, CCS playoffs are scheduled to begin Nov. 2, with semifinals Nov. 4 and championship games on Nov. 7.
Hollister shined in 2024 with a 13-1 league title and a 19-6 overall mark. The Balers took a step back last season, finishing just 5-18 overall and 2-14 in league.
This year’s crew is looking forward to a Sept. 9 game at rival Salinas, starting at 6:30pm, and a home contest versus Palma at 5?45pm Sept.
Hollister volleyball
Coach Lisa Becerra’s Balers continued their rise last year. The squad produced a 20-12 record, the best since 2018, and they finished an impressive third in the PCAL Gabilan standings with a 9-5 mark.
Notably, the Balers achieved their first CCS playoff victory in coach Becerra’s five-year tenure. The win came on Nov. 1 with a 26-24, 25-23, 23-25, 25-15 victory over Mountain View.
The multi-talented Dani Orsetti, who smashed 31 kills in that four-set playoff win, has graduated and will be at the University of Redlands this fall. But setter Trixie Rizon leads a solid crew of returnees.
The team debuts at 6pm on Aug. 27 at Aptos and is home on Sept. 1 at 6pm against North Monterey County. League play begins Sept. 16 at Monterey.
