POINT LOMA – After an undefeated regular season in 2025, Point Loma’s Pointers have been elevated to a more difficult league — but they are still are looking forward to another big year in 2026.
The Pointers return to a small but formidable Western League with power opponents Cathedral Catholic and Lincoln, but with a schedule quirk that sees them facing the two teams on the road in the final two weeks of the season.
They also lost some talented seniors to graduation, including first-team all-CIF two-way star Romeo Carter, who is already receiving media attention as a freshman at Boise State University.
“Last year was a special year,” said head coach Ryan Price after a team film session. “I knew with that group of seniors we could do something special. They banded together and we did some really special things.”
But Price sees great potential from this year’s team, which he noted is “light-hearted and not always as serious as I would like. But it helps them in games because they don’t get rattled and they lock in and compete when it matters.”
“We’re pretty deep at receiver,” he added. “And teams won’t be able to focus on Romeo. We’ll be able to spread the ball around and give (quarterback) Ryder Watson a lot of options instead of just one main guy.”
Price feels Watson will have an outstanding season. Aiden Walsh backs up Watson.
Those wide receivers include returner Tanner Spradling who started last year as a sophomore. He will be joined by two-way player Ryan Cleator and 6 ft. 6 in. Graham Murdock who has already received an offer from USD. Also a group of slot receivers will be targeted including Chase Thomas, Levi Evering and Collin Scott, a transfer from Mission Bay.
All are “really fast, twitchy guys who can play that position,” Price said. “I’m really excited to see what they can do this year.”
Price says an improved run game is a point of emphasis this year and Isiah Standley, a transfer from the Los Angeles area, looks to be a big help. Also two-way players Nick Lemus and M.J. Fowler will be taking handoffs.
The offensive line will feature third-year staters Noah Bostwick, Daniel Hernandez and Austin Keltner. Joseph Gonzalez returns while Nestor Cardenas steps up from JV to open running lanes.
The Pointer defense was rated one of the top ten in the county last year, but 10 new starters make this a team challenge.
“There’s a lot of opportunity,” Price said. “They all know what the standard is and I’m watching to see how they step up.”
In the trenches, Brady Wagner returns and is “one of the strongest guys on the team,” Price said. His partners include Jonathan Fenick and Luke Gustafson, up from JV, at end.
The linebacking corps includes Fowler, “our general,” Price said, in the middle along with Lemus. Cornerbacks Cleator (the lone returner) and basketball player Jax Marple join with two-way player Thomas and Colton Fannin at safety to patrol the backfield, breaking up passes and backing up their teammates.
Cleator handles all phases of the kicking game and is a consistent field goal threat from 35 yards or more and he has been working with Pointer alum Mark Ring, the special teams coach.
“I’m really thrilled to see him work with the special teams this year,” Price said.
