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Hollister High School’s boys lacrosse team spent the 2026 season proving how far the program has come.
After enduring difficult seasons for the last few years, the Haybalers emerged as one of the area’s most improved teams this spring, finishing with a 9-7 overall record and a 4-6 mark in league play, according to MaxPreps.
For head coach Brett Davis, the season represented more than just wins and losses. It was the result of several years of commitment, patience and growth from players who stayed with the program through its struggles.
“I would say the team has not only met, but exceeded all expectations this year,” he said.
Despite the turnaround, Hollister remained one of the younger teams in the league with only a few seniors on the roster. According to Davis, the majority of the team returned from last season and spent the offseason continuing to improve both individually and collectively.
That experience paid off throughout the season as the Haybalers consistently competed with stronger opponents and showed noticeable progress compared to previous years.
Davis credited much of the team’s success to the chemistry built within the locker room and the players’ willingness to buy into the program’s direction.
“The biggest strength is definitely team camaraderie,” he said. “The guys are very tight-knit and they love being around one another.”
Several players emerged as key contributors throughout the season, including sophomore midfielder Isaiah Toscano and senior long-stick midfielder Vito Ferneres. Freshman attacker Troy Cooper also quickly became one of the team’s top offensive weapons after coming through the Hollister Hogs youth lacrosse program.
According to Davis, younger players stepping into larger roles was another sign the program is continuing to move in the right direction.
“A lot of these guys have been through the struggles together,” he said. “Now that they’re reaping the rewards, it creates a trickle-down effect to the younger players.”
Hollister junior midfielder Bradley Cooper said one of the biggest differences this season was the team’s ability to move forward after difficult losses, instead of allowing setbacks to affect future games.
“The last two years, if we lost a game, we would carry that guilt with us into the next games,” Cooper said. “This year, we lose one game and come back and win three more.”
According to Cooper, one of the defining moments of the season came during Hollister’s close matchup against league powerhouse Soquel. Although the Haybalers lost 6-4, Cooper believed the performance showed the team it could compete against some of the best teams in the league.
“We were right there with them the whole game,” he said. “They were undefeated and we were the closest team to beating them.”
The growth of the team extended beyond the field as well. Cooper described the Haybalers as a close-knit group that developed strong friendships throughout the season, especially as younger players joined the varsity program.
“We all hang out outside of lacrosse, too, so it feels like one big family,” Cooper said.
Cooper, who also played football growing up, said lacrosse helped teach him the importance of communication, teamwork and discipline.
“You have to communicate constantly and stay level-headed no matter what’s happening in the game,” he said.
According to Davis, the Haybalers entered the season hoping to finish above .500, compete near the top half of league standings and potentially contend for a playoff spot.
By the end of the season, Hollister accomplished many of those goals while also creating optimism surrounding the future of the program.
“Our first goal was finishing above .500, which we were able to do,” Davis said. “This is just the beginning of a new era for the program.”
Davis also emphasized that the success of this season would not have been possible without the players from previous years who helped lay the foundation during more difficult stretches for the program.
“I want these guys to be remembered as the team that turned the corner,” he said.
With the return of a young core, the growth of the junior varsity team and continued support from local youth lacrosse programs, the Haybalers believe this season could be the start of something bigger for Hollister lacrosse moving forward.
“We’re making a name for ourselves now,” Davis said. “And it’s only going in the right direction.”
BenitoLink thanks our underwriter, Hollister Rotary, for helping expand the sports coverage around San Benito County. Rotary is a nonprofit organization that conducts humanitarian projects, encourages high ethical standards, and works toward world understanding. All editorial decisions are made by BenitoLink.
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.
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