Correction: The most recent version of the story has been updated to reflect that the Islanders made it to the 5th seed in the Open Division.
Even after an early season loss, Coronado High School lacrosse captain Leo Salata knew the Islanders had a strong team – and a chance for a championship.
They were defeated by Torrey Pines High School – a team that’s won seven straight Open Division championships in a row. And the close call was pivotal in framing a goal for the entire season: To win an Open Division championship.
“After that game, everyone started working really hard in practice, and working hard out of practice, and it was just an awakening,” Salata said.
While the Islanders made it to the 5th seed in playoffs, notching them a spot in the Open Division, they lost in the first round against Santa Fe Christian – a team they had edged out by one point until minutes to go in the fourth quarter, when their opponents scored two goals to secure the win.
Still, Salata said, making it to the Open Division was a step up from last year.
The team’s 2024 campaign culminated in a Division 1 championship title.
The rising success is something Salata attributed in part to years of playing together. He said the recently graduated class of 2025, along with his classmates, grew up playing lacrosse as kids.
“Coronado’s a very close community, so everyone on the team hangs out with each other outside of lacrosse,” Salata said. “I think that really builds our chemistry and game.”
While the group’s camaraderie was at the forefront on the lacrosse field, individually, Coronado High School had a strong showing in CIF All-San Diego and All-League honors.
Three players – Salata, Landon Sutherland and Robert Spane – made it on the list of 2025 All-CIF teams, with Sutherland making first team and Salata and Spane on second team.
In All-League honors, seven Islanders made either the first or second team. Spane, Sutherland, Salata and Jared Capin made the first team, while Michael Bannon, Ethan Reynolds and Jonah York made the second team.
The San Diego Sports Association recognizes the top players from high schools in the San Diego section for each sport.
Looking to next year, Salata said he is hoping to win it all.
“We’re losing a lot of really valuable seniors,” Salata said. “It’s going to be hard to adjust to that, but we have a good group of freshmen coming in.”
