The 2026 season will be remembered as one of the defining years in the history of San Diego Mesa College softball. Not simply because of the wins. Not only because of the rankings. But because this group elevated the program to a level it had never reached before.
The Olympians finished with a 30-15 overall record and went 11-4 in conference play, finishing with the second-highest win total in program history. The program’s record for wins remains with the 2013 team, led by current head coach Jaclyn Guidi, which finished with 32 wins.
For the first time ever, both the Regional and Super Regional rounds were hosted at Mesa College. The success was not limited to the field either. Staying true to the Olympian standard, seven student-athletes earned All-Academic honors. Winning games while building a culture rooted in academics, accountability, and toughness has always been part of the identity of Mesa softball.
And yet, despite everything they accomplished, there will always be a lingering feeling surrounding this season. A sense that the Olympians were capable of even more.
The postseason losses still hurt because Mesa was right there in both games.
In the opening round of the state playoffs against Cosumnes River College, the Olympians carried a 3-2 lead into the final inning before Cosumnes River erupted for five runs to pull away with a 7-3 victory.
The second game against Saddleback College felt just as cruel. Mesa battled through a tense back-and-forth matchup that remained tied 3-3 after four innings. The score stayed frozen until the seventh, when Saddleback’s Tessa Arriega came around to score on a Lola Winningham double, ending Mesa’s season.
“We competed at the highest level and our team should be very proud of what we accomplished,” head coach Jaclyn Guidi said after the season. She added that this group reminded her why she loves the game and said watching the players grow into a family was one of the most rewarding parts of the year.
There was no disappointment in the way this team competed. The way this program looks at it, this is something to build on. The team will have a strong core coming back next season.
Jenna Eades and Sophia Sanchez returns. Freshman standout Itzel Soto, one of the most exciting players in the conference after blasting 15 home runs while anchoring the infield at shortstop, is expected to become one of the main leaders on and off the field.
Arele Torres is expected to move back into the outfield, where her bat could once again become a major weapon. Alexis Serrano, who contributed at both first base and in the outfield, showed flashes of power that the coaching staff believes can take another leap next season.
Of course, every successful season also comes with difficult goodbyes. Nine players will move on from the program.
Pitcher Olivia Anderson has already received an offer from Chapman University. Marissa Lieras has drawn multiple scholarship opportunities, while Faith Balesteri will continue her academic and athletic career at University of La Verne.
Janiece Blackman and Giselle Peregrina, both dual-sport athletes attending San Diego State University, are set to graduate early. Anabella Heguy and Madelyn Egan will also continue at SDSU, while Ana Sophia Zeigler and Jayde Armenta prepare to complete their degrees.
For Guidi, the future of the program starts with culture. “Our mantra is ‘Built Different,’” Guidi said. “We work hard every single day because every rep matters. We want practices to be tougher than games so when game day comes, the players can just compete and have fun. From academics to the weight room to the field, it all matters.”
The season may not have ended with a state championship, but it still changed the trajectory of Mesa softball. And deep down, everyone around the program knows this group helped start something even bigger.