Opportunities for All Students to Participate

Novice to college-bound athletes have the opportunity to play on multiple teams including football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, track & field, golf, wrestling and tennis.

St. Vincent de Paul High School Athletics is committed to the total education of our students by providing a comprehensive, fair and equitable program for the school community in a caring, supportive environment. The athletic program strives to enrich the mental, physical and moral development of all students by integrating athletics in the school’s education program.

Mustang Athletics strives for excellence with these primary goals as our focus. Championships, individual recognition and competing at the next level are desirable outgrowths of our sports program but are secondary to its primary goals.

Want to watch home Mustang Athletic events but can’t make it to the game? We have you covered! If you are looking for a volleyball or basketball game, head over to our Hudl TV page to catch the game! If you want to watch a football or soccer game, please click on the NFHS Network button to access those games!

All North Coast Section and California Interscholastic Federation postseason game tickets are sold through Go Fan. To purchase tickets to a Mustang playoff game, please click on the button to your right. No tickets can be purchased upon arrival, they must be purchased in advance.

Over the past five years, St. Vincent de Paul has greatly increased its athletic prowess with the hiring of fantastic coaches and administrators to run the athletic department. It began with the hiring of head football coach Trent Herzog to his position in February of 2017. During his tenure, Mustang football has risen to being one of the elite football programs in the North Bay. Success on the field begins with success in the classroom and Herzog believes that saying: “First and foremost, we want to deliver an exceptional high school experience in the classroom and on the athletic field, for our students and their families.”

The excitement around athletics at St. Vincent de Paul continued when the most accomplished basketball coach in the North Bay, Tom Bonfigli joined the program in May 2020. In 40 seasons, his teams have earned 17 league championships, 2 NCS championships, 2 NorCal championships and accumulated a remarkable 833 wins.  While those wins place Coach Bonfigli 7th all-time in the state of California, what he has truly achieved is a lifetime of relationships and positive impact on the lives of his students and players. Read more about Coach Bonfigli here. Bonfigli then brought in two beloved coaches in Petaluma, Nick Iacopi to coach the JV team, and Michael Baribault to coach the Freshman team and run program operations.

Since then, the hires of Will Bullard (Head Women’s Basketball Coach), Morgan Selmi (Head Women’s Softball Coach), and Bo Reece (Head Women’s Soccer Coach) have begun to elevate our women’s sports programs at St. Vincent de Paul. Our Mustang Athletic programs are thriving due to the dedicated head coaches it has, as well as the committed assistant coaches each program has.

In April 2022, it was announced that Heather Campbell would become the school’s Athletic Director and Head Athletic Trainer. Campbell has brought more than 27 years of experience in high school athletics, both as a parent and Athletic Trainer. Campbell has earned the respect of many in the Petaluma community, but also around the North Bay. Her ability to multi-task, elevate programs, and work alongside athletes, coaches and parents have made her the perfect for for this position.

The love for St. Vincent de Paul from the Athletic Office is immense. “I love SV because of the family atmosphere. I am fortunate to work with a strong and smart staff who share the same goal of supporting students,” Campbell said. “Because of the small school environment, I am able to make meaningful connections with all students as well as parents, which creates an environment of mutual respect and community. I truly value the community that is St, Vincent De Paul.”

Campbell also wants all student-athletes to be at their best in the classroom before stepping in to athletic competition, saying: “To me, the students should always come before the athlete, I want to continue to build that, and continue getting banners where you’re the highest GPA. Really focusing on fostering an environment where students and teachers feel supported and everybody feels a part of the big picture.”

To learn more about where St. Vincent de Paul High School Athletics is going, please read this December 2022 article written by John “JJ” Jackson of the Petaluma Argus Courier titled “New coaching staff brings new life to St. Vincent athletics.”

Heather Campbell

Director of Athletics

hcampbell@svhs-pet.org

Jerry Bonfigli

Associate Director of Athletics

jbonfigli@svhs-pet.org

Comments from Our Coaches

“Our athletes will be disciplined, coachable and unselfish because they know that team success is paramount. I want them to listen, learn, constantly improve and play hard.”

Tom Bonfigli, Head Men's Varsity Basketball Coach

“I plan to rebuild the program in a way that’ll make the young women love the game of basketball on the court and also build character outside of the game. Basketball is a key to many opportunities in life. I want these young women to know that they are capable of anything and it could possibly start with a basketball!”

Will Bullard, Head Women's Basketball Coach

“There is a family atmosphere and a coordinated approach throughout our Athletics program.  Football has two teams and one staff who working directly with players at all levels. We provide a year-round strength & conditioning program and mandatory study hall for our players — all to support these student-athletes.”

Trent Herzog, Head Varsity Football Coach

“Life is full of challenges, opportunities, disappointments, and victories. What better place to learn to navigate all of these than on a field with teammates who have a common goal, competing at the highest level.”

Bob Merwin, Head Women's Lacrosse Coach

“I encourage any high school athlete to get involved with tennis and be a part of a team, and improve their skill. As we build a quality program, I will continue to prepare the team to be competitive in the North Bay League and work towards winning a league pennant and go beyond in section play.”

Tony Greco, Head Tennis Coach

“Cross country allows the students to develop their love of running while challenging themselves mentally and physically.”

Aaron Vela, Head Cross Country Coach

“For the freshmen, I enjoy being able to coach them in their first year of high school basketball, teaching them the necessary skills and strategies of the game. The support from administration is fantastic and is the main reason athletics at St. Vincent de Paul College Prep have been on the rise.”

Michael Baribault, Head Freshman Men's Basketball Coach

“I hope to set up my players and teams for success as they continue to move through the program. I’m excited to see how the momentum of our program continues to grow.”

Nick Iacopi, Head JV Men's Basketball Coach

Most St. Vincent de Paul athletic teams participate in the North Bay League.  On a sport-by-sport basis, teams will be placed into the Redwood or Oak divisions. Along with St. Vincent de Paul, the high schools that comprise the North Bay League include Analy, Cardinal Newman, Elsie Allen, Healdsburg, Maria Carrillo, Montgomery, Piner, Rancho Cotate, Santa Rosa, Ukiah and Windsor. The new league assignment will provide a higher level of competition while creating or enhancing local rivalries.  We are most excited that our league travel schedule are just a short drive from Petaluma, providing an opportunity for students, parents and alums to better support our student-athletes.

During the 2022-2023 school year, Mustang Athletics added wrestling, women’s lacrosse and brought back men’s and women’s soccer. With increasing enrollment, it allows more athletic opportunities for all students at St. Vincent de Paul High School.