Opportunities for All Students to Participate
Novice to college-bound athletes have the opportunity to play on multiple teams including football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, golf, wrestling and tennis.
St. Vincent de Paul College Prep 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! Head on over to Mustang TV to catch all the action!
Mustang Athletics has partnered with Hudl to sell tickets in advance for all home Volleyball, Basketball and Football games. Click on the red button to your right to buy tickets to a Mustang home game. 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, culminating in a CIF State Championship season in 2023. 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. Nick Iacopi was hired to take over for the retired-Bonfigli in 2024, and Michael Baribault has stayed on 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 Bella Muniz (Head Cheer 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.”
In the 2023-2024 school year, two of our programs completed historic seasons. Our football team finished off a 13-2 campaign with a CIF Division 6-AA State Championship. The Mustangs defeated Wasco, 27-6, for the school’s first state championship in any sport. Here’s an excerpt from the Argus Courier recap of the game. “Although they didn’t win their league pennant, their record put the Mustangs in the North Coast Section playoffs again, where they pounded Salesian 48-12 on Thanksgiving weekend to win the section title and clinch a state tournament bid, avenging last year’s disappointment. Their state semifinal game — when they held on late for a 28-26 win over powerhouse program Palo Alto, a 2,000-student school whose enrollment dwarfs St. Vincent’s 200 or so — certainly earned the Mustangs plenty of notice. They did it all with a roster of little more than 30 players, many of whom suit up on both offense and defense. Now, the Mustangs are the first state football champions from Petaluma and the first from Sonoma County since 2019.”
Our Men’s Basketball team also put up a historic campaign. They began the season 16-0, winning the inaugural Gary von Raesfeld Memorial Tournament as well as the second Waterford Winter Classic. The Mustangs also won the North Bay League – Redwood Tournament for the first time ever, as well as being the first Mustang team to beat Ukiah, 60-48. Finally, the program finished with 26 wins, the most ever by any Mustang Men’s Basketball team.
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
Nick Iacopi
Athletics Facilities Coordinator, Camp Coordinator
niacopi@svhs-pet.org
Michael Baribault
Athletics Assistant
mbaribault@svhs-pet.org
Comments from Our Coaches
“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!”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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 College Prep.
