Sharks football standouts and league MVPs in volleyball, tennis, cross country, and water polo, get kudos
Malibu High football player Xavier Godbille, 18, was one of the squad’s few bright spots in its 34-9 loss to the Desert Christian Knights in the first round of the CIF Southern Section playoffs on Nov. 7.
Godbille, a senior linebacker and team captain, was all over the gridiron defensively for the Sharks, making a career-high 18 tackles in the matchup.
“Playing that final playoff game was really fun despite the loss,” he recalled.
The game capped a season of highlights for Godbille. He finished Malibu’s 10-game campaign with 114 tackles, six forced fumbles, and one interception. Offensively, Godbille added 43 catches for 515 yards and five touchdowns.
Due to his success, Godbille was one of over 40 players from Southern California named first-team Football 8 All-CIF Southern Section Division II last month. He said receiving the honor was exciting.
“I have proof that I did well in the sport,” he said. “It’s something I will forever remember.”
Godbille was also named All-Frontier League first team, selected for the league’s All-Academic Team, and named the Sharks’ Defensive Player of the Year.
He wasn’t the only Malibu athlete to receive postseason recognition last month. Eight of his teammates, along with Sharks athletes from cross country, tennis, water polo, and volleyball, also earned honors.
Senior football player Tanner Kies, who starred at running back on offense and defensive back on defense, was named to the All-CIF Southern Section first team for the second straight season. Kies, also a team captain, was selected as the Frontier League Defensive Player of the Year, named to the league’s first team, and to its All-Academic team. He was also the Sharks’ MVP.
Senior linebacker and tight end Tony Martinez, the team’s third captain, was named second team All-CIF and first-team all-league.
Martinez said receiving the honors was a result of his hard work on and off the field.
“Since I’m a senior, I feel like it is the perfect way to go out,” he stated.
The football player also received Malibu’s Ray Humphrey Leadership Award.
Winning the leadership award, named after beloved former Sharks coach Ray Humphrey, who died in January 2024, overjoyed Martinez because it showed he had earned the respect of his teammates and coaches.
“I hope I inspired the future captains of Malibu football to become even better captains,” he explained. “The way I lead is to put myself in other people’s shoes and try to understand what they’re feeling during the game when something doesn’t go their way. I tell them to let it go and move on to the next play. I try to keep their heads high when things are going south.”
Senior lineman Lucas Nunez was selected for the league’s first team. Linebacker and tight end Adham Abdul, lineman Hudson Wilcox, and wide receiver and defensive back Maxson Chiate — all juniors — were named to the second team. Wide receiver and safety Remington Runyan and lineman Dan Morris were named honorable mention all-league.
Malibu cross country, tennis, and volleyball performers garnered awards from the Citrus Coast League.
Girls volleyball player Reghan Marlowe, a senior captain, was the league MVP in her sport, and five of her teammates received recognition. Junior Francis Hughes was named to the first team, while freshman Sadie Saxton was selected for the second team. Senior Charlotte Johnson, sophomore Layla Soliman, and junior Mayeeda Wang earned honorable mention honors.
Senior cross country runners Jaslen Hooke and Zoe Retts were named the league’s second team.
Girls tennis players Ana Mitrovic, a junior singles, and sophomore doubles tandem Freyja Jacobsen and Lukensia Michaels-Rhoades were selected for the first team.
Mitrovic is honored to receive the recognition in consecutive seasons.
“Making all-league isn’t about being one of the best — it’s more of having the opportunity to play people at the same level than learn from it,” she explained. “I’m so incredibly proud of Freyja and Lu for being named doubles all-league as well. It really shows how much they grew as players this year.”
Senior captain Rylan Borress was selected for the second team. Juniors Vivian Griffin-Jasby and Kenley Bell, and sophomore Cole Ovsiowitz were named honorable mention.
Mitrovic said the number of Sharks’ all-leaguers shows the group’s talent.
“We’re going in the right direction for next year,” she said.
Coach Joyce Stickney praised the squad, noting that Mitrovic was the team MVP, Michaels-Rhoades was the most improved player, and Borress had amazing team spirit. Stickney added that Jacobsen was the Sharks’ diamond.
“She shines under pressure,” Stickney said.
Six Malibu boys water polo players were honored in the Tri-Valley League. However, coach Hayden Goldberg believed more of the squad deserved league recognition due to how successful their 2025 campaign was.
“I was the most surprised by how many gamers I had on this team,” he stated. “We were ready to play anyone, anywhere. It was a blessing to have this group this year.”
Ryder Lippman and Costes Jensen, both senior captains, were named to the first team. Another senior captain, Taj Petretti, was selected for the second team, along with junior Nikau Webb. Junior Martin Kurial and sophomore Luke Trujillo were named honorable mention.
Godbille, the football player, said during his freshman year a handful of Malibu football players garnering league and CIF recognition would have been unimaginable.
“Three years later, you see all these people who have been playing really improve,” he explained. “Anyone can improve over time in this sport.”