Quantelle Daniels and Derrick Goblirsch were named Ceres High's Female and Male Athletes of the Year. The announcement was made by Ceres High athletic director/varsity girls basketball coach Phil de la Porte on Monday, May 24. More than 20 coaches voted.
Daniels excelled in two sports.
"I found out yesterday," Daniels said. "I'm very happy. Both of my parents are too."
Goblirsch starred in three sports.
"I'm a junior so I didn't think I was going to get it," Goblirsch said. "It feels really cool."
"For him to be able to do what he does at such a young age is amazing," said Tim Williams, Goblirsch's varsity baseball coach this past season and freshman football coach during the 2001-2002 school year. "He has a desire to win. You can see it in his eyes."
More than 15 years had past since a junior won male athlete of the year. The award is usually given to a senior.
"It's really a rarity to get it as a junior," de la Porte said. "Donnie Donaldson was the last person to win it."
Donaldson won the award two years in a row (1988, 1989). He was a standout in football, basketball and track and field.
Daniels' main sport was basketball. The four-year varsity player led the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in the CCC at 10-3, 21-8 overall record and into the playoffs for the 10th year in a row.
Ceres also advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row.
"Our talent and love for the game carried us that far," Daniels said. "We wanted it that bad."
In the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Playoffs, Daniels had a team-high 19 points, including 17 in the second half, during the Bulldogs' 55-52 win over Tokay.
Daniels scored 13 points in a 55-38 loss to the Davis Spartans in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
"She's going to be missed," de la Porte said. "I don't think people realize how much she brought to the table. Her quickness, handling the press and defense was phenomenal. She might have been the best (man-to-man) defensive player we've ever had."
Daniels won the team's Most Valuable Player Award and was also a first-team, all-CCC selection.
Daniels averaged 12 points, four rebounds and three assists per game. She reached double figures in scoring in nine of 13 league games.
Daniels also played volleyball.
The Bulldogs finished fifth in the CCC with a 9-9 record, went 10-12 overall and almost secured a berth into the playoffs. Ceres compiled a losing record in league the previous four seasons. The Bulldogs went 3-15 during the 2002-2003 school year.
"Her athletic ability allowed her to move in any direction as necessary to keep that ball alive," said Ceres coach Sue Garcia. "It's too bad she wasn't involved in volleyball for more years.
"She was a very positive force on and off the court."
Daniels will attend Cal State Stanislaus or Delta College in the fall.
She wants to become a nurse or an x-ray technician.
"I plan on playing basketball too," Daniels said.
Derrick's father, Rick, and brother, Clinton, both won the male athlete of the year award during their senior years.
"He (Rick) found out before me," Derrick said. "He was happy all three of us won."
Derrick was a major contributor in football, basketball and baseball. Rick and Clinton also played the same three sports.
"I hope to get better than they were," Goblirsch said.
Derrick passed for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns in leading the football team to a third-place finish in the CCC (7-2) and into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Playoffs for the first time in school history.
Ceres' last playoff appearance was in 1994, when it was a member of the Valley Oak League. The Bulldogs moved to the CCC in 1996.
Goblirsch played just about every position for the basketball team, which finished eighth in the CCC with a 2-11 record and went 6-20 overall. The third-year varsity player earned third-team, all-CCC honors.
"He missed second team by one vote," de la Porte said.
Goblirsch also won the team's Most Outstanding Player Award.
He helped Ceres snap Turlock High's 15-game winning streak. Goblirsch scored a team-high 13 points, including the game-winning shot. He spun past a defender and made a layup with three seconds to play to lift Ceres to a 54-52 victory over the visiting Bulldogs.
Goblirsch pitched and played first base and right field for the baseball team, which went 1-17 in league, 3-25 overall.
Goblirsch has already started to prepare for the upcoming football season. He's been working on speed and agility with other players on campus. He also plans to attend camps in Idaho (Boise State) and San Mateo this summer.
"I'd be happy if I won it (male athlete of the year) again," Goblirsch said.
Daniels excelled in two sports.
"I found out yesterday," Daniels said. "I'm very happy. Both of my parents are too."
Goblirsch starred in three sports.
"I'm a junior so I didn't think I was going to get it," Goblirsch said. "It feels really cool."
"For him to be able to do what he does at such a young age is amazing," said Tim Williams, Goblirsch's varsity baseball coach this past season and freshman football coach during the 2001-2002 school year. "He has a desire to win. You can see it in his eyes."
More than 15 years had past since a junior won male athlete of the year. The award is usually given to a senior.
"It's really a rarity to get it as a junior," de la Porte said. "Donnie Donaldson was the last person to win it."
Donaldson won the award two years in a row (1988, 1989). He was a standout in football, basketball and track and field.
Daniels' main sport was basketball. The four-year varsity player led the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in the CCC at 10-3, 21-8 overall record and into the playoffs for the 10th year in a row.
Ceres also advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row.
"Our talent and love for the game carried us that far," Daniels said. "We wanted it that bad."
In the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Playoffs, Daniels had a team-high 19 points, including 17 in the second half, during the Bulldogs' 55-52 win over Tokay.
Daniels scored 13 points in a 55-38 loss to the Davis Spartans in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
"She's going to be missed," de la Porte said. "I don't think people realize how much she brought to the table. Her quickness, handling the press and defense was phenomenal. She might have been the best (man-to-man) defensive player we've ever had."
Daniels won the team's Most Valuable Player Award and was also a first-team, all-CCC selection.
Daniels averaged 12 points, four rebounds and three assists per game. She reached double figures in scoring in nine of 13 league games.
Daniels also played volleyball.
The Bulldogs finished fifth in the CCC with a 9-9 record, went 10-12 overall and almost secured a berth into the playoffs. Ceres compiled a losing record in league the previous four seasons. The Bulldogs went 3-15 during the 2002-2003 school year.
"Her athletic ability allowed her to move in any direction as necessary to keep that ball alive," said Ceres coach Sue Garcia. "It's too bad she wasn't involved in volleyball for more years.
"She was a very positive force on and off the court."
Daniels will attend Cal State Stanislaus or Delta College in the fall.
She wants to become a nurse or an x-ray technician.
"I plan on playing basketball too," Daniels said.
Derrick's father, Rick, and brother, Clinton, both won the male athlete of the year award during their senior years.
"He (Rick) found out before me," Derrick said. "He was happy all three of us won."
Derrick was a major contributor in football, basketball and baseball. Rick and Clinton also played the same three sports.
"I hope to get better than they were," Goblirsch said.
Derrick passed for 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns in leading the football team to a third-place finish in the CCC (7-2) and into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Playoffs for the first time in school history.
Ceres' last playoff appearance was in 1994, when it was a member of the Valley Oak League. The Bulldogs moved to the CCC in 1996.
Goblirsch played just about every position for the basketball team, which finished eighth in the CCC with a 2-11 record and went 6-20 overall. The third-year varsity player earned third-team, all-CCC honors.
"He missed second team by one vote," de la Porte said.
Goblirsch also won the team's Most Outstanding Player Award.
He helped Ceres snap Turlock High's 15-game winning streak. Goblirsch scored a team-high 13 points, including the game-winning shot. He spun past a defender and made a layup with three seconds to play to lift Ceres to a 54-52 victory over the visiting Bulldogs.
Goblirsch pitched and played first base and right field for the baseball team, which went 1-17 in league, 3-25 overall.
Goblirsch has already started to prepare for the upcoming football season. He's been working on speed and agility with other players on campus. He also plans to attend camps in Idaho (Boise State) and San Mateo this summer.
"I'd be happy if I won it (male athlete of the year) again," Goblirsch said.
