The members of Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s track and field programs have similar mindsets heading into the 2023 season.
“All of the athletes have bought into what we’re doing,” said Hawks Coach Michael Mrgudic. “You have to do certain things to be good at this sport. You can’t just wake up and be the best. You have to train. You have to have discipline. The ultimate goal in the sport is improvement. We’ll try to reach our potential. We’ll work hard to get better.”
“Obviously, you want to win,” said Bulldogs’ Coach Brett Johnson. “But for me, my focus is personal growth and development. I can care less what place they’re in if they set a personal record. That’s the best they’ve ever done.”
Returnees Daniel Baker (Sr.), Cesar Bolanos Aleman (Sr.), Tarrell Lee-Gill (Sr.), Yahir Ruiz (Sr.), Lebron Stallworth (Sr.), Ricky Stanley (Sr.), Faiva Tuakalau (Sr.), Manny Mendoza (Jr.) and Dakota Adams (So.) will lead Ceres High’s boys team.
Newcomers Angel Palma (Sr.), AJ Brown (Jr.), N. Garcia (So.), Tre Karriem (So.), Kyle Phongsa (So.) and Reis Smith (So.) will also contribute.
“We got a solid group of returners with new kids coming up,” Johnson said. “They’re hard-working. They’re very competitive.”
Ceres High took third at the 2022 Western Athletic Conference Championships.
The Bulldogs finished ahead of Beyer, Grace Davis, Pacheco, Los Banos and Johansen.
Lathrop and Mountain House placed first and second, respectively.
Returnees Lilly Blevins (Sr.), Jayda Bryant (Sr.), Monica Cendejas (Sr.), Jelaine Esguerra (Sr.), Jillian Mande (Sr.), Alexa Sandoval (Sr.), Serena Chalk (Jr.), Jaden Stahl (So.) and Alexa Romo (So.) will lead Ceres High’s girls team.
Newcomers Jazmyne Arendt (Sr.), Abigayil Prado (Sr.), Giulia Puonzo (Sr.), Anaia Terrell (Jr.) and Brianna Luna (Fr.) will also contribute.
“We got a great group of kids,” Johnson said. “They’ll battle every opportunity they get.”
Ceres High finished fourth at the 2022 WAC Championships.
Mountain House, Lathrop, Los Banos, Beyer, Pacheco, Johansen and Grace Davis placed first, second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
Ricardo Perez (Sr.), Jose Reyes (Sr.), Julian Alvarez (Jr.), Damian Cerrillo (Jr.), Luis Flores (Jr.), Jadin Navarro (Jr.), Kenneth Orrin (Jr.), Anthony Ramirez (Jr.), Xavier Ramirez (Jr.), LaDre Sengsoury (Jr.), Antonio Burgos (So.), Alexis Landa (So.), Juan Sanchez (So.) and Jackson Stokes (So.) will lead Central Valley’s boys team.
Newcomers Elijah Jackson (Sr.), Kevin Garcia (Jr.), Darrius Jackson (Jr.), Damian Tapia (Jr.), Kamau Carr (So.), Daniel Leon (Fr.) and Ernesto Martinez (Fr.) will also contribute.
“They’re a very cohesive group,” Mrgudic said. “They have a lot of fun. When it’s time to work, they compete. They want to win. They want to be as good as they can.”
Central Valley will compete against Patterson, Atwater, Buhach Colony, Merced, Golden Valley and El Capitan during the Central California Conference season.
The Hawks’ league schedule consists of three cluster meets and league finals.
Central Valley didn’t post a team score at the 2022 CCC Championships due to a lack of numbers.
Returnees Marlene Jaquez (Sr.), Lliria Lira Trinidad (Sr.), Giselle Mendez (Sr.), Ashby Anaya (Jr.), Kalli Hoffman (Jr.), Mariana Campos (So.), Tarnjot Kaur (So.) and Eliana Tamayo (So.) will lead Central Valley’s girls team.
Newcomers Jasmin Madriz (Jr.), Natalie Perra (Jr.), Alyssa Ontiveroz (So.), Sofia Alvarez (Fr.), Althea Mumford (Fr.), Aaliyah Jauregui (Fr.) and Aaliyah Smith (Fr.) will also contribute.
“We’re young,” Mrgudic said. “Most of the girls are underclassmen. We got a good group. They want to get better. They’re eager to compete. As they continue to progress, the sky’s the limit for our team.”
The Hawks failed to post a team score at the 2022 CCC Championships because of a thin roster.
