In today’s Courier, we highlight the success of prep athletes that excelled in their respective sports this past year. Here’s Part One of the “Best of 2024” list.
Peak Performers
1. Brianna Espinoza made program history by becoming just the second female wrestler from Central Valley High School to medal at the CIF State Championships. She matched former Hawk grappler Nayeli Pelayo’s 2018 accomplishment. Winless at state as a sophomore, Espinoza finished in sixth place junior year. She won three of six matches in the 235-pound weight class at Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield. Espinoza posted a 35-9 overall record on the season. She took second at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament, first at South Regionals for the second straight year and claimed her third consecutive Central California Conference championship. Espinoza’s amassed a 72-20 record the past two seasons.
2. Ineligible for part of his junior season with Central Valley’s boys track and field team due to academic struggles, Anthony Ramirez bounced back in a big way senior year. He set school records in the long jump (20-9) and 200 (22.83). Ramirez won the long jump title at the Stanislaus County Championship Meet. He placed first in the long jump, third in the 200 and fifth in the 100 at the Central California Conference Finals. Ramirez qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III competition in all three events.
3. Lilly Blevins enjoyed a success-filled career with Ceres High’s girls track and field program. She graduated as one of the Bulldogs’ all-time greatest throwers. Blevins won the Western Athletic Conference shot put title (29-8) for the second year in a row. She had a perfect record against WAC competition as a senior and junior. She just missed securing a berth to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships after taking fourth in the discus at the Division-IV meet. Blevins set a personal record in the event.
4. Ceres High softball standout Alizae Cole was voted the Western Athletic Conference’s Pitcher of the Year. The junior also earned first-team all-league honors. Cole compiled a 12-6 record on the season with a 2.64 earned-run average, 103 strikeouts, 38 walks, 10 complete games and one shutout in 106 innings. She won 12 of 13 starts with a 1.70 ERA, 86 strikeouts, nine complete games and one shutout against WAC competition. Cole was also a major contributor on offense. She posted a batting average of .437 on the year with one home run, three triples, four doubles, 26 RBIs, 18 runs and five stolen bases. She had slugging and on-base percentage of .619 and .518, respectively. She batted .556 from the plate with one home run, three triples, four doubles, 22 RBIs, 16 runs and three stolen bases in conference play. Cole filled the stat sheet as she ranked first on the team in triples, second in homers and RBIs, third in hits, doubles, stolen bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage, and fourth in batting average and runs.
5. Aaralyn Jauregui didn’t perform like a newcomer during her first season with Central Valley’s girls soccer program. The freshman forward ranked first on the team in goals with 27 and second in assists with seven. Jauregui was named to the Central California Conference First Team. She fell one vote shy of being named the league’s co-Most Valuable Player.
6. Ceres High boys basketball standout Manuel Ortega fell one win shy of being voted Most Valuable Player of the Western Athletic Conference. The first-team all-league junior forward averaged 21.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game in WAC play. He ranked first in league in scoring and rebounding. Ortega was a role player in the 10th grade.
7. Forward Enrique Murillo was voted the Western Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year during his junior season with Ceres High’s boys soccer team. He tallied 17 goals and two assists on the season. He ranked first on the team in scoring.
8. Ceres High football standout Reis Smith was voted the Western Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. The senior receiver also earned first-team all-league honors for his production as a pass catcher. Smith caught 40 passes for 539 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games. He led the Bulldogs in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
9. Miguel Serrano enjoyed a memorable final season with Central Valley’s boys soccer team. The senior won the Central California Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year Award. He also earned first-team all-league honors Espinoza averaged 15 steals per game.
10. A standout on Central Valley’s boys soccer team, senior Jesus Silva was named the Central California Conference’s Goalkeeper of the Year. He also garnered first-team all-CCC recognition. Silva, who had a breakout season after failing to make the varsity team as a junior, allowed just seven goals in league play.
11. Ceres High senior Madeline Schultz shined in girls flag football. The first-year quarterback was named to the Western Athletic Conference First Team for her production on offense. Schultz totaled 3,028 yards and 45 yards during the regular season.
12. Ceres High senior Kyle Phongsa starred at quarterback during his final season of football. He earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference accolades. Phongsa passed for 1,266 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on the year. He totaled 428 yards and six TDs while propelling the Bulldogs to comeback wins against Grace Davis (41-35) and Johansen (25-20). A first-year starting QB at the varsity level, Phongsa contributed at slot receiver as a junior.
13. Addisyn Prudhel had a productive first season of girls flag football. The Central Valley freshman quarterback was named to the Central California Conference Second Team. She missed earning first-team all-CCC honors by just one vote. Prudhel completed 192 of 346 passes for 2,481 yards with 29 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 12 games.
14. Carey Mastin earned a starting role on Ceres High’s boys basketball team in the ninth grade. The freshman point guard ranked first on the team in both assists (5.2) and steals (2.6), and second in scoring (11.5). Mastin was selected to the Western Athletic Conference First Team.
15. Ceres High’s Jaiden Boss made a name for himself in boys track and field junior year despite being sidelined for two-and-a-half weeks with back issues. He climbed to fifth all-time in the 300 hurdles and seventh all-time in the 110 hurdles in program history. Boss set personal records while finishing third in the 300 hurdles (41.61) and 110 hurdles (15.80) at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Championships. He took second in both the 300 hurdles (42.59) and 110 hurdles (16.48) at the Western Athletic Conference Finals. Boss placed 20th in the 300 hurdles (42.83) and 22nd in the 110 hurdles (16.09) while competing at Masters for the first time.
16. Nicholas Dominguez entered the baseball season as Central Valley’s No. 3 pitcher. The junior became the Hawks’ ace as 2022 Central California Conference honorable-mention selection Chris Garcia was limited to just 101/3 innings on the mound due to arm fatigue. Dominguez earned first-team all-conference honors. He posted a 6-3 record with a 1.88 earned-run average, 49 strikeouts and two saves. Dominguez won five of six starts and collected two saves against CCC competition.
17. Central Valley freshman Brooklynn Steeley did a little bit of everything for Central Valley’s softball team. She accumulated eight wins, 46 strikeouts and one save at pitcher. She batted .400 from the plate with three home runs, seven doubles, 18 RBIs and 16 runs. She had slugging and on-base percentages of .628 and .462, respectively. She ranked first on the team in doubles, and second in batting average, hits, homers, RBIs, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. Steely was selected to the CCC Second Team.
18. Elizabeth Figueroa was named to the Western Athletic Conference Second Team. The Ceres High sophomore leftfielder fell one vote shy of earning first-team all-league accolades. Figueroa batted .385 from the plate on the year with two doubles, 17 RBIs, 22 runs and five stolen bases. She had a 1.000 fielding percentage.
