Ceres High School’s inaugural girls flag football team accomplished a lot under leader Curtis Hulstine’s guidance last fall.

Expect more of the same from the Bulldogs this year.

“We’re excited for the season,” said Hulstine, who was voted 2023 Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. “I feel confident with this group. We have a lot of returners. We have some new talent. They’re blending well with the returners we have.”

Ceres High’s roster features 16 players, including Kylie Bond (Sr.), Emily Esparza (Sr.), America Lara (Sr.), Alexa Rocha (Sr.), Joselin Ruiz (Sr.), Illiana Saldana (Sr.), Alyssa Santillanes (Sr.), Madeline Schultz (Sr.), Briana Tsurui (Sr.), Hailey Tsurui (Sr.), Nehemiah Valenzuela (Sr.), Sovannary Carter (Jr.), Gabriella Ortiz (Jr.), Mariah Renteria (Jr.), Lilly Staggs (Jr.) and Savannah Leifried (So.).

Makenna Azevedo (Sr.), Destiny Marron (Sr.), Delila Pasaran (Sr.), Marissa Renteria (Sr.), Jazmin Rodriguez (Sr.) and Antonia Solis (Sr.) were lost to graduation.

Marissa Renteria, a standout quarterback who also starred at safety, was named the Western Athletic Conference’s Most Valuable Player.

A dual-threat QB, Renteria totaled 2,161 yards and 34 touchdowns.

She passed for 1,323 yards and 27 TDs.

She rushed for 838 yards and seven scores.

Renteria also starred on defense.

She totaled 16 interceptions, including five versus Mariposa.

She returned two of her three picks for touchdowns against Lathrop.

The Bulldogs’ top returnees are Joselin Ruiz (defensive back), Emily Esparza (defensive back), America Lara (defensive back), Alexa Rocha (center), Alyssa Santillanes (wide receiver), Madeline Schultz (quarterback/center), Briana Tsurui (wide receiver/defensive back), Hailey Tsurui (wide receiver/defensive back), Nehemiah Valenzuela (wide receiver/defensive back), Mariah Renteria (wide receiver/defensive back) and Savannah Leifried (quarterback/defensive back).

Schultz, Bravo, Valenzuela and Esparza were selected to the WAC First Team.

Schultz logged playing time at center, receiver and quarterback.

Schultz caught six touchdown passes.

Schultz will split playing time at QB with Leifried.

“They’ll both be sharing the role,” Hulstine said. “We got the best of both worlds with Maddie and Savannah. Maddie has a canon of an arm. She’s very athletic. She brings a ton of experience. Savannah is an amazing athlete. She’s got speed. She can throw the ball on the move. She’s a mobile threat.”

Valenzuela had four touchdown catches.

She also led the Bulldogs in sacks.

Esparza led Ceres High in tackles.

Ruiz and Hailey Tsurui were named to the WAC Second Team.

Hailey Tsurui totaled 142 yards and four touchdowns at receiver.

Ruiz tallied a game-sealing sack in Ceres High’s 14-12 win against WAC runner-up Escalon.

Ceres High’s top newcomers are Kylie Bond (snapper), Illiana Saldana (wide receiver/defensive back), Sovannary Carter (wide receiver/defensive back), Gabriella Ortiz (wide receiver/defensive back) and Lilly Staggs (wide receiver/defensive back).

Staggs, who also plays basketball, transferred from Gregori High School.

“We have talent across the board on both sides of the ball and plan to showcase it,” Hulstine said. 

The Bulldogs compiled an 18-3 overall record, claimed the WAC title with a perfect 7-0 mark and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs in 2023.

Ceres High fell one win shy of advancing to the section championship game.

The sixth-seeded Bulldogs had their 14-game unbeaten streak snapped by the second-seeded/eventual champion Del Oro Golden Eagles in the semifinals. Ceres High suffered a 20-14 loss.

The Bulldogs shut out the third-seeded Atwater Falcons 34-0 in the quarterfinals and topped 11th-seeded Lodi 30-6 in the opening round.

Marissa Renteria’s leadership and talent will be missed this year.

She was Ceres High’s and one of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s best all-round players.

“Everyone knows what we lost,” Hulstine said. “There’s nothing we can do to change that. Marissa did a lot for us. She’ll never be forgotten. But she didn’t do it alone.”

Ceres High will compete in the revamped WAC this season.

The new-look conference features a total of eight teams, including Ceres High, Central Valley, Livingston, Pacheco, Lathrop, Beyer, Grace Davis and Johansen.

Central Valley relocated from the Central California Conference to the WAC as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s league realignment plan.

Los Banos and Mountain House joined the CCC and Valley Oak League, respectively.

Approximately 170 schools are fielding girls flag football teams in the California Interscholastic Federation this fall, up from 76.

The CIF voted in February 2023 to make girls high school flag football an official sport.

“We’re proud of what we did last year,” Hulstine said. “We plan on continuing the success this year. We’re going to have to work for it. These girls love the sport, love being at practice and love playing.”

“We have a fast-speed, versatile offense,” he added. “We’re playing to our strong points. Our defense will be rock solid. We switched some things up. I’m very confident.”