In last week’s Courier, we highlighted the success of prep athletes that excelled in their respective sports this past year. Today, we present Part II of the “Best of 2024” list.

Team Effort

1. Central Valley’s girls tennis program enjoyed its best season to date. The Hawks amassed a 14-1 overall record. Central Valley won all 12 of its matches while claiming its first-ever league title. The Hawks swept Grace Davis (8-1, 7-2), Pacheco (8-1, 7-2), Beyer (6-3, 6-3), Livingston (7-2, 5-4), Johansen (7-2, 9-0) and Lathrop (9-0, 9-0) in Western Athletic Conference play. Central Valley also advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time since 2018, ending a six-year drought. The Hawks secured their first-ever postseason victory, upsetting host Chavez 6-3 in the Division-II bracket in Stockton. 

2. Ceres High’s girls basketball team tripled its win total from the previous year, climbed from sixth to second in the Western Athletic Conference standings and secured its first Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth since 2012-13. The Bulldogs compiled a 21-8 overall record and won 11 of 14 league games.

3. Central Valley’s boys soccer team amassed a 21-7-1 overall record, finished first in the Central California Conference standings with a near-perfect 11-1-0 mark and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs for the second year in a row. .

4. Just two football teams from Ceres High have won at least seven games during a season since 2004. The 2024 Bulldogs compiled a 7-3 overall record and finished in second place in the Western Athletic Conference with a 5-2 mark. Surprisingly, Ceres High was not awarded a playoff berth despite its run of success. 

5. Ceres High’s softball program posted a 14-9 overall record, finished first in the Western Athletic Conference standings for the second straight season and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoffs. Ceres High outscored its league opponents, 178-37, en route to compiling a near-perfect 13-1 record.

6. Central Valley’s girls wrestling program claimed 12 individual medals at the Western Athletic Conference Championships, three at both the Sac-Joaquin Section South Regionals and Masters Championships, and one at the CIF State Meet.

7. Ceres High’s girls golf team placed second in the Western Athletic Conference’s overall standings.  The league’s eight teams earned points based on how they performed during the WAC Championships, Midseason Tournament and Dual Season. The Bulldogs took second at the conference finals and midseason tourney. Ceres High compiled a 10-4 record while tying for second place with Lathrop during the WAC dual season.

8. Ceres High’s girls flag football team posted a 13-9 overall record, finished third in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 10-4 mark and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the second year in a row.

9. Ceres High’s girls soccer team compiled a 12-10-1 overall record, placed third in the WAC standings with an 8-5-1 mark and advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the ninth consecutive year. The Bulldogs appeared headed for a losing season before winning eight of their final nine league games.

10. Ceres High’s boys basketball team amassed a 17-11 overall record, placed second in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 10-4 mark and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II playoffs.

Other Notable Stories

1. Fans of Chivas, one of Mexico’s most successful and popular men’s professional soccer clubs, camped out for several days in January to catch a glimpse of Ceres native Cade Cowell. The Guadalajara-based Liga MX power acquired Cowell from the San Jose Earthquakes for a Major League Socer club-record fee of $4-plus million. Cowell became the first U.S. National Team player to suit up Chivas, which has 3.6 million followers on Instagram. 

2. Ceres High School grad Nicole “Sis” Bates signed a multi-year endorsement deal with Adidas in February of 2022. The athletic brand released Bates’ Remember to Have Fun 2 Adizero instinct softball cleats in August of 2024. Bates helped design her cleats. Adidas made sure to incorporate smiley-face logos into the design as Sis radiates positivity on and off the field.

3. Members of the Ceres community crowded into the Tuolumne River Lodge on River Road in Modesto on May 7 to celebrate the life of former Ceres High School coach Scotty Smith. Family, friends, colleagues and former players bonded over shared memories of Smith, who passed away at the age of 55 of liver cancer during a family trip to Washington on April 12.

4. Ceres High School’s aging football stadium was transformed into a state-of-the-art facility. Ceres Unified School District broke ground on the $7.8-million project during the springtime. Upgrades included installing an AstroTurf Field, a Beynon all-weather track, a Daktronics scoreboard, air conditioning in the snack bar and team rooms, and ADA parking and pathway.

5. Meliesa and Sam Stiles created several community fundraiser events in honor of their son Austin, who lost his life at the age of 24 in a car accident three years ago. The First Annual Family Over Everything 5k Fun Run/Walk Austin Stiles Memorial was staged on Nov. 30 at Ceres High School. A total of 116 people participated in the fundraiser event, including 101 locals and 15 virtually from Southern California, Idaho and London. Approximately $3,000 was raised. Austin starred in football, basketball and track and field at CHS.

6. History was made on Central Valley High School’s campus. In March, the Hawks hosted their first-ever swim meet at their brand-new $5.5-million Aquatics Center. Central Valley’s inaugural varsity boys and girls water polo teams used the facility for the first time this past fall. The Aquatics Center is located between the gym and tennis courts near the entrance of the student parking lot. 

7. The Cowell brothers, Cade and Chance, were both called up to United States Men’s National Soccer Team September training camps. Cade was added to the Senior United States’ Team Training Camp roster on Sept. 5. He contributed at forward as the Americans tied New Zealand 1-1 on Sept. 10 in Cincinnati and lost 2-1 to Canada on Sept. 7 in Kansas City during international-friendly play. Chance joined the United States’ U-17 Team for the upcoming Jezek Cup in the Czech Republic. The Americans faced Germany on Sept. 4, the Czech Republic on Sept. 6, and Slovakia on Sept. 8. He collected two assists while contributing at right winger as U.S. compiled a 1-1-1 record.

8. Savannah Leifried reached a major milestone in her soccer career in November. The Ceres High School sophomore earned an invitation to the United States Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team’s September Training Camp. Approximately 24 of the best American female soccer players with 2008 birth years attended the camp, which was staged Sept. 22-28 in Fayetteville, Ga. 

9. Cesar Chavez Jr. High eighth-grader Damon Flores relied on his talent and experience while claiming a gold medal for the second time at the USA Boxing National Junior Olympic Championships. Flores added to his resume by finishing first overall in the Intermediate 13-to-14-year-old Male 106-pound Division at the June 22-29 event in Wichita, Kansas. He won all four of his fights by unanimous decision Flores improved his overall record to 80-10. The 12-time national champion has claimed four international and eight USA Boxing titles.

10. Miguel Serrano became just the second male soccer player from Central Valley High School to earn a scholarship to a UC college. He signed his national letter intent with the UC Merced Bobcats on May 29 inside the CVHS gymnasium. Serrano suited up for Central Valley’s boys soccer program for four seasons. He was voted the Central California Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year during his final season with the Hawks. He also earned first-team all-league honors. Serrano, a defensive midfielder, averaged 15 steals per game. He tallied 10 assists and three goals.