Nico Gil and Angie Medrano have been named Central Valley High School’s Central California Conference Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Gil and Medrano were recognized with other CCC honorees in front of their supporters at a luncheon this past month in Merced.

“A campus supervisor pulled me out of class and I had to see (Athletic Director) Greg Magni,” Medrano said while talking about the selection process. “I didn’t know if I should be scared or excited. It was an honor to be considered for the award. It was really cool Magni chose me. I got to bring my parents to the ceremony. I got to give a speech.”

“I was in class,” Gil said. “They surprised me. I’m really happy because I know how much it means to me and my family.”

Gil and Medrano both had 4.0-plus cumulative grade-point averages.

They also shared salutatorian honors for the class of 2023.

Medrano earned the honor of delivering a speech during the graduation ceremony.

“Everything I did was for my parents,” Medrano said. “I wanted to make them proud. My parents are immigrants. They didn’t get access to a good education growing up. I wanted to make sure I took every opportunity to the fullest.”

“Both of my parents are teachers,” Gil said. “They always stressed how important going to college is. I’m really thankful in how they raised me. They taught me nothing is guaranteed. You have to earn it. You have to try to be the best at everything you do.”

Gil’s journey in high school was drastically different from his peers as he earned his GED sophomore year.

He enrolled at Modesto Junior College junior year and earned his A.A. degree three months ago. 

Gil returned to Central Valley for his senior year.

He also worked full-time at Chipotle in Modesto.

“I came back senior year because I wanted to experience high-school life,” he said. “It was a struggle balancing the work inside and outside of the classroom, not just athletics but academics. I made the commitment because my older sister also did it. My parents have always pushed us to do our best.”

Medrano took 10 Advanced Placement classes at Central Valley.

“It was challenging,” she said while talking about life as a student-athlete. “I scheduled my day in a planner. I did a lot of my work on the weekends. I tried my best to not wait until the last minute to do all of my school stuff. My social life was limited because I was always busy. I put my whole life into this. I’d do it all over again, honestly. It was all worth it.”

Gil earned three varsity letters, including one in boys soccer, one in boys tennis and one in boys cross country.

“I had to put a lot of effort into school and sports,” he said. “I’d do it again because of what I was able to accomplish.”

Gil filled a major role as Central Valley’s boys soccer program amassed an 18-6-6 overall record, finished second in the CCC standings (7-3-2) and reached the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoff bracket this past winter.

A newcomer to the team, Gil contributed off the bench early in the season before becoming a key starter.

“For soccer in this area, Central Valley is the school,” he said. “You’re always expected to play your best because there’s someone waiting behind you. You never have a guaranteed spot. Once you get the spot, you have to secure it every game.”

“Even though he’s 5-6 or 5-7, he plays like a 6-footer,” head coach Horatio Garcia said. “He’s a physical player. He’s really quick. He’s the soul of the team.”

Gil and longtime friend/fellow Central Valley grad Eberardo Huaracha were both named to the CCC First Team for their outstanding play at defensive centerfielder.

Gil totaled one goal and three assists.

The Hawks had a special midfield according to Gil.

“We had a good connection,” he said. “I’ve been playing soccer with Eberardo since kindergarten.”

Gil helped Central Valley’s boys tennis team secure its lone win in CCC play during the final week of the season.

Gil’s 6-3, 7-5 victory in No. 6 singles play propelled the Hawks to a 5-4 win against the Buhach Colony Thunder.

Central Valley and Buhach Colony tied for last place in the CCC standings with identical 1-11 records.

Gil had a successful debut at singles. 

He usually played doubles.

“Nico was the deciding factor,” head coach Alexis Villa said.

Medrano earned six varsity letters, including four in girls soccer and two in girls tennis.

“I went into high school just thinking I was going to do soccer,” she said. “I tried tennis sophomore year and ended up being pretty successful at that, too.”

Medrano was co-team captain in soccer for the past two seasons.

She was selected to the CCC Second Team senior year.

She was also named the Hawks’ CCC Sportsmanship Award winner. 

“I trusted her and believed in her,” head coach Miguel Larranaga said. “She never let me down. She’s a really good player. She never gets tired. She never gives up. She’s a fighter.”

Medrano, a utility player, totaled six goals during her final season.

She started on defense at the beginning of the year for shorthanded Central Valley, which posted an 11-10-1 overall record and placed fifth in the CCC standings (5-7-0).

“I had to move her up to forward because of injuries,” Larranaga said. “She didn’t score a lot of goals. But the pressure she put on other teams gave some relief to our midfielders and defense.”

Medrano was voted MVP of the Western Athletic Conference South Division sophomore year.

She tallied nine goals and three assists at forward while leading the Hawks to a first-place finish in the league standings (7-1-2).

“I became really dedicated to the sport,” Medrano said. “I watched what I ate before and after games. I’d even go to the gym to become stronger.”

Medrano was a two-year starter in girls tennis.

Medrano, Central Valley’s top player this season, managed to win three of seven matches despite being slowed by an ankle injury suffered in soccer.

She contributed at No. 4 singles as a junior.

“She beat a lot of girls that were better than her,” coach Nimrat Chahal said. “She found ways to win. She’s very competitive. Her athleticism is her best skill. She gets to every single ball. She’s very fast.”

Medrano and Gil both played soccer for 11 years.

“It was more than just a sport,” Medrano said. “It brought my family together. It’s been hard adjusting to it (life without soccer) this summer. I get bored at home. I’ll find other ways to be active.”

“I stuck with it because I enjoyed being a part of a team,” Gil said. “I really enjoyed the running part of it. I got better every year. I’d like to continue playing soccer (at the semi-professional level) as long as it doesn’t conflict with my academics.”

Medrano and Gil will attend college at UC Berkeley and Stanislaus State, respectively.

Medrano and Gil are following in the footsteps of their siblings.

Juan Medrano graduated from UC Berkeley in 2018. He works as an account manager at Uber headquarters in San Francisco.

“If it wasn’t for my parents and brother, I wouldn’t be half the person I am today,” Medrano said. “Both of our parents are hard-working people. They taught us to never give up.”

Olivia Gil graduated from Stanislaus State at the age of 19 this spring.

She also finished high school and completed her A.A. degree early.

She’s currently working as a summer substitute teacher at Central Valley High School.

“Her pushing me really helped me a lot,” Gil said. “She showed me anything is possible. She showed me what a good role model really is.”

Medrano is considering majoring in business administration at UC Berkley.

She plans to apply for the Haas School of Business Undergraduate Program at the university sophomore year.

“My plan is to work for a sports marketing team,” Medrano said. 

Gil will major in computer science.

He plans to earn his masters in software engineering.

“I want to be a college professor,” Gil said. “I want to get my doctorate so I can teach at a college.”