The Ceres Pups competitive cheer team enjoyed a memorable start to the 2024-25 season.

Ceres finished first overall at the JAMZ Fall Fest this past month in Stockton.

“The girls are more serious this year,” head coach Melissa Ruger said. “They’re pushing themselves.”

The Pups competed in the 14-and-under Level 1 non-affiliated division.

Ceres posted a team score of 92.50 during the one-day competition, staged Oct. 27 at Adventist Health Arena.

The Pups finished ahead of DPX Bomb Squad (90.70), EYAC Elite Red Mania (89.30) and GC Elite Cheer (89.00).

Teams were judged on stunting, tumbling, jumps, dance and technique.

Each routine lasted 2 minutes, 18 seconds.

“We excelled in all areas of the scoresheets to get the max points,” Ruger said. “We matched the skills we needed to be successful.”

Ceres has a roster size of 13 cheerleaders, aged 9-14.

Jocelyn Arredondo, Caydence Borges, Clair Caraveo, Annie Cooper, Giselle Garcia, Arianna Ibarra, Martiza Lopez, Penelope Meza, Lexie Myers, Dulce Ramirez, Isabella Reinosa and Anavai Tavares earned roster spots on the team after attending tryouts in February.

Abby Guerrero was added to the squad on Nov. 6.

“The girls are motivated,” Ruger said. “They’re talented.”

The Pups practice twice a week and every other Sunday for a combined eight hours at Central Valley High School.

Members also train on their own time.

“It’s an everyday commitment,” Ruger said.

Ceres will perform at JAMZ Adrenaline on Dec. 7 in Stockton.

The Pups qualified to compete at JAMZ Nationals in Anaheim this March.

“We just want to score higher and try to get overall high scorer for the day,” Ruger said. “That’s what we’re working towards.”

The Pups fielded their first-ever competitive cheer squad during the 2023-24 season.

Ceres competed at JAMZ Nationals, Jan. 21-22, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

The Pups experienced a breakthrough performance while finishing third at JAMZ Adrenaline in December of 2023 in Stockton.

Ruger co-founded the Ceres Pups cheer program with Steve Festa in 2019.

SOFTBALL

The Ceres Sizzle 14-and-under travel softball team continued its run of excellence earlier this month.

The Sizzle placed first in tournament play for the second weekend in a row.

“We’re just playing really good ball right now,” head coach Jeff Graham said. “The girls have been working hard.”

Second-seeded Ceres claimed the NSA Day of the Dead Tournament title.

The 17-team event was staged, Nov. 2-3, at Pedretti Park in Turlock.

“Our last three tournaments we’ve been in the championship game,” Graham said. “They’ve got a taste of success and want to keep it up.”

The Sizzle compiled a 4-2 overall record.

Ceres won all three of its games in the Silver Bracket on Nov. 3.

The Sizzle defeated the top-seeded Central Valley Cyclones 7-4 in the finals.

Ceres scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Janessa McClure was the winning pitcher.

She totaled four strikeouts in four innings.

Ceres collected five hits versus Central Valley.

Journey Estrella batted 1-for-3 from the plate with one triple, two RBIs and one run.

Genevieve Armenta batted 1-for-2 with one triple, one RBI and one run.

Selene Valencia batted 1-for-2 with one RBI and one stolen base.

Marian Verdugo had one run and two stolen bases.

Sydney Graham had one run and one stolen base.

Payton Graham had one RBI.

Shelby Alves had two singles and one stolen base.

Ceres rallied for an 8-6 win over Bases Academy in the semifinals.

The Sizzle erased a 3-0 deficit in the bottom of the first inning.

McClure, Savannah Vasquez and Noelle Ramos all contributed at pitcher.

Ramos gave up one earned run and three hits with three strikeouts in 22/3 innings.

Vasquez yielded two earned runs and two hits with two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning.

McClure surrendered no runs and no hits with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.

Ceres totaled eight hits.

Estrella batted 1-for-2 with one homer, two RBIs and one run.

Sydney Graham batted 2-for-2 with one RBI and two runs.

Valencia batted 1-for-2 with two runs.

Payton Graham batted 1-for-2 with one double and one run.

Ramos and Vasquez both batted 1-for-2 with one run.

Alves singled.

Ceres edged the Atwater Flight 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

McClure allowed one run and two hits with three strikeouts at pitcher.

The two teams combined for just three hits, including one by the Sizzle.

Sydney Graham batted 1-for-1 from the plate with one run and two stolen bases.

Valencia chipped in with one run and two walks.

The Sizzle went 1-2 in seed play on Nov. 2.

Ceres posted a 6-2 victory against the Lady Legends.

The Sizzle lost 6-4 to Central Valley Liberty Red and 8-2 to Kerman Fire.

“There were some really good teams in the tournament,” coach Graham said.

Sizzle 10s take second

The Ceres Sizzle 10-and-under travel softball team advanced to the championship game while competing in the Silver Division of the NSA Turlock Day of the Dead Tournament, staged Nov. 2-3, at Pedretti Park.

The Sizzle compiled a 3-2 record at the 10-team event.

“They played well on Saturday,” head coach Audel Valencia said. “We didn’t score enough runs to make the gold bracket.”

Ceres won one of two games in single-elimination bracket play on Nov. 3.

The top-seeded Sizzle lost 4-3 to second-seeded Lickity Split-Carillo in the finals.

Lickity Split avenged a two-run loss suffered during the first day of the tournament.

Ceres stormed back for a 7-6 victory over the fourth-seeded Smoke in the semifinals.

“The girls battled back from a four-run deficit to advance to the silver championship,” Valencia said.

The Sizzle were awarded the No. 1 seed after beating two of three opponents on Nov. 2.

Ceres topped Lickity Split-Carillo (8-6) and Bases Academy (10-5).

The Sizzle lost to WAVE Fastpitch (5-4).