Memorable season for Hawks, Bulldogs
CV, CHS enjoy productive year
Ceres High junior John Alba posted a 50-11 overall record, qualfied for the CIF State Meet and claimed his second straight WAC crown. - photo by DALE BUTLER/The Courier
The winter sports season was filled with many highlights. Now is the perfect time to recollect and celebrate.
Top male athlete - John Alba and Luis Saucedo enjoyed success-filled seasons with Ceres High's and Central Valley's varsity wrestling team. Saucedo will be remembered as one of the Hawks' all-time greatest grapplers. The 113-pound senior made history by becoming just the second male wrestler from Central Valley to qualify for the CIF State Championships. Saucedo posted a 36-17 overall record, took sixth at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet, and won titles at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV and Western Athletic Conference tournaments. Alba advanced to the state meet as well. The 145-pound junior won 50 of 61 matches, placed fifth at Masters, finished second at Divisionals and claimed his second consecutive WAC championship.
Top female athlete - Central Valley varsity girls basketball standout Mikayla Mabie accomplished a program first by being voted WAC Most Valuable Player. The senior point guard averaged 13.9 points, 10.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.
Male newcomer - Cristian Garcia had a productive first season with Ceres High's varsity boys basketball squad. The sophomore post player was selected to the WAC Second Team. He averaged 13.0 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Female newcomer - Nayeli Pelayo joined a short list when she became just the fourth female wrestler from Central Valley to compete at the CIF Girls State Wrestling Championships. A newcomer to the sport, Pelayo exceeded her own expectations. Nayeli compiled a 25-11 overall record. She placed third at the Sac-Joaquin Section & Northern Section Masters Tournament and fifth at the Southern Regional Qualifier. Pelayo finished first twice, second once and fourth once at tournaments during the regular season.
Coach - Central Valley's varsity girls basketball team qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoffs for second year in a row, posted an 18-8 overall record and finished first overall in the WACstandings (11-1) under head coach Jesse Padilla's guidance. Padilla also led the Hawks to back-to-back WAC titles during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
Team - Central Valley's varsity wrestling team reached new heights this year as it placed first at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Championships and Team Duals. The Hawks also claimed their second straight WAC overall title. Central Valley extended its unbeaten streak against conference-dual competition to 18 matches.
Game - Central Valley edged crosstown-rival Ceres High twice in varsity girls basketball. The Hawks won the second meeting, 45-43, versus the visiting Bulldogs on Feb. 8. Adriana Haynes' three-point play - inside basket and free throw - with 25 seconds to play propelled Central Valley past Ceres High. Teresa Diaz had a team-high 17 points for the Hawks. Nicole Bates totaled a game-high 23 points in defeat. Central Valley won the first meeting, 44-43, on Jan. 21 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium. Mabie paced the Hawks with 12 points, Adria Robinson had 10 and Haynes added eight. Leena Bassi scored 10 points to lead the Bulldogs. Central Valley improved its all-time record against Ceres High to 11-10.
Honorable mention - Ceres High's Nicole Bates (girls basketball), Jessica Arreola (girls basketball), Haaydn Martinez (boys basketball), Austin Stiles (boys basketball), Tyree Williams (boys wrestling), Luis Camarillo (boys wrestling), Jaden Cooper (boys wrestling), Aiden Moore (boys wrestling), Spencer Nelson (boys wrestling), Daniel McElwain (boys wrestling), Brian Becerra (boys wrestling), Diego Diaz (boys wrestling), Talia Mauricio (girls wrestling) and Tiana Rogers (girls wrestling), and Central Valley's Adriana Haynes (girls basketball), Adria Robinson (girls basketball), Alyssa Costa (girls basketball), Teresa Diaz (girls basketball), Gurshan Chahal (boys basketball), Harinder Sidhu (boys basketball), Adrian Badillo (boys wrestling), Severo Vazquez (boys wrestling), Christian Oliver (boys wrestling), Jose Castillo (boys wrestling), Gabriel Martinez (boys wrestling), David Lezama (boys wrestling), Andrew Marquez (boys wrestling), Jason Beckhart (boys wrestling), Alex Alvarez (boys wrestling), Claudia Martinez (girls wrestling), Darian Robinson (girls wrestling), Cassandra Justice (girls wrestling), Brianna Quiroz (girls wrestling) and Emily Mendoza (girls wrestling).