Ceres High School's varsity boys swim team has one of the smallest rosters in the Valley Oak League.
Head coach Rebecca Sanders explained why the Bulldogs lacked numbers.
"A lot of kids are intimidated," she said. "They have a fear of trying something new. Some of the boys are also shy about wearing speedos. They want to look cool."
Ceres High will be led by Victor Cruz (Jr.), Dylan Hines (So.), Kody Fliflet (Jr.), Raul Massie (Sr.), Nick Serratos (Jr.), Gianni Blandino (So.), Joseph Ochoa (Fr.), Steven Smith (So.) and JT Verdugo (Fr.).
Hines, Fliflet, Massie, Serratos and Blandino guided the Bulldogs to dual wins over Central Valley and Weston Ranch, and a fourth-place showing at the Valley Oak League championships in 2009.
Cruz, a transfer from Central Valley, placed fifth in the 100 free and eighth in the 50 free at the conference finals last season. He qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section frosh-soph swimming trials in 2008.
"I need to work harder this year," Victor said.
Cruz, Massie and Serratos are balancing two sports this spring. They play doubles on Ceres High's boys tennis team.
"I don't have much free time," Serratos said. "All of my time goes into sports and school. When I get home, I do my homework and go to sleep."
Cruz and Serratos have been good friends since the seventh grade. They make up the Bulldogs' No. 2 doubles team.
"It helps us keep on the same page," Nick said. "We know we can get mad at each other and be okay with it."
"I couldn't imagine me doing that myself," Sanders said. "It's a huge time commitment. It's pretty impressive the boys can manage that."
Ceres High finished ahead of East Union, Manteca, Weston Ranch and Central Valley at the VOL championships last year. The Bulldogs defeated Central Valley and Weston Ranch during the regular season.
Ceres High should finish in the middle of the pack in 2010.
"It's hard to be successful when you don't have enough people to be a competitive force," Sanders said.
Girls Outlook
Ceres High School's varsity girls swim team won three conference duals and finished in sixth place at the Valley Oak League championships last year.
The Bulldogs have high hopes for 2010.
"I expect the girls to have a pretty successful season," Sanders said. "There's a real possibility we'll be taking at least one relay team to sections if not individuals."
Ceres High will be led by Montana Bull (So.), Haley Fisicaro (Fr.), Courtney Frampton (Sr.), Tori Gunzenhauser (So.), Samantha Johnson (Sr.), Salleen Narvaez (Sr.), Megan Braverman (So.), Morgan Ogden (Jr.), Gabriella Hernandez (Sr.), Brooke Hurst (So.), Sara Aguilar (Sr.) and Maureen Serna (So.).
Bull, Frampton, Gunzenhauser, Narvaez, Braverman, Hernandez, Hurst, Aguilar and Serna are returners.
Montana placed sixth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 back at the VOL finals as a freshman.
Fisicaro, Johnson and Ogden are key newcomers.
Haley starred on the Ceres Dolphins recreational swim club last summer. She finished second in the 100 free, third in the 50 fly and fifth in the 50 free in the 13-14-year-old division at the MVSL end-of-year meet.
Head coach Rebecca Sanders explained why the Bulldogs lacked numbers.
"A lot of kids are intimidated," she said. "They have a fear of trying something new. Some of the boys are also shy about wearing speedos. They want to look cool."
Ceres High will be led by Victor Cruz (Jr.), Dylan Hines (So.), Kody Fliflet (Jr.), Raul Massie (Sr.), Nick Serratos (Jr.), Gianni Blandino (So.), Joseph Ochoa (Fr.), Steven Smith (So.) and JT Verdugo (Fr.).
Hines, Fliflet, Massie, Serratos and Blandino guided the Bulldogs to dual wins over Central Valley and Weston Ranch, and a fourth-place showing at the Valley Oak League championships in 2009.
Cruz, a transfer from Central Valley, placed fifth in the 100 free and eighth in the 50 free at the conference finals last season. He qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section frosh-soph swimming trials in 2008.
"I need to work harder this year," Victor said.
Cruz, Massie and Serratos are balancing two sports this spring. They play doubles on Ceres High's boys tennis team.
"I don't have much free time," Serratos said. "All of my time goes into sports and school. When I get home, I do my homework and go to sleep."
Cruz and Serratos have been good friends since the seventh grade. They make up the Bulldogs' No. 2 doubles team.
"It helps us keep on the same page," Nick said. "We know we can get mad at each other and be okay with it."
"I couldn't imagine me doing that myself," Sanders said. "It's a huge time commitment. It's pretty impressive the boys can manage that."
Ceres High finished ahead of East Union, Manteca, Weston Ranch and Central Valley at the VOL championships last year. The Bulldogs defeated Central Valley and Weston Ranch during the regular season.
Ceres High should finish in the middle of the pack in 2010.
"It's hard to be successful when you don't have enough people to be a competitive force," Sanders said.
Girls Outlook
Ceres High School's varsity girls swim team won three conference duals and finished in sixth place at the Valley Oak League championships last year.
The Bulldogs have high hopes for 2010.
"I expect the girls to have a pretty successful season," Sanders said. "There's a real possibility we'll be taking at least one relay team to sections if not individuals."
Ceres High will be led by Montana Bull (So.), Haley Fisicaro (Fr.), Courtney Frampton (Sr.), Tori Gunzenhauser (So.), Samantha Johnson (Sr.), Salleen Narvaez (Sr.), Megan Braverman (So.), Morgan Ogden (Jr.), Gabriella Hernandez (Sr.), Brooke Hurst (So.), Sara Aguilar (Sr.) and Maureen Serna (So.).
Bull, Frampton, Gunzenhauser, Narvaez, Braverman, Hernandez, Hurst, Aguilar and Serna are returners.
Montana placed sixth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 back at the VOL finals as a freshman.
Fisicaro, Johnson and Ogden are key newcomers.
Haley starred on the Ceres Dolphins recreational swim club last summer. She finished second in the 100 free, third in the 50 fly and fifth in the 50 free in the 13-14-year-old division at the MVSL end-of-year meet.
