Marissa Renteria welcomed the challenge of playing two sports during her freshman year at Modesto Junior College.
The 2024 Ceres High grad excelled in soccer and was a major contributor in basketball.
“I surprised myself a little bit,” Renteria said. “Going in as a freshman, I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to be able to contribute in both sports. The coaches made it comfortable for me.”
Renteria totaled eight goals and nine assists at forward as the Modesto JC women’s soccer program amassed a 16-7-1 overall record, finished in sixth place in the Big-8 Conference with a 5-5-1 mark and qualified for the 3C2A Playoffs in the fall of 2024.
Renteria and the Pirates shut out visiting Solano 1-0 in the opening round of the playoffs on Nov. 20
Modesto Junior College lost 7-0 at Fresno City College in Round 2 of the Northern California Regional Playoffs on Nov 23.
“We had a pretty successful season,” Renteria said. “It was very challenging. The league we’re in is one of the best. We pushed through and made it to playoffs.”
“I think I did pretty good for my freshman year,” she added. “I know there’s a lot I can improve on. I just want to be able to contribute to the team. Whether that’s through scoring goals, assisting or defending.”
Renteria managed to earn a spot on Modesto JC’s roster despite playing just one season of soccer in high school.
She opted to focus on basketball at Ceres High after tearing a knee ligament while playing indoor soccer in Turlock freshman year.
“Marissa’s an all-round, versatile player,” Pirates’ head coach Steve Aristotelous said. “She’s composed around the goal when she shoots. She knows where the ball is going. She’s a natural finisher. She’s smart. She’s a good teammate. She’s soft-spoken. She shows you she’s good. Those are my favorite kind of players.”
“Most girls play soccer their whole lives and it takes time to get comfortable competing at the college level,” Renteria added. “The most challenging part was getting to know everybody. I’m not a social person. I’m very quiet and I keep to myself. The most enjoyable part was the bonds I made with teammates during the season.”
“Marissa hasn’t played a lot but figures things out as she goes,” Aristotelous added. “That’s special. She’s a bright young lady. She has a stoic personality. Some people have that ability to thrive under pressure. It’s something you’re born with.”
Aristotelous had no idea who Renteria was until several patrons with Ceres ties mentioned her name while he was eating lunch at The Tap Room Pub and Grub at 3948 Sylvan Avenue in Modesto.
He made the 15-minute drive to Ceres River Bluff Regional Park that same day to watch her play.
Renteria wasn’t on the field when Aristotelous attended a Bulldogs’ contest earlier in the season to recruit Arianna Diaz. A multi-sport standout, Renteria was busy starring at quarterback and defensive back on Ceres High’s flag football team.
“It’s one of the more wild recruiting stories,” Aristotelous said. “I got lucky. The timing was crazy. I was randomly eating lunch at the Tap Room. Some people with Ceres hats on were talking about Ceres sports. A guy said I need to see Marissa. She happened to be playing that day. I went out to the game. I watched her score four or five goals.”
“My mind was set on playing basketball,” Renteria stated. “I didn’t think about playing soccer in college. He (Aristotelous) talked to me and my grandma after the game. He knew what he was talking about. He was very professional.”
A difference-maker in basketball, Renteria averaged 5.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals while logging playing time at guard for the Pirates in 21 games.
Modesto JC amassed a 14-15 overall record, tied for third place in the Big-8 Conference with an 8-8 mark and lost 62-60 at Cabrillo College in Round 1 of the 3C2A NorCal Regional Playoffs
Renteria totaled eight points, five assists, four steals and two rebounds in her playoff debut.
Renteria was named Big-8 Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 8 during the regular season. She had a combined eight steals in wins against Cosumnes River and Sacramento City.
Renteria scored a career-high 12 points twice against Sacramento City College.
She collected a career-high five assists three different times.
She grabbed a career-high nine rebounds in a 78-55 loss to Diablo Valley.
“My mentality was to go in there and try to help the team,” Renteria said. “I’m a team player. I’m not selfish.”
Renteria earned four varsity letters during her prep athletic career at Ceres High, including two in basketball, and one in both flag football and soccer.
Her life as a student-athlete wasn’t easy.
She tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee freshman year.
Marie Franco, Renteria’s mother, passed away at the age of 37 between her sophomore and junior years.
“Playing sports gets my mind off of thinking about losing my mom,” she said.
Renteria inherited her competitive streak from both of her parents.
“They passed it on to me,” she said. “When my mom was here, she loved to play sports with me. I know I made her proud.”
Jesse Renteria, Marissa’s father, has had to fill the role of two parents since Marie’s passing.
“He always pushes me to be better,” Marissa said. “I’m very grateful. There’s nothing I can do to repay him. I love him so much.”
Renteria was an all-conference performer in all three sports senior year.
Renteria, a quarterback who also excelled at safety on Ceres High’s inaugural girls flag football team, was voted Most Valuable Player of the Western Athletic Conference.
A dual-threat QB, Renteria totaled 2,161 yards and 34 touchdowns. She passed for 1,323 yards and 27 TDs. She rushed for 838 yards and seven scores.
Renteria also starred on defense. She totaled 16 interceptions, including five versus Mariposa. She returned two of her three picks for touchdowns against Lathrop.
Ceres High amassed an 18-3 overall record, claimed the WAC title with a perfect 7-0 mark and advanced to the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs.
Renteria starred at point guard as Ceres High’s girls basketball team enjoyed its best season to date since 2023-24.
She averaged 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 1.7 assists per game for the Bulldogs, who posted a 21-8 overall record, finished second in the WAC standings (11-3) and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13.
Renteria was selected to the WAC First Team.
She poured in a career-high 32 points, including 23 in the third quarter, in Ceres High’s 65-55 upset win of first-place Mountain House (13-1) on Senior Night at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Renteria helped lead Ceres High’s girls soccer program to a 12-10-1 overall record, third-place finish in the WAC standings (8-5-1) and postseason appearance senior year.
She totaled a team-high 17 goals in conference play.
Renteria had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.16 at Ceres High.
