In last week’s Courier, we highlighted the success of prep athletes that excelled in their respective sports this past year. Today, we present Part II of the “Best of 2025” list.
Team Effort
1. Central Valley’s girls tennis program enjoyed its best season to date. The Hawks compiled a 17-2 overall record, repeated as Western Athletic Conference champions with a perfect 14-0 mark and reached the quarterfinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs for the second year in a row. The Hawks have won their last 26 league matches dating back to the 2024 season. Central Valley also had two singles players and a pair of doubles teams advance to the Section’s Division-II Individual Singles and Doubles Tournaments after reaching the finals at the WAC Championships.
2. Central Valley’s baseball team set a program record for wins in a single season and claimed its first league title. The Hawks also hosted and won their first home playoff game. Central Valley amassed a 21-9 overall record, claimed the Western Athletic Conference crown with a perfect 14-0 mark and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I Playoffs.
3. Central Valley’s competitive stunt cheer team made school history during its third year of existence. The Hawks accomplished three firsts by winning a league title, home playoff match and playoff contest. Central Valley also set a program record for victories in a season. The Hawks compiled an 11-1 overall record, finished first in the Valley Oak League with a perfect 8-0 mark and reached the quarterfinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II Playoffs.
4. Central Valley’s girls wrestling team tied a program record by sending three grapplers to the CIF State Meet and seven to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament. The Hawks claimed one medal at State, three at Masters, seven at South Regionals and 13 at the Western Athletic Conference finals. Central Valley finished second at the WAC Championships and in the conference’s dual-meet standings (6-1). The Hawks posted the fifth-best score at South Regionals.
5. Ceres High’s softball team completed its quest to three-peat as Western Athletic Conference champions. The Bulldogs won 12 of their 14 league games. Ceres High had an 18-10 overall record and made an appearance in the Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs for the fifth time in six years.
6. Ceres High’s boys track and field team accomplished a first under head coach Brett Johnson’s guidance. The Bulldogs claimed the Western Athletic Conference dual-meet title with a 7-0 record. Ceres High won its last league championship in the 1980s. The Bulldogs missed claiming the WAC dual crown by just one point to the Patterson Tigers in 2015.
7. Central Valley’s boys soccer team continued its tradition of excellence by compiling an 18-7-6 overall record, placing first in the Western Athletic Conference (11-1-2) and qualifying for the Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs. The Hawks won two of three games en route to reaching the semifinal round in the Division-I bracket. Central Valley, which competed in the Central California Conference prior to moving to the WAC as part of the Section’s realignment plan, won its second straight league championship.
8. Ceres High’s girls basketball team compiled a 22-8 overall record, finished second in the Western Athletic Conference with a 10-4 mark and reached the quarterfinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III Playoffs. The 10th-seeded Bulldogs ended nearly two decades of postseason futility by upsetting the seventh-seeded Los Banos Tigers 48-30 on the road in the first round of the playoffs. Ceres High won its last playoff game during the 2005-06 school year.
9. Central Valley’s girls soccer team qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I Playoffs for the second year in a row. The Hawks went 20-4-2 on the season and claimed the Western Athletic Conference title with a near-perfect 12-1-0 record. Central Valley’s defense posted 17 shutouts on the year, including 12 in league play.
10. Ceres High’s girls soccer team amassed an 11-7-3 overall record, finished in second place in the Western Athletic Conference (9-2-2) and secured a berth to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III Playoffs. The Bulldogs extended their streak of consecutive playoff appearances to 10 seasons. Ceres High was unbeaten through its final seven games of the regular season.
11. Ceres High’s baseball team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons to date. The Bulldogs won 19 of 28 games, had the second-best record in the WAC (10-4) and made an appearance in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III Playoffs. The Bulldogs competed shorthanded most of the season as they had just one bench player.
12. Ceres High’s girls flag football team bested one of two opponents while reaching the quarterfinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III Playoffs. The Bulldogs compiled a 16-8 overall record and finished second in the Western Athletic Conference (11-3). Ceres High also improved its head-to-head record versus crosstown-rival Central Valley to 4-1. The Bulldogs secured their third straight playoff berth.
13. Ceres High’s girls wresting team had two individuals medal at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament, four at South Regionals and five at the Western Athletic Conference Championships. The Bulldogs placed third overall with a 5-2 record in the WAC’s dual-meet standings.
14. Central Valley’s girls flag football team reached new heights by posting a 14-10 overall record, placing third in the WAC (9-5) and qualifying for the Sac-Joaquin Section Playoffs for the first time. The Hawks dropped out of the race for the conference title during the final week of the regular season. Central Valley also bested crosstown-rival Ceres High for the first time.
15. Central Valley’s girls golf team enjoyed its best season to date. The Hawks placed third in the WAC’s overall standings and qualified for Sac-Joaquin Section Divisional play for the first time. Central Valley also bested conference-rival Lathrop for the first time.
16. Central Valley’s boys basketball team posted a 16-13 overall record, placed third in the Western Athletic Conference (10-4) and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I Playoffs.
Other Notable Stories
1. The Ceres softball community received heartbreaking news in January. Surrounded by family, Dima Ferrel passed away following a year-and-a-half battle with cancer. She was 66. Ferrel will be remembered for making a difference in the community as a leader, mentor and coach. She was affiliated with the Ceres Youth Baseball & Softball Organization (CYBSO) since 1996. Ferrel filled various positions, including president from 2021-23. She coached Ceres Sizzle travel softball for 25 seasons.
2. Brett Johnson decided to return for his 34th and final season of coaching with Ceres High’s football program. An assistant for 25 years, Johnson has served two different stints as the Bulldogs’ head coach. Ceres High had a combined record of 18-14 (12-9 in league) and made two playoff appearances under Johnson’s guidance from 2022-24.
3. Ceres amateur boxer Damon Flores was recognized by the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors in August for his dominance inside the ring. Flores, a 2025 Cesar Chavez Jr. High graduate, won national championships in three different weight classes during the summertime. He claimed titles at 132, 125 and 119 pounds in a three-month span.
