By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Goblirsch, Franksen named top athletes
Placeholder Image
Ceres High athletic director Phil de la Porte made the announcement on Tuesday, May 24.

Derrick Goblirsch and Meghan Franksen were named Ceres High's Male and Female Athletes of the Year for 2004-05 as voted on by a panel of coaches.

"It didn't surprise me at all," de la Porte said. "They're both good student athletes. Both of them have GPAs over 3.5."

Goblirsch won the award as a junior. His father, Rick, and brother, Clinton, garnered Ceres High Athlete of the Year honors in 1976 and 2002, respectively.

Donnie Donaldson Jr. was the last repeat winner.

"They said I was the first person since 1986 to do it," Goblirsch said. "It's a great accomplishment."

Goblirsch excelled in football, baseball and basketball.

"He was a standout in three sports," de la Porte said. "You don't see that a lot for boys."

Goblirsch passed for 1,932 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to leading the football team to a share of the MMC championship--just its third league title since 1968--and into Sac-Joaqin Section Division I Playoffs for the second year in a row. Goblirsch garnered second-team, all-league honors.

Goblirsch was an honorable-mention selection in baseball. He batted .342 with one homer, four doubles, 20 singles, 14 runs and 13 RBI in 24 games for the Bulldogs, who compiled a 10-14 overall record. Goblirsch also had two wins as a pitcher.

Goblirsch was a starter on the varsity boys basketball team all four years. This past season, he averaged 4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for Ceres, which went 9-18 overall, 3-12 in the MMC standings.

Franksen didn't even know she was nominated for the prestigious honor.

"Yesterday, Mr. de la Porte told me and they gave me the award at our softball banquet," Franksen said. "It's exciting."

Franksen starred in softball, basketball and volleyball.

She helped guide the softball team to the MMC championship title and into the playoffs for the 20th straight year. The sure-handed shortstop led the Bulldogs in batting average (.416), hits (37), runs (27), homers (4), doubles (8), walks (12), stolen bases (11), on-base percentage (.495) and slugging percentage (.685).

Franksen earned second-team, all-MMC honors as a member of the girls basketball team, which captured the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II crown and placed second in the MMC with a 12-3 record.

Franksen, a guard/forward, was one of the top defenders in league. She also contributed on offense. Franksen reached double figures in scoring four times, including 12 once, 11 twice and 10 once.

Franksen was a major contributor in volleyball. She had 168 kills, 228 digs, 51 aces and served 93 percent (287 out of 309) en route to earning first-team, all-MMC honors for the Bulldogs, who finished fourth in league and secured a berth in the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

Franksen earned a athletic-academic scholarship to Kent State University, where she'll major in business and play softball.

Goblirsch plans to play football and baseball at Modesto Junior College. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier