The members of Ceres High's varsity boys golf team boarded the Ceres Unified School District transportation van at 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday and traveled to Stevinson for the Western Athletic Conference Championships.
"We weren't even out of the parking lot and he (senior Blake Hurst) yelled about something," Bulldogs head coach Scott Smith said. "They were their typical selves. Not one of them is sane. They're loud and obnoxious. These guys are crazy."
Needing to finish ahead of crosstown-rival Central Valley to earn the WAC's third and final playoff berth, Ceres High thrived under pressure at the WAC year-end tournament.
The Bulldogs qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV tournament by virtue of their runner-up performance at Stevinson Ranch Golf Course. Ceres High posted a team score of 462 and placed third in the WAC overall standings.
Central Valley (537) took fourth and just missed securing its first-ever playoff berth.
"I'm proud of my boys," Smith said. "They knew our playoff streak was on the line. They just wanted to make sure they finished ahead of Central Valley for the third spot."
Ian Couture led the Bulldogs with a 12-over-par 84.
Hurst, Dominic Durossette, Andre Torres and Justin Moore shot 88, 90, 97 and 103, respectively.
Hurst did not play in Ceres High's 496-500 loss to Central Valley at the WAC Mid-Season Tournament on March 28.
"See guys, I do make a difference," Hurst exclaimed during the ride home following last week's competition.
Anthony Bonales led the Hawks with a 7-over-par 79
Jacob Craig, Adrian Arellano, Cameron Ahart and Carlos Alfonso posted rounds of 95, 113, 121 and 129, respectively.
Central Valley competed shorthanded.
Josh Boles and Austin Jacques did not play.
Boles had another school commitment.
Jacques was sick.
"It was a lot to overcome," Hawks head coach Mike Holliday said. "We didn't have our best day and Ceres did. They played really well."
Holliday and his players stopped at In-N-Out Burger in Turlock on their way home from the WAC championships.
Central Valley almost made history this year.
"This is the last tournament we're going to play in together," Bonales said. "We had a really good season. We competed well. We had fun."
"We steadily moved up the league ranks," Holliday added.
"It's just another step in the right direction. This time next year, we should be in the top two in league. We should give (WAC powerhouse) Central Catholic some trouble."
Ceres High, and Bonales and Craig will compete at the Division-IV tournament this week at Castle Oaks Golf Course in Ione.
