Central Valley’s track and field program has a new leader.
Luis Calderon was promoted to head coach.
Calderon, 29, assisted Michael Mrgudic the previous two seasons.
He also works on campus as a teacher (social studies).
“I’m excited to lead the kids,” Calderon said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity (athletic director) Greg Magni gave me. I’ve already had experience with it (head coach responsibilities). Mrgudic helped me develop skills last year. I did paperwork, helped with fundraising and built a schedule.”
Central Valley has a roster size of 132 student-athletes.
“I’m very happy with the numbers we’ve had the last three years,” Calderon said. “I promote the sport on campus and during other practices. I talk with other coaches. It (track and field) improves skills that are transferrable to other sports and in the classroom, or in personal lives.”
The Hawks’ top returners are David Alvarado (Sr.), Massimo Catalano (Sr.), Frankie Klino (Sr.), Daniel Leon (Sr.), Ernesto Martinez (Sr.), Elijah Plasencia (Sr.), Steve Duran (Jr.), Joshua Mendoza Rguez (Jr.), Allen Sanchez (Jr.), Sophia Alvarez (Sr.), Kadynce Piceno (Sr.), Karla Sarabia (Sr.), Courtney Crane (Jr.), Lourdes Gutierrez (Jr.), Andrea Tejeda (Jr.), Kassandra Torres (Jr.), Ayleen Apreza (So.) and Mia Muniz (So.).
Central Valley’s top newcomers are Jaycob Casias (Sr.), Blake Silva (Sr.), Julian Contreras (Jr.), Santiago Garcia (Jr.), Killian Jones (Jr.), Ivan Quezada (Jr.), Isaac Ramirez (Jr.), Enoc Reyes (Jr.), Carlos Castaneda (So.), Julian Botero (Fr.), Eliseo Madrigal (Fr.), Airieana Martinez (Sr.), Alexyia Garcia (Jr.), Valeria Garcia Morales (Jr.), Beverly Hance (Jr.), Sophia Hernandez (Jr.), Vivian Jimenez (Jr.), Lilyanna Madrigal (Jr.), Camila Urena (Jr.) and Angela Alvarado (So.).
“We had 65 kids show up to our preseason workouts,” Calderon said. “I love the buy-in. I have a great group. They work hard. They motivate each other.”
Ernesto Martinez, Frankie Klino, Kassandra Torres and Karla Sarabia are team leaders.
“They always show up to practice,” Calderon said. “They don’t take shortcuts. They always help their teammates out.”
Calderon, Kenneth Padilla, Latrisha Jordan, Karina Ruiz, Xavier Banta and Emily Curiel make up the Hawks’ coaching staff.
Central Valley will compete against Ceres High, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Pacheco, Lathrop and Livingston during the Western Athletic Conference season.
Central Valley’s girls and boys placed fifth and eighth, respectively, at the 2025 WAC Championships.
Central Valley’s 4x800 girls relay team of Ayleen Apreza, Kassandra Torres, Alicia Torres and Eliana Tamayo took third.
Central Valley’s 4x400 girls relay team of Kassandra Torres, Andrea Tejeda, Alicia Torres and Eliana Tamayo took fourth.
Central Valley’s 4x100 girls relay team of Apreza, Tamayo, Kassandra Torres and Alicia Torres took fifth.
Kassandra Torres took fifth in the 200.
Central Valley’s 4x400 boys relay team of Ernesto Martinez, Steve Duran, Xavier Banta and Adam Victorino took fourth.
David Alvarado took fifth in the discus and 15th in the shot put.
Daniel Leon took sixth in the 110 hurdles, 10th in the 400 and 16th in the 100.
Catalano took eighth in the 300 hurdles.
Elijah Plasencia took eighth in the shot put and 21st in the discus.
Central Valley’s 4x400 boys relay team of Duran, Martinez, Victorino and Antonio Burgos finished ninth at the 2025 Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Championships.
They set a personal record in the preliminaries and posted the third-fastest time in program history.
Central Valley’s 4x800 girls relay team of Apreza, Kassandra Torres, Alicia Torres and Eliana Tamayo finished fifth at Divisionals.
They lowered their school record by six seconds.
Central Valley’s 4x400 girls relay team of Apreza, Tamayo, Kassandra Torres and Alicia Torres finished 11th during preliminaries with their second-fastest time of the season.
“The key to be successful is to train like a champion and improve every week,” Calderon said. “I want the kids to showcase teamwork and help each other grow. The hard work they put in is going to pay off.”
Calderon started working full-time as a social studies teacher at Central Valley during the 2023-24 school year.
He’s helped coached football at the high school for the past three seasons.
Calderon graduated from Ceres High School in 2015.
He also attended Mae Hensley Jr. High and Walter White Elementary School.
“In 2021, I went back to school for my credential,” Calderon said. “I’m here to coach and teach kids. I just feel grateful. I get to work with people I grew up with. I’m doing something I love.”
Calderon replaced Mrgudic, who led tCentral Valley’s track and field program for two-and-a-half years.
Mrgudic stepped down to focus on qualifying for the Olympic Trials after three-peating at the Modesto Marathon.
“It was not an easy decision because I love coaching and the CV team,” Mrgudic said. “I still support them from afar.”
