Ceres High School is fielding its largest boys water polo team to date under third-year head coach Sebastian Huerta-Alvarado’s guidance.
The Bulldogs’ Emiliano Ortega-led girls team experienced a slight increase in its participation numbers.
“It’s exciting to see how much we’ve grown,” Huerta-Alvarado said. “It’s a blessing. It’s a huge step in the right direction. I have to give props to the kids. They went out there and told their friends there were tryouts. I’m happy for the program. During COVID, we almost didn’t have a team.”
“The program is taking a turn for the better,” Ortega stated. “We recruited lots of players this season, and I imagine we will continue to grow as time goes on. The culture in Ceres is shifting and both the boys and girls programs want to be winners.”
Ceres High’s boys team has a roster size of 16 players this year, up from last season’s total of 10.
Bulldog standout Abel Samaniego was lost to graduation.
He managed to rank third on the team in scoring with 10 goals and tie for second in assists with seven as a senior despite missing Ceres High’s final eight games with a hand injury.
“It’s a varsity sport,” Huerta-Alvarado said. “Positions aren’t secure. You have to earn your spot. The competitive culture is making everybody work harder.”
The Bulldogs have eight returners, including Jose Gomez Hernandez (Sr.), Lorenzo Gradilla (Sr.), Julian Hernandez (Sr.), Rowan Ramirez (Sr.), Elijah Rodriguez (Sr.), Jesus Sanchez Olea (Sr.), Jaxon Merrill (Jr.) and Julian Tamayo (Jr.).
Ceres High has eight newcomers in Kolos Arvai (Sr.), David Nieto (Jr.), Gage Rose (Jr.), Daniel Tubera (Jr.), Alexander Ayers (Fr.), Landyn Harden (Fr.), Georg Homsi (Fr.) and Julian Magana (Fr.).
Huerta-Alvarado finalized his roster after players dedicated a combined two weeks to conditioning drills and tryouts.
“They survived,” he said. “They’re happy to be here.”
Gomez Hernandez and Merrill have been named team captains.
Merrill was selected to the WAC Second Team as a sophomore. He scored a team-high 38 goals and dished out six assists.
Tamayo was a WAC honorable-mention selection. He ranked second on the team in scoring with 17 goals.
“If you put in the work, you can earn that “C” next to your name,” Huerta-Alvarado said.
“They (Gomez Hernandez and Merrill) keep the team together,” he added. “They make sure everybody is on the same page. They boost their teammates.”
Huerta-Alvarado believes Ceres High could experience a major turnaround this fall.
The Bulldogs claimed their last league championship in 2012 and Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth in 2017.
Ceres High advanced to the postseason in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The Bulldogs won WAC and Modesto Metro Conference titles in 2012 and 2002, respectively.
“The last time we made playoffs was in 2017,” Huerta-Alvarado said. “I was on the team.”
“We have something brewing here,” he added. “These kids don’t quit. They’re smart. They’re excited to learn. They’re hungry. They embrace competition.”
Ceres High compiled a 2-12 record while struggling to a seventh-place finish in the 2025 WAC standings.
Livingston (14-0), Beyer (12-2), Pacheco (9-5), Johansen (8-6), Grace Davis (7-7), Central Valley (4-10) and Lathrop (0-14) took first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth, respectively.
Livingston, Beyer and Pacheco were awarded the WAC’s No. 1, 2 and 3 playoff spots.
“Ceres High hasn’t made much noise in a while,” Huerta-Alvarado said. “We want to bring the (winning) culture back. We’re in a good spot right now. The league is wide open.”
Crosstown-rivals Ceres High and Central Valley will face off for the third year in a row.
The Bulldogs have an all-time head-to-head record of 1-3 against the Hawks.
Ceres High lost 4-2 and 8-3 to Central Valley last season.
“We’re excited for the competition,” Huerta-Alvarado said. “We want to get even.”
Ceres High’s girls team has a roster size of nine players this season, up from last year’s total of eight.
Bulldog standouts Layla Abraham, Jessie Blevins and Jordan Applegate were lost to graduation.
Blevins and Abraham both earned second-team all-WAC honors during their final season with Ceres High.
Blevins led the Bulldogs in goals with 37 and ranked second in assists with nine.
Abraham ranked first on the team in assists (11) and second in goals (30).
“Last season proved what can be done with a small roster size,” Ortega said. “We want to keep the momentum going. We do so by conditioning hard at practice so we have the energy and confidence to play the entire game if needed.”
The Bulldogs return five players from 2025, including Jaelyn Silva (Sr.), Heaven Vasquez (Sr.), Rhylie Houtchens (Jr.), Adriana Amador (So.) and Nayeli Reyes (So.).
Ceres High has four new players in Angel Sasser (Sr.), Genesis Raya (Jr.), Alana Festa (So.) and Lou Ruiz (So.).
“This year, the team is a lot closer in experience than they were last season,” Ortega said.
Silva and Vasquez have earned the responsibility of being team leaders.
Silva and Vasquez were WAC honorable-mention selections as juniors.
Vasquez ranked third on the team in scoring.
She collected 15 goals and one assist.
Silva ranked third on the team in assists (5) and fourth in goals (8).
“Our team captains are Jaelyn and Heaven because of their experience in the pool,” Ortega said. “Jaelyn is our defensive anchor and Heaven is our leading scorer.”
Ceres High has high hopes for the 2026 season.
The Bulldogs made their last playoff appearance during the 2019-20 school year.
Ceres High claimed its last conference championships, the WAC South title, in 2020-21.
Ceres High fell two wins shy of qualifying for the postseason and three victories short of a winning record in 2025.
The Bulldogs tied for fourth place in the Western Athletic Conference with the Pacheco Panthers. The two teams compiled identical 6-8 records.
Ceres High finished ahead of Livingston (4-10), Central Valley (3-11) and Lathrop (1-13) in the league standings.
The WAC sent three teams to the playoffs, including Beyer (14-0), Grace Davis (12-2) and Johansen (10-4).
“We see ourselves finishing top three this season in a close league,” Ortega said.
Ceres High will face crosstown-rival twice in WAC play.
The Bulldogs improved their head-to-head record versus the Hawks to 4-0 last season. Ceres High prevailed by scores of 24-14 and 19-9.
“We are always excited for the CV rivalry and look forward to hosting them for our senior night,” Ortega said. “They always provide a great, competitive game for us.”
