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CHS, CV girls golf teams rebuilding
• Bulldogs, Hawks will strive for improvement this school year
Bernal
The Bernal sisters, Lina and Lucia, will fill key roles on Central Valley’s girls golf team this fall

The 2021 season will be a rebuilding year for Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s girls golf programs due to roster changes.

Ceres High returns just one player from its 2020 Western Athletic Conference South Division co-championship team.

Central Valley welcomes back just two players back from last year’s runner-up squad (3-7).

“We have different expectations from the past,” Hawks’ head coach Kelly Wheelock said. “We just want to get better. If the girls are playing better at the end of the year, that’s success.”

“I got a lot of new players this year,” Bulldogs’ leader Ron Edwards said. “Most of the girls have never touched clubs. I do expect the girls to be competitive.”

Junior Alysabeth Marquez will fill the top spot in Ceres High’s lineup for the second straight season.

Marquez was named co-Most Valuable Player for the 2020 WAC South season. She compiled a 5-1 record.

The Arendt sisters, juniors Jazymne and Dominique, opted to play volleyball this year.

Isabella Turner (So.) didn’t return to the team.

Bethanie Thornberry graduated.

Cassydi Wright (Jr.), Allison Lewis (Fr.), Brooke Trio (Fr.), Briana Tsurui (Fr.) and Hailey Tsurui (Fr.) round out Ceres High’s 2021 roster.

“She (Marquez) will play better this year,” Edwards said. “I don’t think she realizes how good she is. She’s pretty quiet. She’s very humble.”

Amelia Daoheung, conference MVP with Central Valley as a senior and junior, and Sayra Rodriguez were both lost to graduation.

“It changes everything,” Wheelock said. “Obviously, they were solid players.”

Kaylee Almanza (Jr.) and Lucia Bernal (Jr.) rejoined the team.

Lina Bernal (Sr.), Kalaieda Bernal (Fr.) and Sonia Chauhan (Jr.) are newcomers.

Lucia and Lina are sisters. Kalaieda is their cousin.

Lina played golf during her sophomore and freshman years at Central Valley. 

“Lucia and Lina are the two leaders of the team,” Wheelock said. “They’re always there. They put the work in. People are responsive to them.”

Ceres High and Central Valley will compete in the WAC and Central California Conference, respectively, this fall.

The Bulldogs and Hawks were members of the WAC South for just one season a year ago due to safety concerns related to COVID-19.  The WAC was split into two divisions.

Ceres High (8-2) shared the South title with Pacheco.

Central Valley and Los Banos tied for second place.

Johansen (0-10) was last.

Ceres High’s 2021 WAC schedule includes matches against Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Lathrop, Mountain House, Los Banos and Pacheco.

“I’ll be happy if we finish above .500,” Edward said.

Central Valley will play against Patterson, Atwater, Buhach Colony, Merced, Golden Valley and El Capitan as it returns to the CCC.

“It’s a lot more competitive than the WAC,” Wheelock said. “You’re playing schools that have country-club girls.”

The Bulldogs and Hawks will get a chance to battle for team and individual postseason berths.

Playoffs were canceled during the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season, which was moved to the spring of 2021 because of the pandemic.

Alysabeth Marquez and Brooke Trio
Alysabeth Marquez and Brooke Trio will fill the top two spots in the Ceres High girls golf team’s starting lineup.