Central Valley’s and Ceres High’s boys and girls swim programs enjoyed success at the Western Athletic Conference Championships on April 26 at Pacheco High School in Los Banos.
“We were expecting good time drops from everybody and we did well in that aspect,” Bulldogs’ head Tanner Clayton said. “They became really strong competitors at the end of the season. They surprised all of us.”
Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s boys squads totaled 241 and 129.5 points, respectively, while finishing fourth and seventh in the team standings.
The Hawks and Bulldogs medaled in a combined five events.
The top three placers in each event were rewarded.
Zack Esparza and Ari Luman led Central Valley’s boys team.
Esparza, a senior, placed first in the 100 fly and 100 back.
He set personal records in both events.
“When you win when it really matters, it’s really special,” Esparza said.
“Last year, I didn’t even finish in the top 10,” he added. “I was more committed this year because it was my last year. I really focused on my technique in the water.”
Esparza finished the WAC season undefeated in the 100 back and lost just once in the 100 fly.
“There was pressure,” he said. “I was undefeated in the backstroke.”
Esparza avenged his lone loss in the 100 fly.
“The guy that I beat was two seconds ahead of me in the preliminaries,” he said. “In the finals, I beat him by half a second. I hyped myself up. I put myself in a zone.”
A three-year contributor, Esparza will be remembered as one of Central Valley’s greatest swimmers.
“It’s flattering I’m seen like that,” he said. “I’m proud of myself. I exceeded my own expectations. I put hard work in for years. I’ve been swimming since I was five.”
Esparza’s mother signed him up for swimming during his childhood.
“The only reason I started swimming is because I had asthma,” he said. “My mom wanted me to train my lungs. It got to a point where I didn’t need my inhaler anymore. I ended up loving the sport.”
Luman, a freshman, placed second in the 100 free and sixth in the 50 free.
Hawk freshman Julian Bustillos placed 11th in the 50 free.
Zalan Arvai (Sr.), Jaxson Merrill (Fr.), Jose Carranza (Jr.) and Jesus Sanchez (So.) led Ceres High’s boys team.
Arvai, a foreign-exchange student from Hungary, placed first in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 free.
“He’s never done competitive swim before,” Clayton said. “Because of his natural athleticism, he was able to compete at the top level in our league. He’s very gifted and hard working.”
Ceres High’s 200 free relay team of Arvai, Merrill, Carranza and Sanchez placed third.
“For us to get the podium, it was really awesome,” Clayton said.
Merrill placed fifth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 back.
Carranza placed seventh in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 fly.
Sanchez placed ninth in the 50 free and 10th in the 100 free.
Lorenzo Gradilla (So.), Rowan Ramirez (So.), Daniel Tubera (Fr.) and Jose Gomez Hernandez (So.) also suited up for the Bulldogs at the league finals.
Ceres High’s 400 free relay team of Gradilla, Ramirez, Tubera and Gomez Hernandez placed fourth.
Tubera placed fourth in the 100 breast and 13th in the 50 free.
Gradilla placed seventh in the 200 free and 14th in the 100 free.
Gomez Hernandez placed 10th in the 100 breast.
Central Valley’s and Ceres High’s girls squads totaled 229 and 110 points, respectively, while finishing fourth and sixth in the team standings.
The Hawks and Bulldogs medaled in a combined seven events.
The top three placers in each event were rewarded.
“Unfortunately, we only had five girls go to the meet,” Clayton said. “They did really well. They went above our expectations. They made swim their priority. They showed commitment goes a long way.”
Zhaira Brar (Jr.), Olivia Cervantes (Sr.), Joellene Roton (So.) and Brianna Barraza (Sr.) led Central Valley’s girls team.
Brar placed second in the 100 free and 100 breast.
Cervantes placed second in the 100 fly and third in the 100 breast.
Central Valley’s 200 medley relay team of Roton, Brar, Cervantes and Barraza placed third.
Natalie Southavongsa (So.), Madyson Daniels (Sr.) and Andrea Alcantar (So.) also represented the Hawks at the league finals.
Central Valley’s 200 free relay team of Barraza, Alcantar, Southavongsa and Cervantes placed fourth.
Central Valley’s 400 free relay team of Roton, Alcantar, Southavongsa and Brar placed fourth.
Southavongsa placed fifth in the 100 back and seventh in the 200 free
Roton placed seventh in the 100 back and 12th in the 200 free.
Barraza placed eighth in the 50 free and ninth in the 100 free.
Daniels placed 13th in the 100 free.
Alcantar placed 14th in the 50 free.
Jessie Blevins led Ceres High’s girls team.
The junior set personal records while placing second in both the 200 free and 500 free.
She got out-touched by just .12 seconds in the 200 free.
Blevins managed to shine this spring despite being slowed by a knee injury.
“She was consistent,” Clayton said. “She was a hard worker. She brought veteran leadership to the team. We’re looking forward to see what she does next year.”
Bulldog teammates Alana Inahara (Sr.), Layla Abraham (Jr.) and Eva Onsurez Lopez (Sr.) also competed at the WAC Championships.
Inahara placed sixth in the 100 breast and 16th in the 50 free.
Abraham placed 12th in the 100 free.
Onsurez Lopez placed 13th in the 50 free.
