Dillon Brush represented Central Valley High School’s boys golf program at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III Championships earlier this month.
Ceres High’s Jayson Homsombath and Miles Cabling competed at the Division-IV Tournament.
Homsombath, a senior, earned his first-ever berth to Masters after posting a score of 10-over-par at Tracy Golf and Country Club on May 9.
“It’s his last year and he made it,” said Bulldog Coach Ron Edwards. “That’s a great accomplishment. He’s thrilled.”
Homsombath posted the second-best individual qualifying score at Divisionals.
“I thought he could make it to Masters because he’s been playing well. He’s been playing a lot. He’s been working on his game.”
Homsombath is a four-year starter.
He was named the Western Athletic Conference’s Most Valuable Player this spring.
Homsombath garnered first-team all-WAC recognition as a junior.
“He just kept practicing and playing. He got better.”
Cabling’s season ended at Divisionals.
The standout freshman shot a 17-over-par 89.
Cabling was selected to the WAC Second Team.
He’ll fill the top spot in the Bulldogs’ lineup next season.
“To come in as a freshman and play as well as he did, that’s great,” Edwards said. “He went way past my expectations. The kid has talent. He can make it to Masters next year.”
Brush, a senior, carded a 135 while competing at Divisionals for the first time.
The Division-III Tournament was staged at The Golf Club at Copper Valley on May 8 in Copperopolis.
“The fact that he got there is an inspiring story,” Hawks’ head coach Scott Edwards said. “He’s possibly only the fourth golfer from Central Valley to move on to Divisionals.”
Brush suited up for Central Valley’s boys golf team for three years.
He enjoyed his best season to date with the Hawks this spring.
He filled the No. 1 spot in Central Valley’s lineup during the second half of Central California Conference play.
Brush was a CCC honorable-mention selection.
He split playing time at the No. 5 and 6 spots as a sophomore.
“He exceeded expectations,” Scott Edwards said. “He just put in the time. He dropped about 40 pounds from last year. He truly has a passion for the game.”
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball clinics for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels will be staged at Ceres High School this summer.
“There are so many sports to choose from,” said Kelly Heese, head coach of Ceres High’s boys and girls varsity teams and founder/director of the Lady Sharx Volleyball Club. “This gives them an opportunity to try something else. It’s an amazing sport.”
The June 12-16 Volleyball Camp will be split into two age-group sessions at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Session one (ages 5-12) will run from 2-3:30 p.m.
Session two (ages 13-18) will run from 4-5:30 p.m.
Emphasis will be placed on serving, passing, setting, hitting, blocking, serve receive, defense, communication and team work.
Cost is $80 per athlete.
Each camper will receive a t-shirt.
“Teaching the basic fundamentals of the game is important,” Heese stated. “It’s very crucial for kids to start younger.”
“Consistency is the key to this game,” she added. “You have to touch the ball all year if this is something you want to pursue into high school and further.”
Heese will provide instruction with assistance from Ceres High and Lady Sharx Volleyball Club coaches.
Eighty boys and girls attended the 2022 volleyball clinic.
“Hopefully, we can match what we did last year or do better,” Heese said while talking about enrollment figures.
Ceres’ Penelope James, Turlock’s Allison McCord, and Modesto’s Jillian Smith and Kaylana Gleason were among last year’s participants, along with the Horrocks siblings of Winton (Brielle, James, Lauren and Jenna).
Winton’s Rachel Horrocks watched from the sidelines as her four children, three nephews and one niece cycled through drills.
“We’ve been looking for camps to open up again because COVID shut everything down,” she said. “It’s been a positive experience. They’ve had fun. I’d recommend it. And we’d do it again if they have it.”
One-day volleyball clinics for boys and girls, aged 5-18, will be held on June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25, July 9, July 16 and July 23 at Ceres High School.
Each session will last 90 minutes (1-2:30 p.m.).
Cost is $20 per camper.
For more information, contact Heese at (209) 568-9253.
Heese has coached volleyball in the Central Valley for 22 years.
She doubled as Ceres High’s boys and girls volleyball programs for the second year in a row.
Ceres High’s boys team compiled a 12-6 overall record, placed third in the Western Athletic Conference with a 9-5 mark and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-II playoffs this spring.The Bulldogs went 2-17 and finished last in the WAC standings (1-14) in 2022.
Heese also coached at Central Valley High School in the past. Central Valley’s girls team reached unprecedented heights under her guidance from 2012-16. The Hawks amassed a 30-23 record in WAC action and qualified for the postseason three times.
“Volleyball has taken off in this area,” Heese said. “It’s definitely growing. We want to continue to help it grow.”
“It’s a sport that gets overlooked by people,” she added. “There is so much to offer. There are a lot of college scholarships available for boys and girls. Coaches are searching for players. Continuously playing gives you a greater advantage.”
