Members of Ceres High’s cross country program competed in their hometown this past weekend.

The Bulldogs had a combined 14 runners attend the Kim Duyst Invitational, which was staged on Saturday at the River Oaks Golf Course and Event Center.

“It was an awesome experience,” head coach Marco Villamarin said. “The weather conditions were cool, which was nice. It’s a really fast course. It’s flat. The kids had fun. They got to see college athletes run.”

Ceres High didn’t post team scores in the varsity boys and girls small-school divisions, and during the junior-varsity girls race due to thin lineups.

Ceres High fielded a full junior-varsity boys team at the event.

In cross country, five runners are needed to post a team score.

“I’m very pleased,” Villamarin stated while assessing his team’s individual performances. “They surpassed my expectations. They want to get better.”

Jayden Jaimes led Ceres High’s varsity boys team.

He finished 65th in a field of 188.

Jaimes posted a time of 18 minutes, 7 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.

Jaimes stopped once during the race due to illness.

“He would have been close to the school record if that didn’t happen,” Villamarin said. “He still ran a good time. He faced adversity and didn’t quit.”

Bulldog teammates Elijah Villamarin (19:00) and Jonathan Estrada Ochoa (19:04) took 95th and 100th, respectively.

Clarissa Rivera led Ceres High’s varsity girls team.

She finished 62nd in a field of 97.

Rivera posted a time of 23 minutes, 36 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.

“She did great,” coach Villamarin said.

Bulldog teammate Isabella Sabala took 92nd (29:02).

Ceres High’s junior-varsity boys totaled 508 points on its way to finishing in 19th place in the team standings.

“They did exceptionally well,” Marco Villamarin said.

Jonathan Raya was the JV Bulldogs’ top runner.

He placed 131st in a field of 170.

Raya posted a time of 8 minutes, 37 seconds on the 1.2-mile course.

Bulldog teammates Abisai Elizarraraz (8:51), Jeremiah Miranda (8:55), Aiden Gutierrez (8:57), Marcos Elizarraraz (9:30) and Joseph Estrada (10:08) took 139th, 149th, 150th, 159th and 164th, respectively.

Iris Valencia led Ceres High’s junior-varsity girls team.

She placed 87th in a field of 136.

Valencia posted a time of 10 minutes, 25 seconds on the 1.2-mile course.

Bulldog teammates Danna Garduno (10:29) and Brianna Baltzer (11:03) took 92nd and 104th, respectively.

GIRLS TENNIS

Central Valley’s girls tennis team beat Pacheco in Western Athletic Conference play last week.

Ceres High showed improvement during its loss to Johansen.

Central Valley moved to 2-0 in the WAC standings following its 8-1 triumph against Pacheco on Sept. 9 in Ceres.

The two-time defending WAC-champion Hawks have won their last 28 conference matches dating back to the 2024 season.

Central Valley swept all three doubles and won five of six singles matches versus Pacheco.

Aaralyn Jauregui and Lauren Salvatera prevailed 6-0, 6-3 in No. 1 doubles play.

Lizette Tafolla and Isabella Michelena prevailed 6-0, 6-0 in No. 2 doubles play.

Victoria Jaime Dominguez and Karla Robles prevailed 6-3, 6-0 in No. 3 doubles play.

Serath Birring prevailed 1-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 in No. 2 singles play.

Valerie Espinoza prevailed 6-1, 6-4 in No. 3 singles play.

Natalia Campos prevailed 6-2, 2-6, 6-0 in No. 4 singles play.

Yahiza Bustos prevailed 6-4, 6-3 in No. 5 singles play.

Samantha Sarabia Zavala prevailed 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 in No. 6 singles play.

Emily Carranza lost 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in No. 1 singles play.

Ceres High dropped to 0-2 in the WAC standings after losing 7-2 to Johansen in hot weather on Sept. 9 in Modesto.

“I saw some pretty good effort in the first sets,” head coach Jesse Apodaca said. “If we were in better condition, we would have had a better chance to win.”

“I’m going to structure practice different,” he added. “I’m going to set aside 20 to 30 minutes for tennis conditioning. A lot of interval training and explosion-type drills.”

The Bulldogs won two of three doubles matches against the Vikings.

“The doubles was the bright spot,” Apodaca said.

Kiara Gutierrez and Briseyda Erenas Rios topped Isabella Robles and Leean Cisneros 6-3, 6-1 in No. 2 doubles play.

Marisol Gomez and Ashley Mercado topped Esther Silveria and Kenzie Lancaster 6-1, 10-5 in No. 3 doubles play.

Amy Gonzalez and Michelle Salas lost 6-2, 6-1 to Sorayda Rodriguez and Mattea Diasen in No. 1 doubles play.

Ceres High compiled an 0-6 record in singles play versus Johansen.

Xaimara Corona Mejia lost 6-1, 6-0 to Kiara Carlson in No. 1 singles play.

Yuleki Felix lost 6-0, 6-2 to Stephanie Orana in No. 2 singles play.

Cazandra Fregoso lost 6-2, 6-2 to Olivia Sanchez in No. 3 singles play.

Marixbel Castro lost 6-4, 6-0 to Divina Garcia in No. 4 singles play.

Giselle Valdez Medina lost 6-2, retired to Kathy Maneilla in No. 5 singles play.

Dayana Gallo lost 6-0, 6-0 to Mechelle Morgan in No. 6 singles play.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s girls volleyball teams each won one of two matches during the opening week of the Western Athletic Conference season.

“I’ve seen them improve a lot,” Bulldogs’ first-year head coach Nayeli Ramos said. “They have more chemistry. I’m only going to see more growth.”

Ceres High improved to 1-1 in the WAC standings after shutting out visiting Johansen 3-0 on Sept. 9 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

“They were having fun on the court,” Ramos said. “They were working really well together.”

Ceres High lost 3-2 at Livingston on Sept. 8.

“We could have won,” Ramos said.

Central Valley won its WAC opener, 3-1 (21-25, 25-12, 25-19, 25-12), versus Grace Davis on Sept. 8 in Ceres.

Amirrah Cornielle led the Hawks with 10 digs, seven assists, three aces and two kills.

Kassandra Torres had seven digs, three aces, two kills and one assist.

Sofia Garibay had six aces, six digs, five kills and one assist.

Central Valley dropped to 1-1 in the WAC standings after losing 3-1 (28-26, 25-20, 23-25, 25-15 at Pacheco on Sept. 9.

Cornielle led the Hawks with 28 assists, 14 digs, four kills and three aces.

Garibay had 23 digs, 10 kills, three aces and one assist.

Deanika Perez had 20 digs and one assist.

WATER POLO

Ceres High’s boys and girls water polo teams competed against Livingston and Johansen during the opening week of Western Athletic Conference play.

Central Valley faced Grace Davis and Pacheco.

Ceres High’s boys team snapped a three-match losing streak with a 17-4 victory at Johansen on Sept. 10.

Jaxon Merrill led the Bulldogs with five goals.

Julian Tamayo had three goals.

Landyn Harden, Julian Hernandez and David Nieto all had two goals.

Jose Gomez Hernandez, Lorenzo Gradilla and Georg Homsi contributed one goal each.

Ceres High lost 17-6 to visiting Livingston on Sept. 8.

Merrill and Elijah Rodriguez led the Bulldogs with three goals apiece.

Ceres High’s girls team prevailed 15-10 while battling Johansen.

Heaven Vasquez led the Bulldogs with five goals.

Alana Festa added four goals.

Jaelyn Silva had three goals.

Ceres High lost 12-8 to Livingston.

Central Valley’s boys lost 20-13 to Pacheco on Sept. 10 in Ceres.

Grace Davis edged Central Valley 11-10 on Sept. 8 in Modesto.

Central Valley’s girls posted a 12-7 victory over Pacheco.

Central Valley suffered a 20-7 loss at Grace Davis.