Ceres High’s girls water polo program has a new leader in Emiliano Ortega.

Sebastian Huerta-Alvarado will serve as head coach of Ceres High’s boys team for the second year in a row.

Ortega replaced Stephen Dias, who led the Bulldogs to five playoff appearances and one league title during his tenure.

“Mr. Dias handed me a good team,” Ortega said. “He was a great coach. We want the program to be better.”

“I like what we got going on right now,” Huerta-Alvarado stated. “Everybody is very eager to learn and work hard. I want my players to find an identity. I want to see personal growth. It’s a process.”

Ceres High’s girls team will compete with a thin roster.

Just eight players will suit up for the Bulldogs this year, including Jordan Applegate (Sr.), Layla Abraham (Sr.), Jessie Blevins (Sr.), Jaelyn Silva (Jr.), Heaven Vasquez (Jr.), Rhylie Houtchens (Jr.), Adriana Amador (Fr.) and Nayeli Vizcarra-Reyes (Fr.).

“I’m glad we were able to form a team even though our roster is thin,” Ortega said. “We spent the first two weeks of the season short on numbers. We recruited every day by word of mouth.”

Ceres High will have just one substitute on its bench.

“It’s very challenging,” Ortega said. “Our girls have to be in very good shape. Practice consists of a lot of conditioning.”

Abraham, Blevins, Silva, Vasquez and Houtchens are returners.

Applegate, Amador and Vizcarra-Reyes are newcomers.

Abraham and Blevins both earned Western Athletic Conference honorable-recognition last year.

Abraham led the team in scoring while splitting playing time in the hole set with Blevins.

Blevins starred on defense.

Silva has been named team captain.

“The reason I chose her is she sets a good example with her attitude and hard work,” Ortega said. 

The Bulldogs posted a 3-9 record on their way to a fifth-place finish in the 2024 WAC standings.

Ceres High claimed its last conference championship, the WAC South title, during the 2020-21 school year.

“There are two expectations,” Ortega said. “One of them is to be the best team we can be and help develop our young players so they’re motivated to continue their water polo careers at Ceres High School.”

“Playoffs will be in our future very soon,” he added.

The Bulldogs’ 2025 conference schedule consists of home-and-away matches versus Central Valley, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Livingston, Lathrop and Pacheco.

“I definitely think we can beat every team in the league,” Ortega said. “It’s just a matter of how hard we work. I don’t want our small roster to discourage our players from working hard.”

A former player himself, Ortega was a four-year contributor at Beyer High School (class of 2020). He earned first-team all-WAC honors senior year.

Ortega also suited up for the Modesto-Stanislaus Water Polo Club for two seasons. 

He graduated from Cal State Monterey Bay in 2025.

“I know what good water polo looks like,” Ortega said. “I was able to compete in the Junior Olympics. I have plenty of experience. I’m trying to instill the skills and work ethic I got from playing competitive water polo into the culture at Ceres High School.”

Ceres High’s boys team will also compete with a thin roster this fall.

A total of 10 players will suit up for the Bulldogs, including Abel Samaniego (Sr.), Jose Gomez Hernandez (Jr.), Lorenzo Gradilla (Jr.) Julian Hernandez (Jr.), Rowan Ramirez (Jr.), Elijah Rodriguez (Jr.), Jesus Sanchez (Jr.), Jaxon Merrill (So.), Julian Tamayo (So.) and David Rodriguez (Fr.), 

“We got a competitive group,” Huerta-Alvarado said. “You can’t get too comfortable. You need to earn your spot. You have to outwork your teammate and double outwork your opponent.”

The Bulldogs will have just three substitutes on their bench.

“The kids got a lot of great training in the offseason,” Huerta-Alvarado said. “I really pushed our conditioning so they don’t get burnt out.”

Samaniego, Gomez Hernandez, Gradilla, Hernandez, Ramirez, Sanchez, Merrill and Elijah Rodriguez are returners.

Tamayo and David Rodriguez are newcomers.

“The guys are learning every minute of every hour,” Huerta-Alvarado said. “They’re so patient. They’re willing to listen and work hard. There’s great camaraderie. They’re friends. I want them to have pride in what they’re doing regardless of our record.”

Samaniego, a fourth-year player, has been named team captain.

He was a Western Athletic Conference honorable-mention selection as a junior.

Samaniego totaled 43 goals and seven assists while initiating Ceres High’s offense.

“He’s earned it (team captain),” Huerta-Alvarado said. “He’s been dedicated for the last four years. He loves the game. He motivates everybody else. It’s good to have him around.”

The Bulldogs will play home-and-away matches versus Central Valley, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Livingston, Lathrop and Pacheco during the WAC season.

Ceres High and Central Valley tied for fifth place in the 2024 conference standings with identical 3-11 records.

The Bulldogs secured their last playoff berth in 2017.

“There’s tough competition out there,’ Huerta-Alvarado said. “Hopefully, we have more wins than losses. At the end of the day, it’s on the kids. They got to earn it.”