Ceres High Athletic Director Shawna Nunes made the announcement at lunchtime on Wednesday, May 29 at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
Seniors Caden Johnson and Cecilia Carretero were named Ceres High’s Male and Female Athletes of the Year for 2012-13 as voted on by a panel of coaches.
“To have my name put in there with some of the past greats is one of the highest honors I’ve ever received,” Johnson said. “I worked hard to get where I was at. I couldn’t have asked for a better athletic experience at Ceres High. All of my coaches and teammates were great. That’s something I’ll always remember.”
“I was so happy when I found out,” Carretero added. “I was really surprised because I wasn’t expecting it. It means a lot.”
Caden earned six varsity letters—two in track and field, basketball and football.
Johnson won the high jump (5-10) and triple jump (40-111/2) at the Western Athletic Conference Track & Field Championships on May 4 in Patterson. He qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV-V Meet.
Caden was a starter on Ceres High’s basketball team during the wintertime.
The Bulldogs compiled a 14-13 overall record, qualified for the Division-III playoffs and finished third in the WAC (7-5).
Johnson had a memorable final season with Ceres High’s football team last fall.
The standout receiver was selected to the WAC First Team.
He caught 67 passes for 876 yards and seven touchdowns.
“I couldn’t have predicted what was going to happen my senior year,” said Caden, who will continue his education and football career at Southern Oregon University on a partial scholarship. “I was blessed. I can’t believe it’s all over. Getting to bond with teammates was the best. I made a lot of new friends. I had a blast.”
Carretero was a standout in both track and field and cross country.
She earned six varsity letters, including three in each sport.
“I started running in elementary school,” Carretero said. “I liked being outside. In junior high, I joined track. I found out about cross country in high school. I loved pushing myself, the competition and staying in shape. Being team captain influenced me to do better.”
Cecilia won the 1,600 (5:55.10) and 800 (2:34.75) titles at the WAC Track & Field Championships last month.
Carretero placed second three times at the WAC Cross Country finals.
She helped lead Ceres High to a three-way tie for first place in the WAC regular season dual-meet standings (5-1) last fall.
“I’m going to continue running at Stanislaus State,” said Cecilia, a three-time all-conference honoree in cross country. “It’s tougher competition. But I’ll be ready.”
Johnson and Carretero will display their Bulldog trophies in their bedrooms. “I’ll cherish it forever,” Caden said. “It’s something no one can take away from me.”