Ceres High’s boys soccer program endured a rough patch the past three years, missing the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs each season.
The 2025-26 Bulldogs could experience a drastic turnaround.
“Our expectations are higher this year,” head coach Gilbert Zamora Jr. said. “We have very talented players with experience. Our goal is to make playoffs. But it’s going to be up to them (our players).”
Zamora and assistant coach Ozzie Ramos decided to carry 25 players on this year’s roster.
“We had a lot of players at tryouts,” Zamora said. “We let the kids know we were going to have a big roster. We did that because in the past we’ve ended up with a lot of injured players.”
The Bulldogs return nine players from a season ago, including Leo Baez (Sr.), Fernando Galvan (Sr.), Eli Lopez (Sr.), Ismael Pulido (Sr.), Jayson Trevino (Sr.), Jesus Torrez (Jr.), Mario Vargas (Jr.), Gabriel Farias (So.) and Isaac Moreno (So.).
Ceres High has 16 newcomers: Maxwell Arana (Sr.), Diego Bernal (Sr.), Jose Hernandez (Sr.) Andres Marcial (Sr.) Cris Prieto (Sr.), David Tapia (Sr.), Anthony Savala (Sr.), Landon Teng (Sr.), Oscar Zavala (Sr.), Jonathan Orozco (Jr.), Juan Sanchez (Jr.), Jesus Baez (So.), Bryson Espinoza (So.), Jimmy Ponce (So.), Johan Lopez (Fr.) and Alonzo Oliveros (Fr.).
Arana, Bernal, Hernandez, Marcial, Prieto, Tapia, Savala, Teng, Zavala, Orozco, Sanchez and Jesus Baez competed at the junior-varsity level last year.
Ceres High lost five players to graduation, including Noel Arana, Daniel Cardenas, Fabian Montanez, Enrique Murillo and Samuel Vargas.
Cardenas, a defensive midfielder, was named to the Western Athletic Conference First Team.
Vargas, an offensive midfielder, earned second-team all-league honors.
Leo Baez collected five goals and one assist at the varsity level sophomore year.
Torrez had one goal and two assists.
Galvan had one goal and one assist.
Farias and Vargas both had one goal.
Moreno and Trevino each had one assist.
“I’m excited,” Zamora said. “Most of our kids play travel soccer. They have experience and can adapt. They know what they’re doing.”
Moreno, Trevino and Leo Baez have been named team captains
“They’re very good players,” Zamora said. “They’re disciplined. They’re leaders.”
Ramos will serve as an assistant coach for the second year in a row.
The 2014 Central Valley High School grad played college soccer for NCAA Division-I Seattle University and San Diego State.
A pro player since 2019, Ramos is currently a member of Texoma FC, a United Soccer League One club based out of Texas.
He was voted WAC Most Valuable Player his senior and junior years in high school.
Ramos also trains local soccer talent.
“Ozzie does a lot for the community,” Zamora said. “He’s committed to the team. He knows how to communicate with the players. He’s patient.”
Ceres High amassed a 7-11-5 overall record and finished sixth in the WAC standings with a 4-9-1 mark last winter.
Four schools from the eight-team league qualified for the playoffs, including Central Valley (18-7-6, 11-1-2), Pacheco (17-6-1, 9-4-1), Lathrop (11-9-4, 7-5-2) and Livingston (11-8-2, 7-5-2).
“Our goal is to make playoffs,” Zamora said. “If we win league, that will be very good.”
Ceres High lost 3-1 and 3-0 to crosstown-rival Central Valley last season.
“It’s fun,” Zamora said. “They always have talented players. They’ve been in a better position than us (in recent years). We’re the underdog.”
Ceres High has a rich tradition in boys soccer despite its recent struggles.
The Bulldogs enjoyed their best season to date in 2018-19 by amassing a program-best 20-2-4 overall record, claiming the Division-III crown and advancing to the CIF Northern California Regional Championship Tournament for the first time.
Ceres High made history in 2009-10 by winning its first-ever section title while competing in the Division-IV bracket.
The Bulldogs won back-to-back league championships in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Ceres High has participated in the playoffs 10 times since 2008-09.
The Bulldogs have had a host of players earn athletic scholarships.
“Our goal is to build players so they can play at the college level,” Zamora said.
