Ceres High’s varsity boys water polo program has a new leader.
Stephen Dias will also continue to coach the varsity girls squad.
“I have high expectations for both teams,” he said.
Ceres High’s girls will look to continue their run of success under Dias’ guidance this fall.
Dias guided the Bulldogs to Sac-Joaquin Section playoff appearances in 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2012.
Ceres High (10-2) placed second in the Western Athletic Conference for the third consecutive year last season.
The Bulldogs lost 16-6 to Buhach Colony in the first round of the Division-II postseason tournament.
Team captains Emily Wolff (Sr.), Allison McAdams (Jr.) and Jazzmin Suarez (Jr.) will lead Ceres High this year.
Wolff, McAdams and Suarez are returning players.
Wolff earned first-team all-WAC honors as a junior.
She ranked second on the team in scoring with 58 goals.
Ashlyne Hott (Sr.) is Ceres High’s top newcomer.
The Bulldogs will compete with a revamped roster as 9 of 14 players from the 2018 campaign were lost to graduation, including Camryn Silva (81 goals) and Gisele Garcia (21 goals).
Diaz will try to help Ceres High’s varsity boys water polo squad return to its winning ways.
The Bulldogs have participated in the playoffs just once the past four years. Ceres High qualified in 2017.
The Bulldogs (6-6) finished fourth in the 2018 WAC standings.
Ceres High ended last season on a positive note by winning three of its final four matches.
The Bulldogs had their streak of consecutive playoff appearances snapped at three seasons in 2015.
Ceres High claimed WAC and Modesto Metro Conference titles in 2012 and 2004, respectively.
Kenneth Arroyo (Jr.), Brian Ayala (Jr.), Ryan Baranski (Jr.) and Jeremy Kier (So.) will lead the way in 2019.
Arroyo, Ayala and Baranski have been named team captains.
Arroyo, Ayala, Baranski and Kier are returning players.
Arroyo garnered honorable-mention WAC recognition as a sophomore.
He had 10 goals and 15 assists.
Nicholas Campbell (Fr.) is Ceres High’s top newcomer.
The Bulldogs lost two key players to graduation in Elliott Lewis and Adam Rantz.
Lewis earned second-team all-league honors during his final season with Ceres High. He scored 60 goals and dished out 25 assists.
Ceres High’s conference schedule includes matches against Beyer, Johansen, Grace Davis, Los Banos, Pacheco, Lathrop and Mountain House.
The top three teams in league advance to the postseason. “I have high hopes,” Diaz said.
