Seniors Manny Mendoza and Marissa Renteria have been named Ceres High School’s Bulldog Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively, for the 2023-24 academic year.

“I didn’t know there was an award like that,” Mendoza said. “It’s a really nice recognition. It was a lot of hard work. It wasn’t easy. It was a long process.”

“I didn’t know about the award,” Renteria stated. “I feel honored. It’s exciting my school supports me—all the teachers and staff members. I really appreciate that. I’m very grateful.”

Renteria earned four varsity letters during her prep athletic career, including two in basketball, and one in both flag football and soccer.

Her life as a student-athlete has been anything but easy.

She tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee freshman year.

Marie Franco, Renteria’s mother, passed away at the age of 37 between her sophomore and junior years.

“I had no motivation to play sophomore year,” she said. “When I played basketball junior year, it was an escape for me. My family was very supportive.”

Renteria inherited her competitive streak from both of her parents.

“They passed it on to me,” she said. “When my mom was here, she loved to play sports with me. I know I made her proud.”

Jesse Renteria, Marissa’s father, has had to fill the role of two parents since Marie’s passing. “He always pushes me to be better,” Marissa said. “I’m very grateful. There’s nothing I can do to repay him. I love him so much.”

Renteria was an all-conference performer in all three sports senior year.

“I’m grateful for everybody that supported me throughout my seasons,” she said. “I had a lot of fun. Making connections with people was the most enjoyable part. They helped me get better.”

Renteria, a quarterback who also starred at safety on Ceres High’s inaugural girls flag football team, was voted Most Valuable Player of the Western Athletic Conference.

“I kind of surprised myself."

“She set a really high standard,” said head coach Curtis Hulstine. “It’s going to be hard to find someone to replace her. We were very lucky to have her.”

“Marissa’s everything you want in an athlete,” he added. “She’s coachable. She takes criticism very well. She knows the game. Athletically, she’s fast, quick and agile. I felt comfortable putting her anywhere on the field. I took her feedback and applied it to the game plan. She was like a second coach.”

A dual-threat QB, Renteria totaled 2,161 yards and 34 touchdowns.

She passed for 1,323 yards and 27 TDs.

She rushed for 838 yards and seven scores.

Renteria also starred on defense. She totaled 16 interceptions, including five versus Mariposa. She returned two of her three picks for touchdowns against Lathrop.

Ceres High amassed an 18-3 overall record, claimed the WAC title with a perfect 7-0 mark and advanced to the semifinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I playoffs.

“I’m grateful we had the opportunity to play a new sport,” she said. “It was fun but also stressful at times. I didn’t have all the answers. My teammates supported me.”

Renteria starred at point guard as Ceres High’s girls basketball team enjoyed its best season to date this past winter.

She averaged 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 steals and 1.7 assists per game for the Bulldogs, who posted a 21-8 overall record, finished second in the WAC standings (11-3) and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time since 2012-13.

Renteria welcomed being a team captain.

“She’s always led by example,” Ceres High head coach Megan McGill said. “This year, she became a lot more vocal. That was what we were hoping to get out of her.”

“I love playing basketball,” Renteria said. “Basketball made me more disciplined. I tried to help my teammates get better. I could have done better.”

Renteria was selected to the WAC First Team.

She poured in a career-high 32 points, including 23 in the third quarter, in Ceres High’s 65-55 upset win of first-place Mountain House (13-1) on Senior Night at Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.

“My teammates kept giving me the ball,” she said. “I was rolling.”

Renteria was held scoreless during the first meeting between the two teams.

“I felt the need to perform very well because of the how I played the first time,” she said. “I really didn’t do anything because of injury and foul trouble.”

Renteria, a forward, helped lead Ceres High’s girls soccer program to a 12-10-1 overall record, third-place finish in the WAC standings (8-5-1) and Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoff appearance this past winter.

She totaled a team-high 17 goals in conference play.

“She’s an amazing player,” Bulldogs’ head coach Rudy Jimenez said. “She’s very knowledgeable of the game. She has a high IQ. She’s very humble. There’s no greed. She doesn’t want attention.”

“I was just grateful to be on the team,” Renteria added. “I tried to help out as much as I could. I had fun while playing. I made a lot of friendships.”

Renteria had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.16 at Ceres High.

“It was very challenging,” she said. “I really wasn’t home a lot. Sleep was very limited because I’d get home late.”

Renteria plans to play basketball and soccer at Modesto Junior College.

She’ll major in kinesiology or sports management.

“I’m excited,” she said. “It’s going to be very competitive. I know I’m going to have to work 10 times harder.”

Mendoza earned six varsity letters during his prep athletic career, including four in track and field and two in football.

“Getting recognized with medals, plaques and awards is nice, but the memories you make with people you love means more,” he said. “That’s what counts.”

Mendoza was an all-conference performer in both sports senior year.

“I set goals for myself in the beginning,” he said. “Senior year, I went above and beyond. I made some great memories.”

A standout receiver in football, Mendoza hauled in 49 passes for 785 yards and eight touchdowns while leading the Bulldogs to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-V playoffs this past fall.

He earned second-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors. Mendoza ranked first in the WAC in receptions, receiving yards and yards per game, and second in receiving touchdowns.

He totaled 319 yards and four touchdowns on 15 receptions as a junior.

“I’m proud of how I played,” Mendoza stated. “I did a lot better this year.”

A standout sprinter, Mendoza enjoyed his best season to date during his final year of track and field

“I took all four years seriously,” he said. “I’m going to miss hanging out with all of my friends. Racing against people I know from football was fun.”

Mendoza advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet for the first time this past spring.

He set a personal record while taking third in the 400 (51.11) at the Division-IV competition.

He finished first in the 400 (52.57) at the Western Athletic Conference Championships.

Mendoza ran a leg on Ceres High’s runner-up 4x400 relay team (3:35) at the WAC Finals.

“The practices were hard,” he said. “The coaches pushed me to my limits. Every meet, I got better. I was focused.”

Mendoza posted a cumulative grade-point average of 3.9. He was named Ceres High’s WAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Mendoza took a total of three AP classes, including two this year and one as a junior.

“My mentality was to finish strong because it’s my senior year,” he said.

Mendoza earned a football scholarship to the University of Redlands.

He’ll major in broadcast communications.

Mendoza wants to become a sports commentator.

He’ll become the second person from his family to graduate from college.

“I achieved all of my goals I set for myself,” Mendoza said. “I have higher expectations for college.”