In today’s Courier, we highlight the success of prep athletes that excelled in their respective sports this past year. Here’s Part One of the best of 2023 list.
Peak performers
1. Ava Montesdeoca did a little bit of everything while starring on Ceres High School’s softball team for the second year in a row. The sophomore second baseman earned national recognition for her production on the field. Montesdeoca was named a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American this past week. She was selected to the NFCA Second Team. Montesdeoca batted .605 from the plate on the year with three homers, two triples, 10 doubles, 24 RBIs, 41 runs and 17 stolen bases. She had an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.533. Montesdeoca ranked first on the team in batting average, hits, home runs, runs, stolen bases and on-base percentage, second in doubles, RBIs, slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging percentage, and third in triples. She earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors for the second straight season.
2. Brianna Espinoza made program history by becoming just the seventh female grappler from Central Valley High School to qualify for the CIF State Girls Wrestling Tournament. The sophomore gained valuable experience while dropping a pair of matches in the 235-pound weight bracket. Espinoza enjoyed her best season to date with the Hawks. She amassed a 37-11 overall record. Espinoza won three of four matches en route to a second-place finish at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships. She claimed the 235-pound title at the Sac-Joaquin Section South Regional Tournament. She won all three of her matches. Espinoza placed first at the Central California Conference Finals for the second year in a row. She pinned both of her opponents.
3. Just a freshman, Giana Breshears shattered all expectations while becoming just the eighth female wrestler from Central Valley High School to advance to the CIF State Meet. She won one of her three matches in the 143-pound weight bracket. Breshears posted a 37-15 overall record on the season. Breshears bested four of six opponents while placing fourth at the Masters Tournament. She finished first with a 3-0 mark at the South Regional Championships. Breshears took second (1-1) at the CCC Finals.
4. Marissa Renteria starred on both offense and defense on Ceres High’s inaugural girls flag football team. Renteria, a senior quarterback who also filled the stat sheet at safety, was named the WAC’s Most Valuable Player. The vote was unanimous. 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. She totaled 16 interceptions on defense, including five versus Mariposa. She returned two of her three picks for touchdowns against Lathrop.
5. A four-year starter on Ceres High’s boys golf team, Jayson Homsombath enjoyed his best season to date with the Bulldogs in 2023. He cemented his place in Bulldog sports history by winning the WAC Most Valuable Player award for the first time. Homsombath followed in the footsteps of Ceres High grads Gary Condit (class of 2019) and Ryan Thornberry (class of 2002). Condit and Thornberry were both named league MVP three times. Homsombath qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters and Division-IV Tournaments senior year. He garnered first-team all-league accolades as a junior. Homsombath was a two-time Sac-Joaquin Section Divisional qualifier.
6. Recruited to play for Central Valley’s inaugural girls flag football team after being spotted running sprints on the school’s track, senior Kalli Hoffman filled the stat sheet while starring at tailback and inside linebacker. She earned first-team all-CCC honors. Hoffman ran for 1,135 yards and six touchdowns and caught 45 passes for 485 yards and one TD. She ranked second in the CCC in both rushing yards and touchdowns. Hoffman ranked second on the team in pass deflections (13), third in interceptions (5) and fourth in tackles (41) while filling a key role on defense.
7. Janessa Godinez filled a major role while lifting Central Valley’s softball team to new heights. The senior pitcher compiled a 17-3 record on the season with 94 strikeouts as the Hawks finished a program-best 19-4, claimed their first-ever conference title with an 11-1 mark in the CCC and participated in the playoffs for the first time. Godinez batted .421 from the plate with one homer, one triple, eight doubles, 16 RBIs, 38 runs and 19 stolen bases. She garnered first-team all-CCC recognition for her outstanding play.
8. Sehren Martinez had a success-filled career as a four-year member of Ceres High’s softball team. A standout hitter and shortstop, Martinez was named to the WAC First Team in 2023. She batted .554 from the plate with two homers, seven triples, 11 doubles, 31 RBIs, 32 runs and eight stolen bases. She made just two errors on defense. Martinez earned a scholarship to NCAA Division-I Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
9. Arturo Estrada accomplished several firsts during his fourth and final season with Ceres High’s boys wrestling team. The 132-pound senior qualified for Masters, finished second at the Division-IV Championships and placed first at the WAC Tournament. Estrada secured his first-ever berth to Masters. He won three of four matches at Divisionals. He posted a 2-0 record as the top seed at the WAC Finals.
10. Senior wide receiver Manny Mendoza set career-high marks in every statistical category during his final season with Ceres High’s football team. Mendoza was named to the WAC Second Team. He ranked first in league in receptions, yards and yards per game, and second in touchdowns. He caught 49 passes for 785 yards and eight touchdowns.
11. Surprisingly, Central Valley senior wide receiver Anthony Ramirez did not receive any recognition during the CCC’s year-end head coaches’ meeting for football despite ranking second in the league in yards, yards per game and touchdowns, and fourth in receptions at his position. He led the Hawks in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He caught 38 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for 125 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries. Ramirez’s receiving stats would have been more impressive if starting quarterback Mario Gonzalez didn’t suffer a season-ending knee injury.
12. Gabriela Delatorre had a productive first season of varsity softball. The Central Valley freshman first baseman was named to the CCC Second Team. She batted .392 with six homers, two triple, five doubles, 28 RBIs, 30 runs and 13 stolen bases. Delatorre hit four of her home runs during conference play.
13. A newcomer to Ceres High’s softball team, junior Kylie Bond posted a 9-2 record at pitcher with 62 strikeouts. She was selected to the WAC Second Team.
14. Central Valley junior Amir Drakeford logged playing time at running back, quarterback and linebacker during his first season of varsity football. He led the Hawks
in rushing yards (356) and rushing touchdowns (7). He ranked first on the team in forced fumbles (3), second in sacks (2.5) and fourth in tackles (43). Drakeford tallied back-to-back sacks to preserve Central Valley’s 10-0 shutout victory over El Capitan.
15. Senior Dakota Adams claimed a second-place medal while representing Ceres High’s boys wrestling team in the 126-pound weight bracket at the WAC Championships. The first-year grappler was seeded fourth. Adams compiled a 1-2 record at the Division-IV Tournament.
16. Ceres High junior pitcher/second baseman Brayden Clark enjoyed a breakout year during his first season of varsity baseball. He compiled a 5-1 record on the mound with 33 strikeouts. He collected eight hits, one double, three RBIs and three runs on offense. Clark was selected to the WAC Second Team. He’ll be the Bulldogs’ ace pitcher for the second year in a row this spring.
