Ceres High’s track and field program has a roster size of 96 student-athletes this spring.
“It’s an individual and team sport and incredibly social as well,” Bulldogs’ first-year head coach Paul Smith said. “The kids are making friends and having fun. It’s awesome.”
Ceres High’s top returners are Andrew Alfaro (Sr.), Joseluis Arreola (Sr.), Adrian Huesca (Sr.), Andres Marcial (Sr.), Josiah Martinez (Sr.), Samuel Nieto (Sr.), David Rodriguez-Ochoa (Sr.), Nathaniel St. Macias (Sr.), Anthony Savala Alvarez (Sr.), Saragun Singh (Sr.), Sergio Torres (Sr.), Cashton Almeida (Jr.), Julian Barrera (Jr.), Elian Fuentes (Jr.), Jamesdean Robertson (So.), Sovannary Carter (Sr.), Dania Gallo Padilla (Sr.), Emily Ivey (Sr.), Brooke Kiser (Sr.) Jazmine Rivera (Sr.) and Jayden Garcia (Jr.).
The Bulldogs’ top newcomers are Leonel Baez (Sr.), Adrian Carrillo (Sr.), Aashish Julka (Jr.), Anthony Santillan (Jr.), Jesus Torrez (Jr.), Estevan Diaz (So.), Jayden Jaimes (So.), Malachi Johnson (So.), Emily Howey (Sr.), Martina Meglioli (Sr.), Giselle Zamora (Jr.), Sharryah Cabellos (So.), Isabela Ochoa (So.), Camila Rubio (So.) and Abigail Schultz (So.).
“We have a good team dynamic,” Smith said. “I want them to compete and meet their goals.”
Adrian Huesca, David Rodriguez-Ochoa, Sam Nieto, Sergio Torres, Brooke Kiser, Jayden Garcia, Emily Ivey and Jasmine Rivera are team leaders.
“They’re great human beings,” Smith said. “It starts with that. They’re all very goal-oriented. They’re hard-working. They understand how to make the team better.”
Smith, Brett Johnson, Owen Brown, Anthony Gerads, Austin Mantarro Moore, Shania Evans, Conner Johnson and Dakota Adams make up the Bulldogs’ coaching staff.
“I have an incredible staff to lean on,” Smith said.
Brett Johnson was Ceres High’s head coach from 2014-25.
He’ll serve as assistant head coach during his final season with the Bulldogs.
“Brett Johnson is the heartbeat of our school and the community,” Smith said. “He’s such an incredible person. He does everything with the kids in mind.”
Ceres High will battle Central Valley, Beyer, Grace Davis, Johansen, Pacheco, Lathrop and Livingston during the Western Athletic Conference season.
“The WAC has elevated in quality over the last three years,” Smith said.
Ceres High’s boys team claimed the WAC dual-meet title last season with a perfect 7-0 record.
Ceres High’s girls team compiled a 4-3 record en route to a fourth-place finish in the league’s dual standings.
Ceres High’s boys and girls programs took second and third at the WAC Championships.
Ceres High’s 4x100 boys relay team of Joseluis Arreola, Nathaniel St. Macias, Reis Smith and Tre Karriem made history while finishing in first place at the conference finals.
They broke school and conference championship records set in 1982 and 2012, respectively.
David Rodriguez-Ochoa placed first in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles.
Almeida placed first in the 400, second in the 200 and fourth in the high jump.
Sergio Torres placed third in the 800 and seventh in the 1,600.
Ceres High’s 4x400 boys relay team of Cashton Almeida, Sergio Torres, Adrian Huesca and Somil Bansal placed fourth.
St. Macias placed fourth in the 400.
Ceres High’s 4x400 girls relay team of Brooke Kiser, Jayden Garcia, Alyssa Rodriguez, and Mariah Zamora placed third at the league finals.
Ceres High’s 4x100 girls relay team of Kiser, Mariah Zamora, Emily Esparza and Genevieve Villasenor placed fourth.
Carter placed third in the triple jump, seventh in the long jump and ninth in the 300 hurdles.
Kiser placed fourth in the 400 and sixth in the 200.
Garcia placed fourth in the 100 hurdles, eighth in the 300 hurdles and 10th in the 400.
Ceres High’s boys team posted the second-best score at the 2025 Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Meet.
The Bulldogs’ 4x100 boys relay team of Smith, Arreola, St. Macias and Karriem placed first.
Rodriguez-Ochoa placed second in the 110 hurdles.
Torres placed fourth in the 800.
Almeida placed fourth in the 400.
Ceres High’s 4x400 boys relay team of Bansal, Huesca, Almeida and Torres placed fifth.
Ceres High’s 4x400 girls relay team of Kiser, Garcia, Rodriguez and Mariah Zamora placed ninth at Divisionals.
Garcia placed 10th in the 100 hurdles.
Carter placed 11th in the triple jump.
The Bulldogs’ 4x100 girls relay team of Kiser, Esparza, Villasenor and Mariah Zamora placed 13th.
Rodriguez-Ochoa finished 19th in the 110 hurdles at the Masters Championships a year ago.
Almeida finished 21st in the 400.
Ceres High’s 4x100 boys relay team of Smith, Arreola, St. Macias and Karriem finished 21st.
Torres finished 24th in the 800.
Ceres High’s boys will be vying for its second straight WAC dual-meet championship this spring.
Ceres High’s girls will strive to match last season’s placement.
“Our goal (for boys) is to repeat,” Smith said. “Our depth is staggering. It’s a good problem to have. Our goal (for girls) is to finish third or better. We just have to stay healthy.”
Smith was promoted to head coach of Ceres High’s track and field program after assisting Brett Johnson for five seasons.
He coached multiple sports at Riverbank High School for 15 years.
Smith was an assistant coach on Monte Woods’ staff during the Bruins’ run of dominance in boys and girls track and field.
Riverbank won a combined 12 league titles in 15 years.
Riverbank’s girls team accomplished a first in program history by claiming the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-V Championship in 2013.
“We produced some amazing teams,” Smith said.
