Sovannary Carter has been named Ceres High School’s Female Bulldog Athlete of the Year for the class of 2026.
She was recognized during the Senior Awards Evening ceremony on May 19. Family, friends, classmates and teammates attended the event.
“My initial reaction, I was surprised,” said Carter, who was rewarded for excellence in both athletics and academics. “It felt amazing to be seen for my hard work and dedication. I wanted to leave my imprint on the school. I feel like I definitely did. I want to thank my teammates. We all pushed each other.”
Carter earned nine varsity letters during her prep athletic career, including four in basketball, two in flag football and track and field, and one in volleyball.
“I really liked competing,” she said. “It’s part of my personality.”
Carter garnered first-team all-Western Athletic Conference recognition in basketball for the second year in a row.
She averaged 13.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.7 assists per game for the Bulldogs, who amassed a 17-12 overall record, placed third in the WAC standings with a 9-5 mark and qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the third straight season this past winter.
Ceres High won one of two games en route to a top eight finish in the Division-III playoff bracket for the second consecutive season.
The 11th-seeded Bulldogs upset the sixth-seeded Sierra Wolves 36-35 in the first round of the playoffs.
Ceres High avenged a 50-34 regular-season loss.
Carter had 12 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one block.
The Bulldogs put up a fight in losing 60-52 to the third-seeded Lathrop Spartans in the quarterfinals.
Carter contributed four points, six rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals.
“Coach (Megan) McGill pushed us to be our best selves,” said Carter, a third-year team captain. “She taught us the importance of having fun and locking in when you need to be serious.”
A four-year varsity player, Carter scored 1,021 points and grabbed 615 rebounds in 106 career games.
She garnered second-team WAC accolades as a sophomore.
Carter filled an instrumental role the past three seasons, leading Ceres High to a 30-12 record against WAC competition. The Bulldogs went 3-11 in league play during Carter’s first year on the team.
Carter represented Ceres High at the 29th Annual Six County All-Star Senior Classic on April 25 at Modesto Junior College. She totaled seven points as the Blue Team bested the Red Team.
“It’s been wonderful to watch her grow into one of the top players in the league,” Bulldogs’ head coach Megan McGill said. “I wasn’t surprised that she did well. She’s a phenomenal athlete and works had, so success is inevitable.”
“I listened to my coach and learned as I went,” Carter added.
Carter enjoyed her best season in girls flag football as a senior.
She was named to the WAC First Team.
Carter totaled 685 yards and 11 touchdowns for Ceres High, which compiled a 16-8 overall record, finished second in the WAC standings (11-3) and reached the quarterfinals of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoffs.
The Bulldogs also improved their head-to-head record versus the crosstown-rival Hawks to 4-1. Ceres High appeared headed for a blowout loss before rallying from a three-score deficit during its 21-19 win over Central Valley on the final day of the 2025 regular season.
“She’s a playmaker,” Bulldogs’ head coach Curtis Hulstine said. “She’s a difference-maker. She gives you everything she has. She perfects the little things and it shows on the field.”
Carter helped lead Ceres High’s girls track and field team to a third-place finish at the 2026 WAC Championships.
She placed fourth in the triple jump (31-11) and eighth (14-21/2) in the long jump.
Carter also ran a leg on the Bulldogs’ third-place 4x100 relay team (54.51).
Carter, Brooke Kiser, Camila Rubio and Genevieve Villasenor qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV trials after posting a time of 54.51 seconds in the event at the WAC finals.
Carter suited up for Ceres High’s youth-laden volleyball team sophomore year.
The Bulldogs posted a 5-13 overall record and tied for sixth place in the WAC (3-11).
“I did sports for fun,” Carter said. “I wasn’t expecting to do well. I did way better than expected.”
Carter formed strong bonds with several of her coaches, including McGill and Nikole Ferrel.
“They pushed me to be better on and off the field and court,” she said. “They helped with every part of the journey.”
For the second time in her academic career, Carter earned the prestigious honor of being class valedictorian.
She was the top student at Ceres High and Mae Hensley Jr. High.
She also earned straight A’s while attending Adkison Elementary School.
“Academics were my strong suit,” Carter said. “My mom (Lisa Hem) instilled a drive and motivation in me. There was some pressure. I’m the oldest sister and grandchild. I wanted to set the bar for the rest of my family, including my sister and cousins. I tried to be the best role model I could be.”
Carter had a weighted cumulative grade-point average of 4.5 at Ceres High.
She took 11 Advanced-Placement classes, including government, psychology, literature, calculus, biology, pre-calculus, literature, U.S. History, human geography and computer science principles.
“I couldn’t bear to see myself fail, academically,” Carter said. “I always strived to be the best I could be.”
Outside of school, Carter works and volunteers.
She’s currently employed by Yogurt Mill.
She volunteers for four hours on Sundays at Doctor’s Medical Center.
She umpired for three years with the Ceres Youth Baseball & Softball Organization.
“It’s definitely challenging,” Carter said while talking about her busy schedule. “I manage my time well. My friends and family are always there for me when things get stressful. Everything I’m doing is for a reason. I can’t stop what I’m doing because I wouldn’t achieve my goals.”
A first-generation college student, Carter will focus on academics at UC Merced this fall.
“I’ve played a sport every season of high school the last four years,” she said. “It’s going to be a big hole to fill in my life.”
Carter was accepted into the San Joaquin Valley PRIME+ Program.
She’ll earn her baccalaureate degree at UC Merced and Doctor of Medicine through UCSF Fresno.
She plans to become an anesthesiologist.
“I want to find a job where I can help others,” Carter said.
