Ceres High Athletic Director Glenn Driskell passed out Western Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete patches to 60-plus students during a lunchtime pizza party on Friday, May 27 inside Phil de la Porte Gymnasium.
He also announced the winners of the coveted Bulldog Male and Female Athletes of the Year awards.
Seniors Nick Serratos and Crystal Duran received the most votes from the school's coaches.
"Nick deserved it," said Jon Nowicki, Serratos' wrestling coach. "He had a great year in a lot of sports."
"All the guys said I was going to get it," Nick stated. "It feels good to be seen as the best. There's some good athletes here."
"I'm still shocked," Crystal said "I'm happy that I got this. I worked hard for it."
Duran earned four varsity letters during her athletic career, including three for track and field and one for cross country.
Crystal also wrestled this year. She split time at the frosh-soph and varsity levels.
Duran managed to win 12 matches, including one varsity, despite being slowed by a knee injury.
She placed fourth in the 112-pound weight class at the WAC frosh-soph championships. Crystal claimed two first-place medals during the course of the season.
"It was non-stop and challenging," Duran said while talking about her full schedule. "I may have been tired but I tried my hardest."
"I've never had a girl complete a season before," Nowicki said. "She toughed it out and finished strong. She was a great competitor."
Crystal will attend Modesto Junior College. She plans to join the cross country and track and field teams.
Duran placed first in the 400 (1:04.45), and third in the 300 hurdles (51.94) and long jump (15-8) at the WAC Track&Field Championships. She took 10th in the 300 hurdles (51.93) and long jump (14-1), and 12th in the 400 (1:03.93) at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV-V Meet.
Crystal earned second-team, all-league honors during the cross country season. She took 14th at the conference finals.
Serratos earned nine varsity letters, including three in water polo and swimming, two in tennis and one in wrestling.
Nick's main sport was water polo.
He shattered Joey Rossi's career and single-season scoring marks on his way to being named Valley Foothill League MVP this year.
Serratos scored 178 times this season and totaled 318 goals for his career.
He also tallied 47 steals and 38 assists for the 2010-11 Bulldogs, who finished third in league with a 6-4 record and qualified for the playoffs.
Nick had a memorable first season of varsity wrestling. He won the 171-pound title at the WAC Championships. Serratos had an overall record of 23-12.
"Towards the end of the year, everything clicked," he said.
Nick earned first-team, all-league honors while teaming up with Esteban de la Torre in doubles play during the tennis season. The duo compiled a 7-2 record while leading the Bulldogs to a runner-up finish in the WAC (9-3) and Division-II playoff appearance.
A major contributor in swimming, Serratos helped propel Ceres High to the second-best mark in the WAC regular season standings (5-1).
Nick took fifth in the 100 back at the league championships.
Serratos will continue his water polo career at Fresno Pacific University.
"It's going to be a great experience," Nick said. "I'm ready for it. I just need to get bigger, stronger, faster and work on my technique."
He also announced the winners of the coveted Bulldog Male and Female Athletes of the Year awards.
Seniors Nick Serratos and Crystal Duran received the most votes from the school's coaches.
"Nick deserved it," said Jon Nowicki, Serratos' wrestling coach. "He had a great year in a lot of sports."
"All the guys said I was going to get it," Nick stated. "It feels good to be seen as the best. There's some good athletes here."
"I'm still shocked," Crystal said "I'm happy that I got this. I worked hard for it."
Duran earned four varsity letters during her athletic career, including three for track and field and one for cross country.
Crystal also wrestled this year. She split time at the frosh-soph and varsity levels.
Duran managed to win 12 matches, including one varsity, despite being slowed by a knee injury.
She placed fourth in the 112-pound weight class at the WAC frosh-soph championships. Crystal claimed two first-place medals during the course of the season.
"It was non-stop and challenging," Duran said while talking about her full schedule. "I may have been tired but I tried my hardest."
"I've never had a girl complete a season before," Nowicki said. "She toughed it out and finished strong. She was a great competitor."
Crystal will attend Modesto Junior College. She plans to join the cross country and track and field teams.
Duran placed first in the 400 (1:04.45), and third in the 300 hurdles (51.94) and long jump (15-8) at the WAC Track&Field Championships. She took 10th in the 300 hurdles (51.93) and long jump (14-1), and 12th in the 400 (1:03.93) at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV-V Meet.
Crystal earned second-team, all-league honors during the cross country season. She took 14th at the conference finals.
Serratos earned nine varsity letters, including three in water polo and swimming, two in tennis and one in wrestling.
Nick's main sport was water polo.
He shattered Joey Rossi's career and single-season scoring marks on his way to being named Valley Foothill League MVP this year.
Serratos scored 178 times this season and totaled 318 goals for his career.
He also tallied 47 steals and 38 assists for the 2010-11 Bulldogs, who finished third in league with a 6-4 record and qualified for the playoffs.
Nick had a memorable first season of varsity wrestling. He won the 171-pound title at the WAC Championships. Serratos had an overall record of 23-12.
"Towards the end of the year, everything clicked," he said.
Nick earned first-team, all-league honors while teaming up with Esteban de la Torre in doubles play during the tennis season. The duo compiled a 7-2 record while leading the Bulldogs to a runner-up finish in the WAC (9-3) and Division-II playoff appearance.
A major contributor in swimming, Serratos helped propel Ceres High to the second-best mark in the WAC regular season standings (5-1).
Nick took fifth in the 100 back at the league championships.
Serratos will continue his water polo career at Fresno Pacific University.
"It's going to be a great experience," Nick said. "I'm ready for it. I just need to get bigger, stronger, faster and work on my technique."
