The Ceres Rush Atlético 15-and-under boys competitive soccer team reached a major milestone last month.
Ceres was awarded a wild-card berth to the 2025 National Premier League (NPL) Final Tournament.
The Shuga Hernandez-led Rush will represent Ceres, the state of California and NorCal Soccer at the national tournament, which will be staged July 9-14 in Denver, Colorado.
“This is a tremendous honor for our players, who have spent the past two years working tirelessly to earn a spot in this prestigious competition,” said Airielle Moberly, team manager/coordinator. “Representing our small community on a national stage is a dream come true, and we are proud to showcase the talent, discipline, and teamwork that defines the Ceres Rush Atlético.”
“It’s a big achievement for them,” assistant coach Larry Hernandez added. “Obviously, there’s a lot of excitement. There’s multiple reasons. They’ve been working hard. They’ve been practicing against our under-17 team to help prepare them for their league.”
Along with qualifying for NPL National Finals, Ceres earned a promotion to the Elite Clubs National League-Regional League (ECNL-RL) for the 2025-26 season.
“Our team has been working for almost three years to be able to reach this level of play and are proud of the hard work and dedication that it has taken to reach this goal,” Moberly said.
“All their hard work came to fruition,” Larry Hernandez stated. “It’s definitely something they deserve. Since the team started, they’ve been winning and being promoted. This is the next step. They’ll be playing against teams from all over the country. They’re striving for more.”
“It’s something we’re very proud of,” Shuga Hernandez added.
Ceres’ roster features a total of 23 players, including Ariot Alvarez Mendoza, Sergio Alvarez Suarez, Lucas Arechiga, Victor Cervantes, Omar Chavez Mojica, Salvador Estrada, Juan Farias Galarza, Joseph Garcia, Emiliano Garcia, Alberto Garcia, Elias Godinez, Gabriel Jacquez, Jonathan Martinez-Villeda, Jonas Moberly, Luis Moreno Cruz, Jayden Pires, Jayden Rodriguez, Jared Rodriguez, Carlos Salcedo Angel Jr., Avian Sanchez, Fernando Sanchez, Erick Solórzano Garcia and Jayden Toledo.
The Rush currently rank third in California-North.
Ceres placed second during 2025 NorCal Spring NPL and 2024-25 NorCal NPL.
The Rush have accumulated five wins, one loss and three ties this season.
“The boys here from Ceres are very talented,” Larry Hernandez said.
As a small club team, Ceres Rush Atlético relies heavily on the support of generous sponsors to make opportunities like competing at the NPL National Finals possible.
If you’re interested in sponsoring or donating, or would like more information, contact Airielle Moberly at 209-404-5847 or CeresRushAtletico2010@gmail.com.
“We are currently seeking sponsorships and donations to help offset the cost of travel and accommodations for our players and families,” she said. “Every dollar raised will directly support the team’s journey and ensure that financial limitations do not hinder any player’s ability to participate.”
