Gilroy
– All four of Gilroy’s winter sports teams were honored with
multiple All-League selections, but none is likely to cherish their
selections more than the true Cinderella team of the bunch – the
girls’ soccer squad.
Gilroy – All four of Gilroy’s winter sports teams were honored with multiple All-League selections, but none is likely to cherish their selections more than the true Cinderella team of the bunch – the girls’ soccer squad.
Following an 0-10 league record last year, the girls turned their fortunes around, earned second in TCAL and made it to the CCS playoffs.
Now the ‘Stangs have been honored with four first-team, All-TCAL players. Three were named to classwoman of the year spots. And probably the best news for the team – nearly all of its top honorees are returning next season.
From the offense, junior Jo-Ann Olivo-Pedroza and sophomore Amanda Bruce, both midfielders, were named to the first team. The award was Bruce’s second in as many years. Olivo-Pedroza also earned junior player of the year.
On the defensive side, junior Kendra Sato and freshman ‘keeper Sara Hugo were also given a nod for the first team. Hugo was also awarded the freshman of the year for TCAL.
Rounding out the list of honorees was Alysha Davis who, despite an injury plagued season, earned co-senior of the year along with Hollister’s Michele Sanchez.
Head coach Jose Hernandez said the girls were all team players and never complained about their circumstances. “They played in a formation they were not accustomed to,” Hernandez said. “They didn’t complain and they played through numerous injuries.”
The TCAL coach of the year said the girls never played together before – only eight came from club teams – but they melded together. And as Hernandez stressed, the girls led by example, especially those honored by the TCAL.
Davis went through several major injuries, including a torn groin in the summer, a pulled hamstring in the fall, a chip in her back and a concussion which took her out of the CCS play off game.
But despite it all, Hernandez said Davis had an aggressive style that is hardly matched and still led the team in goals scored with 14.
Boys hoops
When basketball coach Bud Ogden thinks of senior Calvin Kretz, one word comes to mind: warrior.
While Kretz did not lead the team in any one statistic, he did lead the team in “overall stats.” He was No. 2 in overall scoring, field goals, three-pointers and free throws.
It’s little wonder Kretz was named to the All-TCAL first team – the only one from Gilroy named to the top list.
“I thought Calvin was the heart and soul of team,” Ogden said. “He was an excellent, leader like having a coach on the court.”
Kretz’s leadership and play will be hard to match, Ogden said. However, not all will be lost when he graduates. Dominick Wilkins, who made TCAL’s second team, is the closest in style to Kretz.
“I saw Wilkins grow this year in a basketball sense. He’s tough and will step into Calvin’s shoes nicely.”
Girls hoops
The Lady Mustangs had a lot to be proud of this season including a 20-10 record and yet another trip to the semi-finals in the CCS playoffs.
But for two players, it didn’t end there. Senior Amanda Link and junior Kristen Campos were named to the All-TCAL first team.
For Campos, her consistent shooting was the key for her nod to the top team. Campos was deadly from the outside and led the team in three-pointers, 51 total. But for head coach Kari Williams, there was so much more.
“I’m all smiles when I look back,” Williams said. “I’m really happy with her progress.”
To round out Campos’ credentials for the first team spot, Campos was solid on defense. She led the team in shot blocks and rebounds.
Link didn’t have too many big numbers during the season, but she fought hard each night she played, especially in the latter part of the season when her intensity went up.
“I have to give her credit,” Williams said. “I wasn’t the easiest on her, but she stayed with it.”
Boys Soccer
Team work and individual leadership were the themes this year for the Gilroy boys soccer team.
Four members earned first team TCAL spots, and three were awarded overall accomplishments: Alfonso Motagalvan, Artemio Arteaga, Ben Alcantar and Evy Diaz De Leon were all placed on the high team. Motagalvan, last year’s TCAL MVP, was also named senior of the year, and was joined by Alcantar as the offensive player of the year and Kevin Grove, the freshman of the year.
Co-head coach Brian Hall had nothing but praise for his boys who he said mark a new generation for Gilroy High School sports.
“This is the new breed of student athletes from Gilroy High,” Hall said. “These guys represent themselves positively on and off the field and for that I am really proud of them.”
Motagalvan said his style of leadership involved working out problems, organizing players and being an example in the classroom and on the field.
“I would like to see this group mature,” he said. “They have the tools, they just need to know how to use them.”
TCAL Honors
Boys’ basketball
• TCAL All-League Honors
MVP: Kyle Sharp, Sr., Hollister
All-TCAL First Team
GILROY
Calvin Kretz, Sr.
HOLLISTER
Eric Davis, Sr.
LIVE OAK
Matt Van Keulen, Sr.
NORTH SALINAS
Eric Petty, Sr.; Marco Ramos, Sr.; Orlando Johnson, Soph.
SALINAS
Kelly McCarty, Sr.; Adrian Cryder, Sr.
PALMA
Michael Willrodt, Jr.
All-TCAL Second Team
GILROY
Dominick Wilkins, Jr.; Adam Supnet, Sr.;
Ryan Chisolm, Jr.; Adam Moon, Sr.
LIVE OAK
Doug Porras, Sr.
NORTH SALINAS
Jeffery Perijil, Sr.; Vernon Berlinga, Sr.
PALMA
Ari Goldman, Sr.; Dominique Dunham, Sr.
All-TCAL Honorable Mention
GILROY
Jeremy Teschera, Jr.; Vince Mitre, Sr.
HOLLISTER
Vince Bautista, Sr.
LIVE OAK
Kevin Toombs, Sr; Brandon Powell, Sr.
NORTH SALINAS
Prince Ray Pope, Jr.
PALMA
Theo Jackson, Sr.
SALINAS
Ian Whitely
Sportsmanship: Steven Good, Sr., Gilroy
Girls’ basketball
• TCAL All-League Honors
MVP: Jessica Ross, Guard, Notre Dame, Sr.
Coach of the Year: John Given, Notre Dame
All-TCAL First Team
GILROY
Kristen Campos, Guard, Jr.; Amanda Link, Center, Sr.
HOLLISTER
Jaime Hall, Center, Sr.; Trisha Lee, Guard, Sr.
LIVE OAK
Megan Gulla, Guard, Soph.
NOTRE DAME
Jessica Ross, Guard, Sr.; Randy Goodenough, Center, Sr.; Britany Plummer, Forward, Sr.
SALINAS
Angela Fales, Forward, Soph.
NORTH SALINAS
Nicole Martinez, Forward, Jr.
All-TCAL Second Team
GILROY
Katherine Hussey, Guard, Jr.; Kendall Costa, Forward, Sr.
HOLLISTER
Jaime Flores, Guard, Sr.; Crystina Osborne, Forward, Sr.
LIVE OAK
Annaise Curley, Guard, Jr.
NOTRE DAME
Briana Mendalla, Guard, Jr.; Kristen Santos, Forward, Fr.
SALINAS
Mia Musones, Guard, Fr.; Amanda Oxford, Guard, Sr.
Tana Azevedo, Center, Sr.
All-TCAL Honorable Mention
GILROY
Marissa Nowakowski, Guard, Jr.; Jessica Groppe, Center, Jr.
SAN BENITO
Dani Andrewsom, Guard, Sr.; Johni Kieswetter, Guard, Sr.
LIVE OAK
Mattie Borges, Center, Jr.
NOTRE DAME
Megan Taylor, Guard, Sr.
SALINAS
Megan Herney, Forward, Sr.
NORTH SALINAS
Domonique Hill, Center, Soph.; Dorine Hernandez, Forward, Sr.; Audrey Sanchez, Guard, Soph.
Sportsmanship: Sarah Whitney, Sr., Gilroy
Boys’ soccer
• TCAL All-League Honors
MVP: Anthony Avalos, MF, Jr., Live Oak
Also nominated: Anthony Avalos, MF, Jr., Live Oak; Garrett Frechette, FWD, Jr., Live Oak; Alfonso Motagalvan, MF, Sr., Gilroy; Ben Alcantar, MF, Jr., Gilroy
Off. POY: Benjamin Alcantar, Jr., MF, Gilroy
Def. POY: Anthony Spadoni, Sr., KPR, Palma
Senior: Alfonso Motagalvan, MF, Gilroy
Junior: Garrett Frechette, FWD, Live Oak
Sophomore: Silvano Botta, FWD, Palma
Co-Freshmen: Robert Adam, FWD, Live Oak and Kevin Grove, DEF, Gilroy
Coach of the Year: Juan Flores, North Salinas
All-TCAL First Team
GILROY
Alfonso Motagalvan, MF, Sr.; Benjamin Alcantar, MF, Jr.; Evy Diaz De Leon, FWD, Sr.; Artemio Arteaga, DEF, Sr.
HOLLISTER
Jose Diaz De Leon, FWD, Soph.; Jose C. Vasquez, DEF, Soph.
LIVE OAK
Anthony Avalos, MF, Jr.; Garrett Frechette, FWD, Jr.
Nick Mott, DEF, Jr.; Hassan Abdullahi, DEF, Sr.
Robert Adam, FWD, Fr.
NORTH SALINAS
Jaime Castro, MF, Jr.; Luis Serrano, MF, Jr.; Ernesto Sotelo, FWD, Soph.
PALMA
Silvano Botta, FWD, Soph.; Robert Maher, DEF, Sr.
SALINAS
Christian Regalado, MF, Sr.; Jorge Perez, MF, Sr.
All-TCAL Second Team
GILROY
Kevin Grove, DEF, Fr.; Arron Thomas, DEF, Sr.; Juan Llamas, FWD, Sr.; Emmanuel Nava, MF JR
HOLLISTER
Vicencio Eduer, FWD, Soph.; Ceja Arturo, MF, Jr.
LIVE OAK
Bryan Place, MF, Sr.; Michael Place, DEF, Sr.; Hussein Abdullahi, MF, Sr.; Anthony Razouk, MF, Sr.; Rodney Spencer, DEF, Sr.
NORTH SALINAS
Dagoberto Ramirez, KPR, Jr.; Alex Vaca, MF, Sr.; Joel Amador, FWD, Soph.
PALMA
Anthony Spadoni, KPR, Sr.; Anthony Daoud, DEF, Jr.
SALINAS
Ediberto Cruz, DEF, Jr.; Frankie Monsivais, DEF, Fr.
All-TCAL Honorable Mention
GILROY
Jose Pineda, FWD, Jr.; Ismael Nava, DEF, Sr.
Girls’ soccer
• TCAL All-League Honors
MVP: Michele McDonald, Sr., Live Oak
Co-Seniors: Michele Sanchez, Hollister
and Alysha Davis, Gilroy
Junior: JoAnn Olivo-Pedroza, Gilroy
Sophomore: Tannia Hernandez, North Salinas
Freshman: Sarah Hugo, Gilroy
Off. POY: Jenny Rose Vandenberg, Hollister
CO-DEF. POY: Susanne Riddleberger, Salinas
and Alayna Bongiorno, Live Oak
Midfielders: Lena Marsh, Live Oak
and Amanda Bruce, Gilroy
Goalkeepers: Andrea Riolo, Live Oak and Mary Von Urff, Hollister
Coach of the Year: Jose Hernandez, Gilroy
All-TCAL First Team
GILROY
JoAnne Olivo-Pedroza; Amanda Bruce; Kendra Sato;
Sara Hugo
LIVE OAK
Michelle McDonald; Lena Marsh; Jaime Hickey; Andrea Riolo; Jenny Emick
HOLLISTER
Jenny Rose Vandenberg; Michele Sanchez;
Mary Von Urff
SALINAS
Emily McGuire; Susanne Riddleberger; Erika Mendoza
NOTRE DAME
Melissa Casas; Jade Ohmann
NORTH SALINAS
Tannia Hernandez
All-TCAL Second Team
GILROY
Brittany Barnes; Alysha Davis; Nubia Diaz de Leon; Stephanie Glenn
LIVE OAK
Katie Renteria; Ginelle Bongiono; Ashley Thomas;
Alayna Bongiorno; Sarah Locarnini
HOLLISTER
Julie Broyer; Brittany Lobb; Brittany Huth
SALINAS
Mikaela Bozzo; Kristin Elias; Amy Cranford
All-TCAL Honorable Mention
GILROY: Maria Alfaro; Luz Cortes; Jeannette Figueroa; Nicole Hovey
