Prep Roundup: Sept. 29

All the hard work Gilroy put in over the summer looks to have paid off.
The Mustangs charged out of the gate, picking up top finishes at the Monterey Bay League Center I meet Wednesday at Christmas Hill Park. The boys team finished first overall with a score of 60, led by a second place finish by Kairo Barroso. Christopher finished fifth. The Mustang girls finished third in their race with a score of 68, just behind Everett Alvarez and Watsonville who took first and second, respectively. Monica Ruelas and Briseida Perez were first and second overall. 
The varsity boys led off the race with Gilroy’s Sean Kaufman leading the pack for the first mile and a half before disappearing into the hills. Nine minutes later, Alvarez’s Jorge Sanchez emerged and Barroso was right on his heels. Barroso finished second with his best career time of 17:34.  
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“The smile on his face said everything,” Gilroy coach Cathy Silva said.
The boys just edged out Alvarez for the win, besting them 60-61. The score, Silva said, further proves that every man counts.
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Kaufman, who had a severe side cramp, was the next Gilroy runner to cross the finish line with a time of 18:18, good for eighth place. Michael Kropff was 11th in a time of 18:33, followed by Christopher’s Austin Hudson in 14th (18:43). Domenik Spirer was 18th for the Cougars with a time of 18:53.19, while Jose Tony Barrados and Logan Flores finished 19th and 20th for Gilroy with times of 18:53.19 and 18:57.04, respectively. 
The first two runners across the finish line in the girls race were Mustang teammates Ruelas and Perez in 21:44.85 and 22:35.81, respectively. Christopher’s Natalie Filippi was a close third with a time of 23:05.22. Cougar runner Vicky Fox finished seventh (23:27.46), while Gilroy’s Jackelyn Gomez Gonzales was 17th (24:50.37). 
Gilroy’s JV boys also had a good day, seeing a first place finish from Eric Heiser in a time of 18:17. Teammates Conner Doyle and Ruben Perez finished sixth and seventh, respectively. 
The Cougars will be back in action at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at the MBL Center Meet II at Toro Park. Gilroy will compete at the Pacific Grove Invitational at 8 a.m. Saturday.
FIELD HOCKEY
Cougars win third straight
Christopher picked up its third straight win with a 3-2 decision over Carmel Thursday on the road. 
Melanie Tanaka, Erin Mank and Isabel Medina all scored for the Cougars. 
Christopher (4-2-1 overall, 3-0-1 in league) has been on the road all season, but it’s roadtrip is coming to an end. The team has just two games left before its home opener on Oct. 14. The Cougars will play at 3:30 p.m. today at North Salinas. 

Find out when and where your favorite Cougar and Mustangs teams are playing this week:
CHRISTOPHER
9.29 Field Hockey at North Salinas, 3:30 p.m.
9.30 Girls Tennis at Monte Vista Christian, 4 p.m.; Girls Water Polo vs. Everett Alvarez, 4 p.m.;  Boys Water Polo at Everett Alvarez, 4 p.m.; Volleyball at Seaside, 6:30 p.m.
10.1 Girls Golf at Alisal, Salinas Fairway, 3:30 p.m.
10.2 Field Hockey at Notre Dame, 4 p.m.; Girls Tennis vs. Norte Dame, 4 p.m.; Boys Water Polo vs. Harbor (home team at Harbor), 6 p.m.; Girls Water Polo at Harbor, at Aptos, 6 p.m.; Volleyball vs. Watsonville, 6:30 p.m.
10.3 Boys Water Polo at Sobrato Tournament, TBD
10.4 Volleyball vs. Live Oak, Dig Pink Event at Gavilan, TBD; Boys Water Polo at Sobrato Tournament, TBD

GILROY
9.29 Girls Golf vs. Monte Vista Christian, 3:30 p.m.
9.30 Field Hockey at Leigh, 3:30 p.m.; Girls Tennis vs. North Salinas, 4 p.m.; Volleyball at Monterey, 6:30 p.m.
10.1 Girls Golf vs. Trinity, 3:30 p.m.
10.2 Field Hockey at Live Oak, 3:30 p.m.; Girls Tennis at Monte Vista Christian, 4 p.m.; Volleyball vs. Pajaro Valley, 6:30 p.m.
10.3 Football at Watsonville, 7:30 p.m.
10.4 Cross Country at Pacific Grove Invitational, 8 a.m.