High School Sports

BAKERSFIELD—Gilroy High’s Alex Felix is proof that the future is bright for the Mustangs.

GILROY—It’s not everyday that Gilroy High alumni are asked to pose for photos and sign autographs. It’s not everyday that an alum is a two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion either.

With some of Christopher’s varsity starters not present for Thursday’s game, Shannon McAvoy’s role as captain became all the more important.

The Christopher boys’ basketball team has reached the Central Coast Section playoffs the last four years and advanced to the final in three of those seasons.   This year, they are battling through a challenging 2023-24 league season with eyes on more playoff successes. “We have...

Dear Reader, So, I thought, ‘Hey, why don’t I set up an online vote for Senior Athletes of the Year?’ It isn’t unheard of. However, I did not contemplate the energetic response the endeavor received.

Gilroy fought back from a two-touchdown hole to take the lead late in the third quarter 20-14, but Soledad’s running back Emanuel Ortega was too evasive for the Mustang defense as he led the Aztecs to a 27-26 victory.

Gilroy rode strong second and fourth quarters to defeat Pajaro Valley 29-19 on Senior Night Saturday.

The Christopher High boys basketball team is on a mission. How else to explain two dominant wins over quality teams in the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs, the latter coming in a 60-37 semifinal win over Leland High on Thursday. The No. 2 seed...

On Wednesday, Gilroy's Tim Van Horn cemented his name into school history. The senior broke the school record for the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 6 inches in a dual meet against Seaside at Gilroy High.  Van Horn's accomplishment helped the boys beat their Spartan counterparts 87-45. The girls also won 98-34 over Seaside.  Sean Kaufman took first in the 200m and 400m in 23.83 and 53.62, respectively. He also won the triple jump with a 38-03 leap.  Ellie Sausen was first for the Mustang girls in the 400m in a time of 67.21.  Nicole Holder won two events for Gilroy: the high jump and long jump. She took the high jump with a 4-foot, 8-inch leap. Holder claimed the top spot in the long jump with a distance of 14-08.  Monica Ruelas was also a dual winner, taking first in the 800m and 1600m races. She won the 800 in 2:42.92 and the 800 in 6:04.54.  David Haller won the boys 100-meter dash in a time of 11.98 second. Carli Coyler won the girls 100m in 13.68.  Jacob Una'Dia was first in the 110m hurdles in 17.58, while Shai Vasquez was first in the 100m hurdles for the Mustangs with a time of 19.77.  The Gilroy girls 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams both took first, as did the boys 4x400 team. Sausen, Coyler, Jackie Morales and Laylanie Arriaga made up the 4x100m team and Sausen, Ruelas, Coyler and Arriaga made up the 4x400m team.  Manpreet Singh, Kaufman, Michael Kropff and Daniel Ordaz made up the Mustangs' 4x400 boys team. The Mustangs also took first in the boys and girls shot put and discus. Victor Sanchez won the shot put with a throw of 37-01, while Ruben Perez took the discus in 89-09. Anela Zamarron won the girls' shot put with a throw of 33-04.5. Jasmin Rodriguez-Cruz took the discus with a throw of 97-06. Logan Flores won the pole vault for Gilroy with a 9-06 leap. Kevin Azcueta took the long jump with a distance of 18-02.   On the girls side, Arriaga took the pole vault with a 6-foot leap.  Gilroy will take part in the Bill Kearney Invitational at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Salinas. DIVING Cougars' Lopez, Scott qualify for CCS The divers of the Central Coast Section get just three chances to qualify for the section tournament, but Christopher's Anthony Lopez and Kaelee Scott needed just one. Lopez, a junior, qualified for CCS for the second straight year after finishing second at the first 11-dive meet of the season May 15 and 16 at the Santa Clara International Swim Center. He scored a 433.60, easily meeting the 285 point qualifying mark.  Coach Paul Wells said Lopez dove consistently well through most of the list, scoring between 6.5 and 8 points in his first 10 dives. On the final dive, a reverse one-and-one-half somersault, he scored 5s. "In the end it made no difference in the standings since he was in solid second place with little chance to overtake an outstanding effort by (Reed) Merrit (who finished first)," Wells said. "Anthony did an amazing job—his best effort by far." Sophomore Scott finished in 12th in her first 11-dive contest and Wells commended her on qualifying for CCS on her first try. "To qualify for CCS on her first outing is a tribute to her talent and focus," the Cougar coach said. "With four months of diving experience, Kaelee's gymnastic background has been a key to her rapid progress, but her courage really sets her apart." Up until this point, Scott had only competed in dual meets where only six dives are required.

GILROY — Last year, Tom Legan’s son Rosino got a taste of the international boxing scene with a trip to Puerto Rico. His son’s experience there illuminated a light bulb in Tom’s head — Why not help others do the same?