Modesto JC spring sports capsules

Men's Track & Field

• Coach: Demetrius Snaer (8th)

• 2011: 2nd in Big 8, 2nd in NorCal, 9th in state

• Key Athletes Lost: Tucker Weathers, Roddy Dash, Jace Sloan

• Key Returners: Alejandro Garcia, Chris Izquierdo

• Key Newcomers: Akim Muhammad, Anjell Mayfield, Kolt Cody, Stephen Thayer

• Outlook: Last year's weight-events rich team — Weathers placed 2nd at state in the SP — will be replaced by more speed. Muhammad, Thayer and Cody can run, and Mayfield was a state prep finals hurdler. Izquierdo placed 4th in the state for MJC in the 800 in 2010. Garcia is the defending NorCal champion in the 5,000 and 10,000.

Women's Track & Field

• Coach: Mary Shea (12th)

• 2011: 2nd in Big 8, 5th at NorCal

• Key Athletes Lost: Brittney Jackson, Simone Brown

• Key Returners: Taylor Renee Wilson, Jasveen Brar, Alex Flanigan-Rodriguez, Mahlynn Liotard

• Key Newcomers: Taryn Garza, Mercedes Brown, Rebecca Rodrigues

• Outlook: Wilson, 7th in state last spring in 4x100 relay, won Big 8 and placed 3rd in NorCal in long jump. Brar was 6th in state in 400-meter hurdles. Garza, the former Modesto Christian star and transfer from Pacific, brings talent to the 400 and 800 along with Mercedes Brown. Rodrigues starred on Big 8 cross country title team last fall.

Softball

• Coach: Kelly Nasrawi (5th)

• 2011: 15-18, 6-15 in Big 8 (6th)

• Key Players Lost: Alannah Johns, Breihanna Castilleja, Nicole Teeple

• Key Returners: Shaye Farriester, Kayla Lane, Karlie Rush

• Key Newcomers: Mariah Navarro, Salina Tiscareno, Roxy Corella, Briana Aldridge

• Outlook: Three sophomores — Lane (P), Farriester (SS) and Rush (2B) — will be asked to lead an otherwise freshman roster. Farriester returns from the 2010 team. Lane and Corella will handle the pitching, and they'll lean on a potentially good outfield featuring Navarro, Tiscareno and Aldridge.

Men's Swimming

• Coach: Kurt Olson (8th)

• 2011: 5th in Big 8, 12th in state

• Key Returners: Cody Blevins, Brandon Duncan, Ryan Salou

• Key Newcomers: Brandon and Austin Ruggeberg

• Outlook: They'll miss 6-7 Tim Richard, who will train through this season after he placed 2nd in 3 events last year at state (200 IM, 100 breast, 200 breast) and set four school records. Blevins in the sprints will help, and there's major depth.

Women's Swimming

• Coach: Kurt Olson (8th)

• 2011: 6th in Big 8, 11th in state

• Key Swimmer Lost: Caitlin DeNise

• Key Newcomers: Alexis Wheeler, Phoebe Ruggeberg, Megan Carney

• Outlook: Olson resets the program after 5 state champions in the last 2 years (Meghan Devlin's triple in 2010 and DeNise's double in '11). DeNise, named Outstanding Swimmer at State Meet last year, transferred to Michigan State. Wheeler follows DeNise to MJC from Davis-Yolo and specializes in backstroke and free. Ruggeberg is one of triplets swimming for Pirates.r

Men's Tennis

• Coach: Shawn Black (9th)

• 2011: 2nd in Big 8 South, 5th at NorCal

• Key Player Lost: Eric Ford

• Key Newcomers: Esteban Felix, Matt Cabrera

• Outlook: Black cleans the slate with a 6-man roster, all freshmen, and they're already 2-0. Watch for Felix and Cabrera, who can make a deep post-season run in both singles and doubles. After spending most of last season on the road, the Pirates bring opponents to their courts for most of this month, including the MJC Invitational on Feb. 17-18.

Women's Tennis

• Coach: Milan Motroni (8th)

• 2011: 5th in Big 8 South

• Key Player Lost: Kayley Olvera

• Key Returners: Blair Castro, Claudia Canela

• Key Newcomers: Elise Cusenza, Presli Pilati

• Outlook: The Pirates' 2-1 start illustrates their improvement over the 2011 squad, which won only 3 matches all season. It starts with the addition of Cusenza, a former Turlock High star, Pilati (Escalon) and Monique Origel. MJC also is bolstered by sophs Castro and Canela. Erika Marmolejo played for the Pirates 3 years ago.

Men's Golf

• Coach: Ron Gross (5th)

• 2011: 5th in Big 8

• Key Player Lost: Ron Goodman

• Key Returners: Clayton Aguilar, Taylor Aderholt

• Key Newcomers: Don Caesar, Diego Marcial

• Outlook: Austin Whitworth (elbow) will miss the season after placing second in the state last year, but the explosive Aguilar — he shot a 67 for the Pirates in 2010 at Spring Creek CC — gives the Pirates some clout at the top. Also back from 2010 team are Tim Schuler and Ted Hamlin.— RON AGOSTINIMJC SPRING CAPSULES