ROSEVILLE — Ceres High senior McKenzy Harden defeated Ponderosa's Chilean foreign exchange student Francisca Rojas 6-1, 6-2 and Yuba City's Hannah Poukish 6-4, 6-2 Thursday during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 Singles Championships at the Johnson Ranch Racquet Club.

RIVERBANK — Martin Gonzales had a rebuilding job ahead of him when he took over the Riverbank High soccer program eight years ago.

CERES — In two previous soccer meetings this season, Ceres High managed to defeat Sierra by matching them physically and taking away the sidelines.

TURLOCK — If plans continue to fall into place, a new synthetic track and athletic field will open at Turlock High School next year.

Brandi Henton and Taryn Garza led Modesto Christian High's girls basketball team to the state final last year, taking turns hitting key shots.

The Delhi High School soccer team is still alive and kicking after a CIF decision Wednesday gave the Hawks a chance to advance in the Division 6 Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

Sac-Joaquin Section

Gabrielle Mantellato dominated Wednesday, scoring seven goals to lead Johansen High past St. Mary's 10-5 in the Sac-Joaquin Section water polo playoffs and into a Friday semifinal vs. Davis of Yolo at noon at Tokay High in Lodi.

Modesto High might be the No. 3 seed in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 volleyball playoffs, but it will be the underdog tonight when it hosts seven-time defending champ Nevada Union at 7 p.m.

Tennis

Tuesday, Oakdale took its No. 8 seed into its Sac-Joaquin Section Division 3 playoff opener against Dixon, fully expecting a difficult battle. The Mustangs didn't get one, as they disposed of Dixon in three games, 25-18, 25-18, 25-12 to advance to the second round.

For going on four decades, Brent Bohlender has been a self-appointed ambassador for and defender of his sport at every level. In 2001 he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame and is considered the most successful girls' high school and age-group club coach in the history of the sport.

It's a big day for high school athletes and college coaches, because today is the first opportunity for athletes to sign a national letter of intent for volleyball, softball, baseball, girls water polo, tennis and golf, according to the NCAA.

CERES — There were several motivating factors for Central Valley High's soccer team as it opened the Division 4 playoffs Tuesday.

Modesto High senior Kaitlyn Klein, who led the Panthers to their third consecutive Modesto Metro Conference championship this season, was named Most Valuable Player of the MMC in a recent vote of league coaches.