Notebook: Athletes recognized at Central Catholic’s Next Level Ceremony

Central Catholic welcomed students and families into their gym for their annual Next Level Ceremony on May 18 as eight student athletes announced where they will begin the next step in their athletic and academic careers. They signed to schools at many different levels from junior college to NAIA to NCAA Division I and II in sports like volleyball, baseball, football, softball and dance.

Noelany Ramirez: Softball player and team captain who will attend Stanislaus State

Nolan Anderson: Baseball ace who will attend San Joaquin Delta College

Elijah Robinson: Will attend UNLV for Dance

Aiden Taylor: 2021 Bee Football Player of the Year who will attend the University of Washington as a preferred walk on

Abby Castillon: 2019 Bee Volleyball Player of the Year who will attend Saint Mary’s College

McKinley King: 2021 All District First team honoree who will attend Eastern Oregon University

Romeo Eteaki: Second on team in sacks and will attend San Joaquin Delta College

Jacob Edmond: One of the leaders of the Raiders’ offensive line who will attend Modesto Junior College

Turlock High has three athletes sign: Turlock High had three athletes sign letters of intent on May 4. Boys basketball player Michael Heidelbach, soccer player Macy Max and softball player Angie Valenzuela all signed with four-year colleges.

Michael Heidelbach: Will attend Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

Macy Max: A first team All-CCAL selection who will attend Sonoma State University

Angie Valenzuela: A first team All-CCAL infielder who will attend Eureka State

MJC’s Frias signs with K-State: “B I G” is how Pirates’ coach Rusty Stivers described Anthony Frias’ signing in a text message with The Bee. The freshman was the Pirates leading rusher in every category and heads to Manhattan, Kansas as a true sophomore with three years of eligibility left.

MJC’s Winton signs with NCAA DIII University: Just weeks after teammate Reina Sausedo (Ripon) signed with Cal Poly Pomona, Pirates guard Annie Winton (Livingston) signed her letter of intent to Cal Lutheran University. The 5-foot-8 sophomore guard started all 26 games averaging 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals.

MJC swimmer sets school record: The MJC women’s swim team advanced to state for the first time since 2017. At the State Championships, Rylee Beidleman (Ripon Christian) took first place in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke. She is the first State Champion from the Pirates in 11 seasons. This caps a stellar freshman season where she set school records in three events: 50 yard breaststroke (30.46), 100 yard breaststroke (1:04.42) and 200 yard breaststroke (2:21.99).

Local products join NFL teams as free agents after Draft: Central Catholic’s Daron Bland was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 30 and while he was the only Stanislaus District product selected, he wasn’t the only player to join a team. Two local players signed NFL contracts as undrafted free agents.

Former Davis High standout receiver Talolo Limu-Jones signed with the Carolina Panthers. After a stellar career as a Spartan, he went on to Eastern Washington University where he had an outstanding career as he finished in the top 10 in two categories with 2,722 receiving yards (seventh) and 21 touchdowns (10th).

MJC and Turlock High alum Mustafa Johnson earned a training camp invite from the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson played for the Bulldogs and Pirates, then went on to star at the University of Colorado. He was named an All-Pac 12 performer in his sophomore and junior seasons.

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2022 Stanislaus District College Signings

*Preferred Walk-On

Quinton Hamilton

The Modesto Bee

Quinton Hamilton covers high school sports for The Modesto Bee. He is a Southern California native and received his bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College and a master’s in journalism from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Quinton has worked at the Record-Journal in Meriden and helped on projects at Hearst Connecticut.