High School Sports

The word pressure had no meaning for Watsonville junior Jesus Contreras-Barboza during last weekend’s Central Coast Section Division II boys soccer championship game. The crowd fell dead silent as he was setting up for a potential game-winning penalty shot, and all that could be heard...

It was a special, and historical, Wednesday night for four local high school soccer teams that kept their Central Coast Section postseason runs alive for at least one more weekend. The Watsonville boys’ group is returning to the section finals for the first time since...

Ahmi Martin has been the main ball distributor as a point guard for the Watsonville High boys’ basketball team throughout the 2025-26 winter season. The game film doesn’t lie.  But just for a split second, the Wildcat senior took a chance to be a hero in...

If someone would’ve told Pajaro Valley High senior Monique Ayala back in November they’d be Pacific Coast Athletic League champions come the end of the winter campaign, she’d probably still be laughing till this day.  The Grizzly team captain was guffawing after last week’s regular...

Aptos High’s Ivan Zavala recorded a pair of goals as the boys’ soccer team defeated Soquel, 2-0, in Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League action Wednesday night. Teammates Josiah Siqueiros and Haziel Parra each were credited with one assist for the Mariners, who placed second with...

Watsonville High senior defender Damian Moreno knocked in the game-winning goal for the boys’ soccer team, and the Wildcatz defeated Pajaro Valley, 1-0, in Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division action Feb. 9.  With the win, the ‘Catz secured the Mission Division crown for the...

In a stunning turn of events, Manny Contreras will not return as Watsonville High’s head football coach for the upcoming 2026 fall season.  Contreras received the shocking news in January during a private meeting with school principal Joe Gregorio, forcing the Wildcatz skipper to step...

The Watsonville High boys’ soccer team clinched at least a share of the Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division title following a 0-0 draw against Gonzales on Thursday night.  Senior forward Diego Guillen and junior defender Damian Moreno each came the closest to breaking the...

Pajaro Valley junior guard Juanito Montiel finished with a team-best 16 points but it wasn’t enough as the Grizzlies boys’ basketball team fell to Kirby School, 49-44, in a battle for first place of the Pacific Coast Athletic League Santa Lucia Division on Wednesday...

The 40th Annual Central Coast High School All-Star Football Game was a one-sided affair as Team White crushed Team Black, 42-0, at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas on Jan. 31.  North Salinas senior Canelo Gonzales and Hollister senior Jordan Quezada each hauled in one touchdown reception...