High School Sports

WATSONVILLE— The Saint Francis High boys’ soccer team struggled throughout the preseason to barely get just enough players on the pitch to begin a match. It’s been quite the challenge for Sharks’ first-year coach Valentin Barrelleza, who saw roster numbers reduced to as little as...

WATSONVILLE—The Pajaro Valley girls basketball program has been in the rebuilding phase for the past three seasons, constantly improving year after year.  Grizzlies coach Mark Harris is hoping the pieces to the puzzle are in place so they can finally have the breakout season they’ve...

WATSONVILLE—The Watsonville High football team retained the Belgard Kup with a 22-17 win over cross-town rival Pajaro Valley High. The Grizzlies had a 3-2 lead over the Wildcatz going into halftime. The first two quarters were riddled with penalties and turnovers that stalled promising drives...

St. Francis High senior Julian Vargas and a group of other local high school runners put on a strong performance at the 34th CIF State Cross Country Championships on Saturday morning.  Vargas, who qualified as individual, took 12th out of 205 runners in 15 minutes,...

WATSONVILLE—It’s been a shaky start for the Pajaro Valley High football team after it lost two straight non-league games to begin the season.    The Grizzlies are far from giving up, however, and head coach Joe Manfre said a lot of the goals they set at...

WATSONVILLE—It had been three years since the St. Francis High football team last played on its own campus, hosting games at foreign places such as Watsonville High and Cabrillo College. The wait was finally over Saturday afternoon as the Sharks took on Monte Vista Christian...

WATSONVILLE—Last week was a rollercoaster ride for St. Francis High football coach John Ausman.  A day before their season opener against King City High on Aug. 27, he broke the news to the team that the game would be postponed.  The excitement came back when they...

Monte Vista Christian earlier this month announced a trio of new hires, including the school’s newest athletic director for the upcoming 2025-26 school year.  Dustin Mones was officially named the Mustangs’ director of athletics on June 12, replacing long-time director Matt Coleman.  Joseph Cassius Lampkin on...

After going through a year full of growing pains, Monte Vista Christian junior Dominic Pierini was feeling vigorous and ready to take charge of the Mustangs football team in his first full season under center.    “I put in a lot of work, so I knew...

WATSONVILLE—A typical day of practice for Pajaro Valley High senior Karla Leyva is highly unlike most of the other soccer players in the area. Instead of meeting up after school with her teammates, the Grizzlies girls’ soccer team is already on the pitch before the...