Sports

The 2017-18 season has been rumored to be the final season in Roland Hedgpeth’s legendary coaching career at Watsonville High. But not everyone is convinced he will hang up the whistle at the end of the year.

Now in his second season with the Mustangs, head coach Hasan Houston is trying to instill a mental toughness and physical aggressiveness that was sorely lacking in last year’s team.

In terms of championships, the year 2017 was a special one for the teams from the Pajaro Valley. Whether it was individuals capturing titles, teams breaking droughts or freshmen setting the section and state ablaze, several local athletes were a cut above the rest.

Watsonville High’s Abel Pena and Monte Vista Christian’s Amman Klair and Christian Cabuag all captured their respective championship at the Pat Lovell Holiday Wrestling Classic in Aptos on Friday.

Savanah Quintana had 24 points and seven rebounds in Watsonville High’s 44-36 win over Orem on Wednesday in the first round of the Surf ‘N Slam tournament in San Diego.

In the Gabilan division, Watsonville will not only be tasked with knocking off three-time reigning champ Salinas High, but a load of other technically sound squads like Gilroy High, Alvarez High and Notre Dame-Salinas.

Watsonville High senior point guard Savanah Quintana and Pajaro Valley High junior point guard Jayleen Solorzano have dazzled through the preseason and both have their squads poised to compete for the MBL-P title.

The Watsonville High girls’ basketball team beat Pacific Grove High, 60-42, to win its fifth straight preseason game on Thursday night at home.