Sports

WATSONVILLE—The St. Francis High football team had undoubtedly the best season in the program’s short illustrious history in 2021.  The Sharks captured the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Santa Lucia Division title—going undefeated in league play—and finished runner-up in the Central Coast Section Division V championship...

CASTROVILLE—Last year was the first time North Monterey County High junior Steven Poudrier ever put on a uniform for the Condors’ football team.  The 5-foot-5-inch, 142-pound receiver started off on the JV team and his work ethic was through the roof.  NMC coach Juan Cuevas couldn’t...

WATSONVILLE—Monte Vista Christian senior Kyle Recotta is on a mission to accomplish some big things for the Mustangs’ football team this upcoming season.  Especially after a challenging year plagued with injuries and going winless in the difficult Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Gabilan Division a year...

APTOS—The high school football season unofficially kicked off this past weekend with the Santa Cruz County Jamboree at Cabrillo College. St. Francis, Pajaro Valley and Watsonville high schools along with four other schools within the county scrimmaged for the first time this season at...

APTOS—Aptos High football coach Randy Blankenship joined the state’s 300-win club last year, becoming one of a dozen coaches who have reached that feat. Prior to that he brought home four Central Coast Section championships to the Mariners’ program since he arrived in 2010.  But the...

WATSONVILLE—There was a time when winning a Central Coast Section championship was just a fairy tale story for softball programs in Santa Cruz County. Watsonville High softball coach Scott Wilson broke the wicked curse of heartbreaking losses by delivering the county’s first-ever section title in...

APTOS—Aptos High incoming junior Bella Garvey began dancing ballet when she was just 3 years old.  Since then, she’s continued to dance and slowly became part of what she calls her other family. “I really like the performing aspect of it, just getting to perform in...

APTOS—To say that Aptos High senior Gabe Gaeckle has been busy this summer is a real understatement.  The Mariners’ baseball standout recently played in Florida and Georgia with the Alpha Prime travel baseball team based out of California.  “The weather was a little different but it’s...

WATSONVILLE—For two weeks, the District 39 Little League baseball organization used Franich Park to host a pair of the largest tournaments in Northern California.  Twelve of the best teams from Hollister to Eureka battled in the Majors Section and NorCal All-Star tournaments on Ruso Field—home...

APTOS—Aptos High student Taj Gleitsman set a goal to make the USA Gymnastics National Team one way or another. The 16-year-old Corralitos native is now just one of seven athletes that earned a spot after a brilliant performance at the USA Gymnastics Tumbling & Trampoline...