Sports

When Nick Lomanto gets the ball, his mindset is simple.

Last November, the Live Oak High girls cross country team finished in 12th place in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals to earn the final spot into the Central Coast Section Championships. It was a splendid moment for the team, something that had not been accomplished in recent memory.

Late in the 2017 season, Sobrato High had lost its second- and third-string quarterbacks. Bulldogs coach Tony Holmes gave Jordan Sheets—who at the time was a starting sophomore wide receiver on the junior varsity team—a chance to start learning the quarterback position.

In 2017, the Live Oak and Christopher football teams needed double overtime to decide the outcome. Friday night, the teams’ latest game was no less thrilling. Jonathan Singleton connected with Elijah Fernandez on a 9-yard touchdown with 28.9 seconds remaining, and Caleb Ojeda sealed things with an interception moments later as the Acorns edged the host Cougars 33-31 in what was the latest installment of one of the most anticipated non-league games in the South Valley.

Sobrato High boys water polo coach Ronni Gautschi doesn’t care what club team her players compete for—she only cares that they’re playing for someone. Gautschi, who coaches the Manta club program, makes no bones about it: If you don’t play year-round, it’s going to be tough cracking the Bulldogs starting lineup.

Jonathan Singleton had just busted off a 75-yard run before being tackled from behind and fumbling the ball in the process. What looked to be a sure-fire touchdown instead resulted in a turnover, and several of the Live Oak players could only bend over at the waist with looks of despair.

Last year was a season to forget for Gavilan College. Amid violations and an 0-10 record, stability is what the program needed. John Lango stepped in, back in charge of a team he led from 2000 to 2010. If Lango is going to bring back wins for the Rams, he'll need big seasons from two local players in particular.  

A lot of high school coaches for various sports will often preface a season by saying, “We’re young.” Never mind the fact that said team could very well possess plenty of seniors who saw action the previous season. But when Sobrato High coach Tony Holmes describes his team as young, he’s simply stating it as a matter of fact.

Live Oak High coach Mike Gemo said he’ll start around five sophomores this season, speaking to the makeup of this year’s team.

The Gilroy Rodeo is back, and judging by the attendance on the first day, there may be more rodeos to come. The nearly 6,000-seat arena on Dunlap Road was almost full, no rider suffered any serious injuries, and other than a few minor bumps in the road, the day went off without a hitch.