LATEST RANKINGS!

This is  my most recent shot at ranking the StanCo teams and individuals. Obviously this set of rankings attempts to take into account the performances from last week's league championship meets. As I have stated many times before, making this list of rankings should not be the end all goal for any athlete or team. There is no substitute for hard work. Run all the way through the finish line. Reach for your personal goals!...just in case anyone was wondering just how I am qualified to compile such a list...well the Bee won't do it. Why is there a Volleyball ranking and not a XC ranking??? Also I have seen every StanCo team compete this season (except Turlock Christian and perhaps Big Valley) and most of the teams and runners I have watched multiple times this season I scan and compile the results from every meet.  Here goes:

Ladies First...

1. Kim Ruvalcaba (Riverbank) swept through the TVL this season and is certainly the best shot for a StanCo athlete to qualify for State.

2. Arielle Names (Downey) defended her MMC title but tougher meets are on the horizon
3. Savannah Mendoza (Modesto) the end of the season is where her wealth of experience allows her to shine.

Mitchell, Langley, and Fife

4. Emily Fife (Hughson) this super Frosh may be the future of the TVL
5. Abigayle Mitchell (Hughson) just a step behind Fife but on the up coming tougher courses she may really shine.
6. Esmeralda Aguayo (Downey) I think this spot is low for her, but she ran a sub-par MMC Championship meet. I wholly expect a better sub sects and her toughness to come through

7. Clarissa Morales (Enochs) She is a talent but still an unknown commodity. She may find the tougher courses very challenging.
8. Stephanie Bernal (Riverbank) Her experience should pay off in the final meets

9. Makaelin Bickel (Downey) She had perhaps her best race of the season at MMC Championships.
10. Hope Salsig (Turlock) led the Bulldogs to the CCC title

Others to consider:  Haylee Osgood (Downey); Kinsley Langley (Hughson); Aryana Perillo and Hilda Perez (Modesto); Torey Maravilla (Gregori); Maria Varela (Turlock)

Photo credit Anwaar Bhatti

1. Downey--repeat MMC Champs but will have to do better to make waves at SJS

photo credit Greg Beliera

2. Hughson--TVL champ, gelling at the right time of the season
3. Turlock--CCC Champ, younger runners are improving as the season progresses
4. Modesto--The injury to #4 runner hurts a very thin but experienced team
5. Riverbank--runners #3-5 need to step up if the Bruins are going to challenge in the final meets

Now the Men...

1. Orlando Cardenas (Modesto) swept all 4 MMC meets this season

Jackson, Yanez, Paredez, Boice

2. Daniel Yanez (Hughson) swept all three TVL meets this season

Alania and Ruiz

3. Marc Alania (Modesto) His experience should serve him well in the final meets.
4.  Santiago Ruiz (Gregori) He is still searching for his best race of the season
5. Jeremy Hart (Gregori) I am looking for some real racing in the final 2 meets
6. Carson Boice (Hughson) He is finding more confidence as the season progresses
7. Andrew Andrerson (Beyer) Running smarter is producing faster results
8. Ruben Paredez (Riverbank) Has slumped a bit, but I expect his experience to pay off on the tougher courses
9. Tomas Virgen (Patterson) WAC Champion, but is still essentially untested this season
10. David Bosquez (Turlock) The final meets will determine just how much he has matured over the season.

Others to consider...Josue Perez, Jose Orendain (Modesto); Jaymie Jackson (Hughson); Eric Wise (Riverbank); Moises Benavides (Downey)

photo credit Anwaar Bhatti

1. Modesto--swept through the MMC season and has a wealth of talent
2. Gregori--2nd in the MMC. The final meets will determine the quality of their season

photo credit Greg Beliera

3. Riverbank--squeaked out a TVL title. Time to step up in the final meets and qualify for State.
4. Hughson--a step behind the Bruins, for now
5. Turlock/Downey--Downey definitely is smarting from the loss of two of their top seven runners. Turlock needs runners to step up and fill the void between Bosquez and the rest of the team.