Joel Van Groningen’s availability for his senior season was in doubt because of an achy shoulder, but he played through it to help Ripon Christian successfully defend its Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV volleyball title.

The 6-foot-4 outside hitter managed to repeat all of his 2022 accolades, earning All-Southern Athletic League MVP, an All-Sac-Joaquin Section First Team selection and Manteca Bulletin All-Area MVP.

Lathrop hurdler Adonis Siga and Ripon golfer Chad Flory round out top athletes for All-Area spring sports, joining Dustin Hoekstra (Ripon Christian baseball), Kharime Caratachea (Ripon softball), Michael Chavez (Ripon boys swimming), Faith Fasani (Ripon Christian swimming), Taylor Snaer (East Union girls track), Yok Chai Ma (Manteca boys tennis) and Sahaj Gill (Ripon coed tennis).

Van Groningen had another outstanding season despite his ailment, finishing with 343 kills (4.3 per set) and an efficient.401 hitting percentage. He

also served 53 aces and had 25 blocks. The numbers are slightly down from last year in part because of the shoulder that limited him at the start of the 2023 campaign, but also because of the emergence of fellow senior outside hitter Josiah Reif.

The potent pair led the Knights’ commanding conquest of the SJS Division IV playoffs, with Van Groningen collecting 15 kills at a with a .458 hitting percentage in the championship sweep of Encina Prep.

Ripon Christian packed its non-league schedule against stiff competition, squaring off with well-established powerhouses such as Jesuit of Carmichael, the top-ranked team in the SJS. The Knights also faced Central Section Division I runner-up Clovis in the final round of the Granite Bay Tournament, as well as NorCal Division II champion Sanger.

Despite losing to all three teams, RC fared well enough against them while racking up enough quality wins to be placed in the same challenging Division II pool as Sanger for the NorCal playoffs. The Knights captured their first NorCal crown last year but in Division IV.

Seeded fifth, Ripon Christian traveled to Hayward to play No. 4 Moreau Catholic to start the NorCal tourney, dropping a 17-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 12-15 heartbreaker. Van Groningen went out with a bang, breaking his own single-match record with 34 kills.

The Knights finished 25-6, going 53-7 in Van Groningen’s two varsity seasons combined. Van Groningen will continue his career in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics level at Dordt University, where he’ll get to play with older brother Lukas.

 

Outside Hitter of the Year

Josiah Reif, Ripon Christian, Sr.: Bound for Cornerstone University in Michigan, the 6-3 outside hitter finished as the Knights kill leader for the season with 387 (4.3 per set) to go with a .341 hitting percentage and a team-high 30 blocks. Reif joined Van Groningen on the All-SJS First Team.

 

Middle Blocker of the Year

Camden Steckler, Manteca, Sr.: A University of Jamestown signee, Steckler led the Buffaloes to a third straight Valley Oak League championship. The two-time All-VOL MVP and two-time honorable mention selection to the All-SJS Team netted 308 kills (3.7 per set), 95 blocks, 236 digs and 43 aces.

 

Setter of the Year

Justin Hofman, Ripon Christian, Sr.: Also a Section champ in basketball as the starting point guard, Hofman facilitated the Knights’ attack. He amassed 628 assists (7.2 assists), 58 aces, 23 blocks and 65 kills. Hofman twice tallied 51 assists, against Manteca in the NorCal opener at Moreau.

 

Libero of the Year

Lucas Baluyut, Lathrop, Sr.: Baluyut racked up an area-high 626 digs, earning honorable mention on the All-SJS Team and a spot on the All-Western Athletic Conference first team.

 

Team: MB Hunter Adams, Ripon, Sr.; MB Owen Altadonna, Sierra, Jr.; OH David Caamano, Sierra, Sr.; OH Gabriel Fa’ali’i, Lathrop, Fr.; L Austin Kim, Sierra, Sr.; L Marquell Marshall, Ripon, Jr.; OH Julio Mateo, Manteca, Jr.; OH/DS Garrison Reis, Manteca, Jr.; S/OH Jerico Santillan, Lathrop, Sr.; OH/MB Mason Tameling, Ripon Christian, Fr.

 

TRACK & FIELD

Adonis Siga, Lathrop, Jr.

Siga made his first appearance in the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships, clocking the 13th fastest time of 38.56 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles preliminaries.

He qualified by placing third in the SJS Masters Finals at a personal-best 38.45 seconds and was also fifth in the 110 hurdles. Siga set a 110 PR (14.35) in the Masters Trials, which seeded him No. 2 for the finale.

In the SJS Division IV meet, he repeated as the 110 and 300 hurdles champion, was part of the first-place 4x100 relay and took fifth in the 100.

 

Team: Alijah Cota (throws), Manteca, Sr.; Devin Fitzpatrick (middle distance), Ripon, Jr.; Shomari McKnight (throws), Sierra, Sr.; Gavin Miller (pole vault), Lathrop, So.; Julian Moncada (sprints), Manteca, So.; Brett Shaw (hurdles), Ripon, So.

 

GOLF

Chad Flory, Ripon, Sr.

Flory won all seven Trans-Valley League tournaments, finishing 17-under overall on his way to the Most Outstanding Player award. The Indians rolled their third consecutive league title.

He had a rare off day in the SJS Division V Tournament, carding an 83 at Peach Tree Golf & Country Club in Marysville. It was good enough to advance him to the SJS Masters, where he bounced back with a 2-under 70 at The Reserve at Spanos Park — a two-stroke improvement at the same course where the TVL Championships was held.

Despite the strong effort, Flory fell one stroke shy of forcing a playoff for the final berth to the NorCal tournament.

 

Team: Connor Deprater, Manteca, Sr.; Wyatt Hayes, Ripon Christian, Jr.; Jeremie Little, Ripon, Jr.; Nolan Mix, East Union, Sr.; Brandon Pine, East Union, Sr.; Ethan Schenk, Ripon Christian, Jr.; Vince Uecker, Ripon, So.; Cade Van Groningen, Ripon Christian, Sr.; Zane Walmer, Sierra, Sr.