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Lathrop’s Julio Garcia makes All-WAC first team offense, defense
All-WAC fall teams
Lathrop linebacker Julio Garcia gets ready to tackle Los Banos quarterback David Herrera. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/Bulletin file photo

Julio Garcia was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference first-team for both offense and defense after leading Lathrop High’s football team to its best season in program history.

Eight Spartans total garnered all-conference honors, three of them on the second team. The runner-up volleyball team has five all-conference selections.

The football team finished 6-1 in the WAC and 8-4 overall, making just its second appearance in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs and winning a postseason game for the first time.

The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Garcia played a big part in the Spartans’ success, doing it on both sides of scrimmage as fullback and linebacker.

In WAC seven WAC games, the senior ground out 506 rushing yards (5.7 per carry) and a team-high 10 touchdowns in Lathrop’s balanced Wing-T attack. Defensively, he finished second on the team both in tackles (44) and tackles for losses (12.0), adding an interception, two pass break-ups and a fumble recovery.

Senior left tackle Dominic Corral and junior defensive lineman Sean Teu are two-time, first-team honorees. Teu compiled 38 tackles, 17 for losses and 4.0 sacks in league.

Senior defensive end Nate Martinez (19 tackles, 7.0 for losses, 2.0 sacks) and senior defensive back Adrian Zuniga (36 tackles, interception, two pass breakups, fumble recovery) round out Lathrop’s first-team players.

Senior offensive linemen Alexis Salcedo and Alexis Domingcil Jr. made the All-WAC second team along with sophomore linebacker Pablo Peña.

Los Banos (7-0, 10-2) repeated as champion in its final season in the WAC. The Tigers are moving to the Division III Central California Conference. Dual threat quarterback David Herrera was voted MVP, Jeff Lindeman is Defensive Lineman of the Year and Abel Carrillo received Kicker/Punter of the Year honors. Dustin Caropreso earned Coach of the Year.

Johansen (4-3, 6-4) running back Tek Garcia captured the Offensive Player of the Year award. He finished with the third most rushing yards in the SJS. Defensive tackle Nehemiah Williams of Mountain House (4-3, 6-5) is Defensive Player of the Year, and Johansen’s Sonny Vasquez is Offensive Lineman of the Year.

 

All-WAC fall teams
Janessa Ward powers a spike over the net in Lathrop’s Western Athletic Conference home match against Beyer.
Girls volleyball

Outside hitter Elizabeth Andrade had a breakout junior season for Lathrop (12-2 WAC, 17-8 overall) and is one of three Spartans to earn a spot on the All-WAC first team. She paced the team with 132 kills (3.3 per set), 40 aces, 92 digs in WAC matches.

Joining her are senior outside hitter Janessa Ward (92 kills, 30 aces, 54 digs) and senior setter Julia Roaquin (231 assists, 39 digs, 13 aces).

Senior middle blocker ZaRyah Mageo and sophomore libero Justine Mabutas were selected to the second team, and junior middle Annabelle Obasuyi received honorable mention.

First-place Beyer (14-0, 21-3) swept the major awards, with all-around standout senior Fallon Freeman, getting VMP, Maya Gonzalez getting Outstanding Middle Blocker and Sarah Gonzalez earning Coach of the Year.