Thirty years ago, on December 2, 1986, Manteca High’s Kevin Wentworth was named the Outstanding Offensive Player in the Valley Oak League for football and East Union High’s Dimitri Koger shared the conference’s Outstanding Defensive Player honor with Wentworth, it was announced by the coaches. Rod Van De Pol and Melvin Armstrong of MHS joined Wentworth on both offense and defense. The list of local players on the first team included Buffaloes John Gibson (tight end), Van De Pol and Ed Silva (offensive line), Ken Wade (running back), Mark Kokoris (defensive line), Jerry Camara (defensive end), Van De Pol (linebacker), Pete Moreno (defensive back) and Armstrong (punter and kicker). EU players on the first team were John Hardy (defensive tackle), Sean Persinger and Scott Heaton (linebackers) and John Fletcher (wide receiver).

In other sports stories

from the Bulletin files:

10 years ago: December 3, 2006 – The Sierra High boys’ basketball team outlasted a resilient Golden Valley High squad from Merced, 51-44 Tuesday at the SHS gym. Ryan Harris paced the Timberwolves’ scoring with 18 points, including five three-pointers. Junior Adonis Brown added 13 point s to the winning total in the T’wolves’ season opener.

The Manteca High girls’ basketball team continued its early-season dominance with a convincing 63-41 victory over Los Banos High last night. The Lady Buffs were led by the play of Sughey Cervantes, who erupted for 18 points, eight rebounds, nine steals, and four assists in less than three quarters of work. MHS received a stellar performance from Alex Gonzalez, as well.  Gonzalez added 17 points, five rebounds and five steals to the winning stats. Melanie Promes chipped in a double-double for Coach Andrea Hiatt’s girls with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

It was an ugly win, but East  Union High took it in Tuesday ‘s 38-33 non-league win over visiting Beyer High in girls’ basketball action at Dalben Center. The two teams combined for 52 turnovers in the game. Christin Gowan collected 10 points, seven rebounds, six steals and two blocks for the Lancers, who are now 5-1 on the young season.

Manteca High, who  recorded the school’s first-ever 13-win football season after Saturday’s 34-14 victory over Colfax High for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV title, garnered every major all-VOL  honor including Coach of the Year for Eric Reis. Diminutive senior quarterback Ruben Cedano was the league’s Most Valuable Player. Joining Cedano were teammates Andre Patterson and David Mills, who were named most outstanding offensive and defensive players, respectively. MHS two-way lineman Tyler McCready earned all-league recognition on both sides of the line. Wide receiver Mike Barber, center William Darnelle, tight end Adam Crawford, linebackers Nick Ortiz and Mike Alexander, cornerback Forrest Conner and placekicker Adrian Fuentes round out the Buffaloes’ first-team honorees. East Union High’s hard-running back J. D. Snead and 6-1, 281-pound defensive lineman C. J. Randle also made the first team.

Barber, Mills, Cedano and Patterson were joined by Adam Espinosa (Special Teams Player of the Year) in being honored at the Manteca High Football Awards ceremony this week.

Derek Sinclair (all-around defense), Garrett Yrigoyen and John Ivey (captain’s award), Jaime Hernandez (most inspirational) and Ruben Silva (all-around) were honored at the Sierra High Football Awards ceremonies this week.

Manteca High won its third Sac-Joaquin Section football title in six years Saturday night with a 34-14 win over Colfax High to grab the Division IV championship at Stagg Memorial Stadium in Stockton. Coach Eric Reis’s squad went 13-0 for the first time in the school’s 83-year existence. Senior running back Andre Patterson exploded for 264 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. Jared Acaya also scored on a one-yard dive play and Ruben Cedano passed to Adam Crawford for a 10-yard TD. Adrian Fuentes kicked four extra points.

20 years ago: December 1, 1996 – Led by a solid 14th place finish by Sierra High sophomore David Ulibarri, three local competitors at the CIF State Cross-country Championships fared well yesterday. East Union High’s Justin Willingham and Manteca High’s Josh Roddy—also just sophomores—came in 49th and 53rd respectively, in the Division III race. Ulibarri clocked in at 16:13 over the 3.1 mile layout at Fresno’s Woodward Park.

The East Union High boys got their first basketball win of the season Wednesday evening, a 65-63 decision from Escalon High in overtime. Playing the greatest for the Lancers was Bryan Snitselaar, who scored a career-high 29 points, including a three-pointer with less than five seconds to play to tie the game in regulation. Snitselaar had five three-pointers in the game. Dave Neuman added 10 points to the winning total.

The Manteca High girls took a commanding 59-39 basketball win over Elk Grove High last night. The Lady Buffs routed Elk Grove behind Audrey Jackson’s 28-point scoring outburst. Rachelle Sousa also scored in double figures with 12 points for MHS.

The East Union High girls edged Hughson High on a three-point buzzer-beater, despite the loss of injured starter Jessie Hardcastle. Cynthia Mathews and Jenny Bauer each scored 11 points for Coach Mark Liles’ team, now 3-1. Jaynee Moon had another fine game for the Lady Lancers, with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Award winners for the Manteca High fall sports included MVP’s Chris Barrious-soccer, Emily Wofford-volleyball, Lisa Uecker and Sarah Jacobs-tennis and football co-captains Trinidad Diaz and Calvin Ryans.

The Manteca High girls scored 12 goals in a soccer match that was virtually over at the end of the first half to beat Livingston High 12-0 yesterday. Jamie Plaisted scored five goals to lead the Lady Buffs, now 4-3, which also got scores from Amy Birmingham ( 2), Julie King, Leslie Valencia, Michelle Haynie, Jodie Plath and Katie Green.

Led by Monica Pires’ two second-half goals, the Sierra High soccer team held Modesto’s Johansen High without a single shot on goal in an impressive 4-0 win on Tuesday. Other Lady T’wolf scores were by Angela Allgaier and Darci Cullers.

Miranda Souza’s well-placed goal with 10 minutes left to play snapped a tie and boosted the East Union High girls to a 2-1 soccer win over host Concord High on Thursday. Meghan Harris scored the other EU goal.

The East Union High wrestling team opened the season with a bang on Tuesday, scoring a 39-27 home victory over Lodi High. Pins for Coach Dudley Kinlaw’s  matmen were by Brad Westmoreland (103), Kyle Westmoreland (145), Mike Adams (160), Josh York (171) and Charlie Draper (189).

The Manteca High wrestlers won every one of their matches—11 by pins—in demolishing St. Mary’s High of Stockton76-0 Thursday night in Winter Gym. Getting pins for Coach Anthony Romero’s Buffaloes were: Efren Ceballos (103), Tim Welsh (112), Adam Haynes (119), Chris Pritchard (125), Nick Haas (130), Jake Harris (140), Jon Martin (160), Ara Kimbrough (171), Trinidad Diaz (189), Daniel Machado (215) and David Coppa (hvywt).

Sierra High overwhelmed Turlock Christian High 52-18 in girls’ basketball action during the opening round of the Livingston Lions Club Tournament on Thursday. Coach Dan Cunial’s Lady T’wolves came away with 24 steals in the win. Erin Beck led the winners with 17 points and five rebounds and two assists.

Manteca High’s Nate Lowman sank two free throws with six seconds left to play to secure the Buffaloes’ 41-39 win over Downey High in the opening round of the Modesto City Tournament on Thursday afternoon. Lowman finished with 15 points to lead the MHS scoring.

30 years ago: December 3, 1986 – Lodi High turned on the afterburners in the final quarter and collected a 63-50 basketball triumph over the Manteca High girls. Joette Lucas tallied 16 points to lead the Lady Buffs, while teammate Kelly Iorio notched 10 points.

Lindsay Munoz, who molded a dynasty at Manteca High as the school’s volleyball coach for the past five years, has officially announced his retirement from the helm. MHS Athletic Director Walker Vick made the announcement and said that Scott Eckerle would take over the program. Munoz led the teams to three VOL titles and had an overall league record of 47-7.

Mark Rice’s debut as East Union High’s wrestling coach was satisfactory as his Lancers posted a thrilling 39-29 league win over Los Banos High in the season opener for both schools at Dalben Center Wednesday night. Lancer pins were by Adam Holbrook (145), Ricky Wells (98), Jeff Silva (154) and Robert Ovary (hvywt).

40 years ago: December 1, 1976 – The Manteca High basketball team returned from the hills Friday with its first victory of the 1976-77 season, a 60-50 decision over Bret Harte High of Angels Camp. Don Joseph led all scorers with 16. Senior forward Steve Cimoli had 10 points before fouling out.

Manteca High’s young wrestling team surprised everyone Saturday in Stockton as they captured the season-opening St. Mary‘s Wrestling Tournament. Leading the way for the Buffalo matmen was junior 105-pounder Paul Whitaker, who won the first-place award.

The VOL champions cross-country team was honored among the rest of the Manteca High squads Monday night during the annual fall sports potluck at the MRPS Hall. Alex Henderson, who bows out this year after coaching the cross-country men to an incredible 12 titles in 13 years, gave the most valuable trophy to his three top seniors, Gonzalo Aguilar, Steve Thomson and Steve Robertson. Pam Henderson, daughter of Coach Henderson, took the MVP award in girls’ tennis, while Renee Sutti grabbed the honor in volleyball.

Goals by Brad Steele and Jack Van Strijp weren’t enough as the Manteca High soccer team dropped a 3-2 decision to Turlock High on the MHS campus.

A poorly-played basketball season-opener for East Union High ended in disaster and a 59-49 loss to Downey High of Modesto at Dalben Center last night. For EU, Tim Tucker canned six baskets and added two of three from the free throw line for 14 points.

60 years ago: December 6, 1956 – Fullback Jim Mayfield and tackle Tony Cotta were honored to be picked by coaches of the Central Valley schools and by the referees to be on the Central Valley football team. Even though he played in only six games this season, the 6 foot, 170-pound Mayfield ran for 940 yards, an 8.6 average per carry. Cotta, a 6-foot, 200-pound senior, was the most alert man in recovering fumbles. He recovered seven, tops for his team.

90 years ago: December 2, 1926 – The Manteca High football team lost in the game with Ceres High for the championship of this section of the CIF played in Modesto Saturday afternoon. The score was 7 to 6. A half-hour before the game started, rain came down in torrents and the field had the appearance of a lake. Ceres blocked a Manteca punt in the first few minutes of the game and recovered the ball on the Manteca two- yard line. They ran the ball in for a touchdown and then converted. Late in the second quarter, Eddie Forsell, standing on the Ceres 25 yard line, passed to Louis Bianchi over the goal line for Manteca’s touchdown. The kick for the extra point hit the bar.