Sports

Coach Christine Del Real couldn’t have been more proud of the Hollister Vikings Mitey Mite Cheer team. About half of the 14-member group performed a routine at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Pop Warner National Cheer and Dance Championships on Dec. 3 in Florida.

After a rough start, things are trending upward for the San Benito High boys basketball team. Since losing their first two games of the season, the Haybalers have won three of their last four contests, including a thrilling 52-51 overtime win over Hillsdale of San Mateo on Tuesday.

Mitch Burley wouldn’t be surprised if his team had a different leading scorer from game to game this season. Burley, who is in his sixth year as the San Benito High girls basketball coach, said he has a roster filled with several solid players who complement each other well.

Michael Camacho, Miguel Puga, Matt Ramon and Michael Guzman are the top returners for a San Benito High wrestling team that has hopes of challenging state powerhouse Gilroy for the Monterey League Bay Gabilan Division championship.

The San Benito High girls soccer team is coming off arguably its best season in program history, winning its first-ever Central Coast Section playoff game (not counting a forfeit victory it received four years ago). The Haybalers were expected to return up to nine starters this season, a huge haul that would’ve made them the odds-on favorite to win the Monterey Bay League’s Gabilan Division and make a deep run in the postseason.

San Benito High seniors Brooke Shaffer and Sydney Starke will realize a dream when they perform in the second Varsity Spirit Spectacular at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. from Dec. 1 to 4.

A season that started with league and section title aspirations ended in heartbreak for San Benito High Friday night. Seemingly in control of its fate, the host Haybalers instead absorbed a crushing 35-28 loss to Milpitas in a Central Coast Section Open Division I playoff semifinal.

It’s been a couple of tough weeks for the San Benito High football team. Two weeks ago, the Haybalers lost a gut-wrenching 14-6 decision to rival Palma. Last week, they were good enough to beat Salinas in the opening round of the Central Coast Section Open Division I playoffs. However, they lacked execution and overall discipline, committing a season-high 17 penalties.

Kevin Kramer is in his 10th season as the coach of the Gavilan College women’s volleyball program, and his goal remains the same: To transfer athletes to four-year schools and help them continue their education, preferably on a scholarship. Winning is simply a byproduct of this process, and in some years the Rams have one of the upper-echelon teams in Northern California.

Angel Garcia waited. And waited. And waited. Sweat dripping down his face after a grueling run, the Anzar High senior stood near the score post for what seemed like an eternity waiting to see if he had qualified to the CIF State Cross Country Championships for the second straight year.