Sports

Ishmael Medina is the type of athlete who coaches love and embrace. And with good reason. The San Benito High senior works hard, takes to coaching well and is diligent in the classroom. Medina wrestles at 145 pounds, has a cumulative 3.86 GPA and is taking three Advanced Placement classes this semester.

Sergio Sanchez has been cut twice during his high school basketball career, but it hasn’t deterred him from having a breakout season. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior center used the past shortcomings to come back stronger than ever. The Haybalers have benefited from Sanchez’s improved play entering Friday’s league contest.

In the first several minutes of every match, Manny Ceja measures up his defender in a couple of different ways. A student of the game, the San Benito High junior forward has become a potent goal-scorer by being aware of his surroundings and sizing up opponents.

Before the start of her junior year, Jessica Curto’s family moved from the Sacramento area to Hollister. While it’s never easy for a teenager to switch high schools, Curto said the transition was made easier by her San Benito High teammates.

Down to stoppage time, the San Benito High girls soccer team looked as if it would have to be relegated to a draw with visiting Sobrato in their non-league contest on Dec. 21. It would’ve been a tough pill to swallow given the fact that the Haybalers had controlled the run of play, dominating the possession for long stretches.

Starting at the age of 5, Davonte Butler had a schedule: Go to Morgan Hill to hit in the batting cages or play in a game before showing up at San Benito High to watch his older brother, Anthony, dazzle for the basketball team.

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.