From repeat champs to chasing league titles, here are sports stories to watch for in 2024

Quinton Hamilton
·7 min read

The new year is here and 2024 will bring a number of new, interesting storylines to follow across Stanislaus District sports. Stories in basketball in the winter, baseball and softball in the spring and football in the fall all will be fun to talk about, report on and watch play out.

Here are some of the biggest storylines worth following from around the local sports world during the 2024 calendar year.

Can Modesto Christian basketball three-peat?

Later this winter, Modesto Christian will look to win another Division I section title. The Crusaders beat Sheldon in 2022 and last season blew out Jesuit for back-to-back championships. After Jamari Phillips and Manasse Itete’s transfers and the graduations of BJ Davis, Prince Oseya and a cast of others from last year’s team, the Crusaders have reloaded. Rashod Cotton, Jeremiah Bernard and Ross Widemon are a few of the players who have been in the program for the past few seasons and bring experience. The addition of talented transfers Gavin Sykes, Myles Jones and Marcus Washington create a unique blend of outside and inside presence as they begin Tri-City Athletic League play before what they hope will be a deep playoff push.

Modesto Christian’s Gavin Sykes drives to the hoop past Vanden’s Josh Neal (3) during the Holiday Hoop Classic championship game at Modesto Christian High School in Salida, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. Modesto Christian won 68-61.
Modesto Christian’s Gavin Sykes drives to the hoop past Vanden’s Josh Neal (3) during the Holiday Hoop Classic championship game at Modesto Christian High School in Salida, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. Modesto Christian won 68-61.

Will a TVL school compete for another section championship?

Last season, Riverbank competed for a girls basketball section championship in Division IV, but it almost was another Trans Valley League school in the title game. The Bruins beat Escalon in the section semifinals to advance to the game at Golden 1 Center. This season, the Cougars recently beat the Bruins in their first TVL matchup of the new season.

During the 2022-23 season, Hughson and Riverbank tied for the league title with an 11-1 record, but the Huskies fell in the Division IV quarterfinals to Marysville. With an 11-2 overall record and a 2-0 start in TVL play, the scrappy, quick Huskies look like a real contender for a deep playoff run.

Will it be a TVL school or will a representative from the CCAL, CCC, WAC or another Stanislaus District league make it to the pinnacle of Sac-Joaquin Section girls hoops this winter?

Who wins CCAL girls hoops title?

During the last three seasons, no Central California Athletic League girls basketball team has figured out Gregori. The Jaguars finished as league champions each year with a combined 27-2 over the stretch that included a COVID-shortened spring season with 10 overall games and nine league contests. This year’s team, looking for its fourth consecutive CCAL title overall and third during a full season, features four sophomores as its leading scorers: Alanah Lopez (14.4 ppg), Lilly Staggs (11.3), Veronica Whitten (7.7) and Audrey Pacheco (6.3).

Will Oakdale repeat as team wrestling champions?

For the past few seasons, the wrestling team championship in Division I has come down to Oakdale and Vacaville. Last season was no different as Oakdale entered the matchup at the 2023 section team championships hungry for a team title after losing to Vacaville in 2022. The Mustangs avenged their title loss, winning the Division I championship 40-25.

They also won the team title at the section’s masters tournament. Led by seven top-3 finishers, the Mustangs won their first team championship since 2011, scoring 273.5 points. They finished 57 points ahead of second-place Vacaville.

The Mustangs will look to win it again this year on Jan. 27 at the 2024 team duals. Oakdale is the No. 9 team in California and Vacaville is 10th in the state, according to The California Wrestler.

Oakdale’s Payne Perkins and Carter Vannest of Pitman wrestle in the 160-pound 3rd place match during the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters wrestling championships at Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Perkins won with a pin at 2:06.
Oakdale’s Payne Perkins and Carter Vannest of Pitman wrestle in the 160-pound 3rd place match during the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters wrestling championships at Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Perkins won with a pin at 2:06.

Will Central Catholic baseball/softball successfully defend championships?

Central Catholic’s baseball and softball teams are each looking to repeat this spring. The baseball team won section and NorCal titles in 2023 led by last year’s baseball Player of the Year Braxton Thomas’ powerful bat and exceptional pitching from its three-man staff of TP Wentworth, Adrian Garcia and Wesley Payne. While Thomas graduated and is playing at Cal Poly, Wentworth, a national recruit as a pitcher and outfielder committed to Clemson, Garcia a Fresno State signee and Payne a Menlo College signee are all back for their senior seasons.

The Raiders’ softball team made it to the section championship last year for the second straight season. It lost to Ponderosa by just one run, but a week later got its revenge in the NorCal championship, winning 7-0. The Raiders were led by two-time Bee Player of the Year Randi Roelling, a pitcher at Cal. They hope to repeat with returners Taryn Calderon, Emry Couch, Madison Harrison and Jazmarie Roberts. They will also welcome infielder and Cal signee Miranda Temple, who returns to the field after missing last season with a knee injury.

Teammates mob Central Catholic’s Jazzelyn Rios after she doubled in the winning run in the seventh inning during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III semifinal game with Oakdale at Central Catholic High School in Modesto, Calif., Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
Teammates mob Central Catholic’s Jazzelyn Rios after she doubled in the winning run in the seventh inning during the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III semifinal game with Oakdale at Central Catholic High School in Modesto, Calif., Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

How will Turlock track athletes make the most of their senior season?

Olivia Walker recently signed to run sprints at Cal State Fullerton and Max McFarlane decided to continue his pole vault career at Air Force. Before the pair go their separate ways for college, they will compete for Turlock High this spring. Both qualified for state with podium finishes at the Sac-Joaquin Section masters meet and will likely look to improve on their results at the state meet in their senior seasons.

Will the Nuts repeat as California League champs in 2024?

Led by some of the Seattle Mariners’ most promising prospects, The Modesto Nuts — the Washington team’s Single-A affiliate — won their first championship since 2017. That season, they swept the Lancaster JetHawks in the team’s first season as a Mariners affiliate. The 2017 title was Modesto’s first since 2004, when the team was the High-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s. This season, the Nuts are looking to repeat with what could possibly be a whole new crop of prospects. They kick off their season in April. Their first series is at the Stockton Ports before a six-game home series with Lake Elsinore on April 9-14.

Modesto Nuts’ Tai Peete, Colt Emerson, right, and Lazaro Montes (46) celebrate Emerson’s walk off hit to win the first game in the California League playoff series over San Jose at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Modesto won the game 6-5 in 10 innings.
Modesto Nuts’ Tai Peete, Colt Emerson, right, and Lazaro Montes (46) celebrate Emerson’s walk off hit to win the first game in the California League playoff series over San Jose at John Thurman Field in Modesto, Calif., Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Modesto won the game 6-5 in 10 innings.

Hughson seeks its third football blue banner

Led by rising seniors Robert McDaniel, Malakai Sumter, Max Mankins and rising sophomore Bryce McDaniel, Hughson will look to capture its third straight section championship starting in the fall. The Huskies have won back-to-back Division VI section titles and their core enters the new season with tons of experience. On their first run, which ended in 2022 section and state titles, they won each playoff game by fewer than five points. In 2023, they came back from a 31-13 deficit to win 40-39.

Escalon also chasing another football title

Escalon High’s football team has experienced the thrills of victory at the section level for the past four seasons. It went from Division VI to D-IV, winning three of their four titles by a touchdown or less. The Cougars will play without three-year starting quarterback Donovan Rozevink, who played his senior season this past fall. Like Hughson, Escalon will have a solid core of players who contributed to championship success — Sam Jimenez, Ryan Lewis, Carson Medina and Logan Huebner — as it works to defend its title.

Escalon’s Logan Huebner brings down Hughson’s Alexander Villarreal in the end zone during the Trans Valley League game at Hughson High School in Hughson, Calif., Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.
Escalon’s Logan Huebner brings down Hughson’s Alexander Villarreal in the end zone during the Trans Valley League game at Hughson High School in Hughson, Calif., Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

Central Catholic hopes to crack into D-I’s biggest game

In Central Catholic’s two postseasons playing in the section’s toughest division in football, it has had deep playoff runs. But will 2024 be the year the Raiders make it past the Division I semifinals to play for a blue banner? Returners Joey Alcutt, Carter Meeks and Wyatt Dragoo and head coach Roger Canepa will try next season to send the team to the deepest run in the program’s Division I era.

Ripon Christian volleyball looks to continue success with new core

The four-time section champion and back-to-back state champion Knights will have another chance at postseason success next season. They will do it without a 2024 graduating class that brought a unique combination of work ethic, fun-loving spirit and drive to win that kept things fun through three deep post-pandemic playoff runs. Head coach Kayla Kootstra will lead a new group of players through the 2024 season and she’s up for the challenge.

▪ What do you want to see covered in 2024? E-mail tips to qhamilton@modbee.com

Modesto Christian’s Rashod Cotton attempts a jump shot during the game with Berkeley at Modesto Christian High School in Salida, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
Modesto Christian’s Rashod Cotton attempts a jump shot during the game with Berkeley at Modesto Christian High School in Salida, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.
Central Catholic’s TP Wentworth is greeted by teammates at home plate after hitting a two-run homer during the Division III Sac-Joaquin Section playoff game with Christian Brothers at Central Catholic High School in Modesto, Calif., Wednesday, May 17, 2023. The Raiders won the game 8-1.
Central Catholic’s TP Wentworth is greeted by teammates at home plate after hitting a two-run homer during the Division III Sac-Joaquin Section playoff game with Christian Brothers at Central Catholic High School in Modesto, Calif., Wednesday, May 17, 2023. The Raiders won the game 8-1.