High School Sports

'We're ready to roll'

The argument for who the best high school sports team in Visalia is no longer up for debate. On April 1, the Central Section board of managers voted 53-0 in favor of the latest league alignment proposal, finalizing the formation of the Central Yosemite Conference — a 12-member league that now includes Central Valley Christian […]

Published

1 month ago

April 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The argument for who the best high school sports team in Visalia is no longer up for debate.

On April 1, the Central Section board of managers voted 53-0 in favor of the latest league alignment proposal, finalizing the formation of the Central Yosemite Conference — a 12-member league that now includes Central Valley Christian with the four Visalia public high schools (El Diamante, Golden West, Mt. Whitney, Redwood), three Tulare schools (Mission Oak, Tulare Western and Tulare Union), Hanford, Lemoore, Monache and Porterville.

The Cavaliers will now play their Visalia counterparts as league rivals.

“This is really exciting,” CVC athletic director Caleb Flores said. “I think it’s ultimately just a testament to our overall school community to be at this point where we feel comfortable hopping in this conference with these bigger schools that are known for their athletics and have great athletic programs.”

Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Take the Cavaliers’ football program, for example.

Since 2017, CVC has won three section titles (2018 Division IV, 2021 Division III, 2023 Division II) and finished as the runner-up in four other section championship games (2017 Division IV, 2019 Division III, 2022 Division II, 2024 Division II). Section championship games were not played during the abbreviated COVID-19-impacted 2020-21 season.

In 2023, the Cavaliers became the first Visalia football team to win a state championship, capturing the CIF State Division 2-A title. They have played in seven straight section championship games.

Central Valley Christian's Jared Griffith, right, and teammates celebrate their Central Section Division II high school football semifinal win over Golden West on Friday, November 22, 2024.

It’s just not the football team that has sustained outstanding year-to-year success.

The volleyball program is coming off a historic season, too.

Last fall, CVC became the first volleyball team in Tulare County history to win a state championship when the Cavaliers claimed the 2024 CIF State Division III title.

“We feel very confident that the majority of our sports will go out and compete,” Flores said. “We’re ready to roll. We’re very excited. I think it’s a very good thing for the city of Visalia. It’s a really cool thing for the Tulare County community as a whole.”

The East Sequoia League is expanding to a 12-school conference with the additions of Parlier and Riverdale. Current ESL members include Corcoran, Farmersville, Granite Hills, Lindsay, Orange Cove, Orosi, Strathmore, Summit Charter, Wonderful College Prep-Delano and Woodlake.

The section’s new league realignment will be implemented on July 1, 2026,

and run through the 2030 school year.

Here is a look at the section’s new league alignment for 2026-2030:

Central Coast Athletic Association

Arroyo Grande
Atascadero
Cabrillo
Lompoc
Mission Prep
Morro Bay
Nipomo
Orcutt Academy
Paso Robles
Pioneer Valley
Righetti
San Luis Obispo
Santa Maria
Santa Ynez
St. Joseph
Templeton

Hi-Lo League

Baker
Big Pine
Immanuel Christian
Lee Vining
Lone Pine
Mojave
Owens Valley
Trona

High Desert League

Bishop Union
Boron
California City
Desert
Frazier Mountain
Mammoth
Rosamond

South Yosemite Conference

River League

Bakersfield
Centennial
Frontier
Garces
Liberty
Stockdale

Valley League

Bakersfield Christian
Highland
Independence
Ridgeview
Tehachapi

Mountain League

East
Foothill
Golden Valley
North
South

Horizon League

Arvin
Del Oro
Kern Valley
McFarland
Mira Monte
West

South Sequoia League

Cesar Chavez
Delano
Kennedy
Shafter
Taft
Wasco

Central Yosemite Conference

CVC
El Diamante
Golden West
Hanford
Lemoore
Mission Oak
Monache
Mt. Whitney
Porterville
Redwood
Tulare Union
Tulare Western

Tri-County Conference

Caruthers
Dinuba
Exeter
Fowler
Hanford West
Immanuel
Kerman
Kingsburg
Reedley
Selma
Sierra Pacific
Washington Union

East Sequoia League

Corcoran
Farmersville
Granite Hills
Lindsay
Orange Cove
Orosi
Parlier
Riverdale
Strathmore
Summit Charter
Wonderful College Prep-Delano
Woodlake

East Sierra League

Alpaugh
Kings Christian
Laton
Legacy Christian
Riverdale Christian
Wonderful College Prep-Lost Hills

North Yosemite Athletic Conference

Buchanan
Bullard
Central
Central East
Clovis
Clovis East
Clovis North
Clovis South
Clovis West
Edison
Fresno
Hoover
Justin Garza
Madera
Madera South
Matilda Torres
McLane
Roosevelt
San Joaquin Memorial
Sanger
Sanger West
Sunnyside

Northwest Athletic Conference

Avenal
Chowchilla
Coalinga
Dos Palos
Firebaugh
Fresno Christian
Liberty-Madera Ranchos
Mendota
Minarets
Sierra
Tranquility
Yosemite

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High School Sports

Congratulations to Belgrade High School's Andrew Hazen

Published

3 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Congratulations to Belgrade High School's Andrew Hazen

High School Sports

Van

Posted Monday, May 19, 2025 2:49 pm Photos by Don Munsch, Editor Van-Far High School graduated more than 40 students at its commencement on Sunday at the high school gym. 0

Published

5 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Posted

Monday,
May 19, 2025
2:49 pm

Photos by Don Munsch, Editor

Van-Far High School graduated more than 40 students at its commencement on Sunday at the high school gym.

High School Sports

Mexico High School Graduation Ceremony Highlights

Posted Monday, May 19, 2025 1:59 pm Photos by Don Munsch, Editor Mexico High School seniors celebrated their graduation May 16 at the football field. Two hundred and five students graduated. 1

Published

6 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Mexico High School Graduation Ceremony Highlights

Posted

Monday,
May 19, 2025
1:59 pm

Photos by Don Munsch, Editor

Mexico High School seniors celebrated their graduation May 16 at the football field. Two hundred and five students graduated.

High School Sports

Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame unveils 2025 inductees

BILLINGS — The Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame proudly announced its 2025 honorees, celebrating individuals and organizations that exemplify the highest standards of rodeo excellence and the rich western heritage of the state. The annual induction ceremony is a highlight of the rodeo season, scheduled for the first Saturday in October. This […]

Published

7 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame unveils 2025 inductees

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Jonnie Jonckowski from Billings, who has made significant contributions to the rodeo community throughout her life.

Billie Harms of Miles City has been recognized as the “Lady of the West,” an honor celebrating her influential role in promoting and preserving the rodeo tradition.

This year, the Hall welcomes several Legends: Randy Corely from North Platte, Neb., along with Montana’s own Jack Nystrom (Box Elder), Kevin Nordahl (Helena), Cliff Glade (Reed Point), Mike Lenning (Joliet), Wally Badgett (Miles City) and Bill Dygert (Red Lodge). These individuals have left an indelible mark on the fabric of Montana rodeo.

Additionally, Ty Thompson of Billings will receive the Great Montana Auctioneer title, while Jerry Billquist, now residing in Boerne, Texas, is honored as the Great Montana Veterinarian. The Great Montana Western Magazine award goes to Raised in the West Magazine, also based in Billings.

Aaron Flint, another Billings local, will receive the MPRHWF Western Media Award for contributions to the promotion of Montana rodeo. The Montana Cattle Women of Townsend will be acknowledged with the Great Montana Western Organization award. Charles Peabody from Joliet is recognized as the Great Montana Brand Inspector.

One of the highlights of the evening will be the recognition of the Chase Hawks Memorial Rough Stock Rodeo in Billings as the Great Montana Pro Rodeo, alongside the Western Heritage Award recipients Mike Gurnett of Helena, and Jim and Anne Overstreet, and the Lyle, Johnny and Anna Mae Jordan family from Belgrade.

The Hall of Fame will also celebrate three exceptional Montana rodeo families: the Tyler Holzum family, the Fred and Dixie Berzel family and the Rusty Stuart family.

In terms of ranching, June and David Volseth (Martinsdale), Lee Ranch (Forsyth), Sitz Angus Ranch (Harrison), Steinbeisser Ranch (Sidney) and Tooke Ranch (Ekalaka) are recognized as Great Montana Ranches.

Moreover, the Hall will honor past champions in the “Recognition of Rodeo Achievement Award” category, including Wally Badgett and Butch Bratsky for their outstanding collegiate careers in rodeo.

The Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame, entirely composed of volunteers, is dedicated to honoring rodeo athletes while also funding a scholarship program for Montana high school rodeo athletes, the largest of its kind in the nation. Since its inception, the Hall has awarded $712,000 in scholarships to 256 students. The program awards $3,000 scholarships for the first two years of college education.

The primary fundraising event is the Hall’s Awards Banquet, with additional funds raised through the sale of Brand Blocks, which commemorate participants in the rodeo community.

This year’s ceremony promises to be a gathering of rodeo legends, families and supporters showcasing the spirit of Montana rodeo culture.

High School Sports

VOTE

The results are in.Trinity Christian senior Aaron Watson is the new Florida Times-Union Athlete of the Week for Northeast Florida high school sports for the 2024-25 season, covering the week of May 5-10 in the Jacksonville area. The pitcher recorded a perfect game with 10 strikeouts for Trinity Christian baseball to overcome Bozeman in Game 1 of […]

Published

9 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The pitcher recorded a perfect game with 10 strikeouts for Trinity Christian baseball to overcome Bozeman in Game 1 of the Region 1-2A championship series, on the road to the final four.

He placed first in a vote of top Northeast Florida performers that included Cloey Ballinger (Middleburg softball), Payten Cree (Episcopal girls lacrosse), Mason Hauseman (Ponte Vedra boys lacrosse), Jaylen Lewis (Mandarin boys track) and Mikayla Shavers (Fleming Island girls track).

This week’s Athlete of the Week vote

Trinithy Christian's Aaron Watson (5) warms up during the first inning of a high school baseball matchup Thursday, March 20, 2025 at Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla. Trinity Christian blanked Providence 10-0 in five innings.

It’s time to vote for Florida Times-Union’s next Athlete of the Week for the week of May 12-17, 2025.

The Times-Union gathers nominees from scores, stats and nominations e-mailed to the sports desk during the week by coaches across Northeast Florida. Coaches can e-mail these stats and scores to preps@jacksonville.com. Deadline to receive nominations is 7 p.m. Saturdays.

This week’s voting begins Monday morning and closes at 10 a.m. Thursday. Votes are restricted to once per device per hour. Vote at jacksonville.com/sports.

We reserve the right to disqualify a candidate or declare a vote “no contest” if tampering such as bots or offering to pay for voting is evident. Please respect the integrity of the vote the way these athletes respect the integrity of the game.

Here are the nominees for events from May 12-17.

Brayden Harris, St. Johns Country Day baseball

The junior pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings in the Class 1A state semifinal against Brito Miami Private and also reached base four times in the final four.

Mila Lackowski, University Christian softball

The seventh-grade outfielder batted .625 in the week’s Region 1-1A playoffs, including three doubles, two RBI and four runs scored.

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High School Sports

Morning Sports

Sheridan/Buffalo HS Soccer: Both the Sheridan boys and girls soccer teams won the 4A East Regional Tournament played at Gillette. The Broncs defeated the host team Thunder Basin on Friday in the semi-finals 2-1 and then toppled top seed Cheyenne Central on Saturday 3-1, to claim the #1 seed out of the East. The Lady […]

Published

13 hours ago

May 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Sheridan/Buffalo HS Soccer: Both the Sheridan boys and girls soccer teams won the 4A East Regional Tournament played at Gillette.

The Broncs defeated the host team Thunder Basin on Friday in the semi-finals 2-1 and then toppled top seed Cheyenne Central on Saturday 3-1, to claim the #1 seed out of the East.

The Lady Broncs had to survive a shootout vs. Campbell County in Friday’s semi-finals, and then endured a 4-3 slugfest vs. Laramie in the regional championship game to maintain their undefeated record.

The State Tournament starts this coming Thursday at Gillette.

The Sheridan girls will start things off at 9am vs. Kelly Walsh at Thunder Basin High School.

The Lady Broncs have only won the state championship once, and that was back in 1993.

The Sheridan boys will play Rock Springs in the first round at 11am at Campbell County High School.

The Broncs only state championship win was in 2011.

Meanwhile, 3A does not play a regional tournament.

Teams are seeded based on where they finish at the end of the regular season.

The Buffalo boys through tie-breakers have the #1 seed out of the East and will play at 11am Thursday vs. Powell.

The Buffalo girls have the East #4 seed and will also play Powell on Thursday at 2pm.

Click here to see state tournament matchups

Sheridan/Johnson County HS Track and Field: The Sheridan and Buffalo boys and girls teams, as well as the Big Horn boys, all brought home the team trophies at their respective regional meets.

The Tongue River girls were 2nd, the TR boys were 3rd and the BH girls were 4th.

Click here to see Regional Track and Field results.

The state meet starts on Thursday in Casper.

The Sheridan boys are aiming for a repeat and will try to win their 4th state championship in 5 years.

The Sheridan girls are also trying to repeat as champs and the Rams will try to make it 3 in a row.

Both Buffalo teams haven’t won since back in the 1980s.

Sheridan HS Softball: In their first year of existence, the Sheridan Lady Broncs have qualified for the state tournament.

On Friday the team defeated Natrona County 14-4, and then beat Kelly Walsh in the semi-finals 28-13, but fell in the regional championship game on Saturday vs. Campbell County 16-4.

Sheridan will play Cheyenne Central on Thursday at 2pm in the first round of the state tournament in Cheyenne.

Unlike other Wyoming High School Sports, the state softball tournament is a true double-elimination tournament, meaning you can lose once, and still play your way back to the championship game, which will be played on Saturday.

Click here to see state tournament matchups.

Sheridan Troopers Legion Baseball: The Sheridan Troopers went 3-0 in games played this weekend in Park County.

On Saturday, the team swept a double-header at Powell, and then won the first game of a scheduled double-header at Cody.

Game 2 was rained out.

The Troopers will next play Friday, Saturday and next week Monday at a round robin tournament at Gillette.

Colorado Rockies Baseball: The Colorado Rockies lost 2 out of 3 games at Arizona this past weekend.

The team lost on Friday 8-zip.

On Saturday, the Rocks won a slugfest 14-12.

Jordan Beck hit both a solo and a 2-run home run in that game.

Ezequiel Tovar had a solo shot, and Kyle Farmer hit a 2-run bomb for the cause.

Arizona won yesterday 1-nothing.

Colorado returns home today to start a 7-game homestand with 4 games vs. Philadelphia, followed by 4 games against the New York Yankees.

First pitch today is scheduled for 6:40pm.

Denver Nuggets Basketball/NBA Playoffs: The Denver Nuggets got ran over and saw their season end yesterday at Oklahoma City 125-93, in Game 7 of their best of 7 western conference semi-final series.

The Thunder will host Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals tomorrow vs. Minnesota.

The Eastern Conference Finals will start on Wednesday between Indiana and New York.

NHL Playoffs: The defending Stanley Cup champ Florida Panthers went into Toronto yesterday and beat the Maple Leafs 6-1 in the Game 7, of their Eastern Conference Semi-Final series, and would win the series 4-games-to-3.

The Eastern Conference Finals start tomorrow between Florida and Carolina, while the Western Conference Finals start on Wednesday, between Edmonton and Dallas.