El Capitan soccer star named Central California Conference MVP after stellar season
Ending her high school career at El Capitan with another Central California Conference championship and a deep run in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs made for a special senior season for Gauchos star Anaya Shelton.
Despite drawing the focus of every defense, Shelton still managed to score 29 goals in 14 matches.
The CCC coaches selected Shelton as the conference MVP.
“It’s a huge accomplishment,” Shelton said. “It makes me feel like I made an impact on the league and Merced County as a whole.”
El Capitan coach Jose Duran, who was named the CCC Coach of the Year, says Shelton is the type of player every coach would love to have on their team.
“Not only is she a brilliant soccer player she has her wonderful personality,” Duran said. “She’s always positive and encouraging with her teammates, even when the chips are down. A player like that who is skilled and tactical, and then on top of that is a team player is a win-win for the program.”
Shelton is headed to the University of the Pacific on a soccer scholarship. She says her last year at El Capitan was memorable.
“It was very special,” she said. “Of course you never want it to end, but I’m very proud of our girls, coaches and parents. Everyone came together for us this season and I’m super proud of our season.”
El Capitan teammate Kassidy Spiva was named the CCC Defensive Player of the Year. Buhach Colony’s Addison Sanchez was named the Goalie of the Year and Patterson’s Lisette Gregoris was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year.
The all-CCC first team was comprised of Brooklyn Bell (Atwater), Alexi Ochoa (Buhach Colony), Ally Singh (Central Valley), Abigail Hratchian (El Capitan), Stacy Olivares (El Capitan), Jaslissa Cortez (El Capitan), Yanell Ramirez (Golden Valley), Kayla Perez (Golden Valley), Vanessa Perez (Merced), Arionna Imholf (Patterson) and Jewels White (Patterson).
The second-team selections were Arianna Valencia (Atwater), Julianna Beltran (Buhach Colony), Maddie Mendonsa (Central Valley), Isabela Pangelina (El Capitan), Jadelyn Sanchez (El Capitan), Destiny Reyes (Golden Valley), Isabella Rodriguez (Golden Valley), Analiese Flores (Merced), Ariana Gonzalez (Merced), Kelly Alves (Patterson) and Sonya Gregoris (Patterson).
All-CCC Boys Soccer
Patterson senior Johan Mendoza was selected by the CCC coaches as the conference MVP. Mendoza scored 14 goals in 17 matches for the Tigers this season.
Tigers teammate Angel Espinoza was named the Goalie of the Year.
Merced junior Lorenzo Jorgenson was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year and Central Valley’s Fernando Cano was picked as the Offensive Player of the Year.
Ceres’ Luis Torres was named the Coach of the Year.
The all-CCC first-team selections were Gabriel Abellana (Patterson), Jonathan Gallardo (Patterson), Antonio Gallegos (Patterson), Edgar Joel-Vazquez (Merced), Jesus Jacobo (Atwater), Landon LaPlante (Buhach Colony), Jose Cazares (Central Valley), Carlos Ochoa Marin (Central Valley), Jordan Figueroa (El Capitan), Juan Silvar (El Capitan) and Malachi Wright (Golden Valley).
The second team was comprised of Matthew Aldana (Patterson), Luis Maravilla (Patterson), Fabrizio Alvarez (Merced), Luis Leon (Golden Valley), Manuel Zarco Zarate (Golden Valley), Daniel Valencia (Atwater), Ezekiel Zaragosa (Buhach Colony), Eberardo Huaracha Cahvez (Central Valley), Heriberto Paz Benitez (Central Valley), Alexis Hernandez (El Capitan) and Malachy Daughdrill (El Capitan).
