Scholar & Athlete

Ceja, Serrato named Tracy High athletes of the year

Friday, May 25, 2012 By Victor Escoto

By Victor Escoto Staff Reporter Mariah Serrato is familiar with winning Tracy High’ prestigious Athlete of the Year award since she is the third one to win it in her family. Her cousins Willie Serrato (Class of 1987) and Billy Strimiska (Class of 2007) were also three-sport athletes who were honored. “It was an accomplishment for me to win this award. Two of my cousins who won the same award,” Serrato said. She said it was a pure shock to her that she was received the award. She was surprised when she heard her name called at the award ceremony in the Emma Baumgardner Theater. Serrato is a three-sport athlete, playing water polo, basketball and soccer all four years at Tracy High. On May 14 Serrato was the basketball team’s second-leading scorer her senior year with 6.2 points per game. The male athlete of the year, also known as the Jake Longmire Award, is Pablo Ceja. He was the captain of the football and track teams this year. The awards are based on a student athlete’s citizenship, general attitude and athletic ability. The awards are voted on by all of the head varsity coaches. The awards are also referred to as the “Blanket Awards,” a term that refers to all a student’s accomplishments during their Tracy High career, including sports, academics, and volunteer work. The prize isn’t a trophy or a plaque, but a large green blanket with their name and sports stitched in gold. Ceja was an all-league pick for football. He is the only Tracy High player participating in the 39th Annual Central California Lions All-Star Football game on June 19. “I was just proud to be able to win this award,” Ceja said. “I had no clue. I was surprised, and it was even greater feeling because all of my family had was at the award ceremony.” He is hoping to play football at San Joaquin Delta Community College or Los Positas this fall. Ceja’s toughness was part of the reason chosen as captain. “The reason why I continue to push and press through is because I want to prove to my coaches that I am able to do it. I love helping the other players and knowing that I am protecting my quarterback,” Ceja said. His favorite memory of this year was the football game against Bear Creek, a back-and-forth game that ended up being the highest scoring game in Tracy High history. The Bulldogs won a thriller in the final minute, 62-61. “He was on the varsity team for two years and making him team captain this year was an easy decision for the coaching staff,” head football coach Matt Shrout said. “He was a veteran on and off the field and knew what was expected of him he was there day in and day. Ceja said he will display his award at home. “I’m going to put the blanket up on my wall with all of my other awards, so I’m able to sit back and reflect on all the hard work and how it was paid off,” Ceja said. Serrato also plans to hang up her blanket. She said what drives her to perform at the level she does is that she loves to win. Basketball coach Derek Solano said Serrato was an “excellent” player. “She started both years and was the captain of the team this year,” Solano said. “I was able to put her in that position because she was very mature, and she was able to follow through with everything. "People looked to her as an example. Also, she hates losing. When she loses, she loses with humility but she always pushed her players to do their best, which I like the most," Solano added. Serrato’s highlight of her senior year came on the soccer field, though. Tracy High finished the season in the playoffs, losing to Turlock on May 15, in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 tournament. Turlock won 4-3 on penalty kicks. “My favorite memory this year was making the playoffs in soccer,” Serrato said. “It was a great way to end the year, but losing in penalty kicks hurt. I would’ve loved to go further than we did.”