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Category: Sports

  • Ground breaking planned for San Juan High School stadium upgrades

    McArthur Field
    McArthur Field, San Juan High School. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    San Juan High School is gearing up for transformation with construction set to begin on a long-awaited stadium modernization project. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held on May 20 at 9 a.m. to officially kick off the effort.

    New side-by-side aerial images shared by the district in a May 6 district newsletter show the current condition of the stadium, with a dirt track surrounding a grass field, and an artist rendering of the upgraded facility, complete with a new track and field and painted football field.

    Modernization and demolition have already begun, according to the project’s timeline on the district’s website. Following the groundbreaking ceremony at the end of May, construction is expected to take a little over a year.

    The project will focus on facility upgrades to the current McArthur Field, including the new synthetic track and field, which offers enhanced training and competition conditions year-round; two new tennis courts; and a newly constructed ticket booth, concession area, and restroom building. The updated stadium is expected to become a central gathering space for school pride, community events, and expanded athletic programming, the district said in its monthly newsletter.

    The modernization project is being funded by the previous Measure P, which was passed by the community in 2016, according to the district.

    Related: Measure P passed. What will it mean for Citrus Heights schools? – Citrus Heights Sentinel

    San Juan Unified School District Director of Communication Raj Rai said planning for modernization began in 2022, and the construction project was recently approved at the February Board of Education meeting.

    The original track and field were constructed over 75 years ago, back in 1949. Press box with bleachers were added in 1950, and lights were added in 1984, Rai said.

    ADA improvements were the last major updates made to the stadium in 2008, Rai added, which included an ADA-compliant path of travel, parking stalls, bleacher seats, and a concession serving window.

    With the passage of another facilities bond measure in November 2024, the district also has other updates planned for the local high school, including upgrades to San Juan High School’s science classrooms to support 21st-century learning.

    Plans for the modernization and improvement of San Juan High’s stadium come on the heels of the major construction of a new stadium for Mesa Verde High School, which did not have a stadium since its inception in the 1970s. The new stadium was completed in the fall of 2023.

    The stadium’s groundbreaking will begin at 9 a.m. at McArthur Field. San Juan High School is located at 7551 Greenback Ln.

  • Mesa Verde boys’ volleyball team ends year with ‘heads held high’

    The Mesa Verde Boys' Volleyball team, headed by coach Jennifer Shoffner, practice in the high school's gym. // SB Williams
    The Mesa Verde Boys’ Volleyball team, headed by coach Jennifer Shoffner, practice in the high school’s gym. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Mesa Verde High School’s boys’ volleyball team made waves in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV this spring, earning recognition for a record-breaking season that’s putting the school on the athletic map.

    Traditionally not known for athletic programs due to its Division IV status, Mesa Verde is changing that narrative with a powerful showing in both boys’ volleyball and baseball this year, according to boys’ volleyball coach Jessica Shoffner.

    The boys’ volleyball team has an 8-2 regular season league record, ranking them in second place in the Sierra Delta League behind undefeated Vacaville Christian high school. Mesa Verde also secured a first-place trophy from the Stockton Classic tournament.

    The boys’ volleyball program was established nine years ago, and has been led by Shoffner for the last seven years.

    “We’re building something special here,” said Shoffner, who is among several alumni coaches, giving back to their school community, including Athletic Director and tennis coach Travis Miller Anthony O’Neal, who coaches Mesa Verde boys’ basketball, and Leonard Casillas, Mesa Verde’s varsity football head coach.

    The Mustangs volleyball players are no strangers to postseason play, having qualified for the playoffs in 2019, 2022, 2023, and now 2025, skipping only the pandemic years when playoffs were not held. In their playoff run this season, the Mesa Verde boys’ volleyball team defeated El Dorado high school in the first round three sets to one on April 30 but lost to Livingston high school 0-3 in the quarterfinals held on May 2.

    Despite the loss, Shoffner said the team is proud of the way they finished.

    “We’ve come a long way,” said Shoffner. “This is more than just a good season—it’s a statement about who we are and where Mesa Verde athletics is headed.”

    Shoffner added that the season has been historic with 10 wins in a row for the first time, and a first round playoff win for the first time.

    Team leadership is strong, Shoffner said, with senior captains Eddie Montepeque and Mathew Garcia anchoring the squad. Both have been varsity starters since their freshman year and are multi-sport athletes: Montepeque competes in football, soccer, and volleyball, while Garcia plays football, basketball, and volleyball.

    Junior captain Ben Lee leads not only on the court, but in the classroom with a 4.0 GPA, a distinction shared by nearly half of the team, Shoffner said.

    The boys’ volleyball team has an overall record of 19-9 in the Sac-Juaquin Section Division IV, according to Max Preps, putting them in second place in the division behind Encina high school in Sacramento and just ahead of Natomas High.

    “They’re ending the season with their heads held high, and are optimistic about next year,” Shoffner said.

    *This article has been updated with the correct first name of coach Shoffner

  • Citrus Heights Rotary, alumni, help revitalize softball field at San Juan High

    Lex VonBergen field, San Juan HIgh School
    The varsity girls softball field at San Juan High School has recently been revamped and renamed Lex VonBergen Field, in honor of the Class of 1974. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The San Juan High School girls’ softball team now has a newly revamped field to call their own, thanks to the help of the Citrus Heights Rotary Club and graduates from the Class of 1974.

    Citrus Heights Rotary Club member Albert Fox said in an interview that the club donated $10,000 to the San Juan Alumni Association, which then used the funding to revitalize an old boys’ baseball diamond at San Juan High School into a functional softball field for the girls’ varsity softball team.

    Initially, a request had been submitted to the Rotary Club for a smaller sum to help fund the project, but the club ultimately decided to take on the revitalization of the field as a “legacy project.”

    “A legacy project adds sustainable value to the community,” Fox said.

    With the help of volunteers and funding, the field was reseeded, new benches were added, two storage containers were donated, additional sod was laid in the infield, and bases were installed at the required intervals for softball. San Juan High School Principal David Levis also said the Rotary Club and the Class of ’74 installed a practice pitching run, and the San Juan Unified School District contributed new sprinklers.

    “The girls are really taking to it,” Levis said. Girls’ varsity softball head coach Sara Garcia added that the team painted the benches and the backboards bright red.

    Last fall, the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education approved renaming the girls’ softball field after 1974 San Juan High School graduate Lex VonBergen. The field now displays her name and photo on a red sign attached to the fence for spectators to see.

    The players also have new jerseys with the number 74 printed on the back and “Lex” in place of where last names would typically be.

    Currently, the outfield has a temporary fence, but the district has agreed to install permanent fencing as part of the upcoming football stadium revitalization project, Levis confirmed during a visit to the school last week.

    “All of the sports are funded through fundraising and ticket sales,” Levis said. The district also provides stipends for coaches and transportation for teams to travel to away games. Garcia noted that the majority of their games are away.

    The girls’ varsity softball team has a 16-game season and recently completed two games against Mesa Verde High School. The team has four more games scheduled in April, with the final game of the season set for Thursday, May 1, against Highlands High School.

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  • Citrus Bowl: Spartans and Mavericks battle rain, each other Friday night

    Citrus Bowl 2024
    The Spartans and Mavericks faced off Friday, Nov. 1, at the annual Citrus Bowl. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Despite bringing on a new head coach, the San Juan High School Spartans faced a tough loss in a rainy Citrus Bowl finale against Mesa Verde Friday night.

    Although the Spartans have had a history of losses against Mesa Verde, new head coach of the Spartans, Otis Washington, was optimistic prior to the kickoff of the Citrus Bowl, an annual intra-city rivalry game with Mesa Verde High School. Washington told The Sentinel before the game that he was feeling “excited” about the matchup and that he has been friends with Leonard Casillas, who is the varsity football head coach for the Mesa Verde Mavericks.

    Marquise London, San Juan High School Student Community Intervention Specialist and mom to one of the fullbacks on the Spartan football team, said the new head coach “was a good change and a long time coming.” Her son has played all four years on the San Juan football team in various positions.

    London said Washington has spent the year emphasizing students’ academic success and said she has seen grades increase and difficult behaviors decrease because of Washington’s influence on the players. Washington works as a College and Career Center Tech at San Juan High School, according to his Facebook page. London said he’s “very active” and more accessible to the players because he’s on campus. Washington took over for previous head coach David Castillo who coached the team from 2020 to 2023, according to MaxPreps.

    The Citrus Bowl, an annual game that takes place each year between the only two high schools in Citrus Heights, is traditionally scheduled in September early in the season. This year, the Nov. 1 game was the last game for the season, and most of it was played in steady rainfall.

    Before the heaviest rain began to fall, the Mavericks scored 42 unanswered points. As the rain intensified, Mesa Verde football players said the slick grass “definitely” affected game play while on the field for both teams, as they battled it out under the worsening elements. By halftime, many fans left the stands, seeking shelter.

    Mesa Verde has a history of winning the Citrus Bowl, and this year’s win takes the team to a 6-4 overall record for the season, which is an improvement to last season’s 4-7 record. The final score of the 2024 Citrus Bowl was 62-0, in favor of Mesa Verde, according to MaxPreps.

    Despite the losses this season, London said she “can’t wait” to see how much the young squad of players will grow under Washington’s new leadership. Washington feels the same, saying before the game that he’s excited to “build the foundation” of the young team.

    London said the team is made up of many players who would normally play at the Junior Varsity level, but because San Juan doesn’t have a Junior Varsity team, freshman and sophomores often play against the varsity teams of other high schools.

  • Nonprofit brings free flag football to Citrus Heights

    The Playmakers teamed up with the Optimists Club to host inclusive flag football. The game was held during half-time at Mesa Verde High School in California, Aug. 30 2024.
    The Playmakers teamed up with the Optimists Club to host inclusive flag football. The game was held during half-time at Mesa Verde High School in California, Aug. 30, 2024. // Greg Roeszler

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Playmakers is bringing NFL Flag Football to kids and families in Citrus Heights at no charge.

    The national nonprofit whose founder has roots in the Sacramento region, plans to offer flag football for kids from ages 6 to 14 in Citrus Heights beginning Saturday, Sept. 28.

    “The area of Citrus Heights is extremely underserved as it relates to opportunities for sports for kids and families,” founder and executive director of the Playmakers Mentoring Foundation Greg Roeszler said, adding that while there are paid opportunities through local organizations, there aren’t any free programs available.

    The program is putting on eight consecutive weeks of flag football games beginning Saturday, Sept. 28. Practices and games will be held each Saturday and are open to boys and girls, and to kids of all abilities, free of charge. Roeszler said the organization is also planning to offer a team specifically for children with different developmental levels and special needs who might need extra support.

    Practices and games will be held at Mesa Verde High School on the field of school’s new stadium that officially debuted in 2023. At a recent Mesa Verde Varsity Mavericks football game on Aug. 30, Playmakers participants had the opportunity to try out the new field briefly during halftime.

    “It’s important to play on a quality and safe field so they get the best experience possible, Roeszler said. Flag football practices will be held 40 minutes before games each Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. Food will also be available, and each Saturday event will last roughly four hours. Kids will also receive uniforms, Roeszler said.

    According to the nonprofit’s website, Roezler played football in college and coached varsity football at Encina High School in Sacramento. After Roezler, known as “Coach Roz,” discovered one of his athletes sleeping in his car, he dug deeper and found “the majority of his players faced daily struggles to survive.” The circumstances of his athletes motivated him to begin The Playmakers nonprofit in 2009 in hopes of fostering “leadership and character” through the use of sports and academics.

    The nonprofit has offered free sports activities throughout the Sacramento region and in multiple states, including Ohio, Iowa, Florida and Nevada, but this is the first free NFL flag football youth program the organization has offered.

    “Mesa [Verde] has totally embraced this and given us all their resources,” Roeszler said, adding that the San Juan Unified School District has also followed suit.

    Roeszler said he plans to also offer free NBA basketball programs in the winter and free MLB baseball programs in the spring to youth players as well, using the same model. Locations for future free sports programs have yet to be determined Roeszler said.

    Playmakers is still registering flag football players for the free sports program and is also seeking volunteers for help with coaching, refereeing and more. Anyone interested can find out more and register at theplaymakers.org. The free flag football program receives funding support from the Optimist Club of Citrus Heights, which is part of Optimist International.

    Mesa Verde High School is located at 7501 Carriage Drive.

  • Local baseball club to bring back classic uniforms for milestone celebration

    From left to right: Landon Juneau stands next to his father, Scott Juneau, each wearing original NBO Baseball Club jerseys from the early days of the organization.
    Landon Juneau, left, stands next to his father, Scott Juneau, each wearing original NBO Baseball Club jerseys. To celebrate 30 years, the club plans to bring the jerseys back, with the addition of a 30th year patch. // Todd Conroy

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A local baseball and softball club that calls Citrus Heights home will mark its third decade of playing ball next year.

    NBO Baseball Club offers wooden-bat baseball for middle school, high school and college players, and plays home games at Westwood Park in Citrus Heights. Club Director Todd Conroy said the organization is similar to travel ball, in that the baseball club accepts everyone, regardless of gender or city boundaries.

    “One thing that’s important about our club is that we have multiple age groups where they practice and play together in certain games,” Conroy said, adding that the club doesn’t conduct try-outs, but allows everyone who registers to play. In the past, the organization tried to build teams of players younger than middle-school aged, but Conroy said he prefers having a model focused on development, where college-age players help teach younger players.

    To celebrate the upcoming thirtieth year, Conroy said he plans to bring back original “retro” uniform colors of teal and black from the early days of the organization, with the addition of a thirtieth year patch. Current uniform colors include blue and red.

    The ball club regularly plays in four high school tournaments, according to Conroy, and accepts high school players from all over Sacramento and Placer counties, including high schoolers from home school and charter school programs. Teams will travel to play any teams that want to play, Conroy said, with tournaments in Roseville, Fairfield, Yuba City, and a tournament in Reno every July.

    The program operates out of Westwood Park from May to August and shares the field at times with football or soccer programs through Sunrise Recreation and Park District in different seasons of the year. Conroy said the organization is solely responsible for infield maintenance and have made improvements to the field over the years, including installing artificial turf in some areas, and replacing LED lights.

    Conroy said the organization is “community oriented” and often hosts movie nights on the baseball field in the summer. An annual golf tournament is also held, according to the organization’s website.

    “We have legacies. Guys that help coach for me now, whose sons play for me,” Conroy said, adding that several players have also gone on to play college ball, and many now coach high school or college baseball.

    NBO is currently beginning its fall season, according to its website, and also offers lessons during the spring, summer and fall. The club breaks for the month of August.

    More information can be found on the club’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/NboBaseballClub.

  • New travel ball team established to ‘pump some life’ back into Citrus Heights

    Citrus Heights Sentinels travel baseball team
    Citrus Heights Sentinels 9U travel baseball team with coaches Nico Cobleigh, Cory Techau, Eddie Cobleigh. // D. Gomez

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Citrus Heights Sentinels travel ball teams are embarking on a second year of competitive baseball.

    The new travel ball organization began its second year of competitive play on Aug. 1, according to co-founder Dan Gomez. The organization is also holding tryouts for this season, on Saturday, Aug. 10 at Madera Park.

    Gomez said he and Robert Olivas founded the organization together to “pump some life” back into Citrus Heights.

    “Other communities like Rocklin, Lincoln, Roseville, Elk Grove, offer travel ball opportunities,” said Gomez, adding that Citrus Heights loses players to those outlying areas.

    According to Gomez, unlike the Citrus Heights and Sunrise Little League programs, there aren’t league boundary requirements for Citrus Heights Sentinels travel baseball.

    According to Citrus Heights Little League’s website, any registered player that doesn’t live or go to school within the Little League boundaries will be ineligible for All Star Selections.

    Gomez said, without boundary restrictions, more student athletes are eligible to play travel ball locally.

    Travel ball is also more competitive, Gomez said, while the current little leagues offer a more relaxed, family-oriented atmosphere.

    “Parents want to win,” Gomez said, adding that travel ball has “taken over everything.” Travel ball does require a higher level of talent, Gomez said, to ensure competitive play.

    Gomez and Olivas see a lot of community benefits to establishing a travel ball organization in Citrus Heights, including increased income for the city from outside visitors.

    “Our hope is that when they’re down here, they go spend money at our local businesses, and go to our local eateries,” Gomez said.

    The Sentinels announced the new team rosters at the end of June on social media and indicated that they added a second team this year.

    Gomez described the team’s first year as “really good” and said the boys spent time getting acclimated to the schedule. Many little league programs hold games on Saturdays. To accommodate, Gomez said travel ball games are held on Sundays and use the same fields as Citrus Heights Little League.

    Currently, the Sentinels’ travel ball season spans from Aug. 1 to Nov. 15, and then another season will begin in January. The number of tryouts held per year was not immediately available, but Gomez said tryouts are planned for the spring.

    The nonprofit organization is always looking for volunteers. Gomez said needs include coaches, advisors, game-day volunteers, and supplies that help with softball field maintenance, including chalk.

    Anyone interested in becoming involved or participating in tryouts can visit the team’s Facebook page for more information.

  • Meet the Citrus Heights girl who’s tied for state touchdown record

    Meet the Citrus Heights girl who’s tied for state touchdown record

    Alyssa Lauriano stands during a Sept. 8, 2023, Citrus Bowl game. // M. Hazlip

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    High school senior Alyssa Lauriano of the Mesa Verde Mavericks scored two touchdowns in the “Citrus Bowl” on Friday, Sept. 8, an annual intra-city matchup against San Juan High School, tying her with a 2022 record held by Bella Rasmussen from Laguna Beach High School.

    Rasmussen was the first female football player in California to score two touchdowns in a single varsity football game, according to an Oct. 21, 2022 article by People Magazine.

    Seventeen-year-old Lauriano grew up in Citrus Heights and is a second-degree blackbelt according to her mother, Tina Lauriano. In an interview with the Sentinel, Lauriano said she has eight years of Taekwondo experience and added that she’s played volleyball “for years,” including during her freshman year in high school. Lauriano is the youngest of three siblings and said her sisters were also involved in sports.

    “We’ve always had all girls, and we never thought we’d be going to football games,” Lauriano’s mom said, adding that the family was “surprised” when she first wanted to play football. Lauriano said the whole family regularly attends every one of her games.

    This is Lauriano’s third year playing tackle football and only her first year with the Mesa Verde Mavericks. Previously, she played for San Juan High School during her sophomore and junior year. Mesa Verde High School Head Varsity Football Coach Leonard Casillas confirmed that Lauriano plays second string tight end and linebacker positions, and that she was moved to the running back position for the Sept. 8 game.

    Lauriano’s first touchdown in the Citrus Bowl’s opening quarter brought the Mavericks up 14 to 0 against San Juan, and her second score along with the extra point extended the Mavericks’ lead from 28 to 35 in the second quarter.

    Not only did Lauriano score two touchdowns in the game, Lauriano also sacked the Spartan’s quarterback, forcing a San Juan fumble, which Mesa Verde then recovered and ran back for another touchdown, according to live videos posted by the Lauriano family on social media.

    The Mavericks took home the “Citrus Bowl” title, winning 82 to 7. Lauriano called the win over San Juan “exciting” and added that the Mesa Verde coaching staff are “really nice and good coaches.”

    “She is a great young lady. She’s the toughest young lady I’ve coached,” Casillas said in an interview with The Sentinel.

  • News Briefs: Mavericks win Citrus Bowl, WWII veteran, indecent exposure

    Mesa Verde Mavericks celebrate Friday night after winning the 2023 Citrus Bowl. // M. Hazlip

    Latest local news briefs include the outcome of Friday night’s Citrus Bowl game, a 100th birthday celebration for a local World War 2 veteran, and a suspect wanted for allegedly exposing himself in front of Citrus Heights homes.

    Mavericks win Citrus Bowl, 82-7
    The Mesa Verde Mavericks took home another Citrus Bowl win on Friday night after beating the San Juan Spartans 82-7. A recording of the game can be viewed on Youtube.

    Authorities seek to identify man who exposed himself in front of homes
    CBS-Sacramento reported Friday that authorities are looking for a man who is accused of exposing himself in front of homes in the area of Old Auburn Road. A doorbell video of the suspect was released by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. (See CBS 13 report)

    WW2 veteran, POW celebrates 100th birthday in Citrus Heights
    A birthday party will be held on Sunday, Sept. 10, for 100-year-old Francis Bufkin, who served as a gunner on a B-17 Bomber prior to being shot down and held as a prisoner of war for 13 months, KCRA reported Friday. (See KCRA story)

  • Spartans, Mavericks to face off Friday in ‘Citrus Bowl’ rivalry

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The annual “Citrus Bowl” is slated to take place Friday evening, Sept. 8, at San Juan High School’s football stadium, with the Mesa Verde Mavericks (2-0) facing off against the San Juan Spartans (0-2).

    For decades, San Juan was the only high school in Citrus Heights. But with Mesa Verde opening in the 1970s and the advent of their first varsity football team in the 1978-79 season, an intra-city rivalry was born.

    The two teams face each other every year to compete for the Citrus Bowl trophy, which is awarded by the Citrus Heights Rotary Club, and the winner keeps it until the next time they meet.

    Mesa Verde Head Varsity Football Coach Leonard Casillas and San Juan High School Athletic Director Freddie Bryant are both anticipating Friday night’s annual face-off.

    “We’re excited to be playing the game one last time as the home team at San Juan,” Casillas said, adding that there have been “great memories” over the years utilizing San Juan’s field.

    Related: Mesa Verde High School looks forward to hosting first game in new stadium

    Mesa Verde’s new state-of-the-art stadium is slated to be ready for use in October according to San Juan Unified School District Director of Communications Raj Rai. Casillas confirmed that the first game on the new field will be the school’s homecoming game against Rio Linda High School.

    Bryant said he and the Spartans are “looking forward” to the upcoming matchup on Friday night, and that the young team is trying to improve their skills little by little each week.

    In 2022, the Citrus Bowl was postponed due to extreme heat and poor air quality exasperated by multiple California wildfires. Once the teams faced off, the Mavericks won 53-0 and dedicated their game to a former teammate who passed away over Memorial Day Weekend earlier in the year.

    San Juan High School Head Varsity Football Coach David Castillo could not be reached for comment.

    The game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, according to MaxPreps, and will be live-streamed by Youtuber Ken Benedict. Tickets for the Citrus Bowl can be purchased online at GoFan.com.