The boys finished in a three-way tie for first place with Stagg and Lincoln with a (12-2) record. The varsity girls finished (2-12) in league.
Although the boys won league, coach Greg Wright admits the team faced daunting challenges.
"I knew they had the potential at the start of the year, but they had to grow immensely," Wright said.
The boys still managed to be successful despite having only 15 players on the team - most varsity track teams have 30 to 40 players. Junior Jesse Smith, who ran the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, and junior Patrick Kitto, who pole vaulted, helped spur the team to victory with their consistent performances at every meet. Both are favored to go on to compete in state competition.
Although this year's team has not had as many big names as the past years, Wright said the team had a lot of players who worked hard and showed up to each meet ready to compete. The team had great stability from sophomore Keith Brown and seniors Kevin Peters and Jerome Grace who really matured from last season. Also the addition of senior Herb Joseph on the high jump and the return of senior Mario McArn doing both hurdles and the 400-meter race helped the team immensely, Wright said.
"It feels pretty good to win league and to go on to state competion," Smith said. "It shows if you work hard and come together as a family, anything is possible."
Wright said this team proved themselves this season because this year's senior class had a reputation for a lack of maturity, but they really came through with big wins over Stagg and Lincoln earlier in the season.
"It was hard," Kitto said. "We had a small team and we all knew that we had to band together if we were going to be successful."
Kitto also said that he trained all year to prepare for the season and he feels good now that things are finally starting to pay off.
Nine people from the varsity track team qualified to go to sub-section finals this year at Modesto Junior College, including the girls team. Out of the girls' squad, junior Michelle Hillskotter is favored to go on to the sectional meet for the discus.
"I feel I'm talented at what I do and I try to work hard and practice at it and now it is finally starting to pay off," Hillskotter said.
A handful of athletes will be going on to sections this week after qualifying, also held at Modesto Junior College.