‘The best player I’ve ever coached.’ Golden Valley star named Baseball Player of the Year.

It’s going to be strange next year when Golden Valley High baseball coach Greg Euker won’t be able to write the name Koen Heupel atop the Cougars’ lineup card.

For four years, Heupel has been a staple in the GV lineup, setting the table, stealing bases, an anchor on defense at shortstop and an asset on the mound.

“I’ve already had to write a couple lineups this summer and almost left the leadoff spot blank because I don’t have a Koen to replace him,” Euker said.

One year after being named the Central California Conference MVP as a junior, Heupel was selected by the CCC coaches this year as the Offensive Player of the Year.

Heupel is also The Merced Sun-Star Baseball Player of the Year.

Heupel says he enjoyed his senior year.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “A lot more relaxed and enjoyable. It made it easier to take everything thrown our way.”

Heupel led the Cougars with his .524 batting average to go along with team highs in 32 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. Heupel also posted a 4-2 record on the mound with a 2.40 ERA. He struck out 47 hitters in 35 innings pitched.

During his four-year career, he posted a .457 batting average with 82 runs scored and 93 stolen bases in 93 games played.

Heupel was at the top of every opposing team’s scouting report. The emphasis was to keep Heuple off the bases because opposing coaches knew he would steal second and maybe third base, too.

“As soon as I get on base I’m looking to take off,” said Heupel. who will play at Merced College next year. “I’m looking for anything I can pick up on from the pitcher, any tendency. I’m trying to get any advantage on the pitcher and catcher I can.”

Heupel says he really worked hard to improve on defense. He wants to be a well-rounded player.

“I take a lot of pride in it. It’s what I work the hardest at, which makes all the awards and accomplishments that have come my way so rewarding for me,” Heupel said. “I think I really worked to improve my defense. I felt I got better and was more consistent in that area.”

Heupel is the type of player who eats and breathes baseball, even showing up at practice every day.

So it was no surprise when Heupel was asked what he’ll miss the most about playing baseball at Golden Valley.

“I’ve been coaching at the high school level for 14 years and he’s the best player I’ve ever coached,” Euker said. “He works at it every day. If he had a bad day hitting — which didn’t happen often — he would spend extra time in the cage the next day. It’s the most fun I’ve had was coaching him and the easiest job I’ve had.”

Tennis

Brandon Liwang, Merced and James Tetangco, Merced

The Merced High boys tennis team won its fourth consecutive Central California Conference championship this season with a perfect 12-0 record.

Junior Brandon LiWang and sophomore James Tetangco split time atop the Bears tennis ladder as the No. 1 player.

Tetangco was named the CCC Most Valuable Player after going 12-0 during the regular season and LiWang went 10-0 and won the CCC Singles championship.

Tetangco and LiWang are The Merced Sun-Star Boys Co-Tennis Players of the Year.

“Winning the CCC championship meant a lot to me,” LiWang said. “Ever since I was a freshman, winning the CCC championship was one of my biggest goals. It’s one of the biggest things you can do in Merced. I wanted to go for it.”

LiWang worked his way through a knee injury at the beginning of the season, which forced him to miss two matches.

When he returned, LiWang was Merced’s No. 3 player. He worked his way to the top of the ladder by winning challenge matches at practice. He went 2-0 as the No. 3 player, 3-0 as the No. 2 player and 5-0 as the No. 1 player for Merced.

“I think the biggest difference at the end of the year was the mental part,” LiWang said. “Those first challenge matches I was really nervous.”

LiWang said practicing every day against Tetangco also helped him improve.

“We were constantly challenging each other in matches from the beginning of the season through the CCC tournament,” LiWang said. “When my knee healed I was able to put more hours of practice in and I got better.”

As the son of Bears tennis coach Keith Tetangco, James Tetangco started playing tennis at an early age.

He was swinging at tennis racket by the age of 2 and started playing consistently when he was 6 years old.

He said helping lead the Bears to another league championship was special.

“We’ve had a lot of really good guys come through our tennis program,” James Tetangco said. “To continue winning and keeping that winning culture going means a lot.”

Tetangco went 7-0 at the No. 1 singles spot, collecting the most wins at No. 1 in the CCC, which led to the MVP award. He also went 5-0 at No. 2 and didn’t drop a set during the regular season.

Tetangco’s only CCC loss came to LiWang in the CCC finals.

“I was pretty happy with my season,” Tetangco said. “I felt I could have done better in the CCC tournament championship match. Brandon played really well. I wish I had played a little better.”

With both Tetangco and LiWang returning next year, the Bears are the favorites to win a fifth consecutive CCC championship.

Tetengco is looking forward to the competition each day in practice.

“It helps having guys like that to play against,” Tetangco said. “We can improve together because we push each other in matches.”

Track & Field

Benito Lara, Golden Valley

Golden Valley High junior Benito Lara really set the bar high for his senior year.

All Lara did as a junior was qualify the CIF State meet in the discus, break a 26-year-old school record and finish eighth in the state.

Lara is The Merced Sun-Star Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

Safe to say, Lara’s expectations are high for next year.

“It makes me want to make it back to state and maybe win it next year or place in the top three,” Lara said. “I know if I put in the work I can do it.”

Lara really kicked it into gear in the second half of the year as he fine-tuned his technique and form.

He started unleashing longer throws in practice and his confidence soared as he moved on from meet to meet in the postseason.

His attention wasn’t only fixated on advancing to the state meet, but also on breaking the school discus record of 170 feet and 7 inches, set by Josh Murdock in 1998.

Lara came close at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Finals, launching a throw of 170-6 to finish second in the discus. He was just one inch shy of tying the record.

Lara became the only athlete from Merced County to qualify for the state meet. The coaches and school made him know just how special the accomplishment was when he received a police escort from school to the highway for his trip to the state meet.

Lara broke the record at the state meet with a throw of 171-10 during trials. He bested his own record with a throw of 176-3 on the second day, which earned him a spot on the podium with an eighth-place finish.

“It felt really good to break it,” Lara said. “I had worked so hard in the weight room from months on end. To be able to break it in front of my family and friends was special.”

Lara proved he can compete with the top throwers in the state and he’s happy with his season.

“I felt like I belonged,” Lara said. “I made it to the state meet and placed on the podium. I’m one of the best throwers in California. I’m proud that I can say that.”

Swimming

Ethan Sotelo, Atwater

Atwater High sophomore Ethan Sotelo came on strong at the end of the season.

Finally injury free, Sotelo won the 100-yard freestyle championship at the Central California Conference championship with a time of 49.46 seconds. The Falcons sophomore also finished second in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.69 seconds.

Sotelo then came away with two top five finishes in frosh-soph 50 and 100 freestyle events at the Sac-Joaquin Section Championships.

Sotelo is The Merced Sun-Star Boys Swimmer of the Year.

“I was happy with my season,” Sotelo said. “I really feel I reached my potential this season, especially coming off an injury. I came back and did well.”

Sotelo’s season started slow with him having to rehab from a hernia and a shoulder injury. The injuries didn’t allow him to swim and train heading into the season.

He says the injuries put him a couple months behind where he’d normally be early in the season.

“I probably wasn’t 100% until the last week before the league meet,” Sotelo said. “I started feeling better and could go all out.”

Sotelo established himself as one of the top swimmers in the league with his performance at the CCC championships.

He then proved himself against the top young swimmers in the section with a second-place finish in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.40 seconds and a fifth-place finish in the 100 freestyle with a time of 49.46 seconds.

“Swimming at sections was surreal,” Sotelo said. “I didn’t think I’d finish in the top 10 because there are so many good athletes in the section. To finish in top 10 in both events.”

Sotelo has been swimming since he was young. He started swimming recreational in Atwater and then competitively with the Merced Skimmers.

He loves the competition of the sport and the feeling of accomplishment as he continues to improve.

His success this season just raises the bar for Sotelo next year as a junior.

“I enjoy being able to get better every day and when I drop times it’s rewarding,” he said. “Going forward I’d like to get first in the section, win both my events at league and continue dropping my times.”

Golf

Braden Castleton, Golden Valley

Braden Castleton started playing golf at a young age. It was a way for his father to bond with Braden and his older brother Preston.

“It’s always been a family thing,” Castleton said. “My dad started us when we were young, putting sticks in our hand. He wanted us learning how to play early.”

Castleton continues to excel on the course. He was named the Central California Conference MVP after winning the mid-season and CCC tournament championships.

Castleton is also The Merced Sun-Star Boys Golfer of the Year.

“I am pretty happy with my season,” Castleton said. “I have super fun playing with my teammates. It’s a great group of guys and we all had fun on the course at practice and during matches and tournaments. We created bonds that will never be broken.”

Castleton spent his first two years battling it out with his older brother for the top spot on the GV team. Castleton has comfortably filled that role the past two years, earning back-to-back trips to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championship.

Castleon shot a 2-under par round of 70 at Pheasant Run Golf Course in Chowchilla to win the CCC mid-season tournament. He shot a 74 to win the CCC Championship at Merced Golf & Country Club.

He qualified for the Masters Championship after shooting a 4-over par 76 at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship at Copper Valley and then carded a round of 80 at the Masters Championship.

“I definitely improved with my iron play,” Castleton said. “That was a struggle last year. I didn’t always know where it was going. I was really focused to get into a consistent rhythm with my irons this year.”

Castleton has also an all-CCC first-team selection in basketball this winter as one of the top shooters in the conference.

“I think both sports can be super competitive,” Castleton said. “Golf can be a lot more chill, but it can be very competitive at tournaments. Both basketball and golf are beautiful games. They have both been part of my life my entire life.”

“You have to find consistency with both sports,” Castleton added. “In golf you’re always looking for that consistent swing. You have to find that consistent shot in basketball.”

Castleton hopes to walk-on next year with the Utah Tech men’s basketball team, but golf will always be part of his life.

“I love the peace it gives me,” Castleton said. “I can go out on the course by myself of with my dad or brother and I always have fun. It’s always positive.”

Volleyball

Felix Chang, Buhach Colony

Helping lead the Buhach Colony High boys volleyball team was at the top of Felix Chang’s list of goals for this season.

So it meant a lot when the Thunder accomplished their goal, winning their first championship since 2019.

Chang was named the CCC Most Valuable Player along the way.

Chang is also the Merced Sun-Star Boys Volleyball Player of the Year.

“It was pretty special to me, especially being my senior year,” Chang said.” It was a big accomplishment for me and my entire team.”

The MVP was also one of Chang’s goals. One that he’s been chasing for a couple years.

“It’s been one of my goals since I was a sophomore, a big goal,” he said. “I was really happy when I found out at our banquet.”

Chang started playing volleyball when he 13 years old, playing with friends at the park. He remembers also watching volleyball on TV and wanting to play.

“I watched volleyball in the Olympics,” Chang said. “I was inspired by watching all these tall guys hit and swing. I wanted to do it what they were doing.”

Standing 5-foot-7, Chang had to find a different way to be effective as an outside hitter than those Olympic players he watched on TV.

Chang had to find ways to create different angels to get his shots passed the block at the net.

“I just try my best to try different things,” he said. “I change my techniques, I try to hit the ball differently, I’ve learned to turn my wrist and turn my body.”

Not only was Chang the Thunder’s top offensive threat, he also became a team leader.

“I did my best to lift my teammates when they were down,” Chang said. “I took the role pretty seriously. I was pretty hard on myself about it.”

Chang enjoyed his playing career at Buhach Colony and going out as CCC champs made it even more memorable.

“The coaches were amazing,” he said. “They were always open to ideas and adjusting to how we wanted to play.”

All-Area Teams

Baseball

Matt McQuillen, El Capitan

Riley Dickey, Merced

Julian Cazares, Los Banos

Tyrell Jenkins, Pacheco

Colton Haslem, Le Grand

Brennen Centeno, El Capitan

Jesse Saucedo, El Capitan

Diego Martinez, Le Grand

Braylen Centeno, El Capitan

Camden Peterson, El Capitan

Hunter Johnson, Mariposa

Davian Stephenson, Chowchilla

Sammy Soto, Delhi

Jamin Munoz, Atwater

Eric Moncada, Los Banos

John Labno, Hilmar

Taxtyn Weiland, Mariposa

Anthony Aguilar, Livingston

Bennett Stoddard, Buhach Colony

Jacson Silva, Los Banos

Daven Cablay, Pacheco

Ryan Saechao, Golden Valley

Golf

Issac Sheu, El Capitan

Robert Menezes, Atwater

Clint Helton, Buhach Colony

Kallen Perry, Buhach Colony

Dash Ferreira, Golden Valley

Aiden Perez, Merced

Hayden Souza, Stone Ridge Christian

Gannon Lemos, Los Banos

Volleyball

Joseph Spielman, Golden Valley

Samson Vang, Merced

Thomas Hoffman, El Capitan

Chase Silveira, Buhach Colony

Nevin Vang, Buhach Colony

Ricardo Perez, Golden Valley

Chai Herr, Golden Valley

Ian Hansford, Merced

Ismael Martinez, Pacheco

Gurvir Singh, Livingston

Tennis

Parth Misha, Merced

Mikhil Parikh, El Capitan

Kirit Tandon, El Capitan

Enrique Leon, Atwater

Justin Gould, Los Banos

Nick Tova, Los Banos

Swimming

Jordan Cortez, Buhach Colony

Joseph Rodriguez, El Capitan

Reid McCall, Merced

Michael Kenrik, El Capitan

Blake Slocum, Merced

Matthew King, Merced

Tayven Tipler, Buhach Colony

Cash Hermosillo, Merced

Emelien Cortez Uranga, Merced

Braxton Belerique, Hilmar

Cooper Cox, Hilmar

Ryan Barcelos, Hilmar

James Savage, Los Banos

Track

Jesús Bon, Dos Palos

Tyrell Johnson, Golden Valley

Josiah McCray, Golden Valley

Saul Zumido, Buhach Colony

David Denson, Golden Valley

Jerry Madrigal, El Capitan

Raul Guitron, El Capitan

Jesse Deniz, Merced

Nathan Trejo, Atwater

Donovan Marshall, Merced

Seneca Ybarra, Atwater

Stephen Tapetillo, Golden Valley

Alejandro Duran, Golden Valley

Alex Cardenas, Hilmar