Wildcats look back at CIF wins
RAWLEY – When the new school year opened last week at Brawley Union High School, expectations were undoubtedly high among students and staff for a successful school year.
BThose same expectations and optimism are also likely felt in the athletics program, no doubt fueled by the success the Wildcats had last school year.
During the 2016-2017 school year, Brawley became the first school in the Valley to compete in a total of five CIF championship games or matches.
While Brawley Athletic Director Billy Brewer acknowledges his role in the success of the Wildcat’ sports program, he is quick to share the credit with the student-athletes, coaches, administration, school board and Wildcat community.
“Strong administrative leadership is critical to any success at Brawley High be it academic, activities or athletics,” said Brewer. “The school board and administration is appreciative of the hard work the coaches and players put in and [is] supportive of our efforts… we’re somewhat unique in that aspect and helps define who we are as a school.”
In addition to being supportive, many administrators once helped various programs earn victories.
District Superintendent Simon Canalez was a former varsity football assistant and baseball coach, Principal Jesse Sanchez was a standout basketball player for the Wildcats and assistant principal Greg Smith played multiple sports for Brawley as well.
“When it comes to athletics, they understand it,” Brewer said. “They’ve done the practices. They understand the commitments coaches and athletes make.”
The opportunity for Brawley and other Valley schools to compete in more CIF-San Diego Section championships came about five years ago when the section decided to change its playoff format.
Rather than school size determining divisions, CIF began evaluating the competitive level of each member schools’ individual sports and created divisions based on their competitiveness.
That translated into the Wildcats competing in four different CIF divisions last year.
The parade of championship was led by Brawley’s marque boys’ wrestling program under coach Tony Leon as the perennial CIF wrestling champions cruised to another championship beating University City 76-6 and Ramona 69-8 to win Div. III crown.
Last winter, Leon’s brother Raymond added to the dynasty when he coached the Wildcats’ first competitive female wrestling team to the Div. I team title easily defeating Westview High in San Diego.
“It was our third year and it has grown from basically one girl and it keeps growing,” said Raymond. “Last season was the first time we had enough girls to compete for the team title and most definitely it was exciting for the girls and I.”
After the win, Raymond said the program saw a surge in participation.
“We’ve had a number of new girls come out, and if they want to try wrestling, I’m all for it ... we are not running anybody off,” Leon said. “We have returnees and new girls and we could be back in the championship match again this year.”
According to Brewer and Raymond, the girls’ wrestling program’s new practice facility is an example of Brawley’s commitment to supporting athletics.
“The support of the district is huge,” Brewer said. “They did the girls’ wrestling program because they had girls who wanted to do it.”
While Brewer noted the district’s support, Raymond acknowledged the longtime AD’s equal passion for Brawley athletics.
“We as coaches can’t be successful without the backing of Billy and the administration,” he said.
In addition to the wrestling programs, the Brawley girls’ soccer team opened the 20162017 season under first-year head coach Hugo Ortega, who also coaches the Imperial Valley College women’s soccer team in the fall.
Ortega lead the Wildcats to a 15-7-4 record and a third place finish in the IVL before opening the Div. V playoffs as the fifth seed and beat fourth-seeded Gompers High 3-0 and eighth-seeded Morse 4-3 to advance to the final.
The team ultimately came up a goal short losing the championship match to Lincoln High 2-1.
Winter sports seemed to be Brawley’s forte last school year as another of their winter programs, boys’ basketball, also captured a CIF title.
Lead by legendary coach Jeff Deyo, the Wildcat boys made their second consecutive appearance in the Div. IV championship a successful one after defeating Olympian High 69-53.
The championship crowned an outstanding season for Deyo’s team, which compiled a 27-8 overall record, winning the IVL championship, a CIF title and advancing to the second round of the state tourney.
Spring brought the school its fifth championship appearance as the baseball team captured the Div. III championship with a 2-0 victory over Serra High in San Diego.
“One thing that’s very important to our program is that I don’t know it all and we have a great number of quality coaches who are part of the community and take ownership of our program,” Head Coach Pedro Carranza said. “They are Brawley Wildcats through and through.”
Still, give Carranza credit for superb coaching, the Wildcat pitching and defense for gritty performances including one-run quarterfinal and semifinal victories were over Del Norte, 3-2, and Sage Creek, 1-0, respectively.
Carranza’s ‘Cats finished the season 23-6 and 11-1 in IVL to capture his fifth league title of the last six seasons and at least ninth since taking over the coaching reigns in 2000.
“I can think of at least three teams that had the same amount of talent as last year’s team and could have won a CIF title given a more even playing field,” said Carranza referring to Brawley having competed in Div. II before being placed in Div. III last season.
“We will play this season at D-II so to repeat as champions will be harder at the higher level,” Carranza said. “There is a chance with the talent we have to do it and it’s the price you pay for doing well and I’m ok with it.”