On Monday, May 12th, Fillmore’s Perce’s Kenpo Karate which offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had three students compete in the NAGA Los Angeles Championship. Photo credit David Gonzalez.
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Story by Michael Torres

Azusa, CA — May 12, 2025

The mats were electric with energy at Azusa Pacific University as the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) hosted its
Los Angeles Grappling & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Among the hundreds of athletes competing, three standout members of
Perce’s Kenpo Karate Studio delivered outstanding performances, returning home with an impressive haul of medals.

Leading the team was Jose Ramirez, who dominated the Heavyweight Gi Division to take home gold and secured the prestigious
NAGA Championship Belt in the No-Gi Blue and Purple Belt Division.

Emma Lopez also stood out, earning double silver with second-place finishes in both the Gi and No-Gi Female White Belt
Divisions.

Rounding out the team’s success was Dayana Ramirez, who earned a bronze medal in the Gi Female White Belt Division.

Perce’s Kenpo Karate offers Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes for both kids and adults. These classes are taught by Professor
Michael Torres, a Gracie Humaita Black Belt under Professor Mario Aiello. For more information call or text: 805-443-8501.

The NAGA Los Angeles Championship continues to be a premier platform for grapplers of all ages and skill levels to showcase
their talent.

By Coach Michael Torres

Fillmore, CA — May 13, 2025

The Fillmore Unified School District and School Board proudly recognized the outstanding achievements of the Fillmore High School Flashes’ Citrus Coast League Wrestling Champions during a special ceremony held Tuesday evening at the Fillmore Unified District Auditorium. The student athletes were honored with certificates for being named First Team All-League and for their exceptional performances throughout the wrestling season in their respective weight classes.

Parents, coaches, administrators, and school board members gathered to celebrate the athletes’ accomplishments and their dedication to excellence. The district expressed its pride in the team’s success and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting student-athletes in all of their endeavors.

By Epi Torres

On Saturday, May 17th, six Fillmore Track and Field athletes travelled to Moorpark High School and competed at the CIF Southern Section Division 4 Finals.

The girl’s 4 X 100-meter team was the first team to compete. Unfortunately, after a wonderful season, where the girls broke a 30 year old record multiple times, they were disqualified due to a false start. Next on the track for the Flashes was ace 1600-meter runner for the Flashes, Omar Heredia. Omar established a personal best time in the 1600-meter time, placing 8th in a time of 4:23.28. The top performer on the day was Anthony Tafoya who captured first place in the Division 4 discus with a winning throw of 155’ 09”. Anthony was a medal winner and will advance to the CIF Southern Section Masters meet on Saturday, May 24th at Moorpark High School.

***

Big West Championship

On Saturday, May 17th, Camilo Torres competed at the Big West Championship on Jack Rose Track in Long Beach. Camilo placed 32nd in the 5000-meter run, finishing in a time of 15:31.53.

By Hannah Faith, FHS Swim Coach

Hueneme High School, CA – The Fillmore High School swim team made waves at the 2025 Citrus Coast League Championships, held
on April 29th and May 1st. The event saw impressive performances from both the Junior Varsity (JV) and Varsity teams, with
the JV boys securing a remarkable second place in the league.

Preliminaries: Tuesday, April 29th

The preliminaries set the stage for an exciting competition. Fillmore’s swimmers demonstrated their dedication and skill
across various events. In the JV Boys 50 Yards Freestyle, Emiliano Castanon led the league with a time of 27.15. Aiden
Asfour clocked in at 4:05.56 for his 200 Free, also securing a spot in the finals. JV boys Tony Lemus and Bradley Villa
also performed well and both achieved some personal records at the meet.

For the Varsity Girls 200 Yard Freestyle, Kianna Toyooka (Soph. & 2nd year swimmer) finished with a time of 2:32.61, moving
on to the finals. Varsity boys swam some difficult races; Jesse Cavazos ) secured his place in the finals for the Varsity
Boys 200 Yard Freestyle with a time of 2:31.08. And then there was Team Captain, Ulysses Garcia who swam an impressive 25.84
for his 50 yard freestyle, also advancing him to the finals.

Finals: Thursday, May 1st

The finals were a testament to Fillmore High School’s hard work and determination. The JV boys’ team, in particular,
delivered outstanding performances that earned them second place in the league. In the JV Boys 200 Yard Freestyle, Aiden
Asfour improved his time to 4:00.61, earning 12 points for Fillmore. Emiliano Castanon finished strong in the JV Boys 50
Yard Freestyle with a time of 27.90, securing 16 points. Bradley Villa and Tony Lemus were key contributors to the JV boys’
success. Bradley Villa competed in the JV Boys 50 Yard Backstroke, finishing with a time of 58.49. Tony Lemus participated
in the JV Boys 50 Yard Breaststroke, finishing with a time of 50.64.

In the Varsity Girls 200 Yard Freestyle, Kianna Toyooka finished seventh in the finals with a time of 2:31.34 (just barely
missing CIF qualifying time), contributing valuable points to the team. Karina Vergara also represented Fillmore in the
Varsity Girls 500 Yard Freestyle, finishing with a time of 9:00.09 in the preliminaries and contributing to the team’s
overall performance.

For the Boys Varsity team, Ulysses Garcia swam his 50 free again in 25.40, making CIF consideration time. Jesse Cavazos
finished ninth in the Varsity Boys 200 Yard Freestyle with a time of 2:29.54, adding to Fillmore’s overall score. Alex Diaz
and Nicko Garcia showed true gritt throughout both meets, helping their team in both the 200 Medley Relay and the 200 Free
relay.

The JV girls also had notable performances. Bibiana Ortega earned 12 points for her third-place finish in the JV Girls 100
Yard IM with a time of 1:37.27. Bibiana Ortega also performed well in the JV Girls 100 Yard IM finals, finishing with a
time of 1:37.27. Lexie Gonzalez contributed 10 points in the JV Girls 50 Yard Freestyle, finishing with a time of 39.46.
Rosalie McPhail added 9 points in the same event with a time of 42.26. In the JV Girls 100 Yard Freestyle, Lexie Gonzalez
earned another 10 points with a time of 1:30.94, while Rosalie McPhail added 7 points with a time of 1:30.39 in the
preliminaries.

Team Rankings

The Fillmore JV boys’ team finished second in the league, a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the
season. The final team rankings were as follows:

Junior Varsity Boys:

Channel Islands - 188 points

Fillmore - 133 points

Hueneme - 127 points

Junior Varsity Girls:

Channel Islands - 234 points

Santa Paula - 196 points

Carpinteria - 179 points

Fillmore - 148 points

***

Varsity Girls:

Carpinteria - 324 points

Malibu - 208 points

Santa Paula - 199 points

6th place - Fillmore - 73 points

Varsity Boys:

Carpinteria - 389 points

Channel Islands - 196 points

Malibu - 136 points

7th place - Fillmore - 63 points

Coach’s Remarks

Coach Faith expressed her pride and excitement for the team’s achievements this season. “I am so very proud of everyone this
year. We had an amazing season and we look forward to next year,” she said. Her words reflect the dedication and hard work
of the Fillmore High School swim team, promising even greater accomplishments in the future.

The Fillmore High School swim team has much to be proud of, with their JV boys’ second-place finish highlighting a
successful season. Congratulations to all the swimmers and coaches for their hard work and dedication!

By Epi Torres

On Thursday, May1st, the Fillmore Track and Field teams traveled to Carpinteria to compete in the Citrus Coast League Finals. This meet is run to decide the league titles in 4 divisions, and CIF Southern Section Prelim competitors.

The Junior Varsity girls 4 X 100 meter relay team started the meet with a win in a personal best time of 55.73. Team members were Karissa Espitia, Emma Ortiz, Barbara Soltero, and Daniela Hurtado. The Varsity girls team claimed 1st place with a time of 50.26. Team members were Janessa Corona, Kimberly Magana, Mia Munoz, and Karinna Magana. In the Varsity boys 4 X 100 meter relay Fillmore’s team of Josiah Cruz, Saul Fraga-Sandoval, Joshua Felix, and Nathan Hernandez posted a 1st place personal best time of 44.42.

In the Junior Varsity girls 1600 meter run, Marbella Arroyo Tapia placed 1st in a personal best time of 6:16.11. She was followed by Jannet Vega 7th in 6:35.79, and Valeria Munoz Mendez 8th in a personal best of 6:42.45. The Varsity girls were led by Diana Santa Rosa 3rd in a personal best of 5:34.12. She was followed by Jessica Orozco 4th also in a personal best of 5:34.93. Melanie Flores was 12th in 6:02.55, Miley Tello 13th in 6:06.14. In the Varsity race, Omar Heredia finished 2nd in a personal best of 4:25.76.

In the Varsity girls 100 meter hurdles, Emelie Magana finished in 2nd with a personal record time of 18.76. Yaneli Landin was 3rd in 19.15. In the 300 hurdles, Yaneli captured 2nd place in 52.63, Emelie Magana was 5th in 55.39. In the Junior Varsity girls 300 hurdles, Michelle Setty was 2nd in a personal best of 58.26. In the Frosh/Soph boys 300 meter hurdles, Ryan Mynatt placed 3rd in a personal best time of 51.20.

In the Junior Varsity 400 meters, Jessica Aparicio was 5th in 76.55. Leah Barragan finished 2nd in the Varsity girls 400 meter run, recording a personal best time of 62.26. Jasmine Gonzalez was 5th in 65.64, and Jaiden Peacock was 7th in 68.59. In the Varsity boys 400 meter run, Nathan Hernandez was 4th in 53.62, and Orlando Vigil Tello was 11th in a personal best time of 55.85.

In the Junior Varsity 100, Karissa Espitia was 2nd in 14.31, Barbara Soltero 6th in 14.73, Emma Ortiz 9th in a personal best of 14.88, and D’Andra Amezcua 13th in 14.99. In the Varsity girls race, Kimberly Magana was 1st in 12.51, Karinna Magana was 3rd in 13.14, Janessa Corona was 5th 13.46, Mia Munoz was 7th in 13.92, Sarah Cedillos was 10th in a personal best time of 14.02, Andrea Gamez was 11th in 14.17, and Adrianna Deleon was 14th in 14.44. Andrea and Sarah also ran personal best times. In the Frosh/Soph boys 100 meter race, Draco Centurion was 2nd in 12.45. Rocky McDowell was 22nd in a time of 16.02. In the Varsity boys 100 meter run Saul Fraga-Sandoval was 1st in 11.29. He was followed by Joshua Felix 8th in a personal best of 12.00, Javier Gonzalez 10th in12.06, Jasiah Patterson 11th in 12.15, and Josiah Cruz 16th in 12.35.

In the Junior Varsity girls 800 meters, Jannet Vega finished 8th in 3:02.61. Also running well was Cassandra Mendoza 9th in a personal best of 3:04.43. In the Varsity girls 800 meter race, Diana Santa Rosa was 4th in 2:37.79, Melanie Flores was 10th in personal best of 2:49.11, and Miley Tello 11th in 2:53.82. In the Varsity boys 800 meters, Omar Heredia took 4th in a time of 2:07.86, Sebastian Torres was 8th in 2:08.59, and Andres Moreno 12th in a personal best of 2:13.43.

In the Junior Varsity girls 200, Barbara Soltero was 4th in 30.83. In the Varsity race, Leah Barragan took 4th in 27.31, Janessa Corona 5th in 27.58, Jasmine Gonzalez 8th in 28.90, Jaiden Peacock 10th in 29.16, Andrea Gamez 11th in 29.49, Mia Munoz 12th in 29.68, and Karina Magana 15th in 36.59. In the Frosh/Soph boys 200 meter run, Draco Centurion was 3rd in 25.69. In the Varsity boys 200 meter run, Nathan Hernandez was 7th in 23.88. He was followed by Javier Gonzalez 9th in 24.46, and Orlando Vigil Tello 13th in 24.84. Nathan, Javier, and Orlando ran personal best times.

In the Junior Varsity girls 3200 meter run. Marbella Arroyo Tapia finished 1st in a personal best of 13:55.80. She was followed by Jannet Vega 2nd in 14:28.15, Valeria Munoz Mendez 4th in a personal best of 14:43.80. In the Varsity girls 3200 meter run, Jessica Orozco was 3rd in a personal best of 12:14.78, Diana Santa Rosa was 5th in a personal best of 12:32.79, and Melanie Flores finished 10th in 13:43.27. Nikolias Cerda was 8th in the Frosh/Soph boys 3200 meters. He ran a personal best time of 12.18.22.

In the Varsity girls 4 X 400, Fillmore finished 2nd in a personal best time of 4:27.70. Team members included Yaneli Landin, Jasmine Gonzalez, Mia Munoz, and Leah Barragan. In the Varsity boys 4 X 400 meter relay, Fillmore placed 4th in a personal best time of 3:39.88. Team members included Saul Fraga-Sandoval, Joshua Felix, Orlando Vigil Tello, and Nathan Hernandez. This team ran a personal best time.

In the girls Junior Varsity shot put, Desiree Marruffo was 1st, with a throw of 24’ 11.5”. Yesenia Robles was 5th in 20’ 8.25”, and Teresa Rangel 9th in 20’ 6.25”. In the Varsity competition, Hermelinda Ocegueda took 2nd with a put of 30’ 01”, Adrianna Deleon took 5th in 28’ 00.0”, Emily Soltero was 8th in 26’ 6.25”, Lucy Murillo 9th throwing 25’ 01”, Andrea Ramirez 10th in 24’ 07.5”, Aerin Garcia 12th with a throw of 23’ 01.75”, and Daniela Curiel 13th in 22’ 11.5”.

Anthony Tafoya won the Varsity boys shot put, tossing the steel ball 45’ 1.75”. He was followed by Marcus Lechuga 3rd in 38’ 1.25”.

Isaiah Meza 4th in a personal best of 37’ 0.75”, Isaac Rivera 6th in 35’ 03.5.

In the Junior Varsity discus, Desiree Marrufo captured 1st with a personal best throw of 79’ 10”. She was followed by Teresa Rangel 8th in 61’ 03”, Valerie Rodriguez 9th in 60’ 10”, and Yesenia Robles 11th in 58’ 04”. In the Varsity discus, Hermelinda Ocegueda was 4th in 95’ 09”. Aerin Garcia was 7th with a personal best throw of 89’ 06”, Angeline Hernandez 8th with a throw of 82’ 00”, Lucy Murrillo 10th in 77’ 11”, Emily Soltero 11th in 74’ 03”, Andrea Ramirez 13th in 71’ 08”, and Jazmin Magana 14th in 63’ 07”. In the Varsity boys discus, Anthony Tafoya was 1st with a toss of 151’ 02”. Isaiah Meza was 4th in a personal best of 124’ 09”, Isaac Rivera was 6th in a personal best 120’ 11.5”, and Marcus Lechuga 11th in a personal best of 108’ 07”.

In the girls Varsity high jump, Yaneli Landin was 1st, clearing 4’ 07”. In the Varsity boys high jump, Isaiah Meza was 2nd, clearing 5’ 07”. In the Frosh/Soph high jump, Ryan Mynatt was 1st with a jump of 4’ 08”.

In the Junior Varsity long jump, Karissa Espitia was 4th jumping 12’ 01.5”, and D’andra Amezcua 7th in 11’ 02.25”. Janessa Corona was 6th in the Varsity girls division, jumping 13’ 08”. In the Varsity boys long jump, Josiah Cruz was 4th in 18’ 04.5”, Jasiah Patterson 5th in 18’ 01.0”, and Joshua Felix was 13th in 17’ 00.5”.

In the Junior Varsity triple jump, Michelle Setty was 1st, bounding 26’ 2.25”. In the girls Varsity triple jump, Sarah Cedillos was 4th in 29’ 3.0”. In the Varsity boys triple Jump, Saul Fraga-Sandoval won in a personal best leap of 40’ 3.5””, Jasiah Patterson was 6th jumping 36’ 1.5”, and Mauricio Ocegueda was 7th, jumping 35’ 11.0”.

In the team competition, Fillmore finished 2nd in both the Junior Varsity and Varsity Girls’ Divisions. In the Divisional Girls combined score Fillmore was 2nd. The Fillmore Frosh/Soph boys team finished 5th in the team competition, and the Fillmore Varsity boys were 3rd. In the Divisional Boys combined score, the boys finished 3rd.

On Saturday, May 10th, several Varsity athletes will return to Carpinteria and compete in the California Southern Section Division 4 Prelims meet.

COLLEGE TRACK

On Saturday, May 3rd, the Moorpark College team traveled to Saddleback College in Mission Viejo and competed in the 3C2A Southern California Regional Prelims.
Logan Torres ran the 1500 meters and qualified for the finals by finishing 9th in 4:04.53.

On Friday, May 2nd, the Cal State University of Northridge Vaqueros track team travelled to Irvine, California and competed in the Steve Scott Invitational at Anteater Stadium. Camilo Torres ran in the Men’s Mile Run and placed 7th in a personal best time of 4:16.81.

At the CCAA Conference Championships held from May 1st through May 3rd at Stanislaus State, Cynthia Hurtado, an athlete at Cal Poly Pomona, finished 9th in the hammer throw with a throw of 145’ 11”. Cynthia also competed in the discus placing 9th with a throw of 115’ 09”. In the team competition, Cal Poly Pomona finished as the first-place team.

By Michael Torres

Sunday, April 27, 2025, Westlake, CA - The students of Perce’s Kenpo Karate Studio in Fillmore delivered an outstanding
performance at the recent Grappling X West Coast Jiu-Jitsu Championships, held at Westlake High School. The team competed
against a field of 80 Southern California schools, gyms, clubs, and academies, earning impressive results across both Gi and
No-Gi divisions.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art focused on grappling and ground combat, with practitioners using various techniques
such as joint locks and chokes to submit their opponents. Gi Jiu-Jitsu involves wearing a traditional kimono uniform called
a “gi,” which provides grips that allow for different techniques, such as judo throws and lapel chokes. No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, on
the other hand, is practiced without the gi, and practitioners wear athletic wear such as rash guards and shorts. The lack
of grips changes the dynamics of the game, often emphasizing wrestling takedowns, speed, and more fluid transitions.

Fillmore’s Jiu-Jitsu Club athletes are coached by Gracie Humaita Black Belt Professor Michael Torres, who brings 25 years of
experience in martial arts, and is trained under the renowned 6th Degree Black Belt Professor Mario Aiello.

Team Results:

1st Place in Adult Gi Competition

3rd Place in Adult No-Gi Competition

6th Place Overall

Gi Division Results:

Female White Belt 130 lb.: Dayana Ramirez – 2nd Place

Female White Belt 160 lb.: Emma Lopez – 1st Place

Male Blue Belt 160 lb.: Leo Zendejas – 2nd Place

Male Blue Belt 160 lb.: Miguel Rangel – 1st Place

Male Purple Belt 160 lb.: Karl Blanco – 1st Place

Male White Belt 165 lb.: Horacio Ortega – 1st Place

Male Blue Belt 200 lb.: Jose Ramirez – 2nd Place

Male Blue & Purple Belt 175 lb.: Raul Santa Rosa – 1st Place

No-Gi Division Results:

Female White Belt 130 lb.: Dayana Ramirez – 2nd Place

Female White Belt 160 lb.: Emma Lopez – 1st Place

Male Blue/Purple Belt 160 lb.: Leo Zendejas – 1st Place

Male Blue/Purple Belt 160 lb.: Karl Blanco – 3rd Place

Male Blue Belt 160 lb.: Miguel Rangel – 1st Place

Male Blue/Purple Belt 200 lb.: Jose Ramirez – 3rd Place

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes are available at Perce’s Kenpo Karate Studio for kids and adults. No prior experience is needed
to join, and anyone interested can call or text 805-443-8501 for more information.

By Epi Torres

On Friday, April 25th several members of the Fillmore High School competed at the Venture County Track Championships held at
Moorpark High School.

The Fillmore girls 4 X 100 meter team started off the meet with a bang, winning their Seeded heat in a new school record of
49.95. Team runners are Janessa Corona, Kimberly Magana, Mia Munoz, and Karinna Magana. Overall, they finished in 8th. The
boys 4 X 100 meter team finished third in their Seeded heat running a 45.02. Overall, they finished 10th.

In the girls rated 1600 meter run, Diana Santa Rosa placed 10th in a 5:57.36. Jessica Orozco placed 8th in the seeded race
in a personal best of 5:35.16. In the boys seeded 1600 meter run, Omar Heredia finished second, subbing 4:30 for the first
time this season by running a 4:29.75.

In the girls rated 100 meter hurdles, Yaneli Landin finished 4th in a personal best wind aided (2.1) time of 18.66.

In the rated 400 meter run, Leah Barragan finished 2nd in 62.70. Teammate Jasmine Gonzalez finished 5th in a personal best
of 64.62.

In the girls Invitational 100 meters, Kimberly Magana placed 9th in 12.37. In the boys Rated 100 meters, Saul Fraga-Sandoval
finished 6th in 11.26.

In the girls Seeded 800, Diana Santa Rosa finished 10th in 2:40.18. In the boys Seeded 800 meters, Omar Heredia finished 5th
in 2:03.14.

In the girls Seeded 300 Meter hurdles, Yaneli Landin finished 7th in 52.68.

In the Rated girls 3200 meter run, Jacqueline Olivares finished 5th in a personal best of 13:26.41. In the Seeded girls 3200
meters, Jessica Orozco finished 2nd in 12:17.13.

In the girls shot put, freshman Adrianna Deleon finished in 4th, hurling the put 33’ 06.5”, a new personal best by two and
one half feet. Hermelinda Ocegueda also set a personal best, finishing 7th in 31’ 06.25”. Lucy Murrillo finished 23rd in 27’
06.75. In the boys shot put, Anthony Tafoya finished 6th in 45’ 10.25”. Isaac Rivera finished 32nd in 35’ 03”.

In the girls discus, Hermelinda Ocegueda was the top finisher for the Flashes. Hermelinda eclipsed the century mark, placing
10th, and sailing the disc 101’ 09”. This was a personal best for Hermelinda. Angeline Hernandez finished 22nd in 81’ 00”,
and Aerin Garcia finished 24th in 80’ 01”. In the boys discus, Anthony Tafoya finished 2nd with a new personal best of 166’
03”. This places Anthony among the top 25 throwers in California. Isaiah Meza was 28th Rossi the discus 114’ 00”. Isaac
Rivera finished 30th in 112’ 00”.

In girls Flight 1 high jump, Yaneli Landin finished 3rd jumping 4’ 07”.

In the girls Flight 2 Long Jump, Janessa Corona finished 9th jumping 14’ 8.5”. In the boys long jump, Josiah Cruz finished
21st in 18’ 03.5”.

In the girls triple jump, Sarah Cedillos finished 23rd, leaping 28’ 10”. In the boys triple jump, Saul Fraga-Sandoval
finished 13th, leaping 38’ 4.25” and Mauricio Ocegueda finished 27th in 36’ 00”.

By FMS Head Coach Michael Torres

On Friday, April 4th, 2025, Simi Valley, CA - The Fillmore Middle School Bulldogs Wrestling Team, delivered a powerful performance at the Ventura County Middle School Wrestling Championships, held Friday, April 4 at Royal High School. The event brought together some of the region’s toughest competitors from Anacapa, Balboa, Cabrillo, Data, Isbell, and Sinaloa Middle Schools, as well as Nordhoff Junior High School.

For many Bulldogs, it was their first season of competition. FMS Head Coach Michael Torres, praised the team’s effort. “These athletes gave it everything they had,” he said. “Win or lose, they wrestled with pride and resilience, and that’s what defines the Bulldogs.”

Several Fillmore wrestlers stood out with strong individual performances, securing multiple podium
spots across different weight classes:

Boys’ Results:
95-100 lbs: 1st Place – Torrey Morales
112-117 lbs: 1st Place – Elijah Sandoval
130-135 lbs: 1st Place – Cayden Balades
114-115 lbs: 2nd Place – Christopher Padilla
150-155 lbs: 2nd Place – Tyson Garcia
195-200 lbs: 2nd Place – Kobe Avila
105-110 lbs: 3rd Place – Parker Blackshear
160-168 lbs: 3rd Place – Damian Garcia
185-190 lbs: 3rd Place – Sebastian Davila
150-155 lbs: 4th Place – Abraham Castorena

Girls’ Results:
142-155 lbs: 1st Place – Sophia Rivera
130-140 lbs: 2nd Place – Tania Vazquez
142-155 lbs: 2nd Place – Jaysa Martinez-Bernal
120-125 lbs: 3rd Place – Sophia Valdovinos

By Epi Torres

On Thursday, March 27th, the Fillmore Flashes track teams hosted the Channel Islands Raiders. This was Fillmore’s final
home meet of the season and run under gray skies with misty conditions intermittently.

The Junior Varsity girls 4 X 100 meter team started the meet with a win in a time of 56.62. Team members were Karissa
Espitia, Emma Ortiz, Barbara Soltero, and Daniela Hurtado. The Varsity girls team also claimed first with a time of 50.70.
Team members were Mia Munoz, Kimberly Magana, Janessa Corona, and Karinna Magana. The Varsity girls team ran a personal
best time. In the Varsity boys 4 X 100 meter relay Fillmore’s team of Josiah Cruz, Saul Fraga-Sandoval, Joshua Felix, and
Javier Gonzalez posted a winning time of 46.62.

In the Junior Varsity girls 1600 meter run, Jannet Vega placed 1st in 6:37.63. She was followed by Valeria Munoz Mendez 4th
in 7:09.96, Isabel Arredondo 3rd in 7:16.68, Cassandra Mendoza 4th in 7:18.20, Megan Robles 5th in 7:38.93, Nancy Anguiano
6th in 7:51.13, and Elena Magana 7th in 7:52.19. The Varsity girls were led by Jessica Orozco 1st in 5:45.53. She was
followed by Diana Santa Rosa 2nd in 5:49.68, Miley Tello 4th, in a personal best time of 6:13.12, Melanie Flores 5th in
6:15.80, Jacqueline Olivares 6th in 6:22.34, and Marbella Arroyo Tapia 7th in 6:35.03. This was a personal best time for
Jackie.

In the Varsity girls 100 meter hurdles, Emelie Magana finished in 1st with a time of 19.23. Teammate Yaneli Landin finished
2nd in 19.74. In the 300 hurdles, Yaneli came back to capture 1st place in 53.30, Michelle Setty was 3rd in 62.47. In the
Varsity boys 300 meter hurdles, Ryan Mynatt placed 3rd in 51.57.

In the Junior Varsity 400 meters, Jessica Aparicio finished 1st in 76.51. In the Varsity race, Leah Barragan finished 1st,
recording a time of 63.18. Jasmine Gonzalez was 2nd in 64.92, a personal best. Jaiden Peacock was 4th in a personal best of
68.07 and Emily Soltero finished 6th in 73.31. In the Varsity boys 400 meter run, Nathan Hernandez finished 1st in 54.39.
He was followed by Sebastian Torres 2nd in 54.92, Orlando Vigil Tello 4th in 56.80, and Gabriel Lagunas 7th in a personal
best time of 62.16.

In the Junior Varsity 100, Daniela Hurtado was 1st in 14.29. Karissa Espitia followed in 2nd in 14.72, Barbara Soltero was
3rd in 14.73, Emma Ortiz 4th in 14.98, and D’andra Amezcua 5th in15.09. Daniela and Emma ran personal best times. In the
Varsity girls race, Kimberly Magana was 1st in 12.77. Teammates Janessa Corona 2nd in 13:32, Mia Munoz 3rd in 13:56,
Karinna Magana 5th in 13.94, Andrea Gamez 6th in 14.17, Sarah Cedillos 7th in 14.18, Adrianna Deleon 8th in 14:47, and
Cristal Martinez 10th in 15.02. Adrianna, Sarah, and Adrianna ran personal best times. In the Frosh/Soph boys 100 meter
race, Draco Centurion was the winner in a personal best time of 12.94. In the Varsity boys 100 meter run Saul Fraga
Sandoval placed second in 11.65. He was followed by Joshua Felix 5th in 12.13, a personal best, and Javier Gonzalez 6th in
12.36, in the Junior Varsity girls 800 meters, Jannet Vega finished 1st in 3:04.80, a season best time. Also running well
were Valeria Munoz Mendez 2nd in 3:18.70, Cassandra Mendoza 3rd in 3:23.83, Nancy Anguiano 4th in 3:27.28, Elena Magana 6th
in 3:33.31, and Megan Robles 7th in 3:33.74. In the Varsity race, Miley Tello was first in a personal best time of 2:51.26,
her second personal best time on the day.

In the Junior Varsity girls 200, Jessica Aparicio was the winner in 32.09, a personal best time. In the Varsity race, Leah
Barragan was the winner in a personal best of 27.74. Mia Munoz was 2nd in 28.03, also a personal best. She was followed by
Andrea Gamez 4th in 29.48, and Jaiden Peacock 5th in 29,56. In the Frosh/Soph boys 200 meter run Draco Centurian was the
winner in a time of 26.69.

In the Varsity boys 200 meter run Nathan Hernandez was 3rd in 24.60.Orlando Vigil Tello was 5th in 25.37, and Javier
Gonzalez was 7th in 25.59.

In the Junior Varsity 3200, Jannet Vega was the winner in 14:56.99. In the Varsity girls 3200 meter run, Jessica Orozco won
her 2nd event of the meet in 12:31.39. Following next was Diana Santa Rosa 2nd in 12:40.83, Jacqueline Olivares 4th in
13:44.53, and Melanie Flores 5th in 14:07.94. Diana, Jackie, and Melanie ran personal best times. This was Jackie’s second
person best on the day.

In the Varsity girls 4 X 400, Fillmore ran to victory in a time of 4:26.68. Team members included Jazmine Gonzalez, Sarah
Cedillos, Andrea Gamez, and Leah Barragan. In the Varsity boys 4 X 400 meter relay, Fillmore placed 2nd in a time of
4:01.42. Team members included in the Junior Varsity shot put, Yesenia Robles led all competitors, winning in a heave of
23’ 01”. Desiree Marruffo was 3rd in 22’ 05.50”, followed by Valerie Rodriguez 4th in 20’ 07”, and Teresa Rangel 7th in 19’
09”. Yesenia, Desiree and Teresa had personal best throws. In the Varsity competition, Hermelinda Ocegueda took 1st with a
put of 28’ 05”. Adrianna Deleon was 2nd in 28’ 04”, Emily Soltero 3rd in 28’ 03”, Andrea Ramirez 6th in 23’ 10”, Lucy
Murillo 7th in 23’ 08.5”, Daniela Curiel 8th in 23’ 08”, Aerin Garcia 9th in 23’ 01”, Angeline Hernandez 10th in 22’ 02.5”,
and Jazmin Magana 11th in 21’ 04”. In the Frosh/Soph boys shot put. Emanuel Velazquez placed second wit a throw of 35’
08.50”. Anthony Tafoya won the Varsity boys shot put, tossing the steel ball 46’ 00”. He was followed by Marcus Lechuga 40’
04.50, Isaac Rivera 37’ 02”, and Isaiah Meza 35’ 04.00”.

In the Junior Varsity discus, Yesenia Robles finished in the top position, she threw the discus 65’ 03”, a personal best.
She was followed by Valerie Rodriguez 2nd in 61’ 07”, Desiree Marruffo 3rd in 58’ 02”, and Teresa Rangel 5th in 44’ 11”.
Teresa also had a personal best throw. In the Varsity discus, Aerin Garcia was first with a throw of 86’ 0”, a personal
best. Hermelinda Ocegueda 2nd in 79’ 00”, also a personal best throw. Andrea Ramirez 3rd in 77’ 08”, Emily Soltero 4th in
73’ 02”, Lucy Murrillo 5th in 71’ 08”, Angeline Hernandez 6th in a personal best of 71’ 00”, Daniela Curiel 7th in 70’ 01”,
and Jazmin Magana 8th in 59’ 04”.

In the girls Varsity high jump, Yaneli Landin was 2nd, clearing 4’ 04”. In the Varsity boys high jump, Isaiah Meza was 3rd,
clearing 4’ 10”, and Ryan Mynatt was 4th with a leap of 4’ 06”.

In the Junior Varsity long jump, Karissa Espitia finished 1st with a jump of 12’ 08”. She was followed D’andra Amezcua 2nd
in 12’ 03.5”. Karissa and D’andra jumped personal best marks. In the Varsity long jump, Janessa Corona was 1st, jumping a
personal best of 15’ 06”. Jasmine Gonzalez was second in 13’ 04.5”.

In the girls Varsity triple jump, Sarah Cedillos was 1st in 30’ 02.5”, and Michelle Setty was 4th in 25’ 11”. In the
Varsity Triple Jump, Jasiah Patterson was 2nd, jumping a personal best of 35’ 0”.

In the girls competition, Fillmore won both the Junior Varsity and Varsity Divisions. Junior Varsity boys and Varsity boys
finished second in the team competition.

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College Alumni Compete

On Friday, March 28th, Jared Rhett and Cynthia Hurtado completed at the Mangrum Invitational in San Marcos, California.

Competing for Cal Poly Pomona for the Flashes, Jared Rhett tossed the discus 130’ 05”. In the Women’s Hammer Throw Cynthia
Hurtado placed 3rd with a throw of 151’ 08”.

On Saturday, March 29th, the Moorpark Raiders competed at the Dave Shannon Invitational at El Camino College. Angel
Laureano ran the 800 meters in 2:09.50.

Pictured is the Fillmore High Swim Team after their meet with Nordhoff High School. Top row (l-r); Jesse Cavazos, Kianna Toyooka, Nelly Rodriguez-Ceron, Rosalie McPhail, Tony Lemus, Bradley Villa, Emiliano Castanon, Alex Diaz, Aiden Asfour, and Ulysses Garcia, Bottom row (l-r): Karla Hernandez, Naylea Maldonado, Ava Manzano, Bibi Ortega, Ruby Bronsten, Lexie Gonzalez, Natalia Herrera, and Karina Vergara.
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By Hannah Faith, FHS Swim Coach

March 26, 2025 – Fillmore High School’s swim teams dominated Nordhoff High School last Wednesday at the community aquatic center. The boys varsity and JV squads extended their winning streak to three meets, with varsity winning 112-78 and JV taking 95-83. The girls varsity fell 92-98, while JV secured a 102-88 victory, showcasing Fillmore’s strength across the board.

The boys varsity 200-yard medley relay team kicked off with a 2:37.81 win. Varsity Captain Ulysses Garcia (12th grade) led, later taking the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:18.83. JV’s 200-yard freestyle relay finished first in 2:46.77, with Alex Diez (12th grade) winning the 200-yard freestyle in 3:04.27. “We’re unstoppable,” Garcia said.

The girls teams shone too. Varsity Captain Kianna Toyooka (10th grade) earned second in the 200-yard freestyle at 2:35.47, trailing Nordhoff’s Avery Monson. Nelly Rodriguez-Ceron (12th grade) won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:45.11. JV’s 200-yard freestyle relay took first in 2:42.04, with Lexie Gonzalez (12th grade) topping the 50-yard freestyle at 42.01.

Fillmore’s depth thrilled fans, setting high hopes for future meets.

Above is Fillmore’s Chirstopher Padilla taking his opponent to the mat during his match against Ventura High. Photo credit FMS Head Coach Michael Torres.
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Pictured is Flashes Elijah Sandoval claiming victory in his match against Ventura High School. Photo credit FMS Head Coach Michael Torres. See more photos online at www.FillmoreGazette.com.
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By FMS Head Coach Michael Torres

On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the Fillmore Middle School Bulldogs showcased their skills in recent competitions at Nordhoff Junior High School and Sinaloa Middle School against middle school student athletes from Isbell, Nordhoff, Sinaloa, and Ventura Unified.

The team is now gearing up for their final challenge of the season: the Ventura County Middle School Championships, taking place on Friday, April 4th, at Royal High School.

Pictured above is Fillmore’s Jesse Moten vs. Isbell’s Isaac Izquierda at the Isbell Middle School Takedown Tournament. Photo credit Michael Torres, Fillmore Middle School Wrestling Coach.
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By Michael Torres, Fillmore Middle School Wrestling Coach

Isbell Middle School, Santa Paula, CA March 19, 2025 - The Fillmore Middle School Bulldogs wrestling team brought home an impressive array of victories at the annual Isbell Middle School Takedown Tournament held last week. Wrestlers from several local middle schools participated, including teams from Fillmore, Isbell, Nordhoff, Sinaloa, and schools within the Ventura Unified School District forming one Ventura Middle School team.

The Bulldogs will host their own tournament on Thursday, March 27th at Fillmore Middle School with other competitions at Nordhoff, Sinaloa and the Ventura County Middle School Championships to be held at Royal High School on Friday, April 4th.

Above is Fillmore’s Omar Heredia who medaled in the 1 Mile, pictured with Coach Epi Torres at the Maurice Greene Invitational. Photo credit Anthony Chavez.
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Pictured above is Fillmore Flashes Kimberly Magana who medaled in the Girls 100m, and Saul Fraga who medaled in the Boys 100m at the Maurice Greene Invitational at Oaks Christian High School on Saturday, March 22nd. Photo credit Anthony Chavez.
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By Epi Torres
On Saturday, March 22nd, several Fillmore Track athletes traveled to Westlake and competed in the Maurice Green Invitational. Saturday’s weather was Sunny and cool, great conditions for good marks.

The sprinters started our day running the 4 x 100 meter relay. The F/S Girls 4 x 100 relay team consisted of Andrea Gamez, Mia Minoz, Jaiden Peacock, and Kimberly Magana. They placed 4th overall in 52.82.

Next on the start line were the FS milers. Valeria Munoz Mendez was Fillmore’s top finisher in 7:04.42. This was a personal best time for she was followed by Nancy Anguiano in 7:52.40. In the Varsity girls race, Miley Tello led all finisher, posting a personal best time of 6:18.33. She was followed by Jacqueline Olivares 6:26.09, and Jannet Vega at 6:40.50.

In the FS boys mile race, Nikolias Cerda led this division for the Flashes. Niko finished at 6:09.01, and teammate Ricardo Quilo ran a 6:29.28. In the Varsity race, Omar Heredia posted a personal best time of 4:29.12. Omar was a medal winner in the event. He was followed by Jordan Hernandez 5:40.99, and Vincent Alonso 6:15.80.

Leah Barragan was the lone competitor in the Varsity girls 400. Leah established a time of 63.28. Nathan Hernandez led the FS boys in the 400 meters in a time of 54.23, and Orlando Vigil Tello followed in 56.68.

In the FS girls 100 meters, Kimberly Magana finished second in 12.68. Kimberly established a personal best time and was a medal winner in this event. She was followed by Mia Munoz in 13.22, and Andrea Gamez in 14.27. In the Varsity girls race, Karinna Magana posted a time of 13.20, and Janessa Corona ran a personal best of time of 13.23. In FS boys, Saul Fraga-Sandoval continued to run well with a personal best time of 11.21, and Joshua Felix was next also in a personal best in 12.14. Saul was a medal winner in this event.

In the FS girls 800, Valeria Munoz Mendez ran the top time in this division of 3:13.68. In the Varsity girls race, Diana Santa Rosa had the fastest Fillmore time of 2:38.50mile. She was supported by teammate Miley Tello in 2:57.87. In the FS boys race, Ricardo Quilo led the Flashes in 2:41.09, and teammate Nikolias Cerda finished in 2:49.29. In the Varsity race, Jordan Hernandez ran a 2:37.14 personal best, and Vincent Alonso a 2:47.34.

Competitors for the Varsity girls 300 meter hurdles were Yaneli Landin who finished in a personal best of 52.42, and Michelle Setty in 1:02.80.

In the FS girls long jump. Daniela Hurtado jumped 13’ 02.5”. In the Varsity division, Janessa Corona jumped 14’ 09”. Both Janessa and Daniela jumped personal best jumps. In the FS boys long jump, Joshua Felix jumped 16 01”. In the Varsity boys long jump, Josiah Cruz jumped 18’ 02”.

Sarah Cedillos, a sophomore, triple jumped 30’ 2.75”. In the Varsity boys Mauricio Ocegueda jumped 35’ 03”.

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Fillmore Collegiate Track Alumni Compete

Logan Torres, a Moorpark College athlete, competed in the 1500 meters winning in a time of 4:13.01, and teammate of Angel Garcia ran a 4:22.62. Logan doubled back in the 800 meters, running a 2:04.63, Angel also doubled back in 2:08.70. Teammate Angel Laureano join the trio, posting a time of 2:13.85.

In the 4 X 400 meters, Moorpark ran three teams. Logan Torres was on the team that finished 2nd in 3:31.31, Angel Garcia on the team that finished 4th in 3:48.84, and Angel Laureano on the team that finished 5th in 3:51.12.

The Moorpark team will next compete at El Camino College on March the 28th.

Camilo competed at the Ron and Sharlene Alice at the Trojan Invite. His first event was the 1500 meter run. In this race he ran a personal best time of 4:00.41. Camilo came back to run the 3000 meters in 8:47.54.

Teammate Diego Rodriguez, a Santa Paula graduate, and Fillmore resident, ran the 3000 meters in 10:94.31, and the 3000 meter steeplechase in 10:04.31. Diego also ran the 800 meters in 2:05.41.

Cal Poly Pomona athletes competed at the UCLA Legends Inv. Cynthia Hurtado from Piru, and a Fillmore Alumnus place 7th in the women’s discus tossing the implement 146’ 6”. Jared Rhett finished in 12th throwing the discus 135’ 02”.