Merced City Council recognizes multiple high‑school championship teams

The Merced City Council on Dec. 16 held a special meeting to honor local high‑school athletic programs that won section and regional championships this year. Council members presented certificates to Merced High’s girls flag football team, El Capitan High School’s girls varsity tennis team, and the Merced High boys and girls water polo teams.

The recognition ceremony highlighted several milestone seasons for the city’s schools. Council remarks framed the evening as a celebration of young people who “make us proud” and bring recognition to Merced.

Coach Victor and the Merced High girls flag football program were invited to the dais and recognized for winning a section championship in only the program’s third season; the coach said the team challenged itself with travel to Los Angeles and Bay Area tournaments and celebrated statewide recognition for several players. Coach McCorkle (introduced by the council) told the council that El Capitan’s girls tennis team finished the season 24–1, became the first girls tennis program in that school’s history to win a section title and marked a first for the Merced Union High School District in that sport.

Eric Larson, who identified himself as the head coach of the Merced boys water polo team, told the council his squad won the CCC and a division‑2 section championship, dropping only three games all season and capturing multiple tournament titles. Larson emphasized veteran leadership and team cohesion as reasons for the team’s success: “This is the definition of a team,” he said.

Council members invited each team to step forward for certificates and photos. The meeting record shows the council offered praise and thanks to coaches, school staff and community partners who supported the seasons.

The meeting moved on after group photos and the council continued with further recognitions and program presentations.