Wednesday was the annual College and Career Fair at Denair High School, a time for students to learn not just more about local community colleges and four-year universities but also hear from and talk to people representing dozens of different career paths.

The event is a popular one among the 400 or students in eighth to 12^th grade, who get a break from their regular classes while being exposed to academic and job possibilities many may never have otherwise considered.

“It allows students to learn about the professions and trade opportunities available to them after high school, as well as ask questions about the schooling needed to achieve their career goals,” explained DHS Principal Breanne Aguiar.

The day began with motivational speaker Juan Cangas, whose theme was “Why do some people succeed in life while others fail?” He entertained students while delivering the message that it’s never too soon to begin thinking about life after high school – whether that includes a four-year college, a two-year community college or trade school or joining the workforce right away. He cited his own example of being the first member of his family to attend college.

After Cangas got them energized, students got to pick three breakout sessions to attend out of 29 possibilities. Among the careers represented were a California Highway Patrol officer, a firefighter, a real estate agent, an attorney, a baker, a tattoo artist, an auto mechanic, a welder, a banker, a psychiatrist, a 911 dispatcher, a local physician’s assistant, a mental health clinician, electrical linemen from the Turlock Irrigation District and a heating and air conditioning technician from DeHart Technical School. Denair Unified Superintendent Terry Metzger even led a session focused on careers in education. 

“In the past law enforcement and health careers seem to be the biggest draw. This year, our biggest rooms included 911 dispatch, tattoo artist, baker and nail technician,” said Brittany Heinsaar, the high school’s counselor who helped organize the event.

Following lunch, students went back to the gym, where they received additional information about current job opportunities and were able to talk with representatives from local colleges, trade schools and the military as well as business people about the first steps needed to become employable within their organization. 

Goliath Padilla scored two goals – including the eventual game-winner in overtime – as the Denair High boys soccer team knocked off Esparto 3-2 in the Sac-Joaquin Division 6 playoffs Tuesday night.

The results were not as kind to the girls soccer team and boys basketball teams, which both suffered playoff losses and saw their seasons end on a busy night for Coyote athletics.

Boys Soccer

Denair, seeded sixth, led 2-1 at halftime against third-seeded Esparto after goals by Padilla and Nico Zavala.

Padilla’s first goal came after the ball hit off a Spartan defender about 15 minutes into the game. Esparto tied the game with a goal of its own before Zavala, a senior striker, made a dazzling play to put the Coyotes on top again. He started near the sideline, worked his way to the middle past multiple defenders and then placed his shot perfectly into the top left corner of the net away from the goalie.

The only goal in the second half was by Esparto to tie the game 2-2 with about 10 minutes left. 

Denair had one more chance to take the lead in regulation, but Padilla’s free kick was blocked by the Spartan goalie.

Overtime consisted of two 10-minute periods, which tested the players’ endurance.

“My guys were tired and some of them were cramping up,” said Denair assistant coach Jose Antonio Padilla, who was filling in while his father coached the Coyotes’ girls at home Tuesday night.

Goliath Padilla, a junior striker who is the younger brother of Jose Antonio, scored the winning goal on a breakaway about five minutes into overtime. He dribbled around and through two defenders and then beat the goalie with a strong shot.

Leading 3-2, Jose Antonio Padilla dropped Zavala back to help with Denair’s defense. The Coyotes’ goalie, junior Eddie Lucatero, finished with six saves.

“It was a great game,” said Jose Antonio Padilla, a 2020 Denair graduate. “The boys played hard and they deserved to win.”

Denair (11-7-4) advances to face No. 2 Bradshaw Christian (13-7-1), which shut out Woodland Christian 2-0. The semifinal match will be played at 6 p.m. Thursday on Bradshaw’s field in Sacramento. The other semifinal matches No. 1 Millennium (15-4-4) of Tracy against No. 4 Ripon Christian (11-4-6).

The winners will move on to Saturday’s Section Division 6 championship game at 9 a.m. at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento.

Girls Soccer

The season ended in disappointing fashion for the fourth-seeded Coyotes, who fell 4-0 on their home field to No. 5 Bradshaw Christian. Denair (16-6-1) had swept through the Southern League with a perfect 12-0 record and had not lost since mid-December.

“It was tough. They were just the better team,” said Denair assistant coach Antonio Padilla. “I feel bad for our girls.”

Bradshaw Christian (9-9-5) moves on to face No. 1 Ripon Christian (13-8-1) in Thursday’s semifinals.

Boys Basketball

Denair fell behind early and never was able to mount a comeback against Summerville, which cruised to a 57-36 victory in a play-in game in the Division 5 tournament.

The Coyotes (15-12) – who tied for second in the Southern League – trailed 30-15 at halftime on a cold-shooting night. Denair was seeded 18^th in the 19-team bracket and Summerville (9-16) – the fifth-place team in the Mother Lode League – was seeded 15th.

The Bears move on to play No. 2 Argonaut (22-6).

Officially, class at Denair Elementary Charter Academy begins at 8:30 each morning and lets out between 2:50 and 3:10 each afternoon, depending on grade level. But for more than 150 students involved in the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), school can start as early as 7:30 a.m. and last until 4:30 p.m.

ELOP – which also exists at Denair Middle School and Denair High School – allows students to get more attention from instructors on core subjects like English, math and social studies in addition to enrichment opportunities in areas like art, yearbook or Baile folklorico dancing.

At Thursday night’s meeting of the Denair Unified School District board, DECA Principal Laura Cardenas explained more about how ELOP works. She was accompanied by some of her teachers as well as some students.

“ELOP is filled with purposeful learning and engaging activities,” Cardenas told trustees. “Students receive dedicated homework support to build confidence and essential study skills, while enrichment opportunities allow them to explore their extracurricular activities.”

DECA has 555 students in transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. Of that number, 154 participate in ELOP, which has been offered since 2021.

For some parents with busy work schedules, being able to drop their children off by 7:30 a.m. and not having to pick them up until later is important. Whether before or after school, ELOP aims to take academic advantage of that extra time.

Some students practice on personalized iReady tests to help them improve their foundational skills while others enjoy enrichment opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects. Teachers also come up with fun activities in the afternoon in addition to study sessions.

Superintendent Terry Metzger recognizes that a nine-hour instructional day is a long day for students and applauded staff for continually working to ensure that before and after school programs are a balance between academic support and fun activities. “We’re already looking forward to our summer program,” she added.

In other action Thursday, trustees:

• Approved a request by the Denair High School Sober Grad Committee to host Grad Night 2025 at the Gas Light Theatre in Denair. After the graduation ceremony May 23 at Jack Lytton Stadium, students and chaperones will go to the theatre for a party that will last until 1 a.m.
• Heard a report about the second year of results in the iReady testing program. Superintendent Terry Metzger said the district is seeing progress but must continue to monitor platform usage and lesson pass rate in order to see “stretch growth” (which refers to students who are two or more years below grade level in a subject catching up faster as part of an effort to close their achievement gap).
• Listened to a midyear report on the district’s performance relative to its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), which is required by the state. Metzger said all schools showed growth on the identified metrics in the areas of academics, engagement, and college and career readiness.
• Approved the 2025-26 school safety plan, which continues to be updated as safety and security projects are completed on the district’s campuses. Metzger said the district is working with Knowledge Saves Lives to develop a threat assessment team/protocols document.s
• Voted to keep the busing schedule as it is and make no changes to it for the next school year.
• Approved the 8^th annual trip to Disneyland by members of the high school football team. Coach Anthony Armas is a big Disneyland fan and uses the trip as a team-bonding experience. This year, players will travel to Anaheim June 27-30. The cost is about $600 per player – which they must pay for and includes admission to Disneyland and California Adventure, plus their hotel room.

Tuesday will be a busy night for Denair High School’s sports teams and fans with three squads – girls soccer, boys soccer and boys basketball – all competing in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. Here is a quick preview of what is happening.

Girls Soccer

The Coyotes won the Southern League championship with a perfect 12-0 record, earning themselves a first-round bye and the No. 4 seed in the Division 6 playoffs. Denair (16-5-1) hosts No. 5 Bradshaw Christian (8-9-5) of Sacramento at 6 p.m. under the lights at Jack Lytton Stadium. Bradshaw defeated Rio Vista 9-0 in its first match Friday.

The winner of tonight’s match will move into the semifinals Thursday to face the winner of No. 1 Ripon Christian (12-8-1) and No. 8 Millennium (11-6-2) of Tracy.

Denair is led by sophomore star Jazmin Padilla, whose 46 goals this season rank her third in the entire Section. The Coyotes haven’t lost since they fell 2-1 to Hughson on Dec. 16.

Boys Soccer

Denair had no trouble with its first-round opponent as the sixth-seeded Coyotes coasted to a 6-1 victory at home Friday over No. 11 Vacaville Christian in the Division 6 playoffs. Denair (10-7-4) will be on the road tonight to play No. 3 Esparto (12-6-1). It is a rematch of the 2023 playoff game won 2-0 by Denair, which earned the Coyotes their second consecutive Section championship.

Tonight’s winner will move on to the semifinals Thursday against the winner of the match between No. 2 Bradshaw Christian (12-7-1) and No. 7 Woodland Christian (8-10-2).

Boys Basketball

Denair tied for second in the Southern League, earning it one of the lower seeds in the Division 5 playoff bracket. The Coyotes (15-11) were seeded 18^th in the 19-team tournament and will be on the road tonight for a play-in game against No. 15 Summerville (8-16), which finished fifth in the Mother Lode League.

Tonight’s winner will have to turn around and play again Wednesday at No. 2 seed Argonaut (22-6), which finished second in the Sierra Valley Conference.

Denair junior Koby Cervantes leads the team in points (22.0 per game), rebounds (11.1) and blocks (2.3). Sebastian Esquivel is first in assists (2.4) and steals (2.6). The Coyotes come into the playoffs riding a four-game winning streak.