Roosevelt High boys end drought, plus El Diamante and Fresno Christian girls win
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- Roosevelt High boys end 13-year title drought with 3-2 Division IV win
- El Diamante girls dominate Tulare Western; freshman Cheney nets three goals
- Fresno Christian wins section crown on penalties after scoreless overtime
The drought is over.
For the first time in 13 years, the Roosevelt High boys soccer team is Central Section champion.
Under head coach Jose Luis Delgadillo, the Rough Riders defeated Sanger West 3-2 to capture the Division IV title on Thursday, reclaiming a championship that had long felt out of reach.
When asked how it felt to bring the championship back, his voice carried both exhaustion and gratitude.
“It’s been a very rough road since I took over the program,” he said. “A lot of people didn’t have the credibility in what I was trying to do. I came in and tried to change the team culture first. It took us a while to make the students understand that we’re students first, athletes second.”
Delgadillo emphasized that the transformation didn’t start on the field — it started in the classroom.
“We took care of it in the classroom, and that transferred over to the field,” he said. “Now we have smarter athletes. The boys have been working really hard. We’re just grateful — grateful to the Lord for this one.”
As the final whistle blew and Roosevelt’s victory became official, Delgadillo stepped aside from the chaos of hugs and cheers. He bowed his head in prayer.
When asked who that moment was for, his answer was immediate and deeply personal.
“That was my father,” he said. “He passed away five years ago during COVID, when I took over the program. I promised him I was going to get one for him.”
His father’s name: Alfredo Eduardo Delgadillo.
“So I knew he was here the whole way,” Delgadillo said. “He led it. I’m just glad I was able to keep that promise for him.”
The championship moment felt almost unreal — especially considering the road Roosevelt had to take to get there. The Rough Riders not only battled through the postseason but also earned the right to host a home match in the playoffs.
“That’s what I’m telling you,” Delgadillo said. “My dad is here. He blessed us with everything. I’m just grateful for it.”
Girls: Division II
El Diamante took care of business with a 4-1 victory over Tulare Western on Wednesday.
The Miners dominated from the start and carried that momentum through to the final whistle.
Freshman Poppy Cheney led El Diamante, finishing with a hat trick.
“She’s been amazing,” El Diamante coach Spencer Vandergriff said. “She’s played a huge role at the 11 for us. Drives the ball to the front post taking on opponents and either getting the finish or finding a well-placed cross to a teammate.”
Junior Lilah Martinez scored on a free kick to seal the win.
Vandergriff said he is proud of how his team played with poise.
“These girls are built for games of this magnitude,” he said. “They train for this and are a tenacious group.”
Girls: Division IV
It took penalty kicks to decide a champion, and once again, the Eagles are section champions.
Fresno Christian and Sierra Pacific played to a scoreless tie in regulation and in the two 10-minute overtimes.
Yet, the Eagles rose again, winning 5-4 on penalty kicks.
Last season, Fresno Christian won the same division, but that team was a 6-0 win over Porterville.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 10:12 PM.
