BOYS SOCCER: Sanger West fields surprising sting

FRESNO – Sanger West boys soccer are starting to blossom into a team that is ready to contend with the other elite clubs in the Central Section. The Hornets have emerged from their nest to a surprise undefeated record so far in just their third season of existence.

Hornets’ head coach Gabe Banuelos has been with this team from the beginning. Banuelos has infused a dedicated work ethic and system of accountability to help lay the foundation of a winning culture – and it is that foundation that has fueled Sanger West’s success this season. 

As Banuelos continues to mold this team in his vision, bigger and better things lay ahead for his Hornets squad. 

Building the hive

The first 300 freshmen students walked through the doors of Sanger West in August 2020; however, the school didn’t become the second comprehensive high school in Sanger Unified until July 1, 2022. Like all of their other sports teams, Sanger West’s soccer team has been competing in Central Section sports for just a couple of seasons.

Gabe Banuelos got the call to become the varsity boys head coach shortly after the team was established in 2021. Banuelos, whose brother is Sanger West’s athletic director, couldn’t turn down his brother’s request. 

Banuelos honed his skills and expertise as a member of Clovis East’s varsity team from 2002 to 2006. After his playing days were finished, Banuelos started his long and rewarding journey into the realm of coaching. He started as an assistant at Clovis North, where for four seasons, he helped make the Broncos perennial contenders in Central Section, Division I play. 

Following his stint with the Broncos, Banuelos made his way to Clovis High, where he also was a varsity assistant for eight years. Then, Banuelos made the leap into the collegiate ranks, becoming a member of Fresno City College’s varsity coaching staff. And somewhere in between, Banuelos also found time to serve as a coach and instructor for the Odyssey Crossfire Soccer Club. 

“I’ve coached for numerous clubs,” Banuelos said of his coaching career. “I started my coaching career at Clovis North, was there for about six years; I was a varsity assistant at Clovis High for eight seasons, and I coached for Odyssey Crossfire.”

Having gritted his teeth and built up his experience with some great coaches, Banuelos decided to finally venture out on his own and head to Sanger West to establish a program of his own. This was the opportunity he waitred for and he couldn’t pass it up. 

“I’ve been fortunate, I had good coaches growing up,” said Banuelos. “I had the opportunity to come here to start the program, and now we’re here.” 

Foundation of the nest

Now that Banuelos finally had his chance to be the head coach, his next major task was to figure out how to build his team. Most coaches take over programs that already have established legacies and traditions, but when Banuelos stepped foot on the campus of Sanger West, he was handed the whistle to a team that had just been created.

Did Banuelos want the best athletic talent on his team? His previous experience told him that discipline, work ethic and character were more important than talent. If he could convince his kids to buy into his philosophies, then they would play. 

With that, Banuelos assembled a coaching staff that shared his fundamentals and beliefs of building a winning program. He said his coaching staff have been influential in motivating young kids to flock to the soccer pitch rather than the basketball court or football field. 

“I think the biggest thing, where we’re at, is just trying to get kids motivated to buy into what we’re trying to do,” said Banuelos. “Our coaching group is special, coach Nacho (Hernandez), coach Dylan (Her), coach Tyler (Richardson). I think it’s beneficial to have a good coaching group around us because we’re trying to build good character first, then feeding into what we’re trying to do.”

Growing pains

Banuelos knew his vision of success for the Hornets wasn’t going to happen overnight. And like any other coach, Banuelos has navigated his team’s growing pains with tremendous optimism. The Hornets compete in the North Yosemite League, in Division IV, where the competition isn’t rigid, but still challenging.

The Hornets 2022-23 inaugural season was one to forget, but to be expected. The team finished 5-19-2 overall with a 0-12 league record. Last season, the Hornets took tremendous steps forward in their development and success. 

Sanger West finished 8-12-9 overall, and their league record of 2-6-4 felt like a major step in the right direction. The Hornets made the playoffs last season, but lost to Parlier in the opening round of the Central Section Division V Championships. 

This season, the Hornets have really stung the competition. As of this publication, they’re the only undefeated team in Division IV at 12-0-6 and are tied with Roosevelt for first place in the NYL with a record of 3-0-1. 

“First year, we were getting whomped – second year, we made the playoffs, which is great. That was our goal,” Banuelos said of his team’s development. “But the biggest reward for me is watching these kids grow into young men.” 

Rewards of success

For Banuelos, the development of his players shows that his team has bought into his philosophies and beliefs. Banuelos demands a lot from his kids, and they reward him with the work ethic needed to be winners. 

“I came down here to coach soccer … I don’t come down here to talk to your teachers when you’re not behaving,” Banuelos said of his demands. “So, if you can’t (get with that), you’re not going to be a part of this program. We haven’t had a player miss any games because of eligibility. They’ve just bought into the system.”

The Hornets approach to playing their opponents is a combination of fast offense and stingy defense. Banuelos learned from one of his earlier coaches to build success from the back of the pitch, and work it forward; and that coaching strategy has worked out well for the Hornets so far. With the ability to score in the open field, Sanger West poses problems for any team they play against. 

“I’m a defensive guy, so I like to build from the back,” said Banuelos about his coaching style. “But with this group we have, we have a lot of firepower up top. We have guys that can score at any given time, but it’s a combination of both.”

This season, the Hornets have received outstanding play from freshman Adam Villavicencio, who leads the team in points (25) and goals (10). And the veteran leadership is also prevalent, as junior Elijah Pimentel ranks second on the team in goals (7) and points (14). 

A surprise ending

Banuelos, like any other coach, had expectations for the long term success of his team. And while he fully expected the wins to come eventually, he is a little surprised that they’ve come this fast. For a team that’s been playing soccer for only three seasons, that’s truly a surprise. 

Last season’s surprise playoff push has given the Hornets some extra punch in their sting. And as his team continues to move forward in their season, Banuelos knows that getting back to the postseason is the primary motivator once again. 

“Am I surprised? Absolutely, I’m surprised, because we’ve kind of set ourselves up with the schedule,” said Banuelos about his team’s performance this season. “We’re good, but we’re not great. We want to be great.”

With solid wins against quality teams this season like San Joaquin Memorial, Central and Sunnyside, the Hornets appear ready to take that next step from a surprise team that came out of nowhere to a major contender that is ready to strike at the best. 

The surprise ending for Banuelos and the Hornets will happen when they make the playoffs again and push towards the championship they covet so much. He’s confident the Hornets will continue their growth further in the postseason. And when the season is finally over, he expects Sanger West to be holding a championship trophy in their grasp. 

“I’m gonna say it, put it on the record, we will be Valley champions,” said Banuelos about the confidence in his team. “This group is going to grind and I don’t say it to be cocky, I say it because I know what group we have. I’m 100% confident in these guys.”