Ballin’ on & off court: Hoops player ranked No. 1 in class

Manteca High junior Vince Cardoza looks toward to the bench during a basketball game. (Tomasi Sovatabua/The Tower)

By GABRIEL MARTINEZ
The Tower

With straight As throughout high school, junior Vince Cardoza is the frontrunner to be the class of 2025’s valedictorian with a 4.72 GPA. Cardoza ranks first in a class of 453 students. While getting straight As throughout three years of high school, he has not taken the easy route. Cardoza has taken five honors classes and 7 AP classes.

While balancing a challenging course load may be difficult, Cardoza leads the way in class while playing for the varsity boys basketball team. This season Cardoza averages 0.7 points per game, 0.4 assists per game, and 0.2 rebounds per game.

Balancing both athletics and academics requires a good amount of determination and discipline.

“Since we started getting letter grades, I kind of maintained straight As,” Cardoza stated, “I have a lot of good family, friends, teammates, they help a lot, coaches, and it’s really just a motivational thing, and a type of mentality that you really need.”

One person Cardoza is close with is his older brother Christian Cardoza. Like his younger brother, senior Christian Cardoza is a player on the boys basketball team. He averages 0.5 points, 0.4 assists, and 0.7 rebounds.

“When we were younger he was always making sure everything was a certain way, but now I can tell he tries going with the flow more,” his older brother stated, “just seeing how things turn out”.

Since the brothers are both basketball players, they have played on several other teams together. The chemistry between the two can lead to great communication on the court due to the bond they share with each other.

“Knowing what we like to do (on the court), it helps a lot,” Cardoza stated regarding playing with his younger brother on other teams.

Relatives aren’t the only people with positive things to say about Cardoza, as teachers view him in a positive way too.

“I had him in Algebra II last year, he was pretty much the top of his class last year,” Manteca High teacher Brad Garlets stated, “He worked hard, was actively involved in class all the time. Currently he’s in AP Computer Science and is kind of right back on it.”

This shows that with everything going on regarding the basketball season taking place, Cardoza gives 100 percent effort in class as well.

“I noticed that I was number one (in the class), I might as well keep it going,” Cardoza stated regarding the amount of effort he puts in and how he is the frontrunner for valedictorian.

After Cardoza’s junior year, he shows no signs of slowing down. With three senior guards, including starters Peyton Nieman and Evani Gaeta set to graduate this year, Cardoza is poised for an increased workload on the basketball team while continuing to chase the valedictorian in class.

“Going into senior year, I’m excited. I’m also kind of nervous because it’s a little bit of a daunting task,” Cardoza stated. “Most people kind of tone it down senior year but it seems to be getting harder for me, but I’m excited.”