Skip to Main Content

Mariners Athletics

Aptos High School

Menu

Mariners Athletics

Aptos High School

Mariners Athletics

Aptos High School

Mariners Athletics


Aptos High School



Aptos High School Alumni GO MARINERS!

Sports Hall of Fame Bio.

Gina Casares

Hall of Fame Class of 2010

Gina Casares (class of 1993) - As a freshman in 1989, Gina was moved from the JV soccer team to the varsity soccer team early in the season. She never went back. Gina was a four-year varsity starter and a four-year 1st team All-League selection. The team won SCCAL championships in 1990 and 1992, and qualified for the CCS playoffs all four years. In 1992, Gina was selected as the SCCAL Offensive Player-of-the-Year, and in 1993 she was the team captain and team MVP. In 1993, she was also received the KRUZ Cable TV “Outstanding Athletic Achievement” award in soccer. As a junior, Gina also started participating in track & field. She was a multi-league medalist, a CCS medalist, and set the school record in the discus, breaking a twelve year-old mark set by Char Sugar back in 1981. She also helped the Mariners earn their first two SCCAL team championships in fifteen years. As a senior, Gina was selected as the track & field MVP, and she was also selected as the AHS Female Athlete-of-the-Year. After high school, Gina played professional soccer with the Santa Cruz Monarchs. Today, Gina is a Deputy Probation Officer in Santa Cruz County working with at-risk youth, and she is a much sought-after public speaker. She goes into schools and prisons to warn young men and women about the dangers of gangs and drug/alcohol abuse. Determined to unite rival gang members in a common goal by combining their love of soccer and their positive strengths, she founded the Aztecas soccer team in 2008 for at-risk youth. In 2009, Gina was awarded the Central Coast Jefferson Award for Outstanding Community Service, and she was flown back to Washington DC to meet President Obama. She was also selected as the 2009 Santa Cruz County Public Employee Silver Medalist. Gina currently coaches two Aztecas soccer teams for at-risk boys, and she is also an assistant coach for an under-nine competitive girls team and an under-eight recreational girls team. Gina owes her success in life to the tremendous support she received from teachers like Ms. Magaffin, and from her coaches, especially Mark Dorfman. Gina lives in Watsonville with her husband, Patricio, and three daughters, Samantha, Jazmin, and Alexa. Gina was presented into the Hall by her former coach, Mark Dorfman.

https://aptosathletics.org