Tabitha Peters

Athletic director and head coach of the varsity basketball team, Jon Penberthy, reached out to Henry Baker a year after he graduated from Fresno Christian to coach the JV squad.

Many players enter high school without the understanding or skills needed to succeed at the varsity level. Junior Varsity allows athletes to gain the experience that is needed for the big stage. Throughout all seasonal sports, there are a total of five JV programs focused on development and growth in preparation for varsity competition.

Despite Fresno Christian having a small population of approximately 200 high school students, there are JV squads for multiple sports. FC High School Athletic Director Jon Penberthy oversees all athletic activities and recognizes the importance of having a JV team to build up sports programs.

“Our JV teams are a huge part of our programs,” Penberthy said. “It gives [athletes] playing time and an opportunity to develop their skills. We want them out there, it’s fun to have them out there, and if they stick with the sport, they will be a big part of the varsity team’s future.”

This year’s winter JV teams have already immersed into season play. The FC teams have tasted success and continue to train up athletes for future varsity teams.

JV Boys Basketball

The JV boys basketball team had a strongseason with their only loss against Chowchilla. Since basketball season has come to a close, many say it was a successful run with lots of positives. 

Positives don’t just mean wins; they also could mean players getting more in-game minutes and improving their skills. During this year’s playoff season, a select number of JV players were promoted to varsity. The intent behind it is for the newer guys to feel the atmosphere of varsity play in preparation for them to fill the roles in the following years. This year, Noah Mena, ‘28, played on the JV boys’ basketball team and was promoted to varsity during playoffs.

“When I got pulled up, I was excited to see that all my hard work was getting recognized,” Mena said. “JV was very helpful in allowing me to be a leader amongst the younger guys through boosting my confidence.”

Player development is a main focus for many JV players, and good coaching determines how fast players can progress. For the last three years, the JV squad has been coached by former FC graduate and basketball player Henry Baker. 

“I do my best to prepare and lay the groundwork for what to expect when you move up,” Baker said. “All I could ask from the players is to be coachable. If they have an attitude and aren’t fully invested, once they reach the next level, they’ll wonder why they’re not playing. I try to nip that in the bud, help players out with that before they graduate to varsity.” 

JV Girls Volleyball

In 2025, despite multiple injuries, the JV Girls Volleyball squad had a very successful season. They participated in several tournaments, with the biggest ones being the CVC tournaments before the regular season started. FC student, Elle Johnson, ’28, developed a strong love for volleyball throughout her many years of playing.

“I definitely had a different perspective while being injured on the bench,” Johnson said. “But I feel like the team bonded and learned very well throughout the season.”

Girls’ volleyball has a tradition of creating special chants and cheers for moments throughout the game, and having a large bench creates a louder, more fun atmosphere. This need creates an incentive for the JV girls to be pulled up to varsity during their playoff run. 

JV Football

The last time football held a JV program, JV football went 2-0, beating Santa Clarita Christian’s JV team and then defeating Mojave’s varsity team. Young players got the chance to learn the game of football at a unique game speed against opponents of the same skill level. This is necessary in being prepared for the physicality and speed that varsity football brings. FC student and football player Jake Thompson, ’27, began his career on the JV team and has since become a key player on the varsity squad. 

“JV set me up for varsity by giving me an understanding of how football is played,” Thompson said. “It isn’t just one man throwing a ball or running a route; it’s a unit, and every man has to execute their assignment properly for the play to work.”

This year, they didn’t have enough players for a JV team. Multiple severe injuries and non-returners caused the active roster to fall below 18 players. The transition to 11-man football this upcoming season causes a greater need for a larger roster, thus increasing doubts that a JV team will be a possibility.

JV Boys Soccer

An influx of senior athletes joined the boys’ soccer team this year, enabling the possibility of a JV team for the first time in program history, but only for non-league matches. The experiment of a JV team was short-lived, but they played two full games, going 0-1-1 before fully combining with varsity. FC student and soccer fanatic, Trey Tozlian, ‘28, stays up to date with FC Barcelona, his favorite soccer club, and plays for the FC soccer team.

“I wish we could have had a JV team for the full season,” Tozlian said. “So many more people could have had the opportunity to play and get better, and prove themselves throughout the season.”

JV Boys Volleyball

Similar to other sports, after a year’s break, FC boys volleyball now has a roster large enough to support a JV team. Many of the players are looking forward to the season ahead of them and the development they will gain through game experience that they would otherwise not get. 

They will face Sunnyside for their season opener on March 3, at Sunnyside High School. 

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