Kenji Ito

Xavier Prep safety/wide receiver Austin McDanel is this week’s student-athlete of the week. For every football team, there are always a couple of players that play both ways and can really do it all, and one of those players for Xavier Prep is Austin McDanel.  “I think, like we’ve always talked about Austin, his intelligence,

Coachella Valley outside hitter Leslie Delgado is this week’s student-athlete of the week. “She came in as a freshman. She was just a quiet, shy little girl, you know,” head coach Carlos Contreras said. “The only reason she came out here was because her mom liked volleyball, and so she came out here trying to

Cathedral City left tackle Isaac Calderon is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Isaac Calderon is an offensive lineman who lives up to his position and keeps pushing forward both on and off the field. “The people that I work with, people like my teammates, and the feeling of accomplishment just really drives me,” Calderon

La Quinta wide receiver/defensive back Payton Reynolds is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Payton Reynolds is a star on both sides of the field for La Quinta, and his upbringing comes from the work he puts on the field.  “It’s really just all mental,” Reynolds said. “You can put anything you put your mind

Palm Desert libero Sienna Acosta is this week’s student-athlete of the week. “She has been working really, really hard this off-season,” head coach Melissa Walker said. “So being able to see that improvement this year for us, it’s been such a huge blessing, and I’m really excited for her this year.” Sienna Acosta, a libero

Xavier Prep girls volleyball setter Juliette, aka “Juju” Rothe, is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Juju Rothe has been very grateful to be alongside her dad at Xavier Prep. However, her dad acting as a coach is what pushes her to give it her all on the court. “You want to do well for

Indio girls volleyball setter Mackenzie Morin is this week’s student-athlete of the week. A leader and a star are the two words used to describe Mackenzie Morin at Indio High School, but where she is now comes from her drive to be better.  “I work really hard for it,” Morin said. “I have so much

Coachella Valley running back Aaron Ramirez is this week’s student-athlete of the week. “A word that describes him as a person is determined, and I think that’s him as an athlete and as an individual,” head coach Bill Johnson said. “I think he’s determined to meet goals, to push through difficult times. He takes on