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Scholar Athlete Of The Week

Student Athlete of the Week – William Walz

Palm Desert senior attacker William Walz is this week’s student-athlete of the week. “He’s just gone from this young, you know, not-so-confident boy to a mature young man who’s become a leader inside and outside of the pool,” head coach Michelle Valovic said. “It’s been a really fun thing to watch.” William Walz is the

Student Athlete of the Week – Julia Fernandez

Shadow Hills cross country standout Julia Fernandez is this week’s student-athlete of the week. “Once you’re a champion, you’re always a champion, and in track, like I said, she’s done everything that we’ve asked,” head coach Richie DeTamble said. “We needed a jumper. She jumped. We need a hurdler. She hurdled, and she’s kind of

Student Athlete of the Week – Madison Barrick

Palm Springs tennis player Madison Barrick is this week’s student-athlete of the week. “She’s resilient. She doesn’t give up. She plays hard until the game is over,” head coach Sergio Rodriguez said. Those are the three qualities that define Madison Barrick, but her drive to be the best comes from the people who are closest to her. 

Student Athlete of the Week – Austin McDanel

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,

Student Athlete of the Week – Leslie Delgado

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

Student Athlete of the Week – Isaac Calderon

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

Student Athlete of the Week – Payton Reynolds

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

Student Athlete of the Week – Sienna Acosta

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

Student Athlete of the Week – Mackenzie Morin

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

Student Athlete of the Week – Aaron Ramirez

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

Student Athlete of the Week – Tyler Barsness

Palm Desert baseball shortstop Tyler Barsess is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Being on the varsity team for all four years, Barness worked day in and day out to reach his goal. “I think just experience,” Barsness said. “When I started playing as a freshman, everyone was bigger than me and I was intimidated,

Student Athlete of the Week – Guadalupe Castro

Cathedral City High School softball pitcher Guadalupe Castro is this week’s student-athlete of the week.  As the Lions reached the playoffs for the first time in the school’s history, the people closest to Castro helped her achieve that goal.   “What pushes me is my family,” Castro said. “They’re the ones who motivate me to get

Student Athlete of the Week – Jayvin Baxa

La Quinta baseball shortstop Jayvin Baxa is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Jayvin Baxa, a competitor and leader for the Blackhawks, says his faith drives him to excel both on and off the field. “It goes back to God. All glory goes to God,” Baxa said. “I just try to do my best to

Student Athlete of the Week – Jordan Dickens

Indio Boys’ volleyball outside hitter Jordan Dickens is this week’s student-athlete of the week. As Indio claimed the DVL title in its inaugural season, Dickens takes in every moment, especially for his final year with the Rajahs. “It feels amazing. I mean, my team worked really hard to get here and from now on, we

Student Athlete of the Week – Natalie Rey

Palm Desert softball pitcher Natalie Rey is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Playing all positions on the diamond during her four years on the varsity team, Rey enjoys being in the circle the most. “You’re in control of the game like you control it,” Rey said. “So if you’re throwing crazy, that’s going to

Student Athlete of the Week – Jaliyah Alexander

Palm Desert track and field senior Jaliyah Alexander is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Specializing in 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, 100-meter sprint, and the 4×1 relay, Alexander is the standard for the Aztecs. “Jaliyah represents everything we want in the Aztec community and on the Aztec program,” head coach Mark Monroy said. “She devotes

Student Athlete of the Week – Julian Herrera

Shadow Hills baseball pitcher and outfielder Julian Herrera is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Primarily pitching on the mound for the Knights, Herrera mentioned it is all about being calm and collected in the moment. “I just try to stay calm, and I try not to overthink things,” Herrera said. I mean, being a

Student Athlete of the Week – Sienna Rodriguez

Indio softball outfielder Sienna Rodriguez is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Playing softball, water polo, volleyball, and track and field for the Rajahs, Rodriguez’s motivation to excel is her team. “I’m a competitive person and I think what motivates me is my team,” Rodriguez said. “I want to do it for them … I

Student Athlete of the Week – Jaeleene Ramos

La Quinta track and field sprinter Jaeleene Ramos is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Success for Ramos would be an understatement, as she has been part of a team that has won three championships. However, she credits her success to the people closest to her. “Something that motivates me on the track is probably

Student Athlete of the Week – Malakai Lopez

Rancho Mirage baseball pitcher and shortstop Malakai Lopez is this week’s student-athlete of the week. As a multi-sport athlete, Lopez uses his competitive fuel to become a better student and athlete. “I feel like I’m a very competitive person. I’m always wanting to get better,” Lopez said. “I always want to get to the next

Student Athlete of the Week – Bhargav Jakkaraju

Palm Desert’s boys tennis player Bhargav Jakkaraju is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Playing on the varsity team his freshman year, coaches and teammates noticed that Jakkaraju was more than an athlete; he was a student of the game. “He has really matured very much. He started playing for me as a freshman. In

Student Athlete of the Week – Dani Dardano

Xavier Prep softball pitcher and utility player Dani Dardano is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Dardano, who has played on varsity since her sophomore year, mentioned that balance is the key to being an all-around athlete and a great student in the classroom. “I like to keep a really balanced life,” Dardano said. “I

Student-Athlete of the Week: Mia Buelna

Indio Girls’ water polo point Mia Buelna is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Joining the varsity team as a sophomore, Buelna was ready to compete as soon as she joined. “It was clear from the start that she wanted to get better at the sport, and she really proved from an early stage that

Student Athlete of the Week – Michael Cornwell

Palm Desert Boys’ soccer goalie Michael Cornwell is this week’s student athlete of the week. Described as a displinced and competitive athlete, Cornwell credits those traits from the people that are closest to him. “This team is built on allowing me to be the best because they are the best I can ask for,” Cornwell

Student Athlete of the Week – Emiliano Dominguez

Rancho Mirage Boys’ soccer Emiliano Dominguez is this week’s student athlete of the week. As described by coaches and teammates, Dominguez’s character is humble, relentless, competitive, and a great friend on and off the field. Playing on the varsity team since he was a freshman, Dominguez and his coach have built a long-lasting relationship. “We

Student Athlete of the Week – Kaylin Montano

The Shadow Hills girls wrestling program has won four straight league titles and a lot of that success can be attributed to senior star Kaylin Montano. Shadow Hills senior wrestler Kaylin Montano is our student athlete of the week.🏅 2x league champ🏆 1 @CIFSS title (hopefully 2 soon)📚 Bookworm👩‍🔬 Plans to study chemistry or biology💊 Wants to

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