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 said. "They allow me to work harder and harder and they push me into where my goals are needing to be met. Overall they are a team that I just choose to be with every day."

With a successful season in 2021, Cornwell's life would change forever as he would be hospitalized in the ICU for 16 days.

"We've gone through a lot of ups and downs in terms of his health and I was trying to be there as much as I could, so I was there for the hard times," head coach Aurelio Alonso said. "Just to watch him grow and get a chance to grow and become something amazing was special to me."

The process was tough on Cornwell to come back and play soccer, but he found motivation and traced back to his passion about the sport he loves.

"We all have that kick in us that we find in motivation, something we love, something that builds us back up," Cornwell said. "When we just persevere and have passion for it, it's just kicks back into you and you just love it more and more."

Being a great athlete on the field and student in the classroom, Cornwell is also a student of the game.

"He wants to just learn more and wants to be more than what he is," Alonso said. It's amazing just to watch him work, compete, and just be who he is because it just comes natural with him."

Building great relationships with his teammates and coaches, Cornwell made an impact on all of them he has met.

"There's not too often that you can come into a program and meet a great kid and watch him grow up to be a fine gentleman and a great competitor," Alonso said. "He was one of the ones that I first met when I got into the program, and he's one of the ones that I'm going to dearly miss leaving the program."

As his time at Palm Desert coming to an end, Cornwell plans to attend a four-year university outside of the valley. Going through battles with his health and being an MVP for games, Cornwell is an MVP in life.

We are always looking for Student Athlete of the Week nominations. If you know a senior who should be featured next, be sure to contact the KESQ sports department.

The Student Athlete of the Week segment airs every Tuesday.