Heritage High School Athletes of the Week: Sept. 16

From left: Danny Ibarra, Kristen Briseno, Isaiah Morrow, Simoriah Scharer, Diamond Brogan.

Each week of the school year, Menifee 24/7 honors top student-athletes at Heritage High School. The coach of each varsity sport is allowed to select one athlete based on the previous week's performances or on potential shown by the athlete. Here are this week's Heritage High School Athletes of the Week:

The boys cross country team is represented by Danny Ibarra, who took fifth place overall in the sophomore race at the Colton Swarm Invitational. Kristen Briseno of the girls cross country team took fifth place overall in the senior race at the Colton Swarm Invitational.

Running back Isaiah Morrow represents the football team this week. In last Friday's 65-12 victory over Coachella Valley, Morrow rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass.

Simoriah Scharer was chosen to represent the girls tennis team

"Simi is a multi-sport athlete, hard worker, and is always helping others during practice," said her coach, Monty McIntosh.

Diamond Brogan was chosen as a representative of the girls volleyball team

These athletes will be eligible for selection as Heritage High School's Athletes of the Month, which will be announced the first week of October.

Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week: Sept. 16

From left: Viola Plasencia, Kathryn Whitford, Joseph Dunn, Erin Hamand.

Each week of the school year, Menifee 24/7 honors top student-athletes at Paloma Valley High School. The coach of each varsity sport is allowed to select one athlete based on the previous week's performances or on potential shown by the athlete. Here are this week's Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week:

Erin Hamand is one of the stars of the girls volleyball team. She led the team in kills and blocks this at the recent Desert Classic, where she was an All-Tournament selection. She has committed to Colorado School of Mines, one of the top engineering schools in the country.

Viola Plasencia and Kathryn Whitford make up the No. 1 doubles team for the girls tennis team. They won eight of their nine matches last week.

"They are excellent leaders on the tennis team and the younger girls look up to them," said their coach, David McCoy. "They are excellent students and teachers have only good things to say about them."

Defensive lineman Joseph Dunn "was all over the field" in the football team's loss to a tough ML King team last weekend, said coach Bert Esposito. Dunn has 14 tackles and 12 assists in three games.

These athletes will be eligible for selection as Paloma Valley High School's Athletes of the Month, which will be announced the first week of October.

Heritage High School Athletes of the Week: Sept. 9

Each week of the school year, Menifee 24/7 honors top student-athletes at Heritage High School. The coach of each varsity sport is allowed to select one athlete based on the previous week's performances or on potential shown by the athlete. Here are this week's Heritage High School Athletes of the Week:

Senior defensive back Brandon Barker returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in the Patriot football team's 48-13 victory over JW North last Friday night. Barker has helped lead Heritage to a 2-0 record heading into this Friday night's game against Coachella Valley.

Hannah Rivas of the girls tennis team was selected by coach Monty McIntosh for being "extremely coachable and driven to improve to be a success on the team."

These athletes will be eligible for selection as Heritage High School's Athletes of the Month, which will be announced the first week of October.

Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week: Sept. 9

Each week of the school year, Menifee 24/7 honors top student-athletes at Paloma Valley High School. The coach of each varsity sport is allowed to select one athlete based on the previous week's performances or on potential shown by the athlete. Here are this week's Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week:

Senior wide receiver and defensive back Jacob Diaz was selected by football coach Bert Esposito for his accomplishments the first two weeks of the season.

"He has made some great catches in the first two games and caused a few pass interference calls," Esposito said. "Defensively, he has been very sound."

Sonia Mejia was selected by girls tennis coach Alison King for her talent and leadership ability heading into the season.

These athletes will be eligible for selection as Paloma Valley High School's Athletes of the Month, which will be announced the first week of October.

Area Girls Water Polo Team Places 3rd in Junior Olympics

The XTREME girls water polo club took third place at the recent Junior Olympics in the under-18 division in San Jose.

The team played eight matches against teams from across the Western U.S. Throughout the four-day tournament, the team won five out of its eight matches. Two of the losses resulted from shootouts, and the third loss was only by a margin of two goals.

Many of the team's players come from Menifee, Murrieta and other parts of Riverside County, including Vista Murrieta High school senior Daniela Freeman, the team's goalie. Freeman is already being scouted by several colleges, as are many of her teammates.

The girls water polo under-18 division included 48 teams in the Championship tournament and 24 teams in the Classic tournament, and teams had to qualify through their zone allocated spots.

IE Arsenal Baseball Travel Team Takes Third in World Series

The IE Arsenal Baseball Travel Team from Menifee placed third in the 14u AAA division of the World Series in San Diego this week. The Arsenal was the last Southern California team left in the tournament.

Blevins, Alderete Named Heritage High Athletes of Month

Paloma Valley High athlete Alexandra Blevins is presented her Athlete of the Month award by Cynthia Nemelka of RE/MAX Diamond Realty.

Senior softball pitcher Alexandra Blevins and sophomore golfer J'men Alderete were named Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month for Heritage High School.

The athletes received a certificate and gift card presented by Cynthia Nemelka of RE/MAX Diamond Realty, sponsor of the awards program.

Blevins completed a stellar four-year career at Heritage by posting a 2.78 ERA for the Patriots, who finished second in the Sunbelt League and compiled a 19-12 record on the way to the CIF quarterfinals.

This fall, she is headed for the University of Tulsa on a softball scholarship.

"I'm sad that it's over, but at the same time, I have such a bright future ahead of me," she said. "I completely enjoyed all my years playing softball here and the coaching has been great with coach (Angela) Ramiro; it's been awesome.

"I'm playing travel ball again this summer. For me, softball is a year-round thing. I just want to make sure I keep my speed and more movement on my pitches as I get ready for college."

Alderete (left) this spring became the first Heritage High golfer ever to qualify for the CIF postseason tournament. A former baseball player who suffered a knee injury, Alderete has a personal best score of 37 for nine holes and 76 for 18 holes.

This was the final Athlete of the Month award presented by Menifee 24/7 and RE/MAX Diamond Realty for the current school year.