Marquez, Briseno: Heritage High Menifee 24/7 Athletes of Month

Heritage High School's Caleb Marquez and Kristen Briseno receive their Athlete of the Month awards from Cynthia Nemelka of RE/MAX Diamond Realty, sponsor of the awards program.

Senior nose guard and linebacker Caleb Marquez and junior cross country runner Kristen Briseno of Heritage High School were honored this week with the Menifee 24/7 September Athlete of the Month Award, sponsored by RE/MAX Diamond Realty.

Marquez has performed consistently both on offense and defense for the Patriots football team, which is 4-1 overall heading into their Sunbelt League opener at home against Perris tonight. As a starting nose guard on the offensive line, he provides valuable blocking for Heritage's running game and pass protection for sophomore quarterback Brett Virgil.

Experience gained as a lineman and familiarity with those playing next to him -- especially tackle Niko Gomez -- has helped Marquez become a comfortable and confident leader of the offensive line.

"Offense is becoming really fun," Marquez said. "Knowing the plays better helps a lot. I feel like I'm able to go full-speed and hit people hard. But I know I have to hit them under control."

Marquez will be called upon for even more leadership tonight, because Gomez is sidelined with a leg injury. Until he returns -- perhaps next week -- it will be up to Marquez to adjust to a new fellow lineman and take up the slack.

One reason for excitement is the fact the Patriots are finally playing at home after four straight weeks on the road. It's also the school's Homecoming.

"It's a homecoming for us, and it's a real Homecoming," Marquez said. "People show up when we're on the road, but there's a lot more hype when we come home and see a big crowd."

Briseno, who was also a Heritage Athlete of the Week last week, is coming off an impressive performance in a cross country invitational at Yucaipa last weekend. She led the race virtually the whole way and finished first.

"I think it's hard when you're out in front," she said. "I have a bad habit of looking back to see where the other runners are. The coaches tell us not to, but a lot of runners do that."

Briseno handled the course well, both on surface streets and on hilly surfaces. That, combined with her 19:48 clocking in the recent Bulldog Invitational, have made her a top contender entering the upcoming Inland Empire Championships.

"It's a really big meet with a lot of great teams," she said.

Briseno's goal is to keep improving her times into the low 19-minute range.

"I didn't feel like I was hitting where I should be," she said about her earlier performances. "I woke up and realized I had to practice harder. I needed to start improving myself."

Each athlete received a certificate and VISA gift card from Cynthia Nemelka of RE/MAX Diamond Realty, sponsor of the award.

Heritage Athletes of the Week: Castellanos, Marquez, Chilson

Heritage High School Athletes of the Week (from left): Alejandro Castellanos, Caleb Marquez, Nicole Chilson.

Alejandro Castellanos, Caleb Marquez and Nicole Chilson have been honored as the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week for Heritage High School.

In last week's Sunbelt League cross country meet on the three-mile course at Paloma High, Alejandro Castellanos finished third among all runners with a time of 16:13. The senior is in his third year on varsity and has a personal best time of 15:35, established in the Bulldog Invitational in Hemet last year.

"My goal this year is to get under 15," Castellanos said.

Castellanos worked hard in training during the summer, running miles through open fields near his home. He continues to build endurance during the season. Every Monday, he and his teammates run a half-marathon in training.

"We're out there in the dirt and hills," he said. "I want to succeed and help the school look good."

Caleb Marquez had a big game at strong guard on the offensive line for the Patriots' football team Friday night in a narrow loss to Great Oak. In addition, he came into the game on defense in the closing minutes and made a major impact.

After making tackles on second- and third-down plays, Marquez blocked a punt on fourth down, keeping the game close.

"They put me at nose guard, which I don't normally play," Marquez said. "But they told me I would be a utility player on defense, so I could end up anywhere, and I have to be ready. I noticed there was some really big splits in their line, so I decided to try to get in there."

Marquez, who hopes to earn a football scholarship to play in college, said he is excited about the team's 3-1 start this year.

"We're doing fantastic," he said. "We just need to get started sooner in the game and stay consistent."

Nicole Chilson is the No. 1 singles player for Heritage's girls tennis team this fall. She won both her matches Tuesday in the team's first league match, a shutout victory over Perris. Chilson is captain of the team in her senior year.

She credits much of her success to an improved backhand shot.

"Last year I would avoid the backhand, but now I don't," she said. "Now I have a backhand slice that spins away from you."

Heritage, which is one of the favorites to win the league title, will play host to Temescal Canyon on Thursday.