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.

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.

Nine Paloma Valley Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent

Paloma Valley High athletic director Michael Pfeiffer introduces nine athletes who signed letters of intent today.

Paloma Valley High School introduced one of its biggest ever signing classes today when nine Wildcat athletes signed national letters of intent with colleges across the country.

Athletic director Michael Pfeiffer and principal Don Williamson congratulated the athletes, who received a round of applause before a large crowd of students, parents and friends in the school theater.

The athletes who signed letters are:

Baseball:
Max Sias -- Arizona Christian University
Cody McCoy -- Goshen College (Indiana)
Bryce Macy -- California Baptist University

Softball:
Kailee Smith -- Drake University (Iowa)
Holly Oyhenart -- Christian Brothers University (Tennessee)
Jennifer Callais -- Hesston College (Kansas)

Cross country/track:
Zack Castor -- Arizona Christian University
Franco Portillo -- Viterbo University (Wisconsin)
Dazhana Jackson -- Kentucky Wesleyan College

Spring sports athletes are permitted to sign letters of intent before their senior year of high school competition.

Athletic director Michael Pfeiffer and principal Don Williamson stand alongside the honored athletes.