Paloma Valley Track Standout Nesbitt is Athlete of the Week

Sophomore track and field standout Jemena Nesbitt of Paloma Valley High School has been selected as the Menifee 24/7 Athlete of the Week for her recent efforts in the sport.

Nesbitt was Sunbelt League champion in the 100-meter hurdles and finished third in the 300 hurdles. She also qualified for the CIF prelims and set a personal record in the 100 hurdles there.

"Jemena did an amazing job this season, improving her times in the hurdles," said her coach, Juan Merida. "This was truly a gtreat accomplishment, considering she is only a sophomore and had never run track before."

Paloma Valley High Standouts Honored as Athletes of the Week

Top performances by four spring sports athletes were recognized this week by Menifee 24/7 with Athletes of the Week awards from Paloma Valley High School.

Senior Michael Valencia (left) was one of the leaders of the boys volleyball team, which dropped out of the CIF playoffs in the third round May 17 with a five-game loss to top-seeded South Pasadena. The Wildcats stunned the Tigers by taking them to a fifth game and losing that decisive game by only two points, 15-13.

Paloma Valley won the Sunbelt League title because of the play of people like Valencia, who will go on to play at football the University of La Verne next fall.

"Michael has brought our team to another level," said Katie Bradley, Valencia's coach. "His intensity and determination to excel is contagious on the volleyball court. Michael played a major role in taking our team to the third round of the CIF playoffs, the furthest in school history for the program."

Savanna Ruiz (above) has been a steadying force for the Wildcats softball team, which is 21-7 overall after beating Oak Hills 4-2 Tuesday in the first round of the CIF playoffs. Paloma Valley will play at home against La Quinta today.

Ruiz is hitting .362 with 3 home runs and 21 RBIs.

Anthony Lee was one of the key players for the Wildcats baseball team, which wrapped up the Sunbelt League title and entered the CIF playoffs with a 19-6 overall record. He played a huge role in the team's league-clinching win over Temescal Canyon, making three big defensive plays and going 2 for 3 at the plate.

Samantha Flores won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter races in the Sunbelt League finals. She went on to compete in the CIF prelims.

Menifee 24/7 Honors Paloma Valley High Athletes of Week

From left: Chabris Kelly, Michael Sanchez, Daniel Stuart, Nicholas Salazar. Not pictured: Kaya Gladu.

Paloma Valley High School's Athletes of the Week for the week ending May 12 were honored recently for their accomplishments during the spring sports season.

Baseball player Nicholas Salazar had a big week recently in games against Rival Heritage, going 4 for 8 with a double, RBI and a stolen base. The Wildcats enter the CIF playoffs as the Sunbelt League champions.

"Nick's leadership and on-field play were crucial ingredients to a very successful week," said coach Chuck Kemp.

Michael Sanchez played a key role in two recent victories against West Valley for the boys volleyball team. He ranks second in digs on the team and has become a defensive specialist.

Sanchez plans to attend San Diego City College to play volleyball.

Senior softball player Chabris Kelly is in her first season with the Wildcats but her third varsity season of softball after moving to Menifee from Oceanside. She has provided stability on defense, making an outstanding play at third base in a recent game against Temescal Canyon.

"Chabris works hard and has a great attitude at practice every day," said her coach, Briana Wells. "She is the first to get equipment at the beginning of practice and the last to leave practice. Her support for her team does not change whether she is playing or sitting."

Senior tennis player Daniel Stuart led the team with 25 singles victories in league play. He went on to win his first three matches in the league tournament.

"Daniel has been a pivotal member of the team, helping to lead the team to many victories," said his coach, Alison King.

Senior Kaya Gladu qualified for the CIF individual tournament in golf.

"He is a solid student, dedicated golfer, and community servant," said his coach, Cory Page. He has helped the younger players on the team all year long."

Stars of First-Place Teams Are Paloma Athletes of the Week

From left: Ryan Edinger, Justin Ramos, Samantha Flores. Not pictured: Abigail Callais.

The success of Paloma Valley High School's spring sports teams is evident in this week's Menifee 24/7 honorees as Athlete of the Week.

Senior first baseman Ryan Edinger had a big week recently for the Wildcats baseball team, which is 6-0 in league play. He was 3 for 4 with two doubles against Perris and 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs against Heritage, helping the team remain in first place.

Edinger said the players are confident in their ability to repeat as Sunbelt League champions this season. Last year, the Wildcats lost only one league game.

"I think it's just team chemistry," he said about the team's key to success. "We work well together. We take baseball seriously at Paloma."

Edinger, who is hitting .469 with 14 RBIs, plans to walk on at San Diego State and study mechanical engineering there.

Senior outside hitter Justin Ramos had a big week recently in league victories over West Valley and Hemet for the volleyball team, which also is in first place with a 7-0 record. He finished that week with 39 kills and 32 digs.

"We just need to keep it going and we've got it in the bag," Ramos said. "We need to make sure we beat West Valley and Hemet again. They're near the top of the league."

Ramos plans to attend Mt. San Jacinto College next year, then transfer to a four-year school and study petrochemical engineering.

Track standout Samantha Flores has battled back from a preseason knee injury and excelled in a recent league meet against Elsinore, winning the 3,200 meters and placing second in the 1,600. She has helped the Wildcats remain one of the dominant teams in the Sunbelt League.

Softball player Abigail Callais was 2 for 3 qith a double in a recent 2-1 victory over Lakeside.

"Abigail is a very reliable first baseman and has made some excellent plays this past week," said her coach, Briana Wells. "She works hard at practice and has been very consistent at the plate all season."

Four Standouts Honored as Paloma Valley Athletes of Week

From left: David Hamilton, Jordan Allec, Kiana Broderson-Jones, Rebekkah Ouk.

Paloma Valley High School's Athletes of the Week include two talented boys and two talented girls who are being honored by Menifee 24/7.

Senior track and field star Rebekkah Ouk has the top marks in the Sunbelt League in the long jump (15-10) and triple jump (30-4). Her personal bests in those events are 16-8 and 32-0. She also participates in the 4x100 relay.

"Rebekkah is the hardest working athlete on the team," said her coach, Juan Merida, about Ouk, who is the team captain and who carries a 4.0 GPA. "She is constantly helping others on the team and is really like an assistnat coach. Her work ethic and care for others really set her apart."

Ouk, who plans to major in math in college, explained why she likes the long jump.

"When you jump, it just feels like you're flying in air," she said.

Sophomore Jordan Allec started the season on the JV tennis team but won a challenge match to move up to the varsity, where he has made the switch from singles to doubles.

"I was working with members of the varsity team," said Allec of his time on the JV squad. "They helped me and I decided to challenge.

"Doubles is a lot more strategic than singles. It was kind of a big change, but once you get used to it, it's fun."

Allec and his partner earned their first win in a league match against Lakeside last week.

Junior Kiana Broderson-Jones is in her third varsity season with the softball team. The center fielder went 2 for 3 against Elsinore last week and 2 for 3 against Perris, with a stolen base in each game.

She is hitting .425 for the Wildcats, who won two of their first three league games.

Junior right-side hitter David Hamilton had 17 kills and 8 digs in the volleyball team's win over Heritage last week. He leads the team with 113 kills.

I'm pretty confident we will win league," Hamilton said. "I think this year's team is better than last year's."

Four Standout Players Named Paloma Valley Athletes of Week

From left: Holly Oyhenart, Parker Fokken, Joseph Gildner. Not pictured: Anthony Smith.

Four Paloma Valley High School students were recognized this week for their accomplishments as Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week.

Parker Fokken is 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA as a pitcher for the Wildcats baseball team, which got off to a fast start by winning its first two Sunbelt League games after a solid preseason. Fokken, a junior right-hander, pitched a shutout against Los Altos in a nonleague game and has been consistent at the plate as well.

"I think the coolest thing about our team is we're always up and working hard, trying to get better," said Fokken, who is in his first year on the varsity team. "We're all very humble and just want to get better."

Joseph Gildner is a senior member of the boys tennis team and has made key contributions as a doubles player.

"Joseph has really stepped up his skills and leadership, on and off the court," said his coach, Alison King. "He offers help to the younger athletes as needed. As a doubles partner, he communicates with his partner during the match to help ensure the success of the team."

"I like doubles because I have a partner who can watch my back in case I'm having a bad day," Gildner said. "You connect with your partner and become friends with them. And I like helping out the younger players. I'm a senior and I won't be here next year, so this is my way of giving back to the school."

Senior softball player Holly Oyhenart has made a big impact for the Wildcats from her outfield position. She is hitting. 579 with 10 RBIs for Paloma Valley, which is 8-5 overall and 2-0 in league play.

Oyhenart has received a scholarship to Christian Brothers University in Tennessee, where she plans to major in sports management.

Track and field standout Anthony Smith recently anchored the 4x100 relay team to a school record of 43.25 seconds. He also has excelled in the 100 and 200 this season.

"Anthony has been working very hard this year to finish his high school career with a bang," said his coach, Bert Esposito. "He has been improving his grades and his performances on the track have been exceptional. I am very proud of his work ethic and leadership."

First Paloma Valley High Spring Sports Honorees Recognized

From left: Darren Fabricante, Josh Arvizu, Kailee Smith, McKay George.

It's springtime, and a new set of teams are beginning competition at Paloma Valley High School. Today Menifee 24/7 honors the first Athletes of the Week for these sports.

Darren Fabricante is team captain of the boys volleyball team and is dedicated to helping the Wildcats get off to a fast start. He is so competitive, he suffered a gash in his chin when diving for a ball in a game against the school alumni.

"That cut later required eight stitches, but Darren insisted on finishing the game," said his coach, Katie Bradley. "He has exemplified positive leadership for our team so far."

"Both my parents were in volleyball," said Fabricante, a senior setter who helped his team win its league opener against San Jacinto on Tuesday. "My dad coached my mom. It became a family thing."

Senior pitcher Kailee Smith pitched 19 innings the first week of the season with a 1.11 ERA and 13 strikeouts. She is also batting .375 with a double and triple for the Wildcats, who are 6-3 this season.

"We're young, but I think we have a lot of potential," said Smith, who plays first base and right field when she isn't pitching. "Last year we finished second in league and made it to third round of CIF, and we want to improve on that."

Smith has received a full-ride scholarship to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa for next year.

McKay George is a senior leader for the boys tennis team, having worked his way up from a JV doubles player as a freshman to a standout singles player for the varsity.

"I did cross country my freshman year," he said. "I wasn't the best at cross country; actually I was one of the worst runners. I was determined coming into tennis that I would make something of myself. In the beginning, I was one of the worst doubles players. But we worked our way up to No. 1 on JV and finally I got to varsity."

"In his first two years, he continually worked on his skills and challenged varsity members to earn a varsity spot by the end of his sophomore year," said his coach, Alison King. "Not only is McKay leading his team in points, but he also leads his team by his character and the attitude in 'team first.' "

Senior Josh Arvizu is the starting center fielder for the baseball team, which plays Los Altos today. He moved here from Japan for his sophomore year and recently was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy.

"We did a lot last year and we have really good pitching and defense, plus good hitting," said Arvizu. "We're expected to do a lot this year."

Arvizu plans to play baseball in prep school in Rhode Island next year before entering the Naval Academy.

Paloma Valley High Standouts Honored as Athletes of Week

Back row, from left: Jose Sandoval, Ashlynn Cota, Izaiah Cameron. Front row: Bailey Calhoun, Adam Andrade.

Five Paloma Valley High School athletes who just completed their winter sports seasons have been honored for their recent accomplishments with Athlete of the Week awards from Menifee 24/7.

Junior Izaiah Cameron was a standout player for the boys basketball team, leading the way from his guard and forward position. He made the game-winning shot in a 57-55 victory over Temescal Canyon earlier this month and helped the Wildcats make the CIF playoffs, where they lost in the first round.

"I got the ball from Alex Patterson and just saw a wide-open lane," Cameron said about the overtime win at Temescal Canyon. "I drove in and laid it up for the win.

"We did good this year, but sometimes we were weren't consistent enough. To be more of a leader next year, I just need to work hard on my game over summer."

Junior center midfielder Bailey Calhoun was one of the most consistent players on the girls soccer team, which finished the season with an impressive record of 16-3-6. The Wildcats were undefeated in Sunbelt League play and made it to the second round of the CIF playoffs before losing 1-0 to Sage Hill.

"It's chemistry," Calhoun said about the key to the team's success. "A lot of it is how we bond off the field. It translates onto the field. And everybody works really hard."

Calhoun's coach, Marie Dillon, had high praise for her star player.

"Bailey is an important part of our attack and is considered one of our top playmakers," she said. "She is one of the most competitive players I have ever coached."

Senior Ashlynn Cota was the leading scorer on the girls basketball team with an average of 14.3 points per game. She played three years on the varsity team and "has an amazing ability to shoot," said her coach, Romeo Galbreath.

Cota's season ended last week in a 69-62 loss to Chino in the playoffs, but she looks forward to a college career. She has already been accepted by Cal State East Bay and is also considering Whittier College.

"I feel like we improved from last season," she said. "We had the same exact team. I feel like we could've had it in the playoffs, but it just didn't work out."

Wrestler Adam Andrade recently won the Sunbelt League championship at 120 pounds, beating highly regarded Tod Stafford of Temescal Canyon to reach the finals, where he won with a pin. He didn't qualify for this weekend's Masters Meet, however, because he didn't make weight at the CIF finals.

"It's heartbreaking because of all the hard work over the year," said the junior. "Tod Stafford went to Masters. Knowing I beat him shows me I could've gone to Masters. I just see this as an experience to use in doing better next year."

Senior captain Jose Sandoval missed six games with a concussion but fought back to be a key player for the boys soccer team. He scored a goal in each of the last four games he played.

"Jose has been a leader on and off the field, always playing to the highest standards of excellence, sportsmanship and leadership," said his coach, Ramon Benz.

Five Paloma Valley Stars Named Athletes of the Week

From left: RJ Benz, Christina Rodriguez, River Recatto.

Two talented soccer players, two basketball players and a wrestler were honored today as the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week from Paloma Valley High School.

Although he is only a sophomore, forward River Recatto is a team leader for the boys basketball team. "He leads by example on and off the court," said his coach, Michael Pfeiffer.

"I try to be as much of a leader as I can and motivate us to do our best," said Recatto, whose team is winless in league play. "We have four sophomores on our team, so the future is bright, but it's been a tough season. We've had a lot of problems with injuries. We just try to pull together and do the best we can."

RJ Benz is a repeat winner of the award because of his continued strong play for the boys soccer team, which improved to 3-2-1 in the Sunbelt League last week with a 5-0 win over Elsinore. Benz's two goals in that game gives him a total of 15 this season -- just two short of the school single-season record with five games left in the regular season.

"RJ is often marked and double teamed, yet he finds a way to make a play by scoring or setting up teammates," said Ramon Benz, his father and coach. "Often you hear coaches on the opposing team calling out, 'Watch Number 21,' always aware of RJ's location on free kicks or throw-ins."

RJ is used to the challenge and often rises to the occasion.

"It doesn't bug me, but it's harder to play when there's constantly two guys on me," he said. "But it does open up opportunities for other guys on the team."

Junior goalkeeper Christina Rodriguez is one of the top players on the girls soccer team, which is 12-2-5 overall and 4-0-2 in league play, good for first place.

"Christina is one of the best goalkeepers around and I strongly feel there is no one better than her," said her coach, Marie Dillon. "She is very smart and loves the game. What I love about Christina the most is her passion. Being a former goalkeeper myself, I can really appreciate what she brings to the team."

Rodriguez first tried playing in goal at age 8 and settled on the position full-time when she was 12.

"I like playing goal because it's a different position from everything else," she said. "There's more pressure involved. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best. I want to do everything I can for my teammates."

Sophomore wrestler Lysander Mahilum recently made a strong showing in the finals of the Raul Huerta Memorial Tournament at Canyon Springs High School, helping the Wildcats place 13th out of 62 schools. Last weekend, he won the Sunbelt League championship at 106 pounds and will compete in the CIF divisional finals this weekend.

"I wrestled a guy who is ranked second in the state," Mahilum said about the Raul Huerta Tournament. "He thought it was going to be a blowout. He walked off mad. Although he won, it was an upset bccause I made it so close."

Mahilum has his sights set on postseason competition. If he places in the top five at the CIF finals, he will advance to the Masters meet in an attempt to qualify for the state meet.

Junior post player and guard Claire Garland is the girls basketball team's leading rebounder with a 6.8 average. Even though she is often at a height disadvantage at 5-foot-6, Garland often dominates under the basket.

"Claire has led the team in rebounds all season," said her coach, Romeo Galbreath. "She's not afraid to challenge other teams' height, even when she may be at a disadvantage. She has over 140 rebounds so far and her drive makes her indispensable to the team."

"I guess I jump pretty high, but it's not just your height," she said. "You have to box out."

Paloma Valley honorees Claire Garland and Lysander Mahilum.

Five Standouts Honored as Paloma Valley Athletes of the Week

From left: Andy Galvan, Jeremiah Von Moos, Christopher Owens, Vanessa Banuelos, Crystal Chhan.

Five oustanding student-athletes have been selected as Paloma Valley High School's representatives as the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week for the week ending Jan. 25.

Senior wrestler Jeremiah Von Moos moved up in weight from 126 pounds to 145 for a dual match against Heritage last week. He came back from a 10-2 deficit to win by a pin and help seal the Wildcats' 39-33 victory.

"I was going for big moves, going for the pin," Von Moos said. "It just wasn't working out, but in the third period I ended up going big again and I pinned him. It was a pretty big win."

Von Moos has been wrestling since the sixth grade. Last year he was Sunbelt League champion at 113 pounds. He leads the team into league finals this Saturday.

Senior midfielder Andy Galvan has played several different positions for the boys soccer team. He has scored six goals for the Wildcats, who are one of the top teams in the Sunbelt League.

"Andy plays the game with skill, hustle and teamwork," said his coach, Ramon Benz. "He has come through for our team by scoring big goals when needed. Andy is a leader on and off the field, speaking up to players and coaches in an appropriate, produce manner. He is truly an impact player for our program."

Sophomore Crystal Chhan is in her second year with the JV girls basketball team and is developing the potential to one day join the varsity squad. She maintains above a 4.0 GPA and is learning the game quickly, said her coach, Romeo Galbreath.

"I just got into it last year," Chhan said. "I was always interested in basketball and I wanted to play a sport. I'm still learning the rules, though. I used to just play on the playground."

Senior center and power forward Chris Owens is the leading scorer for the boys basketball team and a steadying influence for a team that is still in search of its first league win. He hopes to continue his career at the college level.

"Personally, I've been asserting myself as a leader," he said. "We have been going through a rough patch. We have a lot of young guys, so sometimes it's hard for us to bounce back after a loss. I'm trying to play a leader's role and help the other guys."

Junior defender Vanessa Banuelos is a standout for the girls soccer team. Coach Marie Dillon considers Banuelos her "secret weapon," because she is sometimes inserted as goalkeeper when the starting goalie is added to the offensive lineup.

Banuelos helped out in that position last week in a scoreless tie with Temescal Canyon -- which followed three straight wins in league.

"She is the ultimate team player who works hard and never complains," Dillon said.

"I've played soccer since I was 4," Banuelos said. I've played all the positions, but I'm most comfortable being a defender."

Paloma Valley Athletes of Week: Sheffield, Atkins, Patterson

From left: Regina Sheffield, Chloe Atkins, Alex Patterson are the Paloma Valley High Athletes of the Week.

Three winter sports athletes who combine athletic and academic success were recently named the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week from Paloma Valley High School for the week ending Jan. 18.

Junior shooting guard Regina Sheffield is a team captain for the Wildcats girls basketball team, which has a 12-9 overall record, 3-2 in the Sunbelt League. She averages 12.4 points per game and excels on defense for her team. The Wildcats play host to Elsinore on Wednesday.

Sheffield also plans to compete for the Wildcats track and field team this spring.

Junior forward Chloe Atkins leads the girls soccer team in both goals and assists this winter. She is a driving force for the Wildcats, who are 3-0-2 in Sunbelt League play after a scoreless tie with Temescal Canyon. Paloma is an impressive 11-2-4 overall.

"C-Lo deserves all the success and recognition because she has worked so hard to be the player she is now," said Paloma Valley coach Marie Dillon, referring to Atkins by her nickname. "She is the kind of player that makes her teammates around her better. C-Lo is very determined and passionate about playing the game. It's a privilege to coach her."

Third-year varsity player Alex Patterson is one of the stars of the boys basketball team. As a junior last year, he received the basketball program's Wildcat of the Year award, which goes to the player who best represents academic, basketball and character achievements. This year, he is leading the team in rebounding.

"We’re young this year. We only have three seniors," said Patterson, who plans to study kinesiology in college.

Each of the honorees received a certificate from Menifee 24/7 and a T-shirt from the Paloma Valley athletic department.

Paloma Valley Athletes of the Week: Armijo, Prewitt, Hancock

From left: Jackie Armijo, DeMarco Prewitt, Alize Hancock.

Three student-athletes who have excelled for their teams in early January have been selected by their coaches as Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week for Paloma High School.

Senior Jackie Armijo is a four-year varsity player and captain of the Wildcats girls soccer team. Her solid play from the center back position on defense was a key to Paloma Valley's 1-0 victory over Hemet in the team's final nonleague game Jan. 9. Behind her leadership, the team is 9-2-2 heading into Wednesday's Sunbelt League opener at Elsinore, last year's league champion.

"The Hemet game was tough," Armijo said. "They had a couple really good forwards, so our defense really had to work together and communicate with each other.

"We didn't lose any seniors from last year, so we have a lot of chemistry on the team."

She hopes to earn a scholarship to continue her soccer career in college.

Sophomore guard DeMarco Prewitt is one of the leading scorers on the boys basketball team, which lost its league opener to Elsinore on Saturday in the Sunbelt League Showcase, hosted by the Wildcats. Although the team has struggled, Prewitt has displayed the type of leadership he showed as a running back on the football team last fall.

"We've just got to get through it," Prewitt said. "We have to come together as a team and get things done. We get along real well. I think our chances in league are very good. It just comes down to how much we want it, because we can beat any team in the league. We just have to work at it."

Junior guard and team captain Alize Hancock scored 19 points last Saturday to lead the girls basketball team to a 56-35 victory over Elsinore in the Wildcats' Sunbelt League opener. She is averaging 14.8 points per game for Paloma, which is 10-7 overall.

Hancock missed five games with a concussion after taking an elbow to the face early in the season, but she has rebounded to once again be a strong leader for her teammates.

"Our goal is to make it to at least third round of CIF," Hancock said. "Last year we only made it to the first round. We're working together better as a team this year."

Castor, Barnes Named Paloma Valley Athletes of the Week

Two Paloma Valley High School athletes exemplifying endurance and determination were honored this week as Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week.

Zackery Castor (left) competed the entire season with a leg injury for the boys cross country team. The injury, suffered in preseason training, slowed his progress, but Castor managed to compete in all his team's races and remained the Wildcats' top runner throughout the season.

"As we came to the last races of the season, Zack was finally getting healthy and able to train like his normal self," said cross country coach Joe Ellett. "I just wish we had a couple more weeks to get him up to speed.

"While Zack was not able to meet the goals he had set coming into this season, he showed determination and dedication to his team by persevering through the injury and spending countless hours in the pool and on a stationary bike to maintain some amount of fitness. I am very proud of this young man."

Even though he was still recovering from the injury, Castor ran a 16:19 in the CIF Prelims at Mt. San Antonio College last weekend, finishing first among Paloma Valley runners.

"I was bummed out about it because I knew I wouldn't be able to train up to the season," Castor said about his initial reaction to the injury. "I ran in all the meets but I was missing the training that would allow me to compete at my full ability."

Senior defensive end Dalvin Barnes (not pictured) is one of the leaders of the Paloma Valley defense. Including last week's playoff victory over Chino, Barnes had 25 total tackles in just six games since becoming eligible following the transfer to Paloma Valley. He also has three sacks.

"Dalvin is a tremendous asset to our program," said Wildcats coach Bert Esposito. "He came new to our football program at the beginning of the year and had to sit out the first five games due to the transfer rules. He is now our second leading sack leader and is climbing up the list of tackles for the year.

"He is a great kid with a great personality, plays hard, is very coachable and we love to have him here as a lifetime Wildcat."

Melchor, Adcock Named Paloma Valley Athletes of Week

Dominique Melchor (left) and Anthony Adcock were named Paloma Valley High Athletes of the Week.

The fall high school sports season is now in postseason competition, and two Paloma Valley High School athletes who will play key roles for their teams were honored this week as the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week.

Dominique Melchor will compete for the Wildcats' boys cross country team Saturday at the CIF prelims at Mt. San Antonio College. He helped his team finish second in the Sunbelt League and is poised for another strong performance on a challenging course in the prelims.

"There are three huge hills," Melchor said about the Mt. SAC course. "You run one entire mile and after that, it goes uphill and people start dying if they haven't trained for that."

Melchor's best time was a 17:16 at the league finals at Diamond Lake.

"Dominique has competed with strength throughout this cross country season," said his coach, Joe Ellett. "He has made great improvement in performance through consistency of effort in training. Dominique is always up for the challenge, whether it is one more hill or a 600-meter repeat."

Melchor, a senior, also carries a GPA above 4.0. He has found a way to successfully combine athletics and academics, despite a rigorous training routine.

"We have to put in tons of mileage -- six to eight miles some days," he said. "Sometimes we have to work really hard on speed and repeats. We have to implement that in the races."

Football player Anthony Adcock is only a sophomore but has already made an impact at linebacker since transferring in from Vista Murrieta. He had to sit out the first five seasons because of the transfer, but since then he has jumped right into the starting lineup.

Two weeks ago in a victory over Temescal Canyon, Adcock led the team with 18 tackles.

"Anthony has really grown up as a player and person this season," said coach Bert Esposito. "Only a sophomore, he is showing a lot of maturity and will be a presence to be reckoned with as he grows.He has an outgoing personality that is contagious and will most definitely be a leader in our program for years to come."

Adcock said the Temescal Canyon game was by far his best of the season.

"I just turned on the switch," he said. "I felt really fired up. It's all about hard work for me, though. I have a lot of room to improve."
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Paloma High Athletes of Week: Offerman, Valencia, Gray

Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week, from left: Shannon Offerman, Michael Valencia, Madison Gray.

Three Paloma Valley High School athletes having outstanding seasons have been honored this week with Menifee 24/7 Athlete of the Week awards.

Senior volleyball player Shannon Offerman set a school record with nine blocks in a five-game match victory over Temescal Canyon.

"They have a lot of really good hitters," Offerman said about Temescal Canyon. "I'm a pretty good blocker, I think, so I just have to figure out where they're going to hit and judge the shot."

Offerman, a right side blocker, focuses on defense in using her 6-foot-2 height to her advantage for Paloma Valley, which is one of the top teams in the Sunbelt League.

Senior football player Michael Valencia has been one of the top players on offense and defense for the Wildcats, who are 7-1 this season. One of his top peformances came two weeks ago against Perris, when he caught four passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. He also had two interceptions on defense.

For the season, Valencia has 24 receptions for 447 yards and 12 touchdowns. He teams with senior quarterback Brent Boehm to create an effective offensive threat.

"I grew up with him," Valencia said. "I've known him since third grade. It's like playing with your best friend. It's fun. We have a connection on the field and it got stronger in passing league during the summer."

Sophomore Madison Gray began the year playing doubles on the Wildcats' JV girls tennis team. Her improvement has earned her a spot on the varsity team as a singles player. She says she enjoys the challenge of playing singles.

"I like singles," said Gray, who never played tennis before last year. "I don't have to rely on anyone. Every shot that I miss, that's all on me. It's a nice change."

With two years of varsity tennis ahead of her, Gray is focusing on areas of improvement.

"I just need to get harder shots," she said. "That's one thing I struggle with. I don't have a lot of power. But I'm working on it."

Six Standouts Honored as Paloma Valley Athletes of Week

Back row, left to right: Marshall Tuleja, Savannah Aaron, Olivia Meyer. Front row, left to right: Symone Carreno, Lucero Morales, Phillip Hauser.

Some of Paloma Valley High School's finest athletes are being honored today in their respective sports as the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week.

Marshall Tuleja has battled through injuries to have a successful season for the boys cross country team. He had what he considers one of his better races last week in a Sunbelt League meet at Lakeside High. Despite the injuries, he hopes to top his personal best of 16:09, established last year in the CIF postseason competition.

"I'm banged up, but I've learned to run with them," he said about the injuries. "I overcome it by staying focused on the big picture. The team needs me to score some points, so I'm working hard every day to stay in there."

Junior golfer Savannah Aaron was set to compete in the league finals this week on a par-72, 18-hole course -- a challenge for players who normally play nine holes in regular-season matches. So far this season, she has been up to every task in her performance for Paloma Valley.

"I started playing golf when I was about 8," she said. "My dad would take me along with him. I had some lessons, but I never really played competitive golf until last year."

Junior Olivia Meyer has made a huge impact on the volleyball team in her first year at the varsity level. She has shown great improvement and determination at the middle blocker position for the Wildcats, who have been solid in league play.

"We had a rough start in the preseason," she said. "I don't know what happened when league kicked in, but when we played Elsinore, we turned things around."

Symone Carreno has been a standout for the girls cross country team, posting a personal best of 20:55 in a recent meet. This is the first full varsity season for the junior.

"My coach said that race was the first race where I actually raced the whole way," she said with a smile. "Instead of having one point of the race where I'm just surviving, I've worked on racing the whole race."

Tennis standout Lucero Morales battled her way onto the varsity team this season and adjusted to a switch of doubles partners to become a key part of the Wildcats' success. She says she prefers doubles to singles.

"At first the switch from singles is tough, but once you get used to it, it's fun," she said. "Having a partner to rely on helps; you don't have to cover as much of the court."

Senior Phillip Hauser has made some key catches for the Wildcats football team, which is undefeated at 7-0 heading into Friday's game against Heritage. He has caught 13 passes for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns, including 5 catches for 117 yards against Elsinore two weeks ago.

"I haven't gotten as many catches as I hoped, but we're doing pretty good and that's what counts," he said. "I knew we could do that. This is my third year on varsity, and I feel like I'm starting to make more plays."

Paloma Athletes of Week: Bateson, Volkoff, Hansen, Smith

Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week (from left): Samantha Bateson, Maria Volkoff, Joseph Hansen, Elliott Smith.

Four successful sports teams from Paloma Valley High School are well represented this week by the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week chosen from Wildcat rosters.

Samantha Bateson, outside hitter for the girls volleyball team, has proven to be a leader on offense for the Wildcats. In a recent victory over Murrieta Mesa, she had 11 kills with no errors from her front-line position.

Bateson followed that up last week with strong performances in wins against Perris and Heritage. She has improved her spiking form greatly in just her first year on the varsity squad after moving up from the JV team.

"I'm hitting the ball harder now; it goes straight down now," said Bateson. "I worked on snapping my wrist more."

Maria Volkoff, a junior member of the girls tennis team, has dominated the competition in recent matches, says her coach, Alison King.

"Each week, Maria continues to improve her tennis game and each week she continues to score big points for the Lady Wildcat tennis team," King said. "As a junior, Maria leads the team by her hard work and dedication on the court as well as in the classroom."

Cross country runner Joseph Hansen posted the second fastest time on his team (16:21) at the recent Sunny Hills Invitational. He also has posted times of 16:05 at the Woodbridge Invitational and 16:29 at the Inland Empire Championships.

"Joseph ran a stellar race at the Sunny Hills Invitation," coach Joe Ellett said. "He is improving his racing strategy each week. It will be exciting to watch how well he can finish this season."

Hansen acknowledged his change in race strategy.

"Before, my main problem was, I'd just start to run and stay there," he said. "You have to watch your pace. You move up through the course, you try to stay with one runner, then you decide when to make a move. The race is too long to just run out front and go all out the whole race."

Running back Elliott Smith of the football team had an outstanding first half of the season and really hit his stride in a 49-34 win over Temecula Valley Sept. 27. With Demarco Prewitt sidelined by injury, Smith took charge of the running game, gaining 125 yards on 28 carries with one touchdown. He also performed well on defense.

Unfortunately, Smith suffered an injury of his own last Friday in the Wildcats' 35-29 win over Elsinore. According to Smith, an injury to his right leg was diagnosed as a tibia plateau displacement -- a bone dislocation that will keep him out the rest of the season.

"I'm pretty satisfied with what I did the first half of the season," Smith said. "I'll be out there pulling for the team."

Each of the players received a certificate in recognition of the honor and a T-shirt from the school's athletic department.

Paloma Valley Athletes of the Week: Williams, Hamand, Colon

Paloma High School Athletes of the Week (from left): Stephanie Williams, Erin Hamand, Ruben Colon.

In recognition of their recent success in athletics and their outstanding representation of their school, Stephanie Williams, Erin Hamand and Ruben Colon have been named Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week for Paloma Valley High School.

The sport of cross country has a solid legacy at Paloma Valley, and Stephanie Williams is helping to carry on the winning tradition. In the recent Woodbridge Invitational, she set a personal best for a three-mile course with a time of 19:50.

Williams finished 15th overall in a field featuring top runners from many Southland high schools. And she did it while nursing a pulled leg muscle.

"I had a lot of pain before the race, but I just pushed through it," she said. "That was my best race mentally, maybe because I had to make up for the injury. Running is about 80 percent mental."

Williams doesn't even get to work out with all her teammates during the week. Because she is attending church seminary during early morning workouts, she and a couple teammates train together after school.

"Even if no one is watching over us, we know we can't slack off," Williams said. "You have to have solid workouts."

At 6-foot-2, Erin Hamand enjoys a height advantage that makes her a force from her middle blocker position on the Wildcats' girls volleyball team. A highly recruited junior, Hamand scored 10 points in one game against Tahquitz with three service aces and seven kills.

"I was an outside hitter, but they put me back in the middle," said Hamand. "The block is important because it sets the tone for the back row defense. On offense, I can be ready to handle the set."

Hamand does a good job on both offense and defense at the net and has really improved in her role on the team.

"I used to touch the net all the time," she said with a smile. "One game when I first started, I think I had 28 nets. I've gotten a lot better about that."

Hamand plans to visit Oregon State soon and also is being recruited by Temple, Tennessee and Tennessee Tech.

Junior football player Ruben Colon had a big game against Moreno Valley on Sept. 20, making several open-field tackles and breaking up a fourth-down pass play by the opposition to help preserve the Wildcats' overtime victory. He also played solid defense and offense last week in Paloma Valley's 49-34 win over Temecula Valley.

"Ruben is an outstanding person and student as well and is one of the most coachable athletes a coach could have," said coach Bert Esposito.

Colon, a cornerback, said he's excited to see his work and that of his teammates pay off for the Wildcats, who are 5-0 this season.

"A lot of it is mental discipline," he said. "I have to know if the ball might come my direction and do what I'm supposed to do. That play in overtime was exciting, but not just for me. It's not a personal thing; it's a team thing."

Paloma Valley Athletes of Week: Paquet, Amador, Benz

Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week (from left): Brianna Paquet, Jared Amador, RJ Benz.

Brianna Paquet, Jared Amador and RJ Benz are honored today as the Menifee 24/7 Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week.

One of the Wildcat golf team's rising stars is Brianna Paquet. She broke 50 over nine holes for the first time in Paloma Valley's opening league match with a score of 49 and has since improved that to 45. This is only her second year on the team, but she has been playing golf since age 7, when she first took lessons.

"I played there a lot with my grandpa," said Paquet about her team's home course, Menifee Lakes Country Club. "I don't like all the water there, but I've gotten a lot more comfortable with the course. I've been working on my chipping and putting a lot."

Paquet is busy this week. Her team competes in three matches in addition to having a practice round.

Jared Amador competed in his first varsity cross country race last week in a Sunbelt League meet hosted by the Wildcats. Just a sophomore, he finished 11th overall in a race featuring all six league teams.

"Jared balances school, athletics and looking after his younger siblings to help his family," said his coach, Joe Ellett. "He displays excellent character. I am very proud of Jared and look forward to watching his development over the next three years."

Amador spent much of last year and the off-season recovering from a back injury. He looks forward to Friday's meet at Sunny Hills High in Fullerton.

"That's a race I missed last year," said Amador, who was on the JV team then. "I worked hard to get back in shape for this season. I've been eating right, drinking a lot of protein, working on my speed and my kick."

RJ Benz has had a great last couple of weeks for the Wildcats football team. Two weeks ago, he was one of the team's leading tacklers and came up with a key interception in Paloma Valley's 56-12 win over West Valley. Last Friday night, he caught the winning touchdown pass in overtime in a 41-35 victory against Moreno Valley.

"RJ is an outstanding leader both on and off the field and is a huge reason for our success so far this season," said football coach Bert Esposito.

"We know the offense will always be there," Benz said. "Even when we fell behind last week, we knew we could score quickly. Our defense needed to step it up, and they did."

The honorees each received a certificate from Menifee 24/7 and an Athlete of the Week T-shirt from the Pomona Valley athletic department.

Paloma Athletes of Week: Boehm, Simon, Flores, Jenkins, Rivas

Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week (from left): Brent Boehm, Johannah Simon, Samantha Flores, Connor Jenkins, Clarrissa Rivas.

The early success of Paloma Valley High School athletics this school year is evident in the latest selection by coaches of the Menifee 24/7 Paloma Valley Athletes of the Week.

The football team's representative on this week's list of honorees is quarterback Brent Boehm. The senior has led the Wildcats to a 3-0 start, passing for 520 yards and 10 touchdowns and displaying exemplary leadership.

"Brent is a stalwart athlete here at Paloma," said his coach, Bert Esposito. "He is one of the best QBs in the area and had another outstanding week last week. Beyond his stats is a kid who leads by example and who so many other kids follow. He takes his role seriously as a leader on the team and never lets it get to his head about all his successes."

Even though the Paloma Valley football team has outscored the opposition 181-32, Boehm says he and his teammates have no trouble keeping their success in perspective.

"We know the competition keeps getting better every week," he said. "We have to stay consistent and always work hard."

Boehm hopes to earn a Division I scholarship and study sports broadcasting or journalism.

Johannah Simon led the girls volleyball team in assists with 28 at the recent Desert Classic tournament at San Bernardino Valley College. In her first year on the varsity team, the junior setter plays a valuable role in the Wildcats' offense.

"I take the second ball," Simon said about her pivotal role in setting up the front row for the kill on the third allowable hit each turn. "Without a good set, you won't get a kill. You try to keep the ball two feet off the net, not too high, about arm height."

In addition to playing volleyball all three years of high school, she has played three years of club volleyball.

Cross country runner Samantha Flores achieved a milestone feat in the recent Bronco Round-Up meet in Escondido, running the second fastest two-mile time in school history (11:51). That was achieved on a hilly course in the heat of summer.

"I pretty much stayed near the front," Flores said. "I was kind of confused when I looked around. It was like, 'Why am I here?' I was really shocked to be in that position."

Flores said her father motivated her to get into cross country running. A senior, she has competed all four years.

Connor Jenkins earned a spot on the varsity boys cross country team with a strong performance at the Bronco Round-Up. He has competed in running events since the third grade and dropped soccer and tennis early in his high school career to focus on cross country and track.

"My motivation is my teammates," Jenkins said. "I've never had that much natural talent at running, but I keep working my way up."

Jenkins' coach, Joe Ellett, is impressed with Jenkins' improvement.

"Connor has dedicated himself to the training and to improvement in the classroom," Ellett said. "His running form isn't perfect, but he has determined not to let anything hold him back."

Clarrissa Rivas is a senior who has performed well for the golf team in its matches this season. Working hard in practice and competition at the Wildcats' home course at Menifee Lakes Country Club, Rivas is shooting consistently in the low 50s for nine holes.

"I'm trying to get into the low 40s," she said. "My scores are getting better each week."

Rivas became interested in golf by watching her father and grandfather. She is the only girl in her family to take up the sport.

The honorees each received a certificate from Menifee 24/7 and an Athlete of the Week T-shirt from the Pomona Valley athletic department.