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| 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.
