Paloma Valley High Athletes of the Week: April 29

From left: Jed Walz, Deken Murtishaw, Elijah Martinez. Not pictured: Rami Kateb, Alex Sterling.

Each week, 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 pitcher Jed Walz threw the first no-hitter in Paloma Valley history against Elsinore last week. He also went 2 for 3 at the plate. Walz has a 0.98 ERA and is hitting .344 for the Wildcats, who are 8-1 in Sunbelt League play.

Rami Kateb of the boys track team came within an inch of breaking the school high jump record of 6-3. "While making some changes in his technique, he was able to go from jumping 5-8 consistently to clearing 5-10 numerous times in practice to finally hitting 6-2 in a meet against Heritage," said his coach, Bert Esposito. "He went for 6-4 but just missed it."

For the second consecutive week, a doubles team has been chosen to represent the boys tennis team.

Junior Elijah Martinez "is a great doubles player and the motivational leader of the Wildcat team," said his coach, Reagan Williams. "He leads the team cheers and pumps everyone up. Elijah makes it his business to learn every player's name and always tells his opponents 'nice shot' when they have a great hit."

Junior Deken Murthishaw "has a booming serve and always exchanges high fives and yells with Elijah as they win points in a game," Williams said. "The doubles team of Elijah and Deken showed great leadership in both Wildcat victories this past week over Perris and Elsinore and in our current 7-1 Sunbelt League record this season."

The boys volleyball team is represented by Alex Sterling, whom coach Katie Bradley calls "one of our best defensive players this year. Our success this season offensively is attributed to players like Alex who start each play with a great pass. His hard work and determination does not go unnoticed."

These athletes will be eligible for selection as Paloma Valley High School's Athletes of the Month, which will be announced next week. Anyone wishing to order a glossy print of this article with photo may do so by emailing menifee247info@gmail.com.