Thomas, Butler Named Heritage High Athletes of Month

Freshman swimming sensation Katelyn Thomas and senior baseball player Zach Butler have been selected as Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month for March, representing Heritage High School.

Thomas is making use of the advantage she has over opponents as a club swimmer for 10 years. Leading the team in its first season of varsity swimming at the school, she has never lost a race in the eight different events in which she competes.

"They don't even know I'm a freshman," said Thomas, whose victories have mostly been by wide margins. "A lot of people just started competitive swimming."

The sport, which is relatively new at many local high schools, is bringing attention to Thomas and the Patriots. Her specialty is the backstroke. She competes in that event over 100 and 200 yards for her club team, but the event is held only at 100 yards for high school competition.

Thomas has already achieved four automatic qualifying marks, guaranteeing her spots in CIF postseason competition.

Butler is hitting .370 with 6 RBIs for the Patriots baseball team. Last year he played shortstop and left field and pitched, but this year he was asked to take over the duties at catcher for his senior season.

He has made a solid adjustment defensively while continuing to produce on offense.

"I was a catcher one year when I was maybe 12," Butler said. "Because it's my first year catching, I've been working a lot on that -- blocking, throwing kids out, things like that. It's kind of tough defensively, but offensively I've been seeing the ball well."

Butler plans to study architectural engineering next year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and try to walk on as a baseball player. Meanwhile, the Patriots are 3-1 in Sunbelt League play as they try to nail down a playoff berth this spring.

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