Baca, Dreese, Peralta Are Heritage Athletes of Month

Tyler Baca (left) and Logan Dreese helped lead the tennis team to a CIF championship.

The tennis doubles team of Tyler Baca and Logan Dreese and track and field athlete Susan Peralta have been honored as the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month from Heritage High School, sponsored by Photos DLite photography studio.

Baca and Dreese were the No. 1 doubles team for the Patriots' tennis team, which won the CIF championship May 21 with an 11-7 victory over Rosemead. The duo won two of three sets that day, but that was just one of many top performances for them.

"Tyler and I have been playing together for three years, but we have been great friends since we were 7," Dreese said. "We've always been on the same football team since then, and he was the kicker and I was the holder, so that helped build some chemistry. Really, we just know what one another is going to do, and this really works to our advantage on the tennis court.

"I have been playing tennis for the past four years. I started my freshmen year when my football coach told my tennis coach, who I didn't know at the time, that he should talk to me about playing. He convinced me to try out tennis instead of volleyball, which I planned on playing, and it turned out to be a lot more fun than I expected and I loved my team, so I stuck with it."

Tennis coach Doug Fairchild couldn't say enough about his No. 1 doubles team.

"Tyler and Logan represent everything that is good in humanity," he said. "Their approach to daily life is truly remarkable and the hallmark of their exceptional athletic and academic success. They are the two-time undefeated Sunbelt League champions and with more than 140 doubles victories in the last three years, they are the best doubles team in school history."

Peralta (right) set personal records of 15-9 in the long jump and 4-6 in the high jump for the Heritage girls track team. She dominated competition at the Sunbelt League finals and has already started training for a career as a cross country runner in college.

"My strengths as a track athlete are being a leader and completely giving it my all," she said. "I enjoyed being able to compete in the Inland Empire Championships. It was a good challenge and great competition."

These are the last Athletes of the Month to be honored from Heritage High School this school year. Congratulations to all those who were honored.

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