Top Heritage High student-athletes sign letters of intent

Standout student-athletes at Heritage High signed letters of intent at the school on Wednesday, accepting college scholarships. Menifee 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

Heritage High School students and staff celebrated the school's athletic legacy this week by recognizing 11 athletes who signed national letters of intent to accept college scholarships.

During an assembly Wednesday in the school gym, athletic director Scott Moore thanked all the senior athletes for their contributions to the school before introducing the athletes and their family members.

Principal Frank Arce also addressed the crowd.

"The students sitting in front you of exemplify what we call the true student-athlete," Arce said. "There are kids here with exemplary academic histories and very admirable long-term goals. And I can tell you the parents standing behind them have had a whole lot to do with it."

Here's a look at the athletes who signed letters of intent:

Jayden Dawson
College of Idaho
Football

The talented defensive back had a standout season for the Patriots, who finished with an 11-1 record. He had 31 solo tackles, 5 interceptions and 1.5 sacks to help anchor the defense.

College of Idaho, an NAIA school, has gone 4-7 the last three years and signed 15 players from Southern California in an attempt to capitalize on local talent and improve its record.

Cameron Dawson
College of Idaho
Football

Cameron joins his brother at the College of Idaho, along with several other California recruits.

Cameron Dawson, also a defensive back, had 18 solo tackles and 3 interceptions for the Patriots.

Dylan Morris
Concordia University Chicago
Football

The 6-foot, 160-pound senior had 45 total tackles and 4 sacks from his linebacker position to help Heritage advance to the CIF Southern Section football semifinals last fall.

Concordia will try to bounce back from a 4-6 record in 2016.

Eric Serrano
Cal State San Bernardino
Men's soccer

Serrano plays a valuable role on the team's defense in his role as sweeper. He will also be a valuable addition to the squad at Cal State San Bernardino, which was 10-6-1 last season.

"Eric is an outstanding sweeper and a great defender," said his coach, Timothy Poseley. "He is intelligent with his movements and plays on the pitch and does a great job controlling the defense."

David Mendoza
University of the Southwest
Men's soccer

Mendoza is headed to Hobbs, New Mexico, where the Mustangs were 10-5-1 last season.

This season at Heritage, Mendoza is helping to lead the team's efforts from his defender position. The Patriots are in the thick of the Sunbelt League boys soccer race with a 3-4-2 record.

Nathan Ramirez Rodriguez
Southern Vermont
Men's soccer

Rodriguez, also a defender for the Patriots boys soccer team, is headed to Southern Vermont to continue his soccer career.

"He is a very strong right back defender and stopper," coach Timothy Poseley said about Rodriguez.

Alana Navarette
Shaw University
Women's soccer

A talented midfielder, Navarette has 5 goals and 3 assists so far this season for the Patriots girls soccer team, which is 3-3-3 in league play.

She will join a program at Shaw University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, that just completed its first season, competing at the club level, before becoming an NCAA Division II program.

Alexcis Morris
Long Beach State
Women's volleyball

Cal State Long Beach was 21-10 overall and 13-3 in conference play last season, and Morris will be ready to help the team continue that success.

Jackie Woods
Benedictine University
Women's volleyball

Woods will travel to Illinois to join a recruiting class that will help Benedictine improve upon its 2016 season, which was 12-20 last season.

The talented senior had an outstanding season last fall for the Patriots, who posted a 20-10 record (7-3 in league).

Madison Cagle
Biola University
Women's volleyball

Another standout from the girls volleyball program, Cagle displayed her versatility and experience throughout. Staying in Southern California, she is joining a Biola team that was 26-11 last fall.

Jacob Garcia
Iowa Wesleyan
Baseball

Garcia wasn't at the signing ceremony. He was in Iowa, checking out the camps to which he had committed. The Tigers compete in NCAA Division III.