Owen, Von Moos, Cortez honored as Athletes of Month

This school year, Menifee 24/7 honors deserving athletes in high school varsity sports in season as Athletes of the Month. Each head coach is asked to select one athlete each month for this honor.

Three athletes were submitted for recognition for their accomplishments last month, all from Paloma Valley High School. Varsity coaches of sports at all three Menifee high schools are urged to submit names next month for a more complete representation of our student athletes.

Here are the January Athletes of the Month:

Cameron Owen, boys wrestling: Owen compiled a 30-4 record this regular season. He earned his 100th career win early in the season, said coach Luis Robles. Owen won titles at the Hawks Nest, the Raul Huerta Memorial, and the San Clemente Rotary tournament. He is highly ranked in the state, and won all three of his bouts in the CIF-SS Division 2 Dual Meet Championships Feb. 1.

Jayden Von Moos, girls wrestling: Von Moos compiled a 26-2 record during the regular season, winning the Lady Trojan War, Lady Saints, and Ayala tournaments, Robles said. She won an individual league championship and is the top girl in the state in her weight. She will be one of the top wrestlers competing in the CIF Eastern Regionals this weekend at Hillcrest High School.

Cassandra Cortez, girls soccer: Cortez, the Wildcats' starting freshman goalkeeper, "is a very hard worker and takes her goalkeeping craft very seriously," said her coach, Carlos Alfaro. "Since we started league seven games ago (at the time of the nomination), Cassandra has not allowed a goal and has made some incredible saves to keep a clean sheet."

Cortez also posted a shutout Thursday in the Wildcats' 2-0 win over Roosevelt in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs.