Athletes from Menifee performing well on college teams

Three recent graduates of Menifee high schools are performing well on collegiate athletic teams this winter.

Heritage graduate Katelyn Thomas holds the school record in the 100 backstroke for the swim team at Concordia University of Irvine and is ranked No. 5 in the nation in that event. A 2018 graduate of Heritage, Thomas was the CIF champion in the 100 backstroke that year.

Paloma Valley graduate Kassandra Ayard is part of the Iowa Wesleyan women’s wrestling team that will compete in the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships Saturday in Tiffin, Ohio. The freshman wrestles at 191 pounds. The Tigers placed fourth in the NCWWC Northwest Regionals Feb. 21.

Another Paloma Valley graduate, Luisita Jara, is one of seven wrestlers from the University of Jamestown (North Dakota) who will compete in the NAIA women’s wrestling invitational March 12-13 at Jamestown.

Jara, a freshman wrestling at 136 pounds, scored a pin on the way to winning the conference championship Feb. 27.

Ayard and Jara were among eight Paloma Valley female wrestlers who made it to the state meet last year for coach Luis Robles’ Wildcats. Ayard finished in the top 12 in the state.