Menifee 24/7 honors Heritage High Athletes of the Month

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Menifee 24/7 is pleased to honor Athletes of the Month for October at Heritage High School. Honorees were selected by the coaches of their respective sports and were recognized with a presentation of certificates and photo opportunity on campus.

Mia Decano has been recognized for her standout play for the girls volleyball team. Coach Diamond Brogan talked about her value to the team.

“Mia began as a defensive specialist and quickly advanced to become our starting libero, playing a pivotal role in our major victories,” Brogan said. “Her growth has been remarkable; her skills have reached new heights, driven by her strong work ethic and positive attitude. I couldn’t be prouder of her journey from a beginner to a highly skilled player. She’s the kind of athlete every coach loves to work with, thanks to her dedication and mindset. And on top of it all, she’s an outstanding student with a perfect 4.0 GPA.”

Madelyn Jameson is a standout player with the girls tennis team, which plays host to Bishop Montgomery on Friday in the second round of the playoffs.

“Competing in both singles and doubles, she has taken on essential roles in the lineup,” said coach Monty McIntosh. “As a first-year senior, she has shown tremendous growth, consistently confident and unafraid to push her limits.”

The Athlete of the Month in football is Armando Macias.

“This month, Armando delivered an impressive performance with 50 carries for 501 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 8 catches for 75 yards,” said coach Rich McClure. “His efforts earned him Athlete of the Game and Offensive Player of the Week honors, and he was also named team captain in recognition of his leadership and dedication.”

Golfer Taylor Gruender “recorded the lowest scoring average in the Sunbelt League and entered the league finals as the top seed,” said coach Michael Mattison. “Her efforts were instrumental in guiding the team to a second-place finish in the league. She advanced to the CIF Individual Regional Tournament.”

One of the top players on the boys water polo team is Caleb Wonnell, said coach Shannon Stephenson.

“Caleb has displayed incredible strength and endurance, contributing 24 goals, 21 assists, and 22 steals over the past month,” Stephenson said. “His hard work and dedication have been a driving force for the team, and his remarkable athleticism has made a lasting impact on the field and a contributing factor in our boys making it to CIF.”

Jade Cruz and Aryah Phiekeo were both honored as Athletes of the Month for the girls cross country team. They helped the team finish first in two consecutive league meets and led the team to a league title Thursday in the league finals.