Editor’s note: Medical issues affecting our staff resulted in a delay in this announcement and in the combination of Athlete of the Month selections into one article for April and May. We apologize for the delay. We hope you join us in congratulating all the athletes honored in this news article.
Menifee 24/7 is pleased to honor Athletes of the Month for April and May at Santa Rosa Academy. Honorees were selected by the coaches of their respective sports and were recognized with a presentation of certificates and photo opportunity on campus.
Softball player Paloma Pedini “has been lights out at the plate and making incredible defensive plays. She is a leader and we are super proud of our senior,” said coach Rachelle Aguirre.
Hurdles standout Brody Sather has been honored for his accomplishments with the boys track team.
“When Brody Sather stepped up to the line at tryouts last December, we knew we were looking at something special,” said coach John Hernandez. “His vertical. His broad jump. The raw athleticism was undeniable. I told him that day to mark May 9 on his calendar, that he’d be at CIF prelims when the season ended.
“Week after week, we watched Brody chip away at his times. A tenth here. A quarter-second there. PR after PR. His teammates pushed him. His coaches believed in him. But most importantly, he believed, even when belief was all he had to hold onto. Then came the Southland Invitational in Hemet. That’s when it clicked. 18.30 in the 110m hurdles against top-tier competition. A kid who started the season running mid-23s had just broken through. The breakthrough was real.”
At the South Valley League Championships, Sather crossed the finish line in 3rd place as a sophomore with a school-record time of 17.46, with 6 seconds shaved off in a single season.
Distance runner Riley Alcantara was a standout for the girls track team.
“I’ve known Riley Alcantara since sixth grade — five years of watching a quiet, humble athlete with tremendous ability grow into something truly special,” said Hernandez. “Riley has never been the type to seek the spotlight or boast about her gifts. She carries herself with a calm, cool confidence that speaks louder than any words ever could. But we saw deeper than Riley even saw in herself. We knew her potential was limitless.”
At the South Valley League Championships, Alcantara finished second in the 3200 meters and first in the 4x800m relay. “Riley Alcantara doesn’t need attention or recognition, but she does deserve it,” Hernandez said. “She is the definition of perseverance and heart, a girl who chose to stay in the fight when it would have been so easy to walk away. That’s true strength.”
Freshman golfer Cameron “Cruz” Browning was honored from the golf team.
“In a season filled with standout performances, freshman Cameron has quickly made a name for himself on the golf course,” said coach Montoya Gunn. “He has demonstrated consistency, composure, and the ability to compete at a high level beyond his years. With a scoring average of 45, he has been a key contributor throughout the season, consistently putting his team in a strong position.
“His impact was especially evident at league finals at General Olds Golf Course, where he delivered a crucial score of 46, helping secure the team’s league championship. Not only did his performance help the team, but it also earned him a Top 4 finish at the league championship, securing his spot in the CIF Individual competition.”
