La Serna pays tribute to student-athletes after one of its best sports seasons ever – Whittier Daily News
La Serna pays tribute to student-athletes in a ceremony after one of the best athletic years in the school’s history. (Photo by John Sherrard)
WHITTIER — La Serna closed the 2022-23 athletic year by honoring 17 student-athletes who have signed with college or intend to play college at a ceremony Thursday.
In addition to athletes heading to the next level, it was a banner year for some of the Lancers sports teams.
“Some people consider this year to be the best year in school history,” longtime athletic director Steve Hemenway said during the celebration. “We’ve built a pretty big sports program and brought in some great people and (have) great kids and families to help build the program.”
La Serna honors a group of student-athletes who will play college sports next year at a ceremony at Thurdsay School. (Photo by John Sherrard)
Hemenway, who has worked at the school for 33 years, is retiring in June.
The men’s water polo team won the CIF Southern Section Division 2 title, and two of its players were honored on Thursday. Tanner Overbeck will continue to practice the sport at Cal Baptist in Riverside and Julien Beck at nearby Whittier College.
“I’m really excited to see all my classmates here and it’s cool to see how hard we’ve worked and how it’s paying off,” Overbeck said. “I’m so excited for the next level. It’s always fun to go from high school to college because it’s such a big step.
In softball, two teammates will be far apart next fall. Kylie Hernandez has signed with the University of Maine while Kamyla Cerda is heading to the University of Hawaii.
Among the individual and school achievements this year, Steven Figueroa won a CIF-SS Individual Diving Championship. The school’s men’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s swimming and cheering teams finished second in the CIF-SS finals.
School Principal Griselda Castro also addressed the student-athletes saying, “This is one of the best events we have here because we are able to honor our students who have been athletes and who put their love into their sport.
Nick Allred will continue to play baseball in San Francisco State. He was a shortstop for the Lancers who lost only four games this season.
“I’m super excited and it’s awesome and a big accomplishment for all of us,” he said, noting teammate Nick Williams is going to Long Beach State and Andy Becerra will be going to Whittier College.
The softball team’s double play combo of Sarah Perez and Fabiola Serna will play at Cal State Fullerton and Dartmouth, respectively.
“Honestly, (Thursday) shows how supportive you are with family and friends and signing with these amazing girls,” said Serna, who is one of eight players on this year’s softball team. to sign with a university.
Serna added: “I’m a bit nervous because it’s too far. I’m super happy with where I am today.
Other female softball players moving to college include Emilia Garcia (Arizona Christian University), Ava Chacon (University of La Verne), Elena Garcia (Arizona Christian University), and Lauren Amezcua (Fullerton College). ).
Marcus Blake, an offensive lineman on the football team coached by Andy George, will play for Benedictine College in Kansas.
“It’s great,” Blake said, “to be engaged with everyone else. great school with great athletes, is an honor.
In jubilation, Britney Herrera heads to Cal Baptist.
Star Elyssa Gonzales will continue at Mt. SAC while women’s basketball player Rayne Rodriguez will head to Cerritos College.
