Scholar Athlete of the Week

Palm Desert track and field senior Jaliyah Alexander is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Specializing in 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, 100-meter sprint, and the 4×1 relay, Alexander is the standard for the Aztecs. “Jaliyah represents everything we want in the Aztec community and on the Aztec program,” head coach Mark Monroy said. “She devotes

Shadow Hills baseball pitcher and outfielder Julian Herrera is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Primarily pitching on the mound for the Knights, Herrera mentioned it is all about being calm and collected in the moment. “I just try to stay calm, and I try not to overthink things,” Herrera said. I mean, being a

Indio softball outfielder Sienna Rodriguez is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Playing softball, water polo, volleyball, and track and field for the Rajahs, Rodriguez’s motivation to excel is her team. “I’m a competitive person and I think what motivates me is my team,” Rodriguez said. “I want to do it for them … I

La Quinta track and field sprinter Jaeleene Ramos is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Success for Ramos would be an understatement, as she has been part of a team that has won three championships. However, she credits her success to the people closest to her. “Something that motivates me on the track is probably

Rancho Mirage baseball pitcher and shortstop Malakai Lopez is this week’s student-athlete of the week. As a multi-sport athlete, Lopez uses his competitive fuel to become a better student and athlete. “I feel like I’m a very competitive person. I’m always wanting to get better,” Lopez said. “I always want to get to the next

Palm Desert’s boys tennis player Bhargav Jakkaraju is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Playing on the varsity team his freshman year, coaches and teammates noticed that Jakkaraju was more than an athlete; he was a student of the game. “He has really matured very much. He started playing for me as a freshman. In

Xavier Prep softball pitcher and utility player Dani Dardano is this week’s student-athlete of the week. Dardano, who has played on varsity since her sophomore year, mentioned that balance is the key to being an all-around athlete and a great student in the classroom. “I like to keep a really balanced life,” Dardano said. “I

Palm Desert Boys’ soccer goalie Michael Cornwell is this week’s student athlete of the week. Described as a displinced and competitive athlete, Cornwell credits those traits from the people that are closest to him. “This team is built on allowing me to be the best because they are the best I can ask for,” Cornwell

“The biggest maturity I’ve seen in Audrey is a leadership role,” La Quinta Girls’ basketball coach Electra Viveros said. When she came into the program, she was on varsity off the bat, but she was more of a role player, and she had others around her who were shining at the time, and now she

Rancho Mirage senior guard Gram Craven is this week’s featured student athlete. A basketball fanatic, Craven knew exactly which program he wanted to lace up for.  “I’ve been playing basketball my whole life. I always wanted to play high school,” said Craven. “That’s why I came here because I knew coach Hanmer and he’s a