As the 2024-2025 school year nears its end, our seniors begin to face the end of their athletic careers. Many athletes have grown up with their sport and will continue to play but for others, high school sports are the end of the road. With graduation approaching, our athletes have different stories to tell about their personal history with their sport.
#1 – Caleb Morquecho Caleb Morquecho has participated in the varsity football program for all four years, working his way up to become the best player while enjoying his time playing the sport he loves. When asked about his accomplishments, Morquecho responded with his impressive 3,500 rushing yards and ranking third in the school’s history for most career yards. His favorite memory was playing in the Northview game, where he showed off his true talent despite facing a tough knee injury. Unfortunately for his team, Saints Football fell short by losing in their quarter-finals of playoffs.
#2 – Timas Rodriguez Timas Rodriguez also participated in the program all four years, taking his time bonding with teammates to make varsity his junior year. Devastatingly, Rodriguez suffered a hit that left him off the field with a broken collarbone, interrupting his last high school season. While he missed many games, Timas was able to make an appearance before his season ended. Rodriguez feels this past season was his best, as he was given the opportunity to become a utility player. Advice he leaves his future team with is to “Listen to your coaches, show up to practice, and be there for your team”.
#3 – Anelly Alba New transfer Anelly Alba leaves her mark at San Dimas after leaving Northview to pursue better opportunities. Ignoring the obstacle of change, Alba overcame challenges as she ‘proudly stepped in as a leader’ and led the Girls Basketball team through an undefeated season. Although she accomplished many things, Anelly ambitiously regrets not going further in both of her sports. As she leaves San Dimas, she advises her teammates to “Never be satisfied and to stay in the gym”.
#4 – Nathan Yearout Nathan Yearout also impacted the basketball program by earning an impressive 1000 points throughout his career. Yearout has been a varsity starter since sophomore year and is left with no regrets as his accomplishments reflect his hard work. His favorite memory was beating Bonita on their home court.
#5 – Anthony Duenes Water Polo captain Anthony Duenes tells a different story, as he doesn’t have plans to continue playing. Anthony has been a varsity player for all four years, but after his final season, his passion for the game seems to have fizzled out. Despite facing burnout, Duenes was gifted many hilarious memories with his teammates that he holds dear to his heart such as bonding with his past teammates and becoming a CIF champion. His words of wisdom, are to “Not take things seriously, and always have fun”.
#6 – Isabella Santana Isabella Santana has earned several accomplishments while being a varsity swimmer all three years. Similar to Alba, Santana was a transfer who was left unsure about her Water Polo career after encountering a difficult situation but was luckily able to find success with our coaches and players. Very quickly, Santana was able to make school history as well as achieve many other goals both inside and outside of school. As a captain, Isabella felt she was given an amazing opportunity to lead her girls to success through their genuine love and dedication to the sport and each other. A piece of advice she leaves to her teammates is to “Persevere through your struggles because if you want it bad enough, you could have it”.
As bittersweet as it may be, senior athletes leave a large impact on San Dimas whether it be breaking records or creating a fun atmosphere for other students to enjoy being in. The class of 2025’s seniors leave behind a legacy of hard work, resilience, and passion for each of their sports. As they move onto new chapters in their lives, the advice and experiences shared by these athletes will continue to inspire future students to give their best, stay focused, and most importantly to enjoy the ride.
