This Merced County high school celebrated five athletes signing with four-year colleges
Livingston High will be represented all over California for at least the next four years after five athletes recently signed national letters of intent to play sports at four-year colleges in California.
Wolves seniors Rebecca Sobrevilla, Breanna Espinoza, Alizabeth Huerta, Yareth Martinez and Diego Garcia all took part in a signing ceremony this week in Livingston’s new gymnasium.
The athletes were joined by their coaches, family, teammates and friends.
“I would like to give a shout out and thank all of the coaches I have had in my sports career at (Livingston) because each of them has taught me different things that have ultimately gotten me to this point,” said soccer player Diego Garcia. “Every single one of them has provided me support and also pushed me at the same time which I am very thankful for because it allowed me to grow.”
Garcia is one of three Livingston soccer players moving on to college. He’s headed to Cal Tech Soccer. His teammate Yareth Martinez will play at UC Merced and Rebecca Sobrevilla signed with Stanislaus State.
Livingston track stars Breana Espinoza an Alizabeth Huerta will be college teammates at Sacramento State. Espinoza excels as a thrower and Huerta is a runner.
“I’d like to thank my teammates for always being there for me and being supportive in everything I do,” Huerta said. “For cheering me on in the stadium for track or in the gym for my volleyball games. I’d like to thank everything who was involved in getting me where I am today.”
Huerta plans to study administrative justice at Sacramento State with the hopes of becoming a detective.
Espinoza will major in sociology and wants to pursue a career as a social worker. Espinoza enjoyed the close relationship she had with her coaches at Livingston that helped her reach her potential. She feels she found something similar at Sacramento State.
“My No. 1 reason for choosing Sacramento State is because the throwers and coaches have already made me feel included in their family,” Espinoza said.
Martinez says UC Merced was his top school choice because it was going to give him an opportunity to stay close to home and play soccer.
He plans to study math and become a math teacher.
Martinez says his family played a big part in his success.
“I want to thank my sister Daris for always keeping me in the right track and for always going to my games, always supporting me and always pushing me to the next level,” Martinez said. “And a big thank you to my mom for working hard day to day under the hot sun to give me a chance on becoming something in a country where the dreams come true as long as you work hard for it.”
Sobrevilla said playing close to home was a factor in her decision to go to Stanislaus State. She plans to major in communications with plans of pursuing a career in education.
She said her family has been instrumental in her success on the pitch by buying equipment and traveling to games and practices.
“I am grateful for them,” Sobrevilla said. “Especially my parents, who not only let me have the freedom to play for a soccer club in Sacramento for 2 and 1/2 years, but for the additional sacrifices they made to get me to where I’m at today.”
Garica plans to major in mechanical engineering at Cal Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
Garcia says he and his four classmates can be an example that dreams can come true. He can’t wait to represent Livingston.
“I am very excited to be able to represent my school, my town, and my community by studying and competing at Cal Tech,” Garcia said. “I will try my best to work hard, excel, and succeed in order to be a role model for kids like me who grow up dreaming.”
