After CCC title, MVP season, Atwater star is Merced Sun-Star Basketball Player of the Year
Atwater High senior Aliene Lopez had a year to remember in her final high school basketball season.
Lopez averaged close to 18 points per game in helping lead the Falcons to a second consecutive Central California Conference championship. Atwater went a perfect 12-0 in the CCC and Lopez was named the conference MVP.
Lopez was also part of history.
She became just the fourth Falcons player to score 1,000 career points in the program and Atwater defeated Tracy in the first round of the playoffs to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1995.
Lopez is also the Merced Sun-Star Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
“I’m just going to remember all the memories we made,” Lopez said. “We created such strong bonds with each other, including those car rides to tournaments. That helped us play better as a team. It helps us get better, build chemistry and improved our basketball IQ.”
Lopez emerged as a leader for the Falcons. She would often stay hours after practice to work with the freshman players on shooting drills. She was taking the knowledge given to her by former Falcons players and passing it on to the younger ones.
“It seems like I’ve been coaching her for so long,” Atwater coach JR Davis said after Lopez surpassed 1,000 career points. “She’s been blessed to be on good teams. Watching her become a leader and watching the evolution of her game has been amazing.”
Lopez said it took a lot of work to become the player she was this season. She was asked to be a ball handler, scorer, defender and a leader.
“It took hours after practice and hours before practice,” Lopez said. “It also took all the conditioning we do during the offseason. You have to want to be successful. I’m glad JR did that for us. He knew we could be really good when others didn’t.”
Lopez says she wants to see the young players take over the program and run with it.
“I’m extremely proud we were the first team since 1995 to make it that far in the playoffs,” Lopez said. “I’m glad they are hungry next year and hopefully they can make it that far or farther.”
Soccer
Anaya Shelton, El Capitan
El Capitan High soccer star Anaya Shelton finished off a stellar high school career, leading the Gauchos to their second Central California Conference championship in three years.
Shelton was named the CCC Most Valuable Player after scoring 29 goals in 14 matches this season.
Shelton is also the Merced Sun-Star Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“People don’t always realize how much work goes into playing sports,” Shelton said. “There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears, a lot of dedication and sacrifices. Not just sacrifices by us, but my parents have sacrificed so much.”
Shelton finished her career as the Gauchos all-time scoring leader with 127 goals in four years.
She says it’s hard to express what it feels like after scoring a goal.
“It’s a great feeling,” Shelton said. “I don’t know how to describe it. It’s almost like taking a hike and conquering a huge mountain by getting to the top. It’s a lot of hard work that is paid off in that moment.”
Shelton says she’s enjoyed her four years playing high school soccer at El Capitan.
“We’ve had a lot of success the past four years,” she said. “I take a lot of pride in the development of the girls on our team and the team culture that we created. I definitely enjoyed playing in high school a lot. Stepping into a leadership role helped me with my club team and going into college.”
Shelton is headed to the University of the Pacific after accepting a full-ride scholarship to play soccer.
She says her senior year was special after winning a CCC championship and advancing to the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals.
“It was my senior year and I wanted to go out with a bang,” Shelton said. “Making it to the semis again was huge. I’m very proud of what we were able to accomplish and how we were able to represent our town.”
Wrestling
Najeh Russo - Buhach Colony
Buhach Colony junior Najeh Russo didn’t let a knee injury cut her season short.
Russo injured her knee at the Sac-Joaquin Section Regional Qualifying tournament in Ceres. Russo used the story of University of Iowa wrestler Spencer Lee, who won an NCAA championship after tearing his anterior cruciate ligaments in both his knees.
“If Spencer Lee can do it, I can do it too,” Russo said.
Russo went on to finish second at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championship and third at the CIF State Championship at 160 pounds.
After finishing 35-3 this season, Russo is the Merced Sun-Star Girls Wrestler of the Year.
“I’m very happy with my season,” Russo said. “Wrestling with the injury wasn’t easy, but I’m happy I placed at state.”
Russo is waiting to have an MRI to find out the extent of her knee injury. She said her coaches wanted to pull her out at regionals after the injury. Her parents were also against her wrestling after the injury.
However, she was able to convince everybody she could continue and she persevered.
“I put everything into this season,” Russo said. “I wanted to make up for a shortened season last season. I put my heart and soul into this year.”
Russo says experiencing success at the section and state level this year has her motivated for next year.
“Now that I know I can make it to state I’m going to kick it into gear for my senior year,” Russo said. “It’s make it or bust whether I want to get first next year or not. If I was able to get third with my injury this year, I think I can do better next year.”
All-Area Teams
Basketball
Jordyn Allison, Atwater
Skyler Dietz, Buhach Colony
Kiera Flores, El Capitan
Anissa Sanchez, Los Banos
Mya Farr, El Capitan
America Ordunez, Los Banos
Mariela Fernandez, Atwater
Kameryn Cortinas, Pacheco
Caitlyn Cole, Stone Ridge Christian
Emily Cogswell, Hilmar
Soccer
Addison Sanchez, Buhach Colony
Kassidy Spiva, El Capitan
Brooklyn Bell, Atwater
Alexi Ochoa, Buhach Colony
Rufina Vera, Livingston
Abigail Hratchian, El Capitan
Emily Pardini, Los Banos
Stacy Olivarez, El Capitan
Jalissa Cortez, El Capitan
Yanell Ramirez, Golden Valley
Lupin Amstutz, Mariposa
Kayla Perez, Golden Valley
Vanessa Perez, Merced
Wrestling
Natalie Fuentes, Delhi
Zoey Brown, Atwater
Isabel Perez-Zoghbi, Merced
Alana Watkins, Los Banos
Mariah Mejia, Delhi
Lizette Bojorje, Atwater
Elyse Flores, Golden Valley
Kiara Daniels, Los Banos
Faith Vazquez, Livingston
Magdalena Hernandez, Los Banos
Evelyn Vargas, Merced
Jasmine Castillo, Pacheco
