‘It feels pretty good.’ Merced High track star makes her college choice official
Isabel Perez-Zoghbi didn’t try the hurdles until near the end of the track season last year. She tried it because one of her friends was a hurdler and it looked like fun.
Perez-Zoghbi said she enjoyed it and found out, “I was really good at it.”
Fast forward one year and Perez-Zoghbi was sitting in the Merced High gymnasium, signing her national letter of intent to accept a track scholarship to Cal Poly Humboldt in front of her coaches, family and friends on Tuesday afternoon.
On Friday, the Merced High senior will compete at the CIF State Track & Field Championships in the 300-meter hurdles.
“It feels pretty good,” Perez-Zoghbi said. “I’m very excited for my next four years. I’m excited for my experience.”
Merced athletic director Paul Hogue believes Perez-Zoghbi is the first Bears athlete to compete at the state level in three sports in one school year. Perez-Zoghbi advanced to the state championships in cross country and wrestling earlier this year.
“It’s fascinating,” said Merced track coach Tim Hagerman about Perez-Zoghbi competing in her third state championship. “I think it’s her love for competition that drives her. Yeah, she’s nervous like everybody else, but when she gets in those starting blocks or on that starting line, something just takes her over.”
Perez-Zoghbi said she fell in love with Cal Poly Humboldt when she visited the school in April.
“The campus was gorgeous and I liked the place itself with all the trees and being close to the beach,” she said. “I really liked the coaches. They were nice. I got to meet some of the track athletes and they were super nice and welcoming.”
Perez-Zoghbi, who compiled a 4.6 GPA while at Merced, plans to major in economics.
First, she’ll compete against the state’s top hurdlers this week at the state meet in Clovis at Buchanan High School.
“It’s really cool,” she said. “I’ve loved my experiences at the state meet competitions this year. Just getting to see the best athletes in each sport. My best high school memories have been at these state championships.”
Other area signings
There have been a flurry of Merced-area athletes signing with four-year colleges recently.
Livingston High held a signing ceremony on Monday to celebrate three athletes moving on.
Football players Rocklin Baptista and Omar Baez are both headed to Sterling College on football scholarships. Baptista and Baez both helped lead the Wolves to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI semifinals.
Livingston senior Alex Mota is headed to UC Merced to join the women’s soccer team.
Former Livingston basketball star Annie Winton held a signing ceremony last week at Modesto Junior College. Winton is headed to Cal Lutheran to finish her college basketball career. Winton averaged 15.2 points per game for the Pirates last season.
The Merced College women’s basketball team recently held a signing ceremony for sophomores Jaydon Williams and Amelia Smith. Williams is headed to Cal Poly Humboldt and Smith is headed to UC Merced.
Williams averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Blue Devils. Smith averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this season.
Buhach Colony High senior Skyler Dietz is headed to Colorado Christian University after accepting a softball scholarship. Dietz hit .400 this past spring and led the Thunder with seven doubles, four triples and 23 runs scored.
Le Grand High senior Priscella Barnett is headed to Holy Names University after accepting a volleyball scholarship recently. Barnett was the Merced Sun-Star Girls Volleyball Player of the Year this past fall after a stellar senior season.
Dos Palos High is sending two softball players to four-year schools. Pitcher LeeAnn Raney signed with Arkansas Pine Bluff and catcher Talyn Lerma will play at San Diego Christian.
Raney was 11-8 with a 1.88 ERA. She struck out 240 batters in just under 150 innings. Lerna hit .407 with two home runs, 12 doubles and 25 RBIs.
Three Merced-area cheerleaders earned scholarships.
Merced High’s Andrew Mendoza is headed to cheer at Concordia Ann Arbor and Bears teammate Janessa Saechang is headed to Hope International on a full stunt scholarship.
Buhach Colony’s Michelle Lourenco is headed to Concordia University Irvine on a stunt cheer scholarship.
