The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Guerrero, Maldonado among CIF-SS players of the year Saruwatari, Churchill, Williams chosen CIF-SS players of the year
Etiwanda senior goalkeeper Max Guerrero and Upland junior midfielder Ricardo Maldonado were among those selected divisional players of the year when the CIF Southern Section released its awards for the 2023-24 boys soccer season.
Guerrero was chosen the Division 4 Player of the Year after helping Etiwanda capture the first section championship in program history. He kept four clean sheets in the playoffs, including the section championship match against Lakewood. Guerrero made six saves in that match against Lakewood. Etiwanda ultimately won the title via a penalty-kick shootout.
Maldonado brought home the Division 5 Player of the Year honor after helping Upland win its first section championship. He was a midfield mainstay for the Highlanders, particularly on the defensive end, and also tallied five assists this year.
Etiwanda’s D.J. Vigil and Upland’s Mike Diaz were chosen divisional coaches of the year for guiding their teams to titles.
An additional 39 Inland players were selected to the first team in their schools’ respective playoff divisions.
OPEN DIVISION Player of the Year:
Michael Cherico, Mater Dei, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Sean Ganey, Mater Dei Inland players on first team: Jacob Arellano, Arlington, Sr.; Javier Hernandez, Arlington, Sr.; Tyler Hylton, Arlington, Sr.; Jesus Palma, Arlington, Sr.; Adan Alvarado, Montclair, Sr.; David Garcia, Montclair, Sr.
DIVISION 1
Player of the Year: Justin Cuevas, Servite Coach of the Year: Eddie Soto, Servite Inland players on first team: Tommy Castaneda, Alta Loma, Sr.; Darey Zamora, Cajon, Sr.; Jose De La Torre, Citrus Hill, Sr.
DIVISION 2 Player of the Year:
Olivier Renard, Newport Harbor, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Ignacio Cid. Newport Harbor
Inland players on first team: Fabian Barajas, Beaumont, Sr.; Calvin Quiroz, Centennial, Sr.; Cruz Navarro, Redlands East Valley, Sr.; Tait Whittemore, Redlands East Valley, Sr.; Eleaser Villegas, San Gorgonio, Sr.
DIVISION 3
Player of the Year: Alex Lugo, Animo Leadership
Coach of the Year: Sergio Medrano, Animo Leadership
Inland players on first team:
Santiago junior forward Madelyn Saruwatari, Roosevelt sophomore forward Ireland Churchill and Diamond Ranch sophomore forward Jaidyn Williams were among those chosen divisional players of the year when the CIF Southern Section released its awards for the 2023-24 girls soccer season.
Saruwatari was selected the Open Division Player of the Year after helping Santiago claim the program’s third section championship and the section’s inaugural Open Division crown. Saruwatari scored from the penalty spot to clinch the Sharks’ 2-0 victory over Santa Margarita in the section title match.
Churchill brought home the Division 1 Player of the Year honor after leading Roosevelt to the first section championship in program history. Churchill tallied six goals and three assists in the section playoffs, and she scored a pair of goals in a 3-2 victory over Palos Verdes in the championship match.
Williams was chosen the Division 6 Player of the Year after helping Diamond Ranch capture the first section championship in that program’s history. She scored all three goals as the Panthers defeated Bell Gardens 3-0 in the section championship match.
Santiago’s Mike Fleming, Roosevelt’s Andrew Tillehkooh and Diamond Ranch’s Charlie Gonzalez were selected divisional coaches of the year after guiding their teams to championships.
An additional 34 Inland players were chosen to the first team in their schools’ respective playoff divisions. OPEN DIVISION
Player of the Year:
Madelyn Saruwatari, Santiago, Jr. Coach of the Year: Mike
Santiago’s Maddy Saruwatari, left, scored a goal in the Sharks’ win in the Open Division title game.
Fleming, Santiago Inland players on first team:
Brianna Garcia, Santiago, Sr.; Gracie Kelly, Santiago, Sr.; Krystal Medina, Santiago, Sr.
DIVISION 1
Ganesha, So.; JT Trevino, Great Oak, Sr.; Diego Arreola, Rancho Cucamonga, Sr.; Roman Rodriguez, Vista Murrieta, Jr.
DIVISION 4
Player of the Year: Max Guerrero, Etiwanda, Sr.
Coach of the Year: D.J. Vigil, Etiwanda Inland players on first team: Brody Quinzon, Chino, Sr.; Julian Borja, Diamond Ranch, Sr.; Chris Carrasco, Etiwanda, Sr.; Hugo Gonzalez-quintero, Etiwanda, Sr.; Kayden Montgomery, Etiwanda, Jr.; Marco Hernandez Ramos, Jurupa Hills, Sr.; Cody Miller, Rubidoux, Sr.
DIVISION 5
Player of the Year: Ricardo Maldonado, Upland, Jr.
Coach of the Year: Mike Diaz, Upland Inland players on first team: Daniel Aguayo, Nuview Bridge, Jr.; Kokwa Sekyere, Orange Vista, Sr.; Erik Torres, Ramona, Fr.; Drew Shoji, Upland, Jr.; Gavin Sampognaro, Upland, So.; Nicolas Giron, Upland, Jr.
DIVISION 6
Player of the Year: George Peterson, Maranatha, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Walker Haynes, Maranatha
Inland players on first team: Miguel Marroquin, Indian Springs, Sr.; Julian Moss, Indian Springs, Jr.; Noe Morales, Kaiser, Jr.; Ryan Pruitt, Paloma Valley, Sr.
DIVISION 7
Player of the Year: Axel Espinoza-gutierrez, Covina, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Adrian Zaharie, Covina Inland players on first team: Angel Villasenor, Heritage, Sr.; Ernesto Pacheco, Heritage, Sr.; Dylan Geske, Santa Rosa Academy, Sr.; Ethan Groom, Temecula Prep, Sr.
Player of the Year: Ireland Churchill, Roosevelt, So. Coach of the Year: Andrew Tillehkooh, Roosevelt
Inland players on first team:
Kendall Campbell, Alta Loma, Sr.; Scottlyn Antonucci, Etiwanda, So.; Natalie Beston, Etiwanda, So.; Mia Goettsche, Roosevelt, Jr.; Sophia Leoro, Roosevelt, So.; Delilah Woods, Roosevelt, So.; Annika Jost, Temecula Valley, Sr.
DIVISION 2
Player of the Year: Addison Leite, Quartz Hill, Sr. Coach of the Year: Arika Ontiveros, Quartz Hill Inland players on first team: Mikayla Benavidez, Ayala, So.; Jae Hillenbrand, Ayala, So.; Marianne Tarin, Chino Hills, Jr.
DIVISION 3
Player of the Year: Jadyn Bechtel, Apple Valley, Fr. Coach of the Year: Nicole Stephens, Apple Valley Inland players on first team: Sarai Starkweather, Redlands East Valley, Sr.; Abby Trujillo, Western Christian, So.
DIVISION 4
Player of the Year: Miye Kodama, Louisville, Sr.
Roosevelt’s Ireland Churchill scored twice in her team’s 3-2vicory over Palos Verdes in the Division 1 title game.
Coach of the Year:
Ariana
Martinez, Louisville
Inland players on first team: Jaclyn Silva, Jurupa Valley, Jr.; Melissa Ramirez, Rialto, So.
DIVISION 5
Player of the Year: Ava Johner, Estancia, Sr. Coach of the Year: Josh
Juarez, Estancia Inland players on first team:
Aubrey Layton, Chino, Sr.; Aeralyn Broadbent, Elsinore, Sr.; Adryana Molina, Grand Terrace, Fr.; Abigail Bernal, San Jacinto, Sr.; Jaelyn Frazier, San Jacinto, So.; Demi Soares, Tahquitz, Sr.
DIVISION 6
Player of the Year: Jaidyn Williams, Diamond Ranch, So. Coach of the Year: Charlie Gonzalez, Diamond Ranch Inland players on first team: Anna Bailey, Colton, Sr.; Bianca Soto, Colton, Fr.; Melanie Bravo, Colton, Sr.; Cristina Quintanilla, Diamond Ranch, Fr.; Marlene Zaragoza, Diamond Ranch, Sr.; Valeria Reyes, Diamond Ranch, Sr.; Ava Borja, Diamond Ranch, So.; Kimberly Sperling, Santa Rosa Academy, Sr.
DIVISION 7 Player of the Year:
Merielle
Navor, Artesia, Jr.
Coach of the Year: Hugo Umana, Artesia
Inland players on first team: Zanette Gonzalez, Ganesha, So.; Emely Ramirez, Kaiser, Jr.; Audrey Chavez, San Jacinto Valley Academy, Fr.