2021 JOURNAL METRO ATHLETES OF THE YEAR BY SPORT
SOFTBALL AALIJAH ALARCON sr., Cleveland
Alarcon was nothing short of stellar in the circle, winning 19 of the team’s 21 games. The right-hander who has signed to pitch at UTEP pitched three shutouts in the state tournament and also was unbeaten in the state’s toughest district.
BOYS SOCCER MARCUS GARCIA sr., St. Pius
He had 14 goals and four assists in the regular season, was a first-team All-State selection and scored a goal in the All-American High School Game in Missouri. Signed to play at Maryland. A memorable spring in every way.
VOLLEYBALL SIDNEY MCINTOSH sr., La Cueva
The Bears’ 5-foot-10 outside hitter had only seven prep matches to make an impression this year, but she certainly did, registering 114 kills as she closed a simply magnificent career with the Bears. She has signed to play for New Mexico State.
GIRLS SWIMMING ALLISON BERNIER sr., Albuquerque Academy
This was easily the toughest call of any sport, with Bernier — who is headed to Yale — and Eldorado’s Emma Gehlert both deserving. Bernier swam the anchor leg in two state championship relays which were won by the narrowest of margins. She also had a dramatic victory in the 500yard freestyle final.
GIRLS SOCCER ZARIA KATESIGWA sr., Albuquerque High
The forward, who has signed with New Mexico, tallied 15 goals in just seven games as she helped Albuquerque High into its first-ever state championship game.
BOYS SWIMMING DARIEN O’DONNELL sr., Eldorado
The future Kentucky Wildcat had a tremendous state meet in May, winning both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly by posting All-American Consideration times. He also swam a leg on a state champion relay for the Eagles.
GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY LAURYNN SISNEROS sr., Eldorado
There may not have been the usual allotment of regularseason meets, but her win by 21-plus seconds at the Class 5A state event certainly demonstrated her separation from her peers. She is planning to run cross-country and track at the United States Military Academy.
BASEBALL AKILI CARRIS jr., La Cueva
Carris could have won this with just his regular-season numbers. His terrific showing in the postseason — a combined 6-for-8 with seven RBIs in three games as the Bears won the 5A state final — put him over the top. La Cueva’s shortstop batted .441 with a team-best 34 RBIs.
GIRLS TENNIS CAMERON KING fresh., La Cueva
Her triumph at the Class 5A state tournament could prove to be the start of a long, prosperous high school career. She completed her ninth-grade season at 17-0 and helped La Cueva to a state team title as well.
GIRLS GOLF ANYA PARASHER fresh., Albuquerque Academy
With La Cueva’s King, one of only two freshmen among the Journal’s individual sport AOYs. Parasher won three of her five events, capping her season with a victory in a playoff at the Class 4A state tournament after shooting 3-under 69 in regulation.
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD ADRIANA TATUM sr., Sandia
The future Arizona State athlete excelled at the state meet, winning the 100- and 200-meter finals for the third time. Only the canceled 2020 season interrupted a likely fourpeat in both events. She also anchored the Matadors’ state record-breaking 4x100-meter relay team.
GIRLS BASKETBALL VIANÉ CUMBER sr., Sandia
Bound for the University of New Mexico, she put up huge numbers in a season shortened by the pandemic. The 5-foot-10 Cumber averaged 26.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals for the Matadors. This was one of the easiest calls on the board.
BOYS GOLF AIDEN KRAFFT jr., Cibola
Krafft won every tournament this spring except the shortened state tournament, during which he finished tied for third. He had eight wins and finished the season with a remarkable scoring average of 68 strokes.
BOYS TENNIS GEORGIO SAMAHA sr., Eldorado
Samaha, who has signed to play with New Mexico, was as untouchable as his record suggests — he went 15-0 in singles and capped his season with an impressive victory in the Class 5A state championship match. It was Samaha’s third individual title.
BOYS BASKETBALL TRE WATSON sr., Cleveland
The 6-foot-5 Watson was probably the most versatile player in the metro area. The Fresno State football signee could score from pretty much any position on the floor and could defend any position, too. Averaged 13.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals in the Storm’s title season.
BOYS WRESTLING ZACH DOYLE sr., Los Lunas
Doyle was a force of nature, going 20-0 en route to becoming the state’s Class 5A heavyweight champion. Of his 15 actual mat victories, all ended in pins, and only one went beyond the first period. He spent a grand total of 63 seconds on the mat in three state tournament pins.
BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY RENDON KUYKENDALL soph., Hope Christian
Huskies coach Shane Cleveland describes Kuykendall as a prodigy, and that was readily apparent in the short season. Kuykendall posted the best time (by far) of any runner in any classification as he won the Class 4A meet.
GIRLS WRESTLING SANTII SANTIAGO sr., Atrisco Heritage
She capped a 13-0 season in May with a pair of pins at the state tournament in the 113-pound division. Her two pins at state lasted 20 seconds and 18 seconds, respectively. It was her second consecutive Class 5A championship.
FOOTBALL/ BOYS TRACK AND FIELD LUKE WYSONG sr., Cleveland
The only double recipient on the board, he was the Gatorade Athlete of the Year in both sports and rightly so. The versatile Wysong, who’ll play football at UNM, scored eight touchdowns in three games on limited touches and was the high-point athlete at the state track meet last month.