Roundup of local collegiate signings
A look at where some of Yuma’s top outgoing high school athletes are headed to next
Among the seniors who just graduated from their Yuma County schools, there are some state champions, some record-breakers and many exceptional athletes. Some will be continuing their athletic careers, and it is time to take a look at those names.
Below is a list of local student-athletes who are moving on to the next level, whether it be a four-year school or a junior college.
Disclaimer: This list may not cover everybody, as it only includes signings/ commitments that were reported to the Yuma Sun (by coaches, school administrators, parents or kids themselves).
Note: Previously reported signings are only briefly mentioned
Baseball
• In 2015, Kofa had four sophomore starters playing at a high level, and now those four graduate as seniors and are moving to play in some top programs in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. Left-handed pitcher/outfielder Damien Rinehart and shortstop Kevin Avila will play at Arizona Western College. Third baseman Enrique Porchas and outfielder Jeremy Santana will head to Pima in Tucson. Rinehart had a 2.26 earned run average and nearly a strikeout per inning in 2017, while the other three all hit at least .350. All four Kings have one or two Yuma Sun/Yuma Rotary Club all-region selections to their name.
• Joining his rivals and Kofa counterparts in the ACCAC will be San Luis’ Jesus Pulido. The left-handedhitting corner infielder will play at Yavapai in Prescott. He was second in the entire 6A Conference in runs batted in (38), is a back-to-back all-region selection and was Second Team All-State in 2017.
• Gila Ridge outfielder Connor Young signed the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (NCAA Division II) in the fall. As a senior, the 4A Southwest second-teamer batted .431 with nine RBIs.
• Previously reported signings: San Luis pitcher Gabriel Ponce to University of San Diego, San Luis pitcher/infielder Ramon Miranda to AWC.
Football
• Kofa defensive end Adrian Muntinga signed with Missouri Valley College (NAIA) earlier this month. Muntinga, who was a threeyear starter for Kofa, totaled 41 tackles and four sacks as a senior, helping the Kings to their best season (5-5 overall) in eight years.
• Cibola wide receiver/ cornerback Gabriel Claudio — the Offensive Player of the Year, and recently crowned Male Athlete of the Year for Yuma Sun/Yuma Rotary Club — is staying local and will play at AWC this fall. Claudio’s 81 receptions, 1,348 yards and 18 touchdowns are all school records he set during his senior season. Claudio also had an area-best eight interceptions at cornerback.
• Running back/cornerback Jaylen Barnes, a back-to-back all-region choice on both sides of the ball, will play at Valley City State, an NAIA program in North Dakota. Barnes was a touchdown machine with the Shamrocks totaling 24 rushing and 20 receiving TDs over his junior and senior seasons. He also had five interceptions last fall at cornerback. Another member of YC’s 2016 backfield signed, as quarterback James Stover joins Benedictine University, a D-III school in Illinois. In an injury-shortened year, Stover completed 66 percent of his passes for 1,058 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Previously reported signings: Cibola tight end Mark Walton to Arizona State University, Yuma Catholic defensive end Daniel Callender to South Dakota State University
Men’s golf
(NAIA) earlier this month. During his three years as a varsity golfer with Gila Ridge, Rouse helped the Hawks to back-to-back Division II State Championship appearances. As a senior, he was the team’s highest finisher at state (tied for 34th overall).
Women’s golf
• Gila Ridge’s Brianna Lora-Carillo signed with Chandler-Gilbert Community College during the early signing period. She was a four-time all-region selection while with Gila Ridge, posting a career-low 40.86 scoring average as a senior while helping the Hawks qualify for the Division II State Championship.
Women’s soccer
• Kofa defender Makayla Zendejas, an all-region selection as a senior, signed with Arizona Western earlier this month. Zendejas’ signing continues a tradition of local players moving on to the Matadors, who had nine Yuma County products on the roster last fall.
• Cibola’s Vianey Medina signed with West Virginiabased Salem International University (NCAA Division II) in March. As a senior, Medina helped the Raiders qualify for state for the first time in six years.
Softball
• Gila Ridge’s Josh Rouse • Gila Ridge’s Yassiel signed with Oklahoma Pan- Lazo and Aylin Campa handle State University both signed with Arizona Western during the early signing period. Lazo, who hit .523 as a senior while playing catcher/shortstop/ third base, and Campa, an outfielder who hit a teambest .550 as a senior, were both two-time all-region selections while with the Hawks.
• Cibola pitcher/first baseman Madison Sierra signed with Pima Community College during the early signing period. As a senior, the third-time all-region selection put up the area’s best pitching stats (16-1, 1.46 ERA).
Volleyball
• Yuma Catholic’s Emily Rowlison, a three-sport star in high school, signed with New York-based Roberts Wesleyan College’s volleyball program (NCAA Division II) in April. As a volleyball player for the Shamrocks, Rowlison played setter/middle and was named the 2015 Yuma Sun Player of the Year as well as an all-region selection as a senior.
Women’s track
Previously reported signings: Gila Ridge sprinter/ jumper Hannah Weller to Arizona State University
Women’s basketball
Previously reported signings: Kofa forward Abbey Jensen to Northern Arizona University, Kofa center Carletta Jones to Avila University (NAIA)