At the end of each school year, The562 takes pride in celebrating the top athletes, performances, and achievements from across the city. We begin our All-City awards by honoring the standout individual performers in each sport as our All-City Athletes of the Year. Stay tuned for The562’s selections for the overall Boys and Girls Athletes of the Year, along with additional honors including Top Moments, Coach of the Year, Game of the Year, and more.
Football: Anthony League, Millikan
Millikan’s historic Moore League title was one of the most memorable moments from high school football season, and League was a big part of making it happen. Running behind an experienced and physical offensive line, League set Millikan’s single-season rushing record in 2024 with 1,640 yards on the ground. He averaged an impressive 9.8 yards per carry and racked up 23 rushing TDs. He also caught four TD passes with 379 receiving yards, and made 52 tackles on defense as a linebacker. He’s headed to Cal in the fall and could be an immediate contributor for the Golden Bears.
Girls’ Volleyball: Kristen Dear / Layla Moore, Long Beach Poly
Long Beach Poly senior Kristen Dear had a special senior season. She starred at middle blocker on Poly’s Moore League championship team, helped lead them to a CIF-SS championship, and was named Moore League Co-MVP. Dear wasn’t done there, as she has signed a collegiate scholarship with Howard University to continue her playing career.
Layla Moore also left her stamp on the sport this year. Moore starred at middle blocker for the Jackrabbits and helped lead them to a Moore League and a CIF-SS championship. Moore was co-Moore League MVP and was named the CIF Southern Section Player of the Year. Moore is headed to the Big West, signing a scholarship with CSUN.
Girls’ Golf: Loren Fearance, Long Beach Poly / Victoria Valenzuela, St. Anthony
Long Beach Poly freshman Loren Fearance won the Moore League championship, with a -3 performance over 36 holes played around the city. She’s the first Jackrabbit to win the title since 2012 and just the second freshman in Moore League girls’ golf history to bring home the individual championship.
St. Anthony senior Victoria Valenzuela made history this year, winning her third consecutive Del Relay League individual championship, holding off an illness to win the title by two strokes. Valenzuela also won her second consecutive Long Beach Golf Festival junior title in the summer before her senior season kicked off.
Girls’ Cross Country: Avery Peck, Long Beach Poly
Peck returned to the top of the podium at Moore League finals this past year, running a time of 17:27 to claim the second individual Moore League title of her career. She dropped over a minute off her time from 2023, and helped lead Poly to another team title as the Jackrabbits produced three of the top four finishers. Peck was able to bide her time at league finals as she waited out rival Nadia Mejia of Wilson for the first half of the race. Eventually, Peck pulled away for a 26-second margin of victory over the field.
Boys’ Cross Country: Jack Brown, Millikan
The Millikan Rams continued their recent dominance over Moore League boys’ cross country this past season. Brown was a key member of the senior class that brought home consecutive league titles for the first time in 40 years. He claimed the individual title with a 15:29 at Heartwell Park, leading a pack of six Rams in the top nine spots at league finals. Brown was also the city’s top runner at the CIF-SS finals, earning a Top 50 finish with a time of 16:02.5 at Mt. SAC.
Girls’ Tennis: Mandy Oliveros, CAMS
Mandy Oliveros reestablished herself as the top girls’ tennis singles player in the Moore League this year. The CAMS sophomore won the same title as a freshman when she led her team to a Moore League championship and CIF-SS Division 5 title. Oliveros is one of the best tennis players the Moore League has seen in recent years, currently ranked in the Top 25 for youth tennis players in California.
Boys’ Water Polo: Emerson LaPorta, Long Beach Poly
Emerson LaPorta had an impressive season at Long Beach Poly this year, capping it off by being named Co-Moore League Player of the Year. The senior captain led his team to a top two finish in the Moore League with a hat trick, three steals and two assists against Millikan in the second-place game. LaPorta also shined against powerhouse Wilson, scoring two goals against the Bruins including one go-ahead at the first quarter buzzer. LaPorta is going on to play water polo at the next level when he attends Pomona-Pitzer next year.
Flag Football: Aaya McLyn, Long Beach Poly
Aaya McLyn was voted Moore League Player of the Year by coaches and delivered one of the most decorated flag football seasons the young sport has seen. She played in the Under Armour Next All-American Girls’ Flag Football Game, was named a finalist for the NFL’s inaugural Maxwell National Player of the Year Award, represented the Los Angeles Rams at the NFL’s awards, and competed in the LA Chargers Flag Football All-Star Game.
WINTER
Boys’ Basketball: Jovani Ruff, Long Beach Poly
Long Beach Poly senior Jovani Ruff left his mark on the city this year, leading the Jackrabbits to another undefeated Moore League title and a Division 1 playoff berth. Ruff also scored 51 points in his regular season finale, setting a new single-game scoring record for the Jackrabbits. He set a new city record for career points by crossing the 2k point mark and finishing with 2,063. Ruff is signed with Cal to play college basketball.
Girls’ Basketball: Joy Anderson, Long Beach Poly / Nyemah King, Lakewood
Poly was able to go 12-0 in Moore League play once again this season, and Anderson’s senior leadership was a big reason why. She did a little bit of everything for the Jackrabbits as they ran their league winning streak up to 211 consecutive games. Anderson had 20 points and 17 rebounds in Poly’s second victory over Lakewood, and averaged a team-leading 17.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 4.1 steals per game, earning Moore League Player of the Year honors.
This year was the culmination of King’s reign as the Moore League scoring queen. She averaged 26.7 points per game as a senior for the Lancers, the highest mark of her career. King scored double digits in every game, scoring over 30 points on 11 occasions, with a pair of 40-point games on her resume. She’ll stay nearby to hoop at the next level, signing with Cal State Fullerton.
Boys’ Soccer: Juan Vasquez, Millikan
Juan Vasquez was named boys’ soccer Most Valuable Player in the Moore League and finished his senior campaign with 24 goals while leading Millikan to a league championship. The midfielder had one hat-trick and six different braces throughout the season while scoring at least one goal in 16 of the Rams’ 24 games.
Girls’ Soccer: Aaya McLyn, Long Beach Poly
Aaya McLyn makes another appearance on the All-City list after a girls’ soccer season in which she was named Midfielder of the Year. The senior led Long Beach Poly to the CIF-SS Division 3 championship game and is committed to continue her soccer career at Washington State University.
Boys’ Wrestling: Chris Anguiano, Millikan
Chris Anguiano had a lot of pressure to perform coming into this year of boys’ wrestling – and he did not disappoint. The sophomore was named an All-American and placed at the 2024 US Open and 2024 preseason Nationals tournaments. He also placed at the California USA Wrestling State championships, earning spots to represent Team California at the USA National Wrestling Championships in Fargo, North Dakota. Anguiano had an important win in Millikan’s sweep over Wilson that helped them win their 15th consecutive Moore League championship and was subsequently named the All-Moore League Wrestler of the Year.
Girls’ Wrestling: Ashley Wafer, Lakewood
Ashley Wafer has established herself as one of the top girls’ wrestlers in the Moore League, and this year was no different. Wafer was the reigning Moore League Wrestler of the Year, and she captured that title again for the 2024-25 season. She also won the CIF-SS title as the 235 lb wrestling champion after a season full of dominant wins for Lakewood.
Girls’ Water Polo: Katherine O’Dea, Wilson
Katherine O’Dea closed out her Moore League girls’ water polo career the only way she knew she could: with pure dominance. The senior, who has been playing as part of the USA Women’s Youth and Senior National teams, led her team to an undefeated season in the Moore League. O’Dea was the Moore League Player of the Year in 2024 and 2025 and will go on the play at the next level when she attends UCLA in the fall.
SPRING
Baseball: Anthony Pack, Millikan / Rudy Carlos Jr., Wilson
Pack helped lead Millikan to a share of the Moore League title as a five-tool player in center field who added a dynamic presence to the batting order. His .490 on-base percentage led the way for the Rams, along with his 29 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. The University of Texas commit is also a coveted draft prospect who projects well at the next level. He was named the Moore League Player of the Year in each of the last two seasons to close out his high school career.
Wilson’s power-hitting first baseman helped anchor an improved Bruins offense as they earned a share of the Moore League crown. Carlos led the squad with a .424 batting average for his senior season, with an impressive .671 slugging percentage. He led all Bruin batsmen with 36 hits, 14 doubles and 24 RBIs and provided solid defense over at first.
Softball: Lauren Cantwell, Millikan / Emoni Lam Sam, Long Beach Poly
After waiting her turn behind some talented pitchers, Cantwell finally got her time to shine as Millikan’s ace and she did not disappoint. The Moore League Pitcher of the Year was dominant against league rivals, holding them to a batting average below .100, and racking up 90 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched. Overall, the Vanguard signee posted a 1.29 ERA on the season, with 157 K’s in 103 innings pitched, finishing the year with a 15-4 record. Cantwell had eight double-digit strikeout performances, with a season-high of 13 against Lakewood and Long Beach Poly less than a week apart.
The Poly Jackrabbits made history this season, winning the school’s first-ever CIF-SS softball championship, and Lam Sam was a big reason why. The junior third baseman hit .511 with a .619 on-base percentage, and a team-leading 1.710 OPS. She led an explosive Poly offense in hits (45), runs scored (47), RBIs (50), walks (18) and home runs (11), while also playing solid defense at the hot corner. Her best game of the year came against Saint Joseph, when she collected five hits, including three home runs, to go along with five RBIs and four runs scored in a Jackrabbit victory.
Girls’ Lacrosse: Emerson May, Wilson
May has been a three-year captain in goal for the Bruins, earning first-team All-Moore League honors in each of those seasons. As a junior this year, she earned Moore League Player of the Year honors while leading the Bruins to their second league title in a row. May posted a save percentage above .750 as Wilson’s last line of defense, and collected over 120 saves during league play.
Boys’ Lacrosse: Zeth Gonzales, Long Beach Poly
Part of a loaded senior class of 18 graduates, Gonzales was a reliable presence in goal for the Jackrabbits as they claimed a share of the Moore League title in 2025. An All-Moore League first team selection in each of the past three seasons, Gonzales was chosen as the Moore League Player of the Year in 2025 after anchoring a strong Jackrabbits defense. Thanks in large part to Gonzales’ proficiency in front of goal, Poly recorded a pair of shutouts this season and 10 times held opponents to three goals or fewer.
Girls’ Swim: Kylie Montiel, Millikan
Montiel was a standout at Moore League finals, winning a pair of individual races for the Rams while also leading the 200 medley relay to victory to start the meet. Montiel swam a 58.37 to take gold in the 100 butterfly, and also finished first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 58.13. She then advanced to the CIF-SS Division 2 meet, where she finished fourth in the 100 backstroke and eighth in the 100 butterfly. The senior will swim for Biola University next season.
Boys’ Swim: Lucas Jue, Long Beach Poly
The junior continued Poly’s run of standout swimmers this year, and Jue was the standout at the Moore League swim finals for the Jackrabbits. He led Poly’s 200 medley relay to gold, then promptly set a new Moore League record with a time of 1:38.21 in the 200 freestyle. Jue won his second individual gold in the 100 backstroke, swimming a 48.31 to break the meet record in that race. The Louisville commit also showed well at CIF, earning silver in both the 200 IM (1:49.51) and the 500 freestyle (4:27.40) in Division 1.
Boys’ Badminton: Brian Habacon, Cabrillo
Brian Habacon captured the Moore League boys’ badminton singles title for the Cabrillo Jaguars this season. The senior swept all his opponents, including his own teammates, on his way to the title victory. He defeated Poly’s Peter You 21-9, 24-22 in the championship match.
Girls’ Badminton: Nga Pham, Long Beach Poly
Nga Pham had one thing on her mind going into this year’s Moore League badminton finals: redemption. Pham had a successful season in 2024, earning All-League honors despite falling short in the finals. This year, Pham proved why she was the top-ranked player in her bracket by sweeping all of her opponents, including in the championship match where she defeated Lakewood’s Cecilia Fonseca 21-9, 21-13
Girls’ Dive: Fiona Lobedecis, Long Beach Poly
Long Beach Poly’s Fiona Lobedecis has been a standout diver in the Moore League throughout her time as a Jackrabbit. She capped off her senior season with a CIF State Championship after posting a score of 505.35. Lobedecis was the 2024 Moore League
Diver of the Year and holds the school record for her dive score at last year’s CIF State Finals, where she posted a 508.20 Lobedecis will join the University of Michigan’s Dive team in the fall.
Gymnastics: Eva Esqueda, Millikan
In the final year of gymnastics in the Moore League, Eva Esqueda was named Moore League Gymnast of the Year after delivering the top all-around performance at the league finals in May. She placed in the top three in three of the four events and won the bars.
Boys’ Golf: Bodie Barnes, Wilson
Bodie Barnes dominated three rounds of boys’ golf to win the Moore League individual championship at El Dorado Park Golf Course in May. He finished with a 299, keeping the championship trophy in the family after his brother Bryson won it last year.
Boys’ Volleyball: Matthew Tsao, Long Beach Poly / Marek Turner, Wilson
Matthew Tsao helped Long Beach Poly boys’ volleyball win its first undefeated Moore League championship since 2014. The senior outside hitter led the Jackrabbits in kills throughout the season.
USA Volleyball’s Marek Turner led Wilson to a second-place finish in the Moore League during his senior year. The opposite/outside hitter is committed to continue his volleyball career at UCLA.
Girls’ Track: Jill Wetteland, Long Beach Poly / Loren Webster, Wilson / Kaylin Edwards, Wilson
Long Beach Poly’s Jill Wetteland won both a CIF-SS and CIF State championship in the high jump. The senior cleared 5’7” at the state finals in Clovis and is committed to continue her career next year at Harvard.
Wilson’s Loren Webster competed in three events at the CIF-SS track finals and capped her high school career with a CIF State championship in the girls’ long jump. Webster jumped 21 feet, ¼ inch at the state meet in Clovis—a new personal record on the biggest stage.
Kaylin Edwards anchored Wilson to a state championship in the girls’ 4x100m relay—one of her three events at the state finals in Clovis. She was also the CIF-SS champion in the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles.
Boys’ Track: Wyland Obando, Wilson / Noah Smith, Long Beach Poly
Wyland Obando competed in three events at the CIF State track finals and won the state championship in the boys’ 800m. He was also part of Wilson’s 4x400m relay team that set a new school record at the finals in Clovis.
Noah Smith anchored Long Beach Poly to a new school record in the 4x400m at the CIF State track finals in Clovis. Smith was also the Moore League champion in the boys’ 400m and placed second at CIF.
Beach Volleyball: Simrin Adams/Sadie Calderone, Wilson
Wilson’s Simrin Adams and Sadie Calderone were the city’s best beach volleyball pair this year by a good margin, and the duo made it a Spring to remember. They led Wilson to a Moore League team title and claimed the league pairs title in dominating fashion, winning 21-8, 21-11. Then they led the Bruins to their first-ever CIF-SS beach volleyball championship, with a win over league foe Millikan in the championship.
Boys’ Tennis: Leo Bauch, Wilson
Wilson senior Leo Bauch wouldn’t let anything keep him from the Moore League tennis singles title this year–not even an injury. Even with his back and legs tightening and camping, Bauch battled against teammate Douglas Smith to win the league title 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. “I just had to change my play style and power through,” said Bauch. “I had a lot of people watching me and supporting me, which is really great.”
