It was an exciting day at St. Anthony on Thursday as the Saints honored their student athletes from the Class of 2026 that will be continuing their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.
“This is a wonderful afternoon,” St. Anthony president Christine Tucker said. “It’s my honor and privilege to be here with each of you to recognize our student athletes that are moving on to amazing experiences ahead of now. This is a very, very, very important milestone not only for our school – because it reflects our mission as developing the potential of very well rounded women and men.”
The Saints recognized six athletes that will be competing at the next level from the four-year institutions to the community college level.
Laila Hughes will be heading to Alabama where she will be attending Tuskegee University where she will play basketball and study to become a nurse. Hughes was a key member of the Saints’ girls basketball team and was a second-team Del Rey League selection her senior year.
“It’s definitely rewarding,” Hughes said of having the opportunity to play at the next level. “Especially just all the hardships of high school basketball itself. It definitely pays off in all those four years. It’s just a reward, but it’s also just a milestone because I still have so much more to work for in the future. So it just reminds me of what else I have to work for.”
Hughes will be moving but won’t be far from where she was born in Georgia. She’s also looking forward to the culture she will be around living in the South.
“The people. It’s a culture shock. I think Southern hospitality and everything is going to be a huge difference for me,” Hughes said. So I’m excited to meet people and experience different things.”
Hughes will be joined by Jordyn Washington and Dallyn Knox who will also continue their athletic careers at the community college level. Washington, a first-team Del Rey League selection, will continue her career at Mt. San Antonio College.
Knox, a second-team Del Rey League selection, will be staying local to attend Cypress College to continue hooping.
The Lolesio-Pua family will be adding to their rich rugby background as Nila and Sydney will be attending Life University. Nila has earned a full-ride scholarship to play rugby in Georgia.
“”I’m really looking forward to the new team I’m about to be exposed to,” Nila said. “ It’s pretty far, and I’m going to miss my family, but it’ll all be worth it.”
Esten Wilson will continue his basketball career when he joins College of the Desert in the fall where he will study Kinieseology.
“We are very happy and proud of these six student-athletes for their dedication, sacrifice and resilience that they showed to accomplish a goal of wanting to play their respective sport at the next level,” St. Anthony athletic director Vince Nolasco said. “We are very grateful for everything they did as students-athletes at St. Anthony High School. Always remain hungry and humble and always work for your goals and dreams.”
