January 2022 spotlights: Costa Mesa and Estancia HS scholar-athletes
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Each month, the Kiwanis Club of Costa Mesa recognizes and honors exceptional Scholar-Athletes from Estancia High School and Costa Mesa High School. The award recipients are not only leaders on the field, court, or pool, but also in the classroom.
On January 16, 2022, these stellar Scholar-Athletes were honored in a special Kiwanis award ceremony.
Estancia High School
Sandy Hernandez – Senior, Girls Basketball,聽GPA: 3.71
Sandy Hernandez, right. (Courtesy: Estancia High School Athletics)
“Sandy is the currently the starting center for the Estancia girls basketball team. Her grade point average is 3.71. Despite her slight physical stature, she has reached her current status as a starter on varsity by persistence and hard work. This is her first year on the varsity, having worked her way through the lower levels over the last three years. Sandy is an ultra-quiet individual which makes her most important team contribution so surprising. She doesn鈥檛 score much but defends our basket inside and rebounds with tenacity. Sandy is involved with Link Crew and Soy鈥檚 Academic Program and was also a member of the cross-country team last fall.” – Coach Judd Fryslie
Kevin Flores – Senior, Boys Soccer,聽GPA: 3.2
“Kevin Flores is a two-year varsity starter, and offensive player of the year last year.聽 He was our leading goal scorer last year, and first team all-league as well.聽聽Kevin is a great role model for the younger players.聽 He鈥檚 one of the most improved players we鈥檝e had at Estancia, and his climbed the ladder at Estancia with a lot of success at every level.聽 Kevin came in with a limited skill set as a freshman but found his niche in the last two years here.聽聽He鈥檚 undecided with his major but is looking to play college in soccer.聽 Has applied to Chapman University, CSUF, and CSULB, but isn鈥檛 quite sure where he wants to go to yet.聽 He has time, and I know he will have a lot of success whichever path he chooses.” -Coach Robert Castellano
Costa Mesa High School
Addie Juelfs – Sophomore, Water Polo, GPA: 4.28
“Addie is just a sophomore but her maturity level makes her a leader in the pool.聽 She is on pace to break the school record for the most goals scored in a single season.聽 Addie’s hard work ethic in the pool and in the classroom has paid off with a 4.28 GPA, and the opportunity to lift her team to another League Championship.聽 We are a better team with Addie Juelfs in the pool.” – Coach Dustin Serrano
Nathan Ramirez – Senior, Wrestling, GPA:聽3.86
Nathan Ramirez (Courtesy: Costa Mesa High School Athletics)
Nathan’s brother, Ed Ramirez, is an assistant coach for the team and he had the honor of speaking on behalf of his brother:
“Nathan continues to amaze me with his hard work ethic outside the wrestling mat.聽 He wakes up early in the morning to run or get an extra workout in.聽 He does the right thing both on the mat and in the classroom to be the best person he can be. Nathan helped the team win their first league Championship since 1991. He knows it’s hard to be coached by your brother and I am really proud of him. Nathan won his weight division in the Marina Tournament and he wasn’t even seeded. This is Nathan going the extra mile on his own.”
Ed says his motto to his brother is: “The mission is bigger than the man.”
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