Athletes of the i e

The Heisman Trophy winner is celebrated with a parade, received a Key to the City and Cajon High School Football Stadium named in his Honor.

By Angela M. Coggs

SAN BERNARDINO — The cold temperature and rain did not stop the residents of San Bernardino from celebrating Cajon High School graduate Jayden Daniels with a parade on Saturday, January 20, 2024.

Jayden Daniels, affectionally known as, “That Kid Jayden” received a hometown welcome fit for the Legend he is destined to become. The Heisman Trophy winner returned to San Bernardino with a parade, presented with a key to the city by Mayor Helen Tran and a stadium renamed in his honor.

Daniels returned to his hometown as a 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, college football’s most prestigious award, after a record-setting season at Louisiana State University (LSU). Winning this honor has been a dream of his since he was 10 years old. Daniels had the support of the community as evinced by everyone taking to social media to encourage everyone to cast their vote daily for him to be the Heisman trophy winner.

His quiet demeaner and bright smile broke through the clouds and rain as he presided over the very football field he once dominated. “I’m happy to see all the kids out here,” Daniels said. “I hope I give you all hope and inspiration. I love everyone from San Bernardino and I’m happy to be from San Bernardino.”

Family, friends, and fans defied the downpour as they waited on the crowded Cajon football field for the LSU quarterback’s Mardi Gras-themed float starting at California State University, San Bernardino and ending at Cajon High Schools football field.

Once Daniels appeared on stage, he was showered with kind remarks and honors from various local dignitaries. San Bernardino Mayor Helen Tran presented Daniels with a key to the city before proclaiming Jan. 20th as “Jayden Daniels Day” in San Bernardino. “May this honor reflect our gratitude for the pride and joy Jayden has brought to us and may his success continue to inspire generations to come,” Tran said. “Your achievements resonate with us all.”

Daniels became the city’s first Heisman Trophy winner, after completing 236 of 327 passes for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns for LSU this past season. The senior also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. He became the school’s third Heisman Trophy winner, joining quarterback Joe Burrow (2019) and halfback Billy Cannon (1959).

Daniels’ 2023 season was acknowledged with several other annual college football awards, including the Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year and Associated Press Player of the Year. He also earned consensus All-American status.

While in high school, Daniels spent four years as a varsity quarterback, leading coach Nick Rogers’ Cajon Cowboys to a CIF-SS Division 4 Championship in 2017. He used his dual-threat ability to compile 12,482 total yards and 153 total touchdowns in his high school career and established himself as a four-star prospect in the 24/7sports composite rankings. His on-field prowess earned him a scholarship to Arizona State University to play for head coach Herman Edwards and associate head coach Antonio Pierce, now head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Daniels is the third Heisman Trophy winner from LSU. The other two to receive the honor, Billy Cannon and Joe Burrow. Daniels racked up 50 total touchdowns in the Purple and Gold during the 2023 season.

Despite his high school success, Daniels never owned a Cajon letterman’s jacket until when the San Bernardino City Unified School District Board of Education presented him with one Saturday.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Daniels said. “I’m just blessed for everyone supporting me. …  I appreciate everyone who came out here who’s supported me since I was a kid and they watched me grow up.”

The crowd was asked to turn its attention to the Cajon football stadium press box as a banner dropped and read “Jayden Daniels Stadium.” This was an emotional moment in time as the crowd exploded with cheers and tears.

“Just to have a stadium named after me is dope and something I never could have dreamed of. I’m proud to be from San Bernardino,” he said.

The driving force behind any successful person is typically the love and support of family. For Daniels, his cup surely ‘runneth over’. Family gives the roots to stand tall and strong, without “them” we would all fall. Not only does his mother and father stand in support, both sides of his family have always loved and supported him from day one. However, some important, key family members were not there, and it was felt by all. “Our immediate and entire family from coast to coast is beyond proud of our nephew Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy Winner. As well as our brother, Javon Daniels and our father, the late Danny Daniels, who both played a major part in supporting Jayden and always being available to him during this long process,” said his paternal aunts Feledier “Let” Thrower and Yolanda “Angel” Cohill. “We were overwhelmed with tears of joy. Although our parents are no longer with us, they would be proud. Our daddy’s name (Daniels) will be a legacy with the Jayden Daniels Football Stadium as well as throughout San Bernardino and the nation,” exclaimed the sisters with tears in their eyes. “We are forever grateful to God be the glory.”

Family support is number one, however teachers are privy to having a front row seat to greatness in the making. “As a teacher you often talk to your students about their future, their goals and their dreams. To be able to watch one of your former students be able to realize part of that dream is amazing,” stated Mrs. Singer, Daniels former middle school English teacher. “In my class we had two mantras: ‘Believe it, Achieve it’ and ‘Show up and Show out’. Jayden had the belief in himself and now he is on his way to achieving all he has dreamed of. He has proven to show up and show out time after time and I am excited to see all the great things he will do in the future,” Singer said proudly. I know today will be the first of many honors as Jayden continues to change the narrative of San Bernardino.”

Daniels will take the next step in his football career as he pursues a career in the National Football League. He’s been projected by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. to go as high as a top-five pick in the NFL draft in April. The draft will take place in Detroit, starting on Apr. 25, 2024.

The quarterback signed fans’ memorabilia which included tiny footballs, Cajon and LSU hats and a Raiders jersey.

Mattison, who starred at San Bernardino High School and Boise State University, participated in the parade and spoke on stage after embracing Daniels.

“I remember back in the day when he was running for the TJ Striders,” the Vikings running back said. “He was a quiet, humble and fast kid blazing it on the track, but now you’re blazing a new path that brings hope for a kid who was told he couldn’t and breeds confidence for a kid who’s never seen it before.”

In addition to the local community coming out to support Daniels, one of his friends and former classmates proudly watched the live stream from Japan even though it was 3am. He did not want to miss witnessing the momentous event. “I am proud and excited for my friend Jayden to be living the dream we all knew he was capable of. It shows that his hard work, dedication, and determination paid off,” remarked Yonathan Habtemariam. “All though he has made it this far, I know this is just the beginning for him. He’s an inspiration of character and will continue to be for the younger generation especially for the youth in San Bernardino.” Habtemariam and Daniels met in the sixth grade and have been friends since they attended Richardson Prep High Middle School and graduated from Cajon High School in 2019.

Another person that was very instrumental during Daniels formative years was Ernie Burries, former football coach and current teach at Arroyo Valley High School. “Jayden has always been a star and one of if not the best player on the team every year he played football. Jayden has always been humble like his dad Javon yet on the field ready to take care of business like his mother Regina off the field.”

Burries unapologetically declared, “Jayden would be one of a few players that would get up and ride with me to the gym at 5am work out and still get to school on time and excel in the classroom.” When asked about Daniels work ethic on the field and football IQ, without hesitation his former coach stated, “Jayden was and has always been a student of the game and because of that, he is and was smarter than a lot of us coaches. Jayden made all of those who have ever coached him look good and better than we were and we all definitely appreciate him for that.” Burries has been very supportive to all his former players. “Personally, I try to always support any and all of the kids I have coached and or mentored. I’ve seen him play in Arizona, in Washington verses his former teammate Jeremiah Martin, and at Death Valley. He along with other former collegiate players are just as excited seeing us come out as we are seeing them play.” That kind of support is priceless. “Jayden has a solid foundation around him and even if not for the football success he is/was destined to be great.”

Although it was an accomplishment to leave San Bernardino in pursuit of an education, whilst achieving his lifelong dreams and goals…. Having a key to the City will ensure and remind Daniels that San Bernardino is his forever home and he is welcomed home anytime. He is the holder of the key to San Bernardino and his future. San Bernardino believes in you, Jayden. This writer will continue to pray for and will always believe in you. Stay the course and keep your eye on the prize. This is your HOME.

CORONA, CA—- Meet legendary Yolanda Holder, a professional ultramarathon walker and a long-distance endurance athlete.  At age 61 she is breaking boundaries in the ultra-marathon world.  On January 25, 2020, Yolanda became the first African American Woman to finish a 50K Race Walk placing 6^th in the Women’s National Championship 50K Race Walk and the 2020 National 50K Age Group Champion and won a purse of $1000.

In 2019, Yolanda became the first African American Woman and second African American to earn a United States Race Walk Centurion #94 and the oldest person to race walk 100 miles in under 24 hours (23:52:17).  Also, in 2019 at the Six Days in the Dome in Milwaukee, she set a World and American Age Group Record (60-64) 413 miles in six days.

Yolanda’s list of accomplishments as a walker that competes with runners in long.  She’s a two-time Guinness World Record holder for “Most Marathons Completed in a Calendar Year”, finishing a staggering 106 marathons/ultras in 2010 and breaking her own record in 2012 finishing 120 marathons/ultras.  She is the first American Woman and African American to Run or Walk over 100 marathons in a calendar year and the first woman in the world to ever do it twice.

Yolanda’s accomplishments are amazing, at the 2017 Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race she set a World Record first Pedestrian (walker) to walk the entire race finishing in 51 Days, 17 hours and 13 seconds.  She is also the first African American male or female, runner or walker to ever compete in this brutal footrace. The Sri Chinmoy 3100 Mile Race called “The Mount Everest of ultramarathons” by The New York Times, this is the longest certified footrace in the world that is held in the heat of the summer in New York. The athletes can test themselves in a f format unlike any other ultra-marathon event. In order to meet their goal of 3100 miles in 52 days, they must log an average of 60 miles per day. The race starts at 6am and the athletes have until midnight when the course closes for the night.  Yolanda is known as the Walking Diva and she took 52 outfits looking very stylist as she finished each day.

Yolanda is a master’s athlete at her athletic peak setting and breaking World and American records with no plans on stopping.  What’s special and close to her heart is “Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes”, an annual event she founded in honor of her parents. Losing both her parents to this horrible disease she promotes healthy living through Walking 4 Your Health.  Walking a mile or more daily and making small changes to your eating habits can help control not only diabetes but all diseases.  She practices what she preaches for over two years daily, she walks a mile or more, a headstand, a plank, drinks waters, and writes down what’s she’s grateful for.  Her purpose in life is to inspire and motivate everyone to take care of their health by moving your body daily.

Yolanda is a wife, mother of two grown children, inspirational speaker, and author.

If you would like to hear more of Yolanda’s amazing story she’s available for speaking engagements and can be reach at yolandaholder@gmail.com or on Facebook.

YUCAIPA, CA— Austin Olive hopes to make the Paralympic swimming team in 2024.

The 18-year-old Yucaipa resident is working hard to improve his time in the water and build his muscles. But along the way, Olive will have to qualify for a chance to make the team during events like the recent California Classic at Crafton Hills College.

Held October 26 and 27 in CHC’s Aquatics Center, the Classic – hosted by US Paralympic Swimming – put a spotlight on para-athletes looking to showcase their abilities as they compete against their peers in several events.

The meet was open to swimmers from all over the United States with any physical, visual or intellectual impairment. Several will move on to the Paralympics next year in Tokyo, while others like Olive are focused on future Games.

Olive – or Auggie as he’s known – found swimming after he found it difficult to keep up with his peers on the baseball field. Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, swimming opened several doors for Yucaipa High School alumnus, particularly when it came to addressing his competitive spirit, said a family member at the event.

“Swimming makes me feel weightless,” said the current CHC student. “When I’m in the water, I don’t feel anything weighing me down both emotionally and physically. My stress and anxiety go down when I’m in the pool.”

Several athletes at the Classic have similar stories, some of which are known while others are still being discovered. Event organizers invited the community to the event with the intent of introducing competitors to local residents.

Several took US Paralympic Swimming up on its offer.

“One of the greatest things about this day in age is the Games are becoming more and more visible,” said Erin Popovich, associate director of the organization. “And when we can involve communities who do not get to see the Paralympics in person or on TV, once they see something like this, they understand it.”

The next stop for Augie and the other 44 Classic athletes is the National Championships in Dallas, Texas, in December. Popovich said the championships will lead to the Paralympic Games in Tokyo next summer. And then the fun starts all over again in anticipation of the 2024 Games in Paris, France, she added with a chuckle.

Twenty-twenty-four sounds like it is a lifetime away, but Augie has no plans on slowing down just yet.

“It’s pretty cool how fast I can swim even though I’m getting older and my muscles are growing,” said Olive. “Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they should be counted out. Do not ever give up.”

You can follow the progress leading to the Paralympics online atwww.paralympic.org/paralympic-games.

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK—ENN)—- SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- The SBVC Foundation recently announced distance runner Michael Ramirez as the Male Athlete of the Year, and women’s soccer player Karen Jacobs as the Female Athlete of the Year.

Ramirez was the fastest Wolverine at the State Championships, as he earned All-American honors by finishing tenth. He has committed to Chico State in the fall, and is the SBVC’s nomination to the PCAC Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Jacobs was the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference’s player of the year in 2018, leading the team on offense with team highs in goals (18) and assists (13). Jacobs has committed to continue her soccer career at Louisiana State University-Alexandria in the fall.

Congratulations to these SBVC Wolverines!

For more information about San Bernardino Valley College, visit valleycollege.edu. 

By Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- There is only one week left of 2018, which means every gym is about to be packed for the first quarter of 2019. After the first quarter of the year people fall off and disregard any fitness resolution that they had on New Year’s Eve. However, we need to keep that adrenaline pumping.        

Female bodybuilder and fitness guru, Danielle Willis, is the true epitome of whatever you put your mind to can be achieve through persistence and consistentency. I was inspired Ms. Willis’ latest achievements in the fitness arena this past year that I had to chat with her. Her story is purposeful and inspiring to all, young and “seasoned”.

Listen to the interview below:

By. Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- Citrus Valley High School senior, Danielle Lilley, recently received the MVP for the Citrus Belt League for volleyball where she plays the position of Outside Hitter.

Lilley’s journey in volleyball began at the age of 10-years old when a family friend suggested that she try a volleyball camp at California State University of San Bernardino. Prior to volleyball, Lilley had tried gymnastics, swimming and tennis.

Many Black children do not play volleyball because of the cost of club competition training and travel. It can be quite expensive costing up to $5,000 per season in California. However, with a payment plan and much sacrifice, Lilley’s parents made it happen, and the sacrifice and hard work has paid off!

Danielle has played for Rancho Valley Volleyball Club (RVVC) for 7 years. Her RVVC club teams have qualified for and competed in the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships for the past 4 years. In 2017, her team won the Gold Medal in the 16 American Division. They were honored by the San Bernardino mayor and city council.

“Danielle’s mother and I are very proud of her. She’s always been a good girl. I think with all of kids, we’re really just blessed thus far with how they have turned out,” Myron Lilley, Danielle’s father, stated. “We give all glory to God for having favor with them. She took two official college visits and kind of fell in love with Texas Southern, and for us we felt okay with Texas Southern because we used to live in Texas and we used to live around the Houston area. I also have family there; my wife has family there and we have close friends that are like family, so we felt that it could be the right situation for her and that in case of an emergency they can check in on her.”

At Citrus Valley, she has played on the varsity team all four years and has been recognized with all league and all Inland Area selections for the past two years. This year as a team captain, Danielle led her team (21-5 overall and 8-2 in CBL) and the Citrus Belt League in kills in spite of playing in fewer sets than any other scoring leader. Danielle scored 321 kills in only 56 sets for an average of 5.7 kills per set and a 40 percent kill percentage. 

She made the top 10 in CBL in 3 other categories: hitting percentage, service aces, and digs. Danielle scored a career best 30 kills vs Murrieta Mesa in pre-league competition.

I recently interviewed Ms. Lilley, where she chatted on her plans for after high school and her inspirations in getting into volleyball.

You recently received the MVP title. What was your initial reaction to that?

It was one of my goals that I have set this season and I really wanted to work hard and earn it. I was able to and I was over the moon excited about it.

What was the journey like in claiming the MVP title?

It was interesting because the way I found out was that my mom sent it to me. She was the first person to show me. I was really surprised. I was trying to calm down because I was in class when she texted it to me.

There are not very many African Americans in volleyball, so what inspired you to get into the sport?

I started playing when I was ten, so I’ve been playing for about seven years now. At first, I didn’t love it right away. I liked it and I enjoyed it, but the love came later as I built friendships and got better, and of course it always helps when you’re doing well and you’re good at something. I just became good at it and I found the love for it.

How do you balance you academics and your sports?

It can be very difficult; it’s not easy! My parents have always taught me how to get ahead of my school work and to get things done early so that I don’t fall behind. They showed me how to be proactive because it is hard to catch up when you fall behind.

What are your plans for after high school?

I just recently committed to play volleyball at Texas Southern University in Houston. I got back from my first visit about three weeks ago and while I was there, I loved it! I am also a music major which is a prodigious major at the school. So that is like a hand and hand thing, volleyball and my passion for music.

What some of your hobbies outside of music and volleyball?

I’m in two different bands at school: the symphonic band and the wind ensemble. That’s mainly what I do. I am also really involved in my church.

What do you have planned as you wrap up your senior year?

My band at school always has concerts for each semester and seasons. We have a Christmas concert coming up, followed up with a festival where we perform in front of judges and get a rating and following that is the spring concert. As far as volleyball, my club team is about to start practicing in a couple of weeks. We also have a lot of tournaments and qualifiers where we travel out of state where we play to qualify for the national tournament which will be held in Dallas, Texas this year.

What is for advice for our youth, especially our Black youth, who may be passionate or into a particular sport that may not be highly recognized in the community? How can they stay motivated to keep pushing forward?

My advice is to not be afraid to be different. I know on the court there are not that many African Americans, but that is something that you should take and be inspired by to be one of the few out there. If you’re not one of the few or one of the only ones on the team, then just be that one person that stands out. Don’t let not seeing other Black people out there stop you from doing what you want to do.

 

By Naomi K. Bonman

The NFL Draft took place this past weekend from Thursday, April 30 to Saturday, May 2. Young men from all across the Nation seen their dreams of playing for the NFL unfold before their eyes, including Banning resident and Fresno State alumni, Derron Smith, 23. Smith was included in the third day of draft picks where he was picked to join the Cincinnati Bengals as Starting Safety.

Smith finished his college football career with 297 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 33 passes defensed—15 of which he intercepted. He was also the 11^th player in school history at Fresno State to be named to the all-conference team three times. Smith is the cousin to the editor of the Westside Story Newspaper, Naomi K. Bonman.

 

MORENO VALLEY, CA-Randy Haley, 9, is a dual sport athlete. He runs track for the TJ Striders where he participates in running 100m, 200m, and 400m. His best times are 14.47 seconds (100m), 29.78 seconds (200m), and 108.74 (400m). His goal was to perfect his running time for football, but he ended up loving track and making it to the championships in all three events. He also plays football where he is the starting running back for the Moreno Valley Falcons. The best thing that Haley loves about sports is winning. His overall goal is to be a running back for University of Southern California (USC) or University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

What coaches appreciate most in their players is the ablity to rise to the occasion. Etiwanda High School’s Amy Okonkwo did just that every time out.

The 6-foot-1 junior forward scored a season-high 28 points in the Eagles’ 73-72 win over Mater Dei,

then ranked No. 1 in the nation, in the CIF Southern Section semifinal. Included in that point tally was a 3-pointer in overtime that gave her team a 67-64 lead it never relinquished.

She also registered 19 against Corona Santiago in the CIF championship game and 18 against Long Beach Poly in a state playoff loss.

Okonkwo, 16, is the Inland Valley Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

“She rose to the occasion time and time again against the better teams,” Etiwanda coach Anders Anderson says. “She isn’t cocky or

overconfident but she has an air of confidence about her. The other girls know she is going to deliver.”

Okonkwo, who is being recruited by a bevy of Division I schools, many of those Pac 12, averaged 15.7 points and 9.5 rebounds her first year with the Eagles (28-4) after transferring from Baseline League rival Los Osos along with junior

Cherce Harris.

Sometimes moving into a new environment can be difficult but that didn’t prove to be the case, with Okonkwo already having played with most of the Etiwanda players in travel ball or at Day Creek Middle School.

“I really wasn’t that nervous about it because I already knew the girls,” she said. “They accepted me right away and made it easy.”

Anderson says the player’s demeanor was a factor in the smooth transition.

“She didn’t come in here with an attitude or telling us what she had done,” Anderson said. “She just wanted to do her part and help us

win. She fit in from the very start.”

Okonkwo, who plans to major in kinesiology, is preparing for the next level. Anderson says she needs to work on conditioning. Competing in track this spring helps. She is looking for a third straight league title in shot put.

Okonkwo also want to work on her ball-handling skills.

“In college I might have to be a guard,” she said. “I can’t just count on being tall because at that level everyone is pretty big. I want to be able to do whatever they want me to do.”

By Michelle Gardner, Staff Writer

Posted:   04/17/2013 07:00:00 PM PDT

http://www.sbsun.com/preps/ci_23035547/2013-all-area-girls-basketball-team-etiwandas-amy

An economics major at Arizona State, he arrived on campus early in the summer of 2005 to get a head start on classes and the life around Tempe…he plays the piano…he has a younger sister, Samantha, and a younger brother, Tim…he was a teammate of Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Nate McMillan’s son, Jamelle, in his final two seasons at Arizona State…he is a 2005 graduate of Etiwanda High School in Etiwanda, California, where he played alongside former Pacers’ teammate Darren Collison…he averaged 9.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for an Etiwanda squad that went 31-2 in his senior year and was ranked second in the nation…his team started the season 13-0…Etiwanda went 31-3 in his junior year, including 10-0 in the Baseline League, and reached the southern California regional final.

 

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/jeff_pendergraph/bio.html