South Pasadena's Steven Colliau and Rio Hondo Prep's Tiffany Horton named Star-News Athletes of the Year
The multi-sport athlete is a rare breed, but South Pasadena High School's Steven Colliau and Rio Hondo Prep's Tiffany Horton hope their kind won't become extinct anytime soon.
In a generation where athletes are focusing more on just one sport, Colliau and Horton are rare exceptions that athletes can participate in a variety of sports and thrive, too.
It requires strong commitment, sheer determination and resilience, but as Colliau and Horton tell it, it's equally as important to know how to have fun.
Colliau and Horton, who never met before, admired each others achievements when meeting for a recent photo shoot. They played in two very different leagues, but they still had plenty in common.
Horton, a three-sport athlete, could sympathize with the long nights and early mornings spent on homework or studying.
Colliau, the four-sport athlete, recalled a hectic schedule this spring while playing baseball and running track.
More impressive was Horton and Colliau led their respective teams while maintaining high academic standards.
That they're both respectful, personable, admired and very likeable among teammates, friends and teachers make Horton and Colliau an even more unusual duo among the small breed of multi-sport athletes.
It's also what makes Colliau and Horton the Pasadena Star-News' 2008-09 Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
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Horton has played volleyball since the fourth grade and basketball and softball since kindergarten.
It's a sport she's loved over the years, but leaving Rio Hondo Prep means it's the last time Horton will play in organized team sports.
She heads off to Cal State Long Beach where greener pastures lie ahead, even if she won't play sports there.
Horton was accepted into the President's Scholars Program, awarded to 50 incoming freshmen each year. She will receive full tuition and paid housing on campus among other things.
Horton will major in liberal studies in hopes of becoming a teacher.
"I'm sad about sports ending, but I'm excited about continuing coaching," Horton said. "I can pass on what I've learned in high school."
She learned to manage her time efficiently to make sure everything was done right to the last detail, whether it was in the classroom or on the playing field.
Horton's been a straight "A" student since kindergarten which was capped by being Rio Hondo Prep's valedictorian after finishing with a 4.4 GPA.
Horton led the softball team to its first Prep League title in 26 years and led the basketball team in virtually every category, including points (9.7), rebounds (11), assists (4.8) and steals (2.8). The same went with volleyball.
She earned first-team All-League honors in each sport and was at least an honorable mention or second-team honoree in the Star-News All-Area team. Horton also was selected to play in the Star-News/Tribune All-Star Basketball Classic.
"It's a blessing and a curse," Horton said. "I have to do everything well. I can't not do well at something, so if I'm playing a sport or working on something I strive to be the best."
The same goes for Colliau.
It was unusual not to find him on the field either practicing or playing.
He was in football, soccer, baseball and track this past year. Colliau as a sophomore also earned second-team All-Rio Hondo League honors in golf.
He maintained a 4.2 GPA this year and will continue his football career at Washington & Lee University in Virginia, a Division III school that's also high on academics.
Colliau, who will major in business, also has been on the school's newspaper staff since his sophomore year.
As a senior he earned first team All-Rio Hondo League honors in soccer; made first-team All-CIF and second-team Star-News All-Area in football and advanced to the CIF-SS finals in track where he was a league champion in the 200 and 400 meters and the 400- and 1,600-meter relays. His 49.41 at the CIF finals was the fastest time at South Pasadena since 1992.
"I maybe could have gone (division one) in soccer or golf but at the same time it wouldn't have been as fun to look back at all this," Colliau said. "Not a lot of people play five sports in high school."
miguel.melendez@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4485
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
Tiffany Horton is an awesome girl. She is my daughters softball coach in the Kare Youth League devoting alot of her time to 9 and 10 year girls as well as being an exceptional student athlete. She is very deserving of this honor.
Excellent choice of recipients.
It was a tough read since somebody had run over my PSN at least twice. In between the tire treads - GREAT PEN JOB MIGUEL!
Congrats to two of the SGV's finest young people.
Stang Fan is right on. This is a great honor to feature at the end of the year. Miguel has picked some top student-athletes that's for sure. Colliau playing five sports and being over a 4.0 student is remarkable. Washington & Lee is a great school,too.
Colliau is an incredible kid, on and off the field, court and track! Congratulations!
I once saw Tiffany Horton play in a Powder Puff football game as a freshman (full contact w/pads!). She was tough as nails on the field and made an incredible open-field tackle you have to see to believe!
Good-luck to both of you!!
I LOVE that the PSN and the Trib give this honor out every year now. In this era of specialization, my hat goes off to ALL the kids who participate in multiple sports. Congrats to both Tiffany and Steven!!! I initially stated that I thought Tyree Mills of Muir should win it, but after looking at what Steven accopmplished there is NO WAY anyone deserved this honor more than he does . This award should go to athletes who participate in 3 or more sports and Steven competed in FIVE!!! Much props to these two fine athletes again.
Btw, to ALL of those athletes and parents who complain about student-atheletes having to do too much...look at what these two accomplished not only on the many fields of play but in the classroom as well. Both over 4.0 students!!! Next time I hear a kid say that he can't play sports or has to miss practice because of school, I'm gonna hand them a copy of this article.
Great job guys!!!
Congrats to Steven and Tiffany