San Dimas' Ariel Shore and South El Monte's Manny Acosta named Athletes of the Year
South El Monte High School's Manny Acosta and San Dimas' Ariel Shore bucked the trend of specialization in high school sports and once again showed the multiple-sport athlete is alive and well. After earning several accolades during their senior years in multiple sports, Acosta and Shore can add the 2008-09 San Gabriel Valley Tribune Athlete of the Year award to their collection as well. To continue reading, click thread
"It's an honor," Acosta said. "When you think of all the athletes in the San Gabriel Valley, it's a privilege to earn this. I have played three sports since I was a kid, and to have the success I had in high school, I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Acosta earned the area award for his accomplishments in football, basketball and baseball.
Acosta, one of the Valley's best wide receivers, earned first-team All-Mission Valley League and second-team Tribune honors after 63 receptions for 1,138 yards and 24 touchdowns.
It was his second first-team All-League honor in football after helping the Eagles win the league title and reach the Mid-Valley Division quarterfinals his junior season.
Acosta turned to basketball in the winter, where he earned his third consecutive league MVP award after helping the Eagles win three consecutive league titles.
Acosta also was selected to the Tribune second team in basketball and played in the Tribune/Star-News All-Star game after averaging a team-best 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Acosta is undecided about his college plans, but he admitted his best sport arguably is baseball, where the shortstop finished his fourth year on varsity and earned his second consecutive first-team All-League honor.
"I had an amazing time at South El Monte," Acosta said. "All the coaches encouraged me to play multiple sports. I never thought I would have as much success as I did in all three, but I worked hard and learned how to balance my school work.
"Once I decide where I will go to school, I will probably focus on baseball. A lot of people told me I should have just focused on baseball in high school, but I have no regrets. I have a lot of great memories."
Shore, who will play softball at UC Riverside in the fall, was dominating in softball and soccer her senior year.
Shore was named the Valle Vista League's Most Valuable Player in soccer and earned Tribune first-team honors after scoring 18 goals with 14 assists to lead the Saints to their second consecutive league title. The Saints also advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division V quarterfinals.
The centerfielder had a season to remember in softball, in which she was named the league's most valuable player and the CIF-SS Division V Player of the Year after helping the Saints reach the Division V championship game.
In the Saints' 3-2 loss to Whittier Christian in the finals, Shore set a CIF single-season stolen-base record with three steals to give her 78. She broke the single-season record of 75 set by Faith Baptist's Cherith Simons in 2008.
Shore, who batted .500, also earned Tribune first-team honors in softball and helped the Saints win league.
"It's all so overwhelming," Shore said. "I wish we could have won the championship (in softball), but we took it as far as we could.
"I really didn't expect to win an award like this (athlete of the year), but I am grateful and very fortunate to have great teammates around me."
Shore, like Acosta, has no regrets about playing multiple sports and advises other athletes not to listen to coaches who try and discourage it.
"It's a lot of juggling," Shore said. "I played club soccer and softball, so there was a lot of back and forth. But don't buy into the pressure of coaches. For a while my softball coaches weren't big on me playing club soccer, but I loved it and I knew I would make it work one way or another."
And did it ever work for both.
fred.robledo@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2161
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I coached against Ariel and had the pleasure of speaking with her on a couple of occasions, not to mention watching her compete against us. Even more impressive than her athletic skills, this girl is a class act with great character. She is going to be a winner in whatever she does in life.
Just so this doesn't turn into a "BEAT THE HONORED ONES UP" session let's all admit it was a tough choice.
Any issues of GPA and Character assassinations should be let off the blog.
Maybe the Tribune could give out a Scholar Athlete of the year Award but then that would lead to nominations from schools and a overall cooperation from ADs acrosss the Valley...wait...why not?
Fred any thoughts on announcing a Scholar Athlete of The Year ?
I'm sure the SGV has a few outstanding Student Athletes out there...too bad. Everyone is always talking about high standards and teh value of education and yet....
Well my original point was ...Hat's off to the winners.
Their friends, family, schools and coaches must be very proud.
Fred
What is the GPA of both athletes
"WHO"?
Gee - so sorry that you are new to the coverage area of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune - Had you been a regular subscriber or had access to the paper you wouldn't have missed out. And it is ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - what difference would it make if an athlete played 1,2,3,or all 4 years? Both these kids must have stood out enough for the choice to be made. There is one heck of a talent pool in this Valley - so I say CONGRATS to BOTH - it couldn't have been an easy choice but I for one think it was the RIGHT one!!
Diamond Ranch's Dunn?
I never argue back-and-forth over those selected and those not, that's for all of you to discuss. There are certainly several worthy athletes you can all make a case for, and those I'm reading mentioned are all very deserving too.
"WHO said:
Of all the great girl athletes in the area we never heard of this girl before up until CIF finals. Wow! Did she play varsity softball all 4 years for the Saints?"
It's "ATHLETE OF THE YEAR", hello?
Because of Ariel's standout performance year, she made a major impact for her team's success in 2 sports. Not that many girls could do that.
I agree, we can always do a better job covering more athletes, especially teams from the Mission Valley and Montview League. I don't talk about them as much in the blog, because when I have it doesn't seem to generate as much interest as the teams from the Sierra, Miramonte, San Antonio and Sierra Leagues along with Bishop Amat.
Hard to argue with Acosta's body of work over four years.
Great to see Fred give the award to a very deserving three sport athlete.
Sheldon Price and others could have had Acosta's success at that level but Manny did, and that's why he deserves the award.
Someone made the point of not hearing of theses athletes before and there is lots of truth in that statement. Why is that? Maybe SH and CO athletes get too much pub and the smaller schools and more deserving athletes and their stories get pushed aside.
Fred I've often said increase your base. The major programs will always buy the paper and get their athletes face time but some portion of the blog and paper needs to be dedicated to smaller schools.
Just a thought. Would have loved to see Acosta play basketball in a big game....oh well.
Of all the great girl athletes in the area we never heard of this girl before up until CIF finals. Wow! Did she play varsity softball all 4 years for the Saints? And is she only getting this because she got recognized this year for her running ability or what? So many other greats and this is the best that can be picked? Huh! Ok!
Great accomplishment but how did Sheldon Price not receive the award. All-CIF in 2 sports in Division 1. We know Fred likes to pump those boys who will go the JC route in hopes of getting them a look from some D1 schools. The same thing will happen when the All-Tribune baseball team is released tomorrow.
2 years in a row the male athlete is someone ive never even heard of
There were so many, I didn't realize how difficult it was to narrow it down. I don't know if I want to put a list of names, but what makes it difficult is comparing those in individual sports and those in team sports. I do give more weight to those in the so-called major sports football, basketball and baseball/softball.
Fred
Can you put out a list of Boys and Girls top ten athletes that were in the running?
ALRIGHT ARIEL!!
How could you not receive this pretigious award. The effort and teamwork you put forward into everything you do, brings out the excitement and thrill to High School Sports.
I'm sure your Parents, Friends, and all the people that know you and around you, are soooo proud of this moment!
The Best of Luck in your future and may God bless your path.
With all of the tremendous talent we have in the SGV it must have been a tough decision to make. CONGRATULATIONS on this Honor to both Athletes!! And much continued success - your hard work & dedication to Team Sports has paid off, I'm sure you will carry this ethic with you in life...