The graduating class of female student athletes of 2019 from Cloverdale High School will be remembered for their many accomplishments, both on the field and in the classroom.
The athletes selected in this issue were among the shining stars of their class and all had one thing in common: they represented their school and teams with tremendous talent, dedication and sportsmanship. Â
Although there were too many seniors to list, we congratulate the athletes for their accomplishments and pay tribute to a few with words and pictures. The following is the first of a two-part series. Next week: a salute to the boys.
ATHLETICISM — Heather Sterling enjoyed a stellar multi-year athletic career on Eagle’s volleyball and softball teams. A sure-handed second baseman on the softball diamond, Sterling etched her name in CHS lore when she laced a three-run double to complete a miraculous comeback against St. Vincent to win the 2018 NCS Division 5 championship. Along the way, the four-year star was a perennial all leaguer and helped the Eagles to a pair of NCL1 titles.
Photo Dwight SugiokaÂ
TALENT — Kayli Persons was one of the top athletes of her graduating class, excelling in multiple sports. Persons spent a couple of varsity seasons as a powerful middle-hitter on the CHS volleyball team, but her best moments came on the basketball court, where she was a consistent scorer and rebounder. Persons was a key player on back-to-back league championship teams, leading the Eagles to the North Coast Section playoffs and CIF Nor Cal state tournament.
Photo Michael LucidÂ
ENDURANCE — Julie Edwards was the lead runner for most of her tenure on Eagle’s cross country teams in a distinguished varsity sports career at Cloverdale. She was a frequent winner in league meets and steadily rose in the ranks to become one of the top runners in the Coastal Mountain Conference.
Photo providedÂ
TOUGHNESS — Aly Bernal was the epitome of a team player during her tenure at Cloverdale, excelling on varsity volleyball and softball teams. Utilizing tremendous speed and quickness in each sport, Bernal was a strong defender on the volleyball court and a key player on a pair on league and NCS championship softball teams.
Photo Greg ClementiÂ
CONSISTENCY — Angelina Cordova logged a solid, multi-year varsity career in both volleyball and softball, contributing great athleticism in each sport. Cordova was a powerful presence at the net for the CHS volleyball team last fall, but enjoyed even more success as a reliable outfielder on back-to-back league championship softball teams.
Photo Trett BishopÂ
SKILL — Marina Lopez will be remembered for a notable multi-year run on the CHS basketball squad, playing a key role in the Eagle’s success. A steady guard, Lopez was a solid ball handler, scorer and defender. Last season, she was a valuable member of the 14-0 NCL1 champion Eagles’ squad, helping her team to an overall mark of 27-6 and trip to the NCS and CIF Nor Cal state playoffs.
Photo Michael LucidÂ
HEART — Nicky Martinez was at the core of a tremendous four-year run on the varsity softball team during her time at Cloverdale, playing a major role on both North Coast Section and league championship teams. A slick-fielding third baseman, Martinez was even better at the plate, where she hit better than .300 in two of her four seasons.
Photo Greg ClementiÂ
