Dos Pueblos honored the senior class of six student-athletes who will be continuing their academic and athletic journeys at the collegiate level on Thursday at Sovine Gym.
Thursday’s ceremony celebrated the senior signees from the fall and the spring.
Jesse Di Maggio – Westmont Baseball
Di Maggio parlayed a dominant senior season into a signing with the newly-minted Division II Westmont Baseball program.
“At the end of freshman year or beginning of sophomore year I started to get passionate about baseball and decided I really wanted to excel at the next level,” Di Maggio said.
The slugger earned the 2024 Channel League MVP after roping a school-record 10 homers while also hitting .506 with 42 hits, 33 RBI and 33 runs in 28 games played.
“The close to home part is definitely attractive,” Di Maggio said of Westmont. “I also have really good relationships with the coaches, I’ve been working with their hitting coach for five or six years now.”
Justine Katz – Carnegie Mellon University Basketball
Katz will be heading across the country to continue her basketball journey for the Tartans in Philadelphia, Penn.
“I was definitely looking for a good academic school and I met the coach and team and they were all really nice,” Katz said. “I felt like it was a really good fit.”
She wrapped up her stellar Charger career with a historic senior season, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for career while setting the program record for points and three-pointers in a game. She also helped lead the team to the second round of the CIF playoffs.
“I obviously couldn’t have done it without my team, but I think I was able to lead and hopefully pave the way for the younger girls to come,” Katz said.
Micah Goss – UC Irvine Volleyball
Goss will make his way down south and play collegiate volleyball in the Big West for the UC Irvine Anteaters.
“This year they were in the top four for the national championship, so it’s a great program,” Goss said. “When I went down there for the visit, all the teammates were super nice, I love the coach and Irvine is just such a great school and the right fit for me.
The lively right arm of Goss helped the Chargers reach the CIF-SS Div. 2 Quarterfinals this season, as he was named to the All-Channel League Second Team.
“[Irvine] is not too far away, it’s far enough, but parents can still come visit,” Goss joked. “It’s also kind of close to my grandparents so I can do laundry if I want.”
Shaun Vague – Simpson University Wrestling
Vague made his commitment to wrestle for the Simpson University Red Hawks in Redding, California.
“I liked the chance to be my own person, and it’s far away but close enough where I can always come home,” Vague said of Simpson. “The campus was very beautiful and the team was very nice.”
He leaves Does Pueblos as a multiple time Channel League champion, including a dominant overall record of 29-8 in his senior season.
“I always have to improve, and my goal is to be a national champ,” Vague said.
Reggie Robles – Fordham Water Polo
Robles will also be heading across the country for his collegiate years, as he will compete in the pool for Fordham in New York.
He was a strong force in the cage for the Chargers, playing a vital role in the team reaching the CIF-SS Div. 2 championship game.
“Reggie is joining a strong fraternity of male Dos Pueblos water polo players to play at the college level,” Charger water polo coach Chris Parrish said.
Victoria Bernard – Baldwin Wallace University Wrestling
Bernard’s strong career at Dos Pueblos earned her a spot to compete on the Baldwin Wallace University wrestling squad for the next four years in Ohio.
“I have a whole bunch of family [in Ohio],” Bernard said. “It started around freshman or sophomore year that I decided I wanted to wrestle in college.
Her strong high school career included a CIF state qualifying season in her junior year and an appearance in the Channel League championship this past season. She will be a part of Baldwin Wallace’s inaugural girls wrestling team.
“It’s nice to lead the way and pave the new path for younger generations of female wrestlers,” Bernard said.