The San Diego City College athletic department wrapped up the 2024-2025 sports year with an awards ceremony that recognized the Knights’ athletes, coaches, and athletics staff.
City College Vice President of Instruction, Matilda “Tilly” Chavez, opened the event and thanked the athletic department, highlighting Athletic Director and Dean Aaron Detty for his tireless efforts.
Detty spoke about the importance of education among athletes, despite the feelings of being invincible while playing.
“Anytime, things can change in your athletic career. You never know,” Detty said. “Take care of your academics first and foremost.”
Women’s tennis player Anya Villanueva and men’s basketball player Logan Huston were two student-athletes who excelled in the classroom and on the court. They were presented with the James Swinson Award for male and female athletes of the year, which was given to students with a minimum 3.3 GPA and 24 units earned during competition seasons. Each athlete received a $1000 scholarship to go towards their education.
Huston, who also won the Ed Ruffa Outstanding Male Sophomore Award and the Harry West Male Scholarship Award, said he didn’t expect to receive all of these accolades.
“I’m definitely surprised, but it’s a testament to the hard work that I put in and the people that I’ve had around me here at City College,” Huston said. “These awards are because of my coaches, the staff, everybody. It’s not just a me award, it’s a product of my environment.”
Women’s tennis coach Jami Jones was honored for winning the California Community College Athletic Coach of the Year as well as the Pacific Athletic Coast Conference Coach of the Year.
Men’s tennis coach and assistant women’s tennis coach Brandon Lupian held back tears when speaking about his relationship with Jones.
“This woman (Jones) has always been there for me, and we’ve really developed a bond over this past decade,” Lupian said. “I’m unbelievably proud about where the state of this program is, and it’s because of her.”
Each coach thanked the training staff and spoke about their time with their respective team before handing out awards to all-conference selections.
Women’s indoor and beach volleyball coach Audra Dent thanked Detty and the staff for keeping City’s facilities on par with higher-level schools.
“I tell my recruits, City may not be a Division 1 school, but it feels like it,” Dent said.
Part of that Division 1 feeling at City is because of the around-the-clock training staff, who were highlighted by all of the coaches, especially men’s basketball coach Mitch Charlens.
“I can’t thank the training staff enough,” Charlens said. “For them to deal with me and my Sunday morning practices and erratic schedule, they deserve all the credit for the program’s success.”
The event ended with the Knights’ training staff giving out superlative awards for each team, which drew laughter from the audience. They gave awards to each team ranging from “having the most tea in the training room” to an award for the team that “drinks the most Gatorade.”
Full List of Awards
City College Athletics Department Awards:
James Swinson Scholar: Anya Villanueva (tennis), Logan Huston (basketball)
Ed Ruffa Outstanding Sophomore Athlete: Jessica Hoffpauir (tennis), Logan Huston (basketball)
Harry West Scholarship: Jessica Hoffpauir (tennis), Logan Huston (basketball)
Men’s Soccer All-PCAC
Jamesley Exantus -1st team/Offensive Player of the Year
Diego Garcia – 1st team
Jeorge Morales – 1st team
Javier Pastelin – 1st team
Diego Gonzalez – 1st team
Women’s Volleyball (Indoor)
Cassie Stevens – honorable mention
Tayen Orr – honorable mention
Aamori Daniels – honorable mention
Allison Wygal – honorable mention
Men’s Basketball
Mitch Charlens – Coach of the Year
Logan Huston – 1st team/Player of the Year
Kenny Gonzalez – 1st team
Marley Gonzalez – 1st team
Junior Camacho – 2nd team
Cameron Marshall – honorable mention
Women’s Basketball
Aamori Daniels – 2nd team
Liliana Maldonado – honorable mention
Dahlia Blake – honorable mention
D’Ajanae Lewis – honorable mention
Softball
Shyann Beddow – 1st team
Sydney Letzing – 2nd team
Hadley Phipps – honorable mention
Mykala Mercado – honorable mention
Cali De La Rosa – honorable mention
Nikki Rocha – honorable mention
Savannah Turner – honorable mention
Madison Stephensen – honorable mention
Baseball
Orlando Arellano – honorable mention
Josh Ward -honorable mention
Aaron Herrera – honorable mention
Mekenna Wakakuwa – honorable mention
Dustyn Burns – honorable mention
Daniel Tatis – honorable mention
Beach Volleyball
Diana Ramirez – 1st team
Danna Leon – 1st team
Women’s Tennis (all 1st team)
Jami Yonekura-Jones – PCAC Coach of the Year. Also, 3C2A ITA Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year
Bethlehem Gezahegne – Singles & Doubles, PCAC doubles champ
Angie Palmerin – Singles & Doubles, PCAC singles & doubles champ, Player of the Year
Chiara Burgin – Singles & Doubles
Jessica Hoffpauir – Singles & Doubles
Thi Bich Ngoc Dang – Singles
Anya Villanueva – Singles
Men’s Tennis (all IEAC first team)
Brandon Lupian – IEAC Coach of the Year
Hunter Lynch – Singles & Doubles, Player of the Year
Thomas Lynch – Singles & Doubles
Abel Martinez – Singles & Doubles
Julian Mackinnon – Singles & Doubles
Badminton All-SCC (South Coast Conference)
Nicona Maruyama – Singles & Doubles
Jiaxin Liang – Singles
Isabella Bejarano – Doubles
Theona Trang Phan – Doubles
Dana Sanchez – Doubles
This story was edited by Tresean Osgood and Nadia Lavin
