Auburn Journal Male Athlete of the Year: Honorable Mentions

The Auburn area is filled with top athletes and while only one can win athlete of the year, there are several athletes worth noting from local high schools. The hardest part is cutting the field with so many talented athletes to choose from. The Male Athlete of the Year field was dominated by seniors, with several making their marks in the final year of high school. Local athletes will go on to compete at multiple NCAA, NAIA, and junior college institutions. Here are this year's Male Athlete of the Year honorable mentions: Luke Green (Colfax)- The Pioneer Valley League football MVP had a senior year to remember. On the gridiron, Green was the top target for the PVL champions, reeling in 47 catches for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was also a captain of the Falcon basketball team, helping lead them to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. In the spring, he was a member of the PVL champion track and tennis teams. As an individual he took third in the PVL in the 100 meter race. Aemon Aldrich (Foresthill)- Nobody would expect that 5'11", 145-pound Aemon Aldrich would at one point lead the nation in interceptions, but that is exactly what he did in the 2022 season. The Foresthill senior finished the 2021 season tied for fifth nationally with 11 picks. Aldrich was also a threat on the offensive end, leading the Wildfires with 712 receiving yards. He was also a standout basketball and volleyball player for the Wildfires, leading them to the playoffs in both. Most importantly, Aldrich was a 4.0 student and was one of four valedictorians for the class of 2022. Austin Wanlass (Placer)- Wanlass was one of the top jumpers in the area during the track and field season. The Placer senior finished top four in the Foothill Valley League in the pole vault (2nd), triple jump (3rd), and long jump (4th). He set a personal best jump of 14 feet, 4 inches in the pole vault this season. Noah Souza (Colfax)- Souza was one of the top pitchers in the Sac-Joaquin Section this season and was dominant nearly every time he took the bump. The Sonoma State-bound lefty finished with a 6-2 record with an ERA of 1.17. He also eclipsed the century mark in strikeouts, retiring 111 batters this season. Souza only allowed 34 hits in 65 innings of work. He was also the quarterback of the Colfax football team, helping lead the Falcons to a PVL title and the playoffs. Other notable male athletes this year include: Harrison Alexander (Bear River)- Water Polo, Basketball, Volleyball Caleb Byers (Foresthill)- Basketball, Volleyball Chase Pfiefer (Colfax)- Football, Basketball, Baseball Ryder Holcomb (Bear River)- Football, Baseball Alejandro Prieto (Placer)- Football, Soccer, Track and Field