Meet The Desert Sun's top athletes of the fall season
You really have to give it to the athletes of the fall high school sports season.
Aside from battling their opponents on the volleyball court, the swimming pool, the golf course, the tennis court or the cross country trail, they also have to battle the extreme desert heat. Everyone who excels in the fall has had to withstand all those August practices either in the heat or at odd hours to avoid the heat.
This group deserves accolades and that's where we come in. Each year we celebrate the top performer, the best of the bets for each of the fall sports that don't involve a pigskin.
Introuducing The Desert Sun's top athletes from the fall season:
Isabella Pimentel
SHADOW HILLS TENNIS
Why her: Pimentel did things in the Desert Empire League that have never been done before, namely winning the title at the league individual finals without dropping a game. She won her preliminary rounds 8-0 and 8-0 and then in the semifinals and finals won those matches 6-0, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-0. That's a cumulative 40-0. An unbelievable run. She has a great all-around game, including a hard serve that gets opponents on the back foot, powerful forehands and high IQ when playing balls close to the net and orchestrating points.
GETTING TO KNOW ISABELLA
Favorite food: I could always go for sushi or like maybe a really good mac and cheese.
Music: I actually like a lot of different genres so I'll go from alternative rock to rap or something else. Right now I'm really into Brent Faiyaz album "Larger Than Life." That's currently on repeat.
Binge-watching: The last time I binge-watched something it was "Dawson's Creek." A classic.
Dream vacation spot: My dream spot for a long time has been Amsterdam in the Netherlands because I love those tulips and I'd love to see those tulip fields.
Athlete I admire: I don't have a certain person, but I feel like Serena Williams and Coco Gauff have been big influences, but there's never been like one that's been my favorite. When I watch the pros, I like that they have patience in a point, waiting for that one moment to win the point.
Corbin Chuck
XAVIER PREP WATER POLO
Why him: Chuck had a flair for the dramatic in leading the Saints in the pool this year. Many of the Saints' biggest games this season went into overtime and Chuck was up to the moment. He scored the game-winner to sew up the league championship in a 12-11 win. He was voted by the league's coaches as the Desert Empire League offensive player of the year, sparking a Saints team that made it to the CIF-SS quarterfinals.
GETTING TO KNOW CORBIN
Favorite food: Steak, tri-tip.
Music: I like country. Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley. Got to go to Stagecoach once which was cool, and I saw Dierks at Acrisure Arena.
Athlete I admire: Derek Jeter (Corbin also plays shortstop on the Xavier Prep baseball team). I grew up watching him play for the Yankees. I've read all of his books.
Favorite Christmas gift: I remember I got a computer which was cool like last year, oh wait I got a drum set when I was 10. Santa brought me a drum set and he got my parents ear muffs.
Juliette Rothe
XAVIER PREP VOLLEYBALL
Why her: Rothe, known to almost everyone as Juju, was the engine to the Xavier Prep machine which completed a second consecutive undefeated league season. The team's setter, Rothe finished with 545 of the team's 609 assists on the season for 6.2 per set. That's how integral she was to the team's operation. She was named the Desert Empire League's offensive MVP, an honor which often goes to a hitter. Only a junior, Rothe will be back at the helm for the Saints again next year.
GETTING TO KNOW JUJU
Favorite food: Sushi, but I don't have a favorite spot, we make it at home a lot.
Music: I'm very open, but I like Walker Hayes, Taylor Swift and let me see the most recent song I played (skims through phone) Brent Faiyaz and Morgan Evans too.
Binge-watching anything: I really like "The Good Place" but mostly I'm just watching Christmas movies right now.
Athlete I admire: I look up to Hannah Pukis at University of Oregon. She's amazing, a lefty, a setter like me and I look up to her for those reasons also because she's like 6-foot-3 (actually 5-11).
Dream vacation spot: Bora Bora. I love those little huts on the water and having the ocean as your backyard. That would be amazing.
Favorite Christmas gift: I do remember getting a razor scooter when I was probably 8 years old. A pink, blue and purple scooter. For sure I rode that forever.
Joanna Bushnell Crist
LA QUINTA GOLF
Why her: Only a sophomore, she was the medalist in each of her team's Desert Empire League matches this season. While she fell just short of winning a second consecutive DEL individual title, she played strong golf in the postseason. She finished 20th in a CIF-Southern Section Individual regional with a 78 to finish 20th, making her the only desert golfer to advance to the finals. In the CIF-SS finals, she again shot 78 to finish 33rd and advance to the CIF-SCGA finals, the equivalent of a Southern California championship. There she finished 59th in the 120-player field with a 6-over 80 at the South Course at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills.
GETTING TO KNOW JOANNA
Favorite food: I love sushi, but also French food. My grandma and I go to this one restaurant, I can't remember the name, but we like to get mussels and fries.
Binge-watching anything: I like "The Rookie," I would also have to say "Gilmore Girls." Last movie I saw in a theater was the Taylor Swift Eras Tour movie.
Athlete I admire: I'd say Nelly Korda, she's a great player. Her swing is just awesome, every time it's in a great spot and I like her personality, too.
Dream vacation spot: I really want to go to New York City or Italy. In New York, there's just so much to do, I'd want to go to some museums and have some of their famous pizza.
Julia Fernandez
SHADOW HILLS CROSS COUNTRY
Why her: Fernandez, a junior, performed with consistent excellence for a Knights team that had a special season that included a league title and a trip to the state cross country championships in Fresno where the team finished 14th in all of California in Division 3. In the final league meet, Fernandez won with a time of 17 minutes, 48.7 seconds. She finished 34th in the state with a time of 19:04.0 on a 5-kilometer track.
GETTING TO KNOW JULIA
Favorite food: Pasta. Normally before a race, I stick to home pasta because I make whatever noodles look most fun. I cook those, then I do the meat and pour the sauce, I do it all.
Music: I like all genres honestly, I could turn on the radio and be happy. Whatever's playing.
Athlete I admire: I'd have to say a big runner that a lot of people like is Allyson Felix. Some of the girls saw her at the Mount SAC Relays one year, but I didn't and I was bummed.
Dream vacation spot: I would probably say Hawaii, the main island. I went to Maui once and that was really nice.
Favorite Christmas gift: I remember it was a little black Power Wheels Jeep. I was like 5 and it was motorized. But I drove that thing everywhere until I was about 7. In the house, in the yard, I'd make my dad take it to the park.
Martin Torres-Sandoval
LA QUINTA CROSS COUNTRY
Why him: The senior has been the standard-bearer for the Desert Empire League for a few years now, and 2023 was no different. He won all three DEL races, including the finale, finishing the three-mile course in 15:45.3, about 15 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.
GETTING TO TO KNOW MARTIN
Binge-watching: I've been watching the show "Invincible." Not sure if you've heard of it, it's basically about superheroes. I like superheroes so I'm liking it.
Athlete I admire: I idolize Cristiano Ronaldo; he's my GOAT. His mentality changes your whole perspective on every sport for me, running, soccer, whatever.
Music: I love Spanish music, Bad Bunny or Rauw Alejandro. When I run I used to listen to music, but a friend told me it's better not to listen to music so you're more focused in your head on running.
Dream vacation: Hawaii. I like the beach, the sun. I don't like the cold, so definitely somewhere warm.
Food: I like donuts. I like donuts all the time. I like Winchell's the best, they are amazing there for some reason, the dough is better there or something. Especially after a run, it's the best.
Favorite Christmas gift: Probably FIFA. My stepdad got my FIFA one time, I love soccer video games. That sticks out to me.
Shad Powers is a columnist for The Desert Sun. He chooses The Desert Sun's top athletes in consultation with area coaches and other Desert Sun reporters. Shoot him a message at shad.powers@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Best of the best: Meet The Desert Sun's top athletes of the fall season
