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Lathrop’s Fa’ali’i, De Luna earn 4th All-WAC awards
All-WAC Spring
Gabriel Fa’ali’i spikes it during Lathrop’s Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinal at Ripon Christian. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

Recent Lathrop High grads Gabriel Fa’ali’i and Luz De Luna went out as four-time All-Western Athletic Conference Team selections for spring sports.

Simpson University-bound Fa’ali’i was named boys volleyball Offensive Player of the Year for a second straight year, while De Luna is a three-time, first-team honoree for softball. The baseball has one all-conference player in sophomore Vaughn Sanchez after not having any last season.

All-WAC Spring
Lathrop’s Luz DeLuna makes contact against visiting Ceres. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/Bulletin file photo

Fa’ali’i previously earned MVP as a sophomore and first-team recognition in his freshman year. He is also a three-time member of the Sac-Joaquin Section Boys Volleyball Forum All-Section First Team.

With his father, Toa, as head coach, Gabriel led the Spartans to four 20-win seasons and a WAC championship in 2024. This past year, Lathrop (10-4 WAC, 26-7 overall) took third in a league featuring three of the best teams in the southern half of the section.

One of the leading hitters and servers in the nation, Fa’ali’i anchored the Spartans attack with 204 kills (4.9 per set) in conference play. He also tallied 34 aces, 21 blocks and 73 digs.

All-WAC Spring
Jorge Reyes sets the ball for Lathrop in a non-league match with visiting Manteca. - photo by SEAN KAHLER

Senior setter Jorge Reyes (292 assists, 24 aces) made the All-WAC second team. Senior middle Marc Llorin and junior middle Gurmukh Singh received honorable mention.

The softball team has five All-WAC selections after making the playoffs for a second consecutive year. The Spartans (10-4, 15-9-1 overall) did not previously qualify for the postseason.

Batterymates Maci DeCosta and De Luna led the way along with fellow senior outfielder Tianna Gonzalez — all of them WAC first-team selections.

De Luna, who earned a second-team spot as a freshman, was Lathrop’s catcher the past four seasons. This year, she appeared in all 14 conference contests, hitting .362 with four doubles, two triples and 12 RBIs.

All-WAC Spring
Lathrop’s Maci DeCosta winds up for the pitch to Ceres in a Western Athletic Conference game. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/Bulletin file photo

DeCosta pitched in every league game, finishing 9-4 with a 3.33 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 82 innings. She also contributed a .282 average and seven RBIs on offense. DeCosta previously made two All-WAC second teams.

Gonzalez batted .512 with 14 runs and 12 RBIs en route to her second first-team selection.

Freshman Avaihna Calderon (.535, seven doubles, 25 runs) and junior Ja’Leiyah Ray (.303, 13 steals, 13 RBIs).

All-WAC Spring
Vaughn Sanchez follows through on one of his three hits in Lathrop’s Western Athletic Conference contest with Ceres. - photo by JONAMAR JACINTO/Bulletin file photo

Sanchez was a two-way producer for the Lathrop baseball team (4-10, 7-17). The sophomore outfielder/pitcher led the Spartans with a .475 average with 12 runs and 11 steals. From the mound, he struck out 38 in 26 innings over seven league appearances.

Senior Santino Arranaga received honorable mention.

Garnering major awards in the three sports:

Boys volleyball: Livingston’s Gurvir Singh (MVP) and Livingston’s Mike Alvernaz (Coach of the Year).

Softball: Central Valley’s Brooklynn Steeley (MVP), Ceres’ Elizabeth Figueroa (Pitcher of the Year) and Central Valley’s Selah Chesney (Offensive Player of the Year).

Baseball: Central Valley’s Mason Whitworth (MVP), Central Valley’s Ezequiel Verduzco (Offensive Player of the Year), Pacheco’s Mario Rivera (Pitcher of the Year) and Central Valley’s Tyson Hunt (Utility Player of the Year).