GLENDALE – Calabasas High football standout Darnay Holmes received a pep talk he’s not accustomed to Friday night.
Much different than a pregame speech of inspiration before taking the football field, Holmes received a welcoming story from KABC/7 meteorologist Dallas Raines 30 minutes before receiving the SoCal Prep Legends award for best individual performance.
“I wasn’t expecting (Raines) to pull me aside and speak to me like that,” Holmes said. “He spoke about his personal football history, it helped me settle in. I was honored to be here tonight.”
The Southern California News Group teamed with KABC/7 and the Southern California Toyota Dealers to honor the best student-athletes live on KABC/7 on Friday.
“Tonight was fantastic. For this to be the end to SoCal Prep Legends’ first year means there are bigger things to come,” said Steve Baik, who represented the Chino Hills boys basketball team for its team of the year award. “Every high school athlete will want to be a part of this.”
Baik has recently taken the head coaching job at Fairfax after resigning from Chino Hills after a 35-0 season.
Hosted by Sports Zone’s Rob Fukuzaki, the SoCal Prep Legend Awards recognized the best high school student-athletes in Southern California with trophies and opportunities to meet some sports and media personalities.
Girls Athlete of the Year winner Courtney Corrin of Harvard-Westlake was overjoyed when she met Galaxy goalie Brian Rowe.
“I thought they were taking me to go watch the Galaxy practice, but when Brian (Rowe) surprised me with the award and told me I won, I almost couldn’t believe it,” Corrin said. “For senior year to end like this is so special. I was a little nervous about the live television part, but I just had fun with it.”
The Most Inspirational Athlete award winner, Jacob Beltran from Upland High, was surprised by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on the field at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.
His story left some studio audience members in tears.
“It was a dream come true to be on the field, let alone to meet Dave Roberts,” Beltran said. “To win this award is very humbling and a tremendous privilege. My parents have meant everything to me through this journey.”
The KABC team was thrilled to host an event that honored these high-level student-athletes, and it showed when Los Alamitos principal Brandon Martinez capped the night by leading Fukuzaki, Tracy Murray and Norm Nixon in the Griffins’ famous “roller coaster cheer” after receiving the best school spirit award.
“I wasn’t expecting to do the cheer on live television,” Martinez said. “But I was ecstatic to be here with our Los Alamitos students to represent our school for this honor. We had a blast.”
Visit SoCalPrepLegends.com for more on the awards.
The SoCal Prep Legends award winners:
Boys athlete of the year: Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills basketball
Girls athlete of the year: Courtney Corrin, Harvard-Westlake soccer/track
Team of the year: Chino Hills, boys basketball
Coach of the year: Jeff Sink, Brea Olinda girls basketball
Play of the year: Eric Barriere and Prince Ross, La Habra football
School spirit/student section of the year: Los Alamitos
Boys scholar-athlete of the year: Alexander Mattison, San Bernardino
Girls scholar-athlete of the year: Alison Chang, Walnut
Game of the year: Chaminade vs. Long Beach Poly girls basketball
Best individual performance: Darnay Holmes, Calabasas football
Most inspirational athlete: Jacob Beltran, Upland
Contact the writer: tarek.fattal@langnews.com
