Monarch Alumni Making Their Mark in Sports

Congratulations to Giancarla “Gia” Trevisan ‘11, Bryce Young ‘20, Stanley Johnson ‘14, Carlo Valdes ‘08, Katie Lou Samuelson ‘15, and Ryan McMahon ‘13 for their incredible accomplishments in their respective sports.

Gia Trevisan ‘11 Last summer, Gia competed as part of Italy's 4x400-meter relay team. As the daughter of Italian immigrants, Gia obtained her Italian citizenship in 2017 making her eligible to compete with Team Italy. During her years as a Monarch, Gia was a standout athlete making great contributions to the soccer and track and field programs. After Mater Dei, Gia continued her athletic career with the track and field team at the University of Arizona. Outside of her own training and competitions on the world stage, Gia has an online coaching and nutrition business called RunWithGia.

Bryce Young ‘20 In December 2021, Bryce was awarded the Heisman Trophy making him the Crimson Tide’s fourth winner. He is the third for Mater Dei following John Huarte ‘61 in 1964 and Matt Leinart ‘01 in 2004. Heisman Lane has been updated with Bryce’s name and we will welcome him home to officially celebrate on campus with a special event in late May. Stay tuned to our social media channels for updates.

Stanley Johnson ‘14 In January, the Los Angeles Lakers officially announced the signing of Stanley Johnson after he was initially called up from the South Bay Lakers on December 24, 2021. Coach Gary McKnight shared his excitement about the announcement:. “I was very proud,” he said. “I think he’s learned from being a young kid in the NBA, ‘If I really bust my tail on defense, I’ll have a role in this league.’ … I think he’s perfect for the Lakers.”

Carlo Valdes ‘08 Former three striper, Carlo Valdes has recently returned from competing on the 2022 U.S. Men’s Bobsled Olympic Team. He previously competed in the four-man event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. A graduate of UCLA where he played football and competed in track and field, Carlo was introduced to the sport of bobsled by a former UCLA teammate. Well done, Carlo!

Katie Lou Samuelson ‘15 Katie Lou is returning to Southern California! In early February, the LA Sparks announced that it had acquired Katie Lou in a trade with Seattle. After Mater Dei, Katie played for the UConn Huskies where she greatly contributed to the program’s tradition of greatness. After UConn, Katie began her WNBA career with the Chicago Sky before moving onto the Dallas Wings. She also played overseas with Spain’s Perfumerías Avenida. Katie’s sister, Karlie ‘13, fellow Monarch, Stanford graduate and former WNBA player was also on the team. In 2021, Katie Lou was traded to the Seattle Storm where she became a fulltime starter for the first time in her professional career.

Ryan McMahon ‘13

Ryan recently signed a six-year, $70 million extension contract with the Colorado Rockies where he has been for five seasons. Ryan is coming off a career-best season in which he hit .254/.331/.449 and played elite defense at third base and second base. It is expected he will remain the Rockie’s starting 3rd baseman. While at Mater Dei, Ryan was not only a member of the baseball team (also playing third base), but he was also a senior captain and starting quarterback with the football team. Ryan credits his football experience to his growth as a person and athlete. However, baseball was always his first love. It’s great to see you living your passion, Ryan!