Soto awarded Southwestern League girls’ water polo MVP; Area locals selected to All-CIF team

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

The Southwestern League water polo coaches and Darin Mott, athletic director of Murrieta Valley High School, recently announced the selections for the First and Second All-League teams. The first-place team always hosts the meeting with their school’s athletic director, which, again, went the way of the Nighthawks for the girls’ teams. Garnishing an undefeated Southwestern League record, Murrieta Valley still has not been challenged for a league title since before 2014. The Nighthawks not only won league, but also swam their way to a CIF Southern Section Division 2 title this past season, giving them their sixth overall, and first since 2016. Based on where the SWL team placed also determines how many selections that team will get. For the girls’ team, Murrieta Valley showcased senior Jaden Soto as the league MVP, and by coming in first place, was granted five selections overall: three First

Team, two Second Team. League standings were not completed for this past season on MaxPreps, but it looks as if Great Oak, Vista Murrieta, Chaparral, Temecula Valley and Murrieta Mesa placed in that order.

The complete list of girls’ water polo players selected as All-League for the SWL are as follows:

GIRLS’ MVP: Jaden Soto –Murrieta Valley – 12

GIRLS’ FIRST TEAM Mackenzie Wood, Murrieta Valley (11); Elizabeth Hernandez, Murrieta Valley (12); Amy Pearce, Murrieta Valley (12); Jill Rumph, Great Oak (11); Paige Ellinger, Great Oak (12); Aleria Valenzuela, Vista Murrieta (11); Hailey Munoz, Vista Murrieta (12); Mallory Benedict, Chaparral (12); Kayla Tweed, Temecula Valley (12); Ariah Martinez, Temecula Valley (10).

GIRLS’ SECOND TEAM

Kristin Alexander, Murrieta Valley (12); Grace Boyer, Murrieta Valley (9); Maddie Turner, Vista Murrieta (12); Celeste Gonzalez,

Vista Murrieta (12); Amber Morgan, Great Oak (12); Larissa Mendiburo, Great Oak (11); Natalia Ferrette, Chaparral (11); Aiden Mante, Chaparral (11); Brooke Davis, Temecula Valley (12); Nicole Allbee, Temecula Valley (12); Savannah Sollie, Murrieta Mesa (12); Kristen Maag, Murrieta Mesa (12).

As for All-CIF Southern Section selections, Soto was named the Player of the Year in Division 2, and was joined by three teammates, as well as head coach Bryan Lynton, who was selected as the Coach of the Year. The three Nighthawks also selected were Mackenzie Wood, Elizabeth Hernandez, and Amy Pearce.

In Division 4, representing the area was Reagann Elders, a senior from Temescal Canyon, and in Division 6, Marianna Smith and Brooke Bimbo, both juniors from Lakeside High School, represented from the Elsinore area.

JP Raineri can be reached via email at sports@reedermedia. com

Murrieta Fire & Rescue celebrates 76th anniversary with Firefighter’s BBQ

MURRIETA – Murrieta Fire & Rescue will host its popular annual Firefighter’s BBQ Saturday, April 15, from noon to 6 p.m. at Murrieta’s Town Square Park. This year’s event will be bigger than ever, with live music at Murrieta’s Town Square Park Amphitheater, a variety of activities throughout the day, vendors, and other activities.

The Murrieta Firefighter’s BBQ is one of Riverside County’s longestrunning events, with the first barbecue held in 1948. As is the tradition, barbecue guests will enjoy a smoked tri-tip lunch, music, beer and wine garden, cornhole tournament and a vendors’ market. The event is open to the public and free to attend. Attendees will get to cheer on fire explorers from throughout Southern California in the annual Fire Explorers “Muster” Competition.

The day will be filled with fun, food and entertainment and is a way for the community to show their support for the dedicated public safety personnel serving at MFR. It is also a way for MFR to show its appreciation for the community it has served the past 76 years. In addition to the traditional barbecue fare, the event will feature additional food options and general vendors, live music and a DJ. Fun for all ages, this is an event the community won’t want to miss.

Fire Chief Bernie Molloy expressed his pride for the service that Murrieta Fire & Rescue provides to the community.

“I am incredibly proud of Murrieta Fire & Rescue and the service that our team provides. We have a strong culture that has been built over the last 76 years, and it is an honor to share part of that culture with the community,” Molloy said.

Murrieta Fire & Rescue celebrates its 76th anniversary the day after this year’s Firefighters

BBQ, Sunday, April 16. It was on that day in 1947 that the citizens of Murrieta voted to form the Murrieta Fire Protection District. With $1,400 donated by the community, the fire district purchased a 1941 International four-wheel-drive crash truck. At the toll of a bell atop the Methodist Church, the 10 fire district volunteers responded to six calls that first year. In 1987, Murrieta Fire & Rescue changed from an all-volunteer fire district to a combined career and volunteerstaffed fire district. Always on the cutting edge of fire protection, in July 1990, it was the first fire department in Riverside County to implement the emergency medical technician – defibrillator. In August 2018, MFR became the first accredited fire agency in Riverside County and the 18th in the state. Attending the event is free and open to the public, with a nominal fee for the barbecue lunch. MFR is currently accepting applications for event vendors. Interested vendors should visit http://MFRBBQ.com to access the vendor application. The website also provides general information about the event. Follow @murrietafire on Instagram and Facebook.

Submitted by Murrieta Fire & Rescue.