Outstanding Senior Athletes 2021

Outstanding Seniors - Class of 2021

KATIE NEWTON

CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK

Q: What is the best part of playing High School Sports?

A: The best part about playing high school sports is the comradery and experience with your team. My teammates have become some of my best friends throughout the years. Training together six days a week, especially in a sport as mentally challenging as running, truly brings us together. Many of my favorite memories of high school are with my team, from braiding each other's hair and taking ice baths in the hotel room before State, to laughing on the American River Parkway going and going to Starbucks after every long run.

Q: What do you love about your sport?

A: I love running for the discipline and the challenge it provides me with. It pushes me to my mental and physical limits, and despite all the early mornings and painful miles, it provides me with immense satisfaction at the end of a good race or even a workout. It teaches me there is always room for self-improvement and fulfills my desire to work hard. To me, running is therapeutic, clearing my mind from the stress of school and allowing me to laugh with my teammates for hours each week away from our screens.

Q: After graduation are you hoping to pursue your sport in college?

A: My greatest dream is to run at the Division I level in college. That dream is within reach, and I can't imagine my college life without the structure, motivation and comradery of being on a team, so I am super excited for what's to come!

GIANNA NOCETTI

WATER POLO

Q: What is the best part of playing High School Sports?

A: High school sports give athletes a chance to compete in front of their high school community. All of your teammates are striving towards the same goal and it is a good way to meet new people at your high school.

Q: What do you love about your sport?

A: I enjoy the competitive nature of water polo and how there are many opportunities during a game where you can prove yourself.

Q: After graduation are you hoping to pursue your sport in college?

A: I signed to play Water Polo at UC Davis as an attacker in the fall.

WILL HERON

BASEBALL

Q: What is the best part of playing High School Sports?

A: I love being part of that team, being able to have another family full of my Raider baseball brothers. I really like how when we are out there on the field we represent Rio and we are always trying our best to win for our school and each other. The time spent on the baseball field for me, helps me out in the classroom as well, the time I can focus on baseball is time that I can forget about school.

Q: What do you love about your sport?

A: I love baseball because it is such a mental game, every sport has its physical challenges but the mental game of baseball is what truly sets it apart from other sports. I also love the time out on the field with my friends, my baseball teammates are some of the most important people in my life.

Q: After graduation are you hoping to pursue your sport in college?

A: I am committed to Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon as a first baseman, what was once my childhood dream is now soon to become reality.

ANNABELLE THALKEN

VOLLEYBALL

Q: What is the best part of playing High School Sports?

A: I love playing high school volleyball. I have made so many special friendships with amazing girls. I really enjoy practicing five days a week and getting to spend lots of time playing, learning, and having fun with my team. As a team, we have spent so much time together, not only at practice but before practice talking and sharing stories, that we have formed a deep connection with one another that translates onto the court. The coach, shout out to John Grix, is also great. He has helped me advance my skills and get closer to my goals and he is such a kind and cool dude who truly loves the game and his players.

Q: What do you love about your sport?

A: Volleyball is such a fast-paced and exciting game. It constantly pushes me to be a better player and person as I strive to compete at higher levels. I also love the competitive atmosphere and the high energy associated with the sport. Most of all I love volleyball because whether I am hitting, blocking, or watching my teammates crush it, I am always having fun!

Q: After graduation are you hoping to pursue your sport in college?

A: Yes I am planning on playing volleyball in college. Next year I will be attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and playing volleyball for their team.

LILLIAN GARVERICK

SOFTBALL

Q: What is the best part of playing High School Sports?

A: The best part of high school sports is to hang out and play sports with the friends that you go to school with.

Q: What do you love about your sport?

A: The thing I love most about softball is the competition. I strive to be the best out on the field and do my best in every game and practice.

Q: After graduation are you planning on continuing to play your sport?

A: I am committed to continuing playing softball at Sacramento City College after I graduate from Rio!

GIANNA HALL

SOCCER

Q: What is the best part of playing High School Sports?

A: Personally, the best part of playing soccer in high school is the excitement and joy that it brings. With high school soccer, it brings new friends, unforgettable memories, and another great coach to look up to. We have something to play for whether it be beating our rival team or making it to playoffs...winning playoffs. We all become close and we share desire and laughter throughout our entire season.

Q: What do you love about your sport?

A: Soccer is my escape and can turn a bad day into a good day for me. I love that soccer gives me something to look forward to every week.

Q: After graduation are you planning on continuing to play your sport?

A: Right now I have 2 current offers from the University of Houston and Loyola Marymount University (LMU). I am narrowing my decision very soon and look forward to continuing my career by playing division 1 soccer. **Update** as of 4/28/21 Gianna will stay close to home at Folsom Lake College for a year and then plans to transfer to LMU!

NAZ SADEGHIAN-DEZAKI

LACROSSE

Q: What is the best part of playing High School Sports?

A: The best parts, in my opinion, are my teammates and game nights. My teammates and the atmosphere that we create at every practice is always the highlight of my day. Game Nights always make our hard work in practice worthwhile.

Q: What do you love about your sport?

A: I love everything about lacrosse. I love my teammates, drills, practices, games and even conditioning. Being able to better my skills as a person and as an athlete while still having fun makes me appreciate every second I spend playing.

Q: After graduation are you planning on continuing to play your sport?

A: I plan on playing lacrosse after I graduate, hopefully for whatever college I choose to attend. It is a passion of mine and I hope for it to remain a part of my life.

WILL LINBERG

BASEBALL

Q: What is the best part of playing High School Sports?

A: My favorite part about high school sports is the fact we get to play other schools in our area often with many players we know on the other team. It creates friendly rivalry and raises the level of play all around because who wants to lose to a friend playing against you. This makes us closer as a whole because we trust our teammates to give their best effort with the goal of getting a win.

Q: What do you love about your sport?

A: I love that while baseball is very individual in your approach, hitting, and development off the field. You cannot win with one person. It requires outside effort individually from all 9 starters, to then come together to play as a team. Without everyone competing for a common goal, you have already lost before you step on the field.

Q: After graduation are you planning on continuing to play your sport?

A: My goal is to play college baseball at a 4-year school after high school. With an injury the summer before Junior year and Covid-19 ending the Junior season as well as a lot of summer games/showcases canceled, it has been hard for everyone to get their name out there. I want to play baseball after high school and plan on playing at junior college in Sacramento or Long Beach if no opportunities come through for me.

NOLAN BARRY

BASEBALL

Q: What is the best part of playing High School Sports?

A: The best part about playing high school sports is the friendships you build and the lifelong memories that come with playing and being with your teammates.

Q: What do you love about your sport?

A: The reason I love baseball so much is that it is the most challenging sport. I also appreciate that it takes a whole team to win rather than just an individual player.

Q: After graduation are you planning on continuing to play your sport?

A: After graduating high school I hope to end up playing baseball at an NCAA division 1 or division 2 school.