Every week, Pete Carlson’s Golf & Tennis and KMIR have honored a local high school athlete as our Pete Carlson’s Student-Athlete of the Week. With the school year coming to an end, it’s time to find our Athlete of the Year. In no order, here are the nominees:

Akemi Von Scherr, LQ Sophomore: The only desert athlete to go to state in multiple sports. In cross country, the Blackhawk recorded the 25th-fastest time in the state. Von Scherr captured the CIF Division 3 title in the 500-free with a time of 5:00.43 to bring home the swim teams first ever CIF title on top of being the only desert swimmer to do so in 5-years. Von Scherr advanced to the state meet as the only desert swimmer and finished 19th in the 500-free, clocking in with her best time of 4:59.51.

Joziaha Winfrey, DHS Senior: A football and basketball star for the Golden Eagles. Winfrey lead the basketball team to a historic season. For the first time in school history, Desert Hot Springs captured their first CIF-SS playoff win. The guard averaged 23.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. With the help of Winfrey, the team clinched 20 total wins this season, the most in program history.

Citlalli Ortiz, CV Senior: Ortiz is a member of Team USA and Lee Espinoza Coachella Valley Boxing Club. Ortiz traveled to India for the AIBA Women’s Youth Boxing World Championship and brought home gold. Ortiz became the number one ranked girl’s youth boxer in the world and the first Lee Espinoza boxer to ever accomplish such a feat since the clubs inception 38 years ago.

Charlie Reiter, PD Senior: The Palm Desert golf prodigy helped the Aztecs to their best season in program history, guiding the team to the state tournament where the team finished second. Reiter also helped Palm Desert set a California postseason record shooting a team total of 11-under 344 at the CIF-SS SCGA qualifier. Reiter shot a 4-under 67 individually at the event. But the biggest storyline of his decorated career? The teen competed in the Careerbuilder Challenge in January, making his first-ever PGA tour start in his own backyard.

Pete Carlson’s Student-Athlete of the Year Nominees