Recently, a pair of graduating seniors earned recognition for their athletic efforts.
All through high school, and even before, Alyssa Montes and JC Astle strove to perfect their skills. That’s why the coaches named them Pershing’s most improved athletes.
Montes played volleyball, basketball and ran track and field.
“She’s had a great career, competing in all three sports seasons all four years,” said Mike Brooks, the athletic director. “That’s dedication.”
Astle played football, basketball and leaped over hurdles on the track team.
In football preseason, JC focused on his summer workouts honing the skills he’d use on the O-line.
Brooks coached him this past fall. At 5’8’’ and 140 pounds, Astle played OL/DE and wore jersey No. 67 with Mustang pride.
“JC was the ultimate team player,” said Brooks. “He was supportive of his teammates in every way and would always do what was asked. He never complained about workloads during practice.”
In track, Astle jumped the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300 intermediates. He also competed in the 4x400 and 4x200 relays.
Meanwhile, Astle’s teammate Alyssa Montes ran the 100-meter dash, 200 meters and 4x100 and 4x200 relays.
“She was a pleasure for the short time I got to coach her this senior year,” said Dave McLean. He described her as “another coach on the track.”
“She helped me get the other girls lined up, especially in those relay races, teaching them how to use blocks properly and helping them work out,” he said.
Due to the coronavirus, this year’s spring sports awards moved from the high school auditorium to YouTube. Nonetheless, the coaches honored each athlete’s success.
Brooks gave Astle the Block P Most Improved Athlete Award.
It traditionally goes to “the athlete who in the judgment of the coaching staff and principal has improved the most throughout his athletic career.”
Astle plans to work and save money for college.
The video cut to the courthouse steps as Lynn Christofferson named Alyssa Montes the Most Improved Female Athlete. Christofferson gives the memorial award annually on behalf of her daughter, Lisa (Class of 2002).
Montes begins college this fall. She was accepted at six schools and chose to attend the University of Nevada in Reno.
“She has decided home will always be Nevada,” says Juanita Montes, Alyssa’s mother. “It was a hard decision. I think this pandemic had a lot to do with her deciding to stay close to home.”
