Diara Refuerzo Crowned Fall Athlete

Photo from Diara Refuerzo | Refuerzo delivers a flashy serve.

Every fall season, a talented student athlete emerges and elevates the standard of excellence in their sport. This fall season, that student athlete is Diara Rain Refuerzo (12), captain of the Girls Varsity Volleyball team, who stood out for her passion, dedication and commitment both in her sport and in school.

A voting session was held on 5-Star, where every students were able to vote for who they think is the Fall Athlete. There was one candidate from each fall sports, including Football, Girls Tennis, Cross Country, and Girls Volleyball. During the Winter Rally, Refuerzo was announced to be the winner.

Refuerzo’s years of experience exemplify her passion and commitment to the game. Prior to playing for the school, she has played volleyball in the Lakas Volleyball club as a setter. Her time playing in the Lakas Volleyball Club and John F. Kennedy High School combined total to seven years of experience. Even in her last year playing volleyball for Kennedy, Diara still had memorable moments throughout this year’s season. Refuerzo picked the Stockton Classic Tournament for her favorite experience of the season.

“My favorite memory this season would be the Stockton Classic tournament, in which we played very well despite missing a lot of players,” she shared.

Refuerzo initially expressed surprise in her response to winning the award.

She said, “I felt really surprised because I was not expecting to win and then I felt grateful for the support system I have at school because without them this would not be possible.”

Refuerzo dedicated her award to not only her fellow volleyball teammates but also her parents, siblings, and coaches, “I would like to dedicate my success to my parents for always being on my side, my teammates and coaches who have all shaped me into the player I am now, and most especially my siblings for bringing out the best in me physically and mentally as a player of the game.”

The Student-Athlete of the Fall Season is a title that stands for much more than competition. It stands for the daily commitment on the field, participating in club tournaments, the fights against adversity, and the friendships established. Refuerzo, as this year’s recipient, exemplified these ideals during her tenure on the volleyball team.