After coming off of successful 2010 Cross Country seasons, a lot was to be expected from Erika and Porter Reddish here in 2011.  Not only did they possess credentials to both qualify for the California state meet as individuals, but they shared their ambition, competiveness and leadership and drove their teams beyond initial expectations this past season.  For their individual accomplishments and being both of their squads' leaders, we reward senior Erika Reddish and junior brother, Porter Reddish as our 2011 Riverside County Athletes of the Year. 

The expectations were huge for Erika Reddish after coming off one of the greatest seasons of any Riverside County distance runner and setting the new county record for the 1600 meters.  This came along with a CIF title while also qualifying for the state meet finals in that same event.  Meanwhile, she just missed setting the county history in the 3200 last March as well.  All of this along while qualifying the past two seasons with her team to the Cross Country state meets - the expectations were higher than ever.  When you look back to 2008 as Erika not finishing at the CIF Finals, with her team placing a distant 16th place, it makes all of the 2011 accomplishments even more special.  Not only did she set a new county record for San Diego's Morley Park course, she cemented her name at the top of our record books with her 17:12 effort at this year's CIF Finals.  With that effort, she set a new county record for the Mt. SAC course while easily capturing the CIF Title and leading her girls' squad to another state meet berth.  In late October, we mentioned how the Vista Murrieta girls were underranked going into November and Erika was a huge reason for our confidence.  More than her individual accomplishments, one of the most impressive attributes was her ability to lead her squad to one of the most surprising finishes in county history.  Off of most radars, the VM girls raced to a 3rd place finish at the CIF Finals but turned even more heads with their 2nd place finish at the California State Meet and our #1 county team ranking!   With some terrific seasons turned in by our 2010 recipient Adriana Olivas of Centennial and JW North's Mariel Mendoza, several other coaches commented on Erika's consistency throughout the entire season along with handling the expectations of having a team rely on her to perform at such a high level with each race.   

Porter Reddish now has the task of repeating in 2012, following in the footsteps of ML King's Lane Werley (now at UCLA) in 2010.  But, more than Porter's individual accomplishments this past Fall was how he also helped lead his young squad back to statewide prominence and almost earning a state meet berth.  In 2012, he will lead a squad that will be mentioned amongst one of the best in the state but has no problem taking on that role of a leader.  Porter recorded the top time of any Riverside County boy for the Mt. SAC course and at the California State Meet.  Despite winning the Inland Empire Challenge in October, Porter went into CIF Finals not ranked in the top 10.  But, he proved the pronosticators wrong with his solid 15:01 effort and an outstanding 4th place finish!  Perhaps a little disappointed with his 15th place finish at the state meet, he was the 4th fastest underclassman in the race.  Needless to say, he will come back as one of the top boys in the state in 2012!   Leading a fine group of juniors here in the county, Porter was 3rd team all-county as a freshman, 2nd-team last year as a sophomore and now claims the distinction of our best male athlete here in 2011 with his obvious 1st Team accolades.  We dedicate much more time here to his sister for her being a senior, but we will feel that Porter's coach put it best in describing he and her sister....   

From Coach Karen Candaele: 
Erika is a very humble yet competitive athlete.  She has given her best for our team for 4 years, never looking for individual praise - always wanting what is best for the team.  She struggled early in her career with injuries and nerves, but has grown to have the confidence of a great runner.  Being 5'10" she has always stood out, and has recently come to embrace the benefits her stature affords her in her strength.

If Erika is competitive, Porter is extremely competitive.  He set high aspirations of running himself and his team to the State Meet, narrowly missing with his team, but already making goals to have the whole group there next year.  When he races, he puts it all out on the line each and every time.

Besides being amazing competitors, both Erika and Porter are great people, captains, and teammates with great futures ahead of them.

We congratulate Erika and Porter Reddish as our 2011 Riverside County Athletes of the Year! 

Riverside County Athletes of the Year
BOYS
2011 - Porter Reddish (Vista Murrieta)
2010 - Lane Werley (ML King)
2009 - Lane Werley (ML King)
2008 - Emmanuel Ngula (Vista del Lago)
2007 - David McDonald (Vista Murrieta)
2006 - Dylan and Spencer Knight (La Sierra)
2005 - Patrick Milloy (Murrieta Valley)
2004 - Brett Campfield (Temecula Valley)
2003 - Brett Campfield (Temecula Valley)
2002 - Antonio Jimenez (Rubidoux)

GIRLS
2011 - Erika Reddish (Vista Murrieta)
2010 - Adriana Olivas (Centennial), Hanna Peterson (ML King)
2009 - Anna and Katie Johnson (Great Oak)
2008 - Kelsi Tippets (ML King)
2007 - Sierra Vega (Chaparral)
2006 - Clarissa Bowman (ML King)
2005 - Liana Boucher (Murrieta Valley)
2004 - Alma Escobar (Corona)
2003 - Liza Pascuito (Murrieta Valley)
2002 - Liza Pascuito (Murrieta Valley)