Central Valley High School's Daniel Ochoa didn't get his hopes up when he submitted an application for the Golden Hawk award.
A point system taking into account athletic and academic achievement, and community involvement for the past four years determined male and female winners.
Ochoa and fellow senior Drucella Miranda were presented trophies for their overall performance during Spring Sports Awards Night on May 14.
"I actually got it," said Daniel, who starred in boys soccer and football. "I was shocked. There's a lot of great athletes at Central Valley."
Said Miranda: "That's always been a hope of mine. I want people to remember me."
Ochoa earned seven varsity letters during his prep athletic career, including four in soccer and three in football.
Daniel collected 88 goals and 27 assists while leading Central Valley's soccer team to four league titles and playoff berths, and two section finals appearances.
"We didn't win everything," Ochoa said. "But a lot of teams would kill to be in our position."
Daniel was voted Western Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player his senior year.
He scored a program-record 38 goals and dished out five assists.
Ochoa earned all-conference honors the previous three seasons, including first-team accolades twice and second-team recognition once.
Daniel started playing soccer at the age of 12. He spent one season in the Ceres Youth Soccer Organization recreational league before joining the competitive ranks.
"I enjoy scoring goals and playing rough," Ochoa said.
Daniel developed into a team player under Central Valley head coach Omar Leon's guidance.
"He helped me a lot," Ochoa said. "He led me down the right path."
Daniel handled kicking chores on the football field for three years.
He was awarded the WAC Special Teams MVP award this past season.
Ochoa booted a 47-yard field goal and had a host of kickoffs result in touchbacks.
He was a first-team, all-conference selection his junior year. He converted 39 of 41 PATs and led the league in touchbacks.
Daniel will continue his soccer career at Cal State Stanislaus.
Drucella was a model student-athlete.
She competed in varsity track and field and volleyball for a combined six seasons.
Miranda, one of Central Valley's six salutatorians for graduation, earned a grade-point average of 4.19.
Drucella was involved in the following activities: California Scholastic Federation, National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, Skills USA, National Art Honor Society.
Miranda won California Governor Art Scholar, Rotary Youth Leadership, Young Artist and Writer's Silver Key and Gold in Skills USA awards.
She volunteered through Kaiser Permanente and Interact service club.
Drucella was also a tutor.
"I've always been an overachiever," said Miranda, who will head to UC Davis this fall and major in biomedical engineering. "I hardly got any sleep the last four years. It was really hectic but all worth it in the end."
Drucella said she used sports as her stress reliever.
She was team captain in track and field and volleyball.
Miranda placed 14th in the 100 hurdles (18.57) at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV-V Championships her junior year.
She took fifth in the 300 hurdles (53.30) at the WAC finals this season.
"It doesn't surprise me," Central Valley track and field head coach Mike Reynolds said while talking about Drucella's selection as Golden Hawk female winner. "She's a great competitor."
Ochoa's and Miranda's names will be printed on a banner that's displayed inside Central Valley High School's Gymnasium.
Previous Golden-Hawk recipients include Mike Tubera, Latrisha Jordan, Trevor Mew, Julie Calderon, Vince Lopez, Amanda Lopez, Tyree Jones and Alyssa Long.
"It's history," Ochoa said. "It's something that will be there forever. Once my nephews go to CV, they'll see my name up there. They'll have something to brag about."
A point system taking into account athletic and academic achievement, and community involvement for the past four years determined male and female winners.
Ochoa and fellow senior Drucella Miranda were presented trophies for their overall performance during Spring Sports Awards Night on May 14.
"I actually got it," said Daniel, who starred in boys soccer and football. "I was shocked. There's a lot of great athletes at Central Valley."
Said Miranda: "That's always been a hope of mine. I want people to remember me."
Ochoa earned seven varsity letters during his prep athletic career, including four in soccer and three in football.
Daniel collected 88 goals and 27 assists while leading Central Valley's soccer team to four league titles and playoff berths, and two section finals appearances.
"We didn't win everything," Ochoa said. "But a lot of teams would kill to be in our position."
Daniel was voted Western Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player his senior year.
He scored a program-record 38 goals and dished out five assists.
Ochoa earned all-conference honors the previous three seasons, including first-team accolades twice and second-team recognition once.
Daniel started playing soccer at the age of 12. He spent one season in the Ceres Youth Soccer Organization recreational league before joining the competitive ranks.
"I enjoy scoring goals and playing rough," Ochoa said.
Daniel developed into a team player under Central Valley head coach Omar Leon's guidance.
"He helped me a lot," Ochoa said. "He led me down the right path."
Daniel handled kicking chores on the football field for three years.
He was awarded the WAC Special Teams MVP award this past season.
Ochoa booted a 47-yard field goal and had a host of kickoffs result in touchbacks.
He was a first-team, all-conference selection his junior year. He converted 39 of 41 PATs and led the league in touchbacks.
Daniel will continue his soccer career at Cal State Stanislaus.
Drucella was a model student-athlete.
She competed in varsity track and field and volleyball for a combined six seasons.
Miranda, one of Central Valley's six salutatorians for graduation, earned a grade-point average of 4.19.
Drucella was involved in the following activities: California Scholastic Federation, National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, Skills USA, National Art Honor Society.
Miranda won California Governor Art Scholar, Rotary Youth Leadership, Young Artist and Writer's Silver Key and Gold in Skills USA awards.
She volunteered through Kaiser Permanente and Interact service club.
Drucella was also a tutor.
"I've always been an overachiever," said Miranda, who will head to UC Davis this fall and major in biomedical engineering. "I hardly got any sleep the last four years. It was really hectic but all worth it in the end."
Drucella said she used sports as her stress reliever.
She was team captain in track and field and volleyball.
Miranda placed 14th in the 100 hurdles (18.57) at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV-V Championships her junior year.
She took fifth in the 300 hurdles (53.30) at the WAC finals this season.
"It doesn't surprise me," Central Valley track and field head coach Mike Reynolds said while talking about Drucella's selection as Golden Hawk female winner. "She's a great competitor."
Ochoa's and Miranda's names will be printed on a banner that's displayed inside Central Valley High School's Gymnasium.
Previous Golden-Hawk recipients include Mike Tubera, Latrisha Jordan, Trevor Mew, Julie Calderon, Vince Lopez, Amanda Lopez, Tyree Jones and Alyssa Long.
"It's history," Ochoa said. "It's something that will be there forever. Once my nephews go to CV, they'll see my name up there. They'll have something to brag about."
