LA VERNE, CA— The University of La Verne celebrated 64 seniors at the annual Senior Blanket Awards ceremony, hosted at Sierra La Verne Country Club.
A time-honored La Verne athletics tradition, the ceremony celebrates eligible seniors who've been at La Verne for at least three years or earned postseason awards as Leopards.
Christopher Peres was named the Anthony P. Scafani award winner as La Verne's top male athlete and Melissa Cerrillos was named the Jesse Iles Scafani winner at the Leopards' top female athlete.
Peres has had a prolific career as a member of the La Verne baseball team. Peres is a two-time First Team All-SCIAC selection and three-time All-West Region selection with more accolades still likely to come. He's totaled 127 RBI, 184 hits, 104 runs, and 27 doubles. On the mound, Peres has totaled 17 saves and 12 wins with a 2.90 ERA. He also helped lead the Leopards to a SCIAC Regular-Season Championship last year and looks to lead the Leopards to a SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship this weekend.
Cerrillos has boasted a fantastic career as a member of the La Verne women's track and field team cross country teams. She is a two-time SCIAC Champion, has garnered a total of six All-Regions selections, and nine All-SCIAC awards. She's qualified for the NCAA Championships in track and was just the third woman ever in La Verne history to qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships. She currently holds school records in both the 800m and 3,000m steeplechase.
Rachael Dela Cruz and Jordan Harwell were tabbed La Verne Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
Dela Cruz earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the 2018 fall semester and sports a near perfect 3.98 cumulative GPA. A member of both the women's cross country and track and field teams she's earned All-SCIAC honors four times and All-Region three times with another All-Region award still likely to come. At the 2019 SCIAC Track and Field Championships, she picked up her first SCIAC Championship with a win in the 3,000m steeplechase. Both Dela Cruz and Cerrillos are battling for spots at the 2019 NCAA Track and Field Championships.
Harwell finished the 2018 fall semester with a 3.85 GPA and boasts a 3.91 cumulative GPA. He is a four-year member of the Leopards' football team who has made a steady and positive impact on his squad in every game he's played. Head Football Coach Chris Krich describes the long snapper as "Mr. La Verne" in that he is an outstanding, dedicated, and committed person who represents and lives out the missions and values of the university every day.
Micaela Krumweide from women's track and field and Katelyn Winiecki from volleyball were named La Verne Strength Athletes of the Year.
Watch Live Follow ULV Athletics on Twitter Like us on Facebook Watch on Youtube Follow us on Instagram
