Etiwanda senior goalkeeper Max Guerrero and Upland junior midfielder Ricardo Maldonado were among those selected divisional players of the year when the CIF Southern Section released its awards for the 2023-24 boys soccer season.
Guerrero was chosen the Division 4 Player of the Year after helping Etiwanda capture the first section championship in program history. He kept four clean sheets in the playoffs, including the section championship match against Lakewood. Guerrero made six saves in that match against Lakewood. Etiwanda ultimately won the title via a penalty-kick shootout.
Maldonado brought home the Division 5 Player of the Year honor after helping Upland win its first section championship. He was a midfield mainstay for the Highlanders, particularly on the defensive end, and also tallied five assists this year.
Etiwanda’s D.J. Vigil and Upland’s Mike Diaz were chosen divisional coaches of the year for guiding their teams to titles.
An additional 39 Inland players were selected to the first team in their schools’ respective playoff divisions.
CIF SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS SOCCER
Open Division
Player of the Year: Michael Cherico, Mater Dei, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Sean Ganey, Mater Dei
Inland players on first team: Jacob Arellano, Arlington, Sr.; Javier Hernandez, Arlington, Sr.; Tyler Hylton, Arlington, Sr.; Jesus Palma, Arlington, Sr.; Adan Alvarado, Montclair, Sr.; David Garcia, Montclair, Sr.
Division 1
Player of the Year: Justin Cuevas, Servite
Coach of the Year: Eddie Soto, Servite
Inland players on first team: Tommy Castaneda, Alta Loma, Sr.; Darey Zamora, Cajon, Sr.; Jose De La Torre, Citrus Hill, Sr.
Division 2
Player of the Year: Olivier Renard, Newport Harbor, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Ignacio Cid. Newport Harbor
Inland players on first team: Fabian Barajas, Beaumont, Sr.; Calvin Quiroz, Centennial, Sr.; Cruz Navarro, Redlands East Valley, Sr.; Tait Whittemore, Redlands East Valley, Sr.; Eleaser Villegas, San Gorgonio, Sr.
Division 3
Player of the Year: Alex Lugo, Animo Leadership
Coach of the Year: Sergio Medrano, Animo Leadership
Inland players on first team: Gabriel Chaidez, Ganesha, So.; JT Trevino, Great Oak, Sr.; Diego Arreola, Rancho Cucamonga, Sr.; Roman Rodriguez, Vista Murrieta, Jr.
Division 4
Player of the Year: Max Guerrero, Etiwanda, Sr.
Coach of the Year: D.J. Vigil, Etiwanda
Inland players on first team: Brody Quinzon, Chino, Sr.; Julian Borja, Diamond Ranch, Sr.; Chris Carrasco, Etiwanda, Sr.; Hugo Gonzalez-Quintero, Etiwanda, Sr.; Kayden Montgomery, Etiwanda, Jr.; Marco Hernandez Ramos, Jurupa Hills, Sr.; Cody Miller, Rubidoux, Sr.
Division 5
Player of the Year: Ricardo Maldonado, Upland, Jr.
Coach of the Year: Mike Diaz, Upland
Inland players on first team: Daniel Aguayo, Nuview Bridge, Jr.; Kokwa Sekyere, Orange Vista, Sr.; Erik Torres, Ramona, Fr.; Drew Shoji, Upland, Jr.; Gavin Sampognaro, Upland, So.; Nicolas Giron, Upland, Jr.
Division 6
Player of the Year: George Peterson, Maranatha, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Walker Haynes, Maranatha
Inland players on first team: Miguel Marroquin, Indian Springs, Sr.; Julian Moss, Indian Springs, Jr.; Noe Morales, Kaiser, Jr.; Ryan Pruitt, Paloma Valley, Sr.
Division 7
Player of the Year: Axel Espinoza-Gutierrez, Covina, Sr.
Coach of the Year: Adrian Zaharie, Covina
Inland players on first team: Angel Villasenor, Heritage, Sr.; Ernesto Pacheco, Heritage, Sr.; Dylan Geske, Santa Rosa Academy, Sr.; Ethan Groom, Temecula Prep, Sr.
