Kaheaku Paiva, Volkoff Named Paloma Athletes of Month

Paloma Valley High athletes Maria Volkoff and Raine Kaheaku Paiva receive their Athlete of the Month awards from Cynthia Nemelka of REMAX/Diamond Realty, sponsor of the award.

Quarterback Raine Kaheaku Paiva and tennis player Maria Volkoff have been named the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month for October representing Paloma Valley High School.

Kaheaku Paiva and Volkoff were presented a certificate and gift card by Cynthia Nemelka of REMAX/Diamond Realty, sponsor of the award.

Kaheaku Paiva, known to his teammates simply as Pohaku, has handled the majority of the snaps at quarterback for the Wildcats, who play at Rancho Verde Friday night in the first round of the CIF playoffs. He has passed for 1,378 yards and 14 touchdowns and has rushed for 653 yards and 9 TDs.

While he is happy to be in the playoffs, Kaheaku Paiva said he and his teammates know they must do better to extend their season.

"We need our leaders to step up so the juniors don't have to carry the load," he said.

Although he isn't the most vocal player on the field, Kaheaku Paiva certainly has shown his leadership capabilities over the course of the season.

"I don't talk much, so I just show it on the field," he said. "I just play."

Volkoff, a senior, was a key singles player for the Wildcats tennis team, which narrowly missed out on advancing to the CIF playoffs. She is interested in studying journalism in college.

"If I play doubles, I feel like I let the other person down," she said. "I like sports where I can do things on my own."