Paloma Valley High Athletes of the Week: Jan. 26

From left: Lauren Perez, Joseph Tuthill, Alize Hancock, Cameron Whatley.

Each week, Menifee 24/7 honors top student-athletes at Paloma Valley High School. The coach of each varsity sport is allowed to select one athlete based on the previous week's performances or on potential shown by the athlete. Here are this week's Paloma Valley High School Athletes of the Week:

Junior soccer player Lauren Perez has been on varsity since her freshman year. She has played every position and coach Marie Dillon says Perez is one of her best athletes. "Lauren has turned into one of the best defenders around and is usually counted on to mark the opposing team's best attacker," Dillon said. "She has shut down many players the past two years that were Division 1 recruits for college soccer. She is always positive and is one of my hardest workers and is a tremendous role model."

Wrestler Joseph Tuthill placed at the prestigious Raul Huerta Classic, reaching the semifinals before losing to a state ranked wrestler, then battling back to place fifth. He also scored a pin in his match to lead Paloma Valley to a league victory over Heritage.

Alize Hancock is the girls basketball club president, team captain, and a leader on the court as the Wildcats' point guard. "Her dribbling ability and knowledge of the game has given our team an advantage on offense and prevented anyone from being able to pressure us, which has directly led to our 15-6 start to this season," said her coach, Romeo Galbreath.

Junior guard Cameron Whatley is a team leader for the boys basketball team, which has won its last three games in league play.

These athletes will be eligible for selection as Paloma Valley High School's Athletes of the Month, which will be announced in early February.