Local High School Athletes Continue to Shine Beyond Graduation
Hesperia, California (High Desert News Online) – Hesperia Unified School District (HUSD) is celebrating a banner year for its former student-athletes, as graduates from across the district make their mark in college athletics nationwide. From basketball courts to wrestling mats and football fields, these High Desert alumni are not only excelling in competition but also representing their hometown with pride and discipline.
Rising Stars in College Athletics
Two familiar faces from the Hesperia basketball scene are teaming up again—this time on the court for the California State Stanislaus Warriors. Oak Hills High School’s Mark Jones III (Class of 2025) and Hesperia High School’s Antony Newman-Gomez (Class of 2024) have reunited as collegiate teammates, helping the Warriors secure a strong start to their 2026 season. Fans can catch the duo in action this Thursday as CSU Stanislaus faces Cal State Los Angeles in LA.
Meanwhile, another standout, Oak Hills alumnus and 2024–25 HUSD Athlete of the Year, Keonahi’ilani Solaita, made an explosive debut for Cal State Sacramento’s volleyball team. Solaita earned Big Sky Conference honors including Player of the Week, Outstanding Freshman, and Freshman of the Year, leading her team into a competitive postseason run televised on ESPN+.
Football, Wrestling, and Soccer Success
Hesperia’s athletic legacy also extended to SoFi Stadium, where two former Oak Hills Bulldogs met in the Bucked Up LA Bowl. Paki Finau, offensive lineman for the Washington Huskies, and Daylon Metoyer of Boise State faced off on ABC7 as the Huskies took home a 38–10 victory.
Closer to home, Victor Valley College’s wrestling team claimed its third consecutive SEWCA Conference Championship with an impressive lineup of 12 former HUSD wrestlers. Among them were state-ranked competitors Paulo Valdez (Hesperia High) and Rocky Humphrey Jr. (Sultana High), helping to cement VVC’s dominance as one of the state’s strongest community college wrestling programs.
On the soccer field, two HUSD alumnae continue to make headlines. Sydney Middaugh, formerly of Oak Hills High, is transferring to the University of South Carolina after her breakthrough season at St. Mary’s College. Fellow alumna Kolo Suliafu, who earned Big Ten Defender of the Year honors at the University of Washington, recently turned professional—signing with the Kansas City Current of the National Women’s Soccer League.
A Tradition of Athletic Excellence
The achievements of these young men and women continue a long-standing legacy within Hesperia Unified’s athletic programs. Over the past two decades, HUSD schools—including Oak Hills, Hesperia, Sultana, and Mojave high schools—have built competitive programs that emphasize academic balance and character development alongside athletic success.
District officials say this ongoing momentum stems from a “big-city athletic program with a small-town feel,” where personal connection and community support prepare athletes for life beyond high school. As these alumni demonstrate, HUSD’s commitment to both education and athletics continues to pay dividends—elevating the High Desert onto the national stage.
