Atwater flag football star named Merced Sun-Star Player of the Year after inaugural season
Atwater High sophomore Madison Hiler never had played football.
When she found out flag football was coming, she thought about playing but also thought it might be better to focus on basketball and softball in the fall.
Ultimately, Hilmar decided to give flag football a try, and she immediately excelled.
The Falcons quarterback helped lead Atwater to a share of the Central Caifornia Conference championship along with Merced and Livingston.
Along the way, Hiler was named the CCC Most Valuable Player.
And in her latest honor, Hiler was named the Merced Sun-Star Girls Flag Football Player of the Year. She also was the Sun-Star Softball Player of the Year in 2023.
“I had never played and none of my siblings had ever play,” Hiler said. “I just decided to go out and have some fun.”
Hiler believes her softball background as a catcher aided her transition to quarterback.
“Both catcher and quarterback are a lot similar,” Hiler said. “The strength of my arm helped. Being able to see the field like a catcher in softball also helped.”
Hiler helped lead the Falcons to a 21-6-1 record this fall, including an 11-3 record in the CCC.
She enjoyed learning a new sport and a new position.
“It was difficult but with the help of the coaches, they made it easy,” Hiler said. “Going into the season, we had a couple options at quarterback. But the coaches saw how I threw the ball. Playing quarterback was a test and a big role. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”
The toughest part was learning all the plays and knowing where everybody is on the field, she said.
“That was the most difficult part,” Hiler said. “Again, that’s where the coaches helped me get it down. They helped make everything simple for me.”
Hiler says it was fun going through the first year of flag football with the group they had.
“I love the bonds I made,” Hiler said. “A lot of the girls I had already known from other sports, but I met some new friends.”
Golf
Asterisk Talley, Chowchilla
Asterisk Talley had a historic freshman season for the Chowchilla High School girls golf team.
She became the first Chowchilla golfer to win the Central Section individual championship, shooting a 5-under par round of 67 at Ridge Creek Golf Course.
Talley went on to finish third at the CIF Regional Championship with a 3-under round of 71 at Los Serranos Golf Course. She then finished fifth at the CIF State Championship with an even-par round of 71 at Poppy Hills Golf Course.
Talley is the Merced Sun-Star Girls Golfer of the Year.
“I was happy with my season,” Talley said. “I did my best. I probably could have worked harder and done better.”
Talley started golfing at the age of 3. She used to go with her dad to the golf course and watch him play. Eventually she got tired of watching and started playing.
She began playing in tournaments at the age of 5. When she was 9 years old, Talley played in the National Drive, Chip and Putt finals at Augusta National, finishing second in the 7-9 year old division in 2018.
Ultimately, Talley, 14, wants to play in college and become a professional golfer.
“I hope to go pro,” Talley said. “If college comes that’s fine. All that can happen later.”
Talley is used to playing in pressure tournaments. High school golf was an opportunity for her to have fun.
“I really just wanted to have a good time,” Talley said. “I had fun playing with friends.”
Talley won the Northwest Sequoia Championships with a round of 8-under, 64 at her home course at Pheasant Run. She averaged a score of 33.16 in her seven league matches.
When she got to compete at the state championships, she was able to play against many of the golfers she competes against year round.
“It was fun,” Talley said. “Most of the girls I knew from playing against them even though they were coming from all over the state. It was a fun time.”
Cross Country
Lena Llamas, Buhach Colony
Lena Llamas had a record-breaking sophomore season for the Buhach Colony girls cross country team.
She broke the school records in the 5K (19 minutes and 2 seconds) and the 2-mile (11:32). She also won the 75th Annual Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational in October and finished sixth in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III Sub-Section race.
Llamas is the Merced Sun-Star Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year.
“The level of dedication she’s shown in her first two years has paid off and will surely follow her through the remainder of her high school career and at the college level, where she aspires to compete,” said Buhach Colony coach Alfonso Garcia.
The Thunder cross country team starts training in August. Llamas began her training two months prior, often running with family members. Her mother ,Tangi, was a star athlete at Atwater High School and went on to compete as a distance runner in college. Her father David also competed in track in college.
“I have a great support system of people who love me and push me,” Llamas said. “It’s great motivation and I love that I have their support. They are great training partners.”
Llamas success this season came despite struggling through injuries. She’s currently recovering from corrective foot surgery. She’ll have a second surgery and February that will prevent her from competing this spring in track.
Llamas ran despite the pain from congenital bunions.
“It was painful, especially depending on the course,” Llamas said. “When I ran on concrete or really hard ground it bothered me more.”
Llamas plans to be healthy for next cross country season.
“I accomplished a lot this year,” Llamas said. “In the future I hope to make it to state and medal. That’s a big goal for me.”
All-Area Teams
Flag Football
Julissa Guzman, Merced
Shantelle Magana, El Capitan
Averie Steverson, Merced
Antonia Lejarde, Merced
Eden Perez, Atwater
Tatiana Alvarez, Livingston
Elizabeth Avila, Livingston
Isabel Orozco, Los Banos
Athaliah Torres, Los Banos
CJ Giammona, Golden Valley
Siena Freita, Los Banos
Juniper Hallin, Mariposa
Golf
Esther Sheu, El Capitan
Rowan Sanchez, Buhach Colony
Mady Dietz, El Capitan
Lilly Garza, Hilmar
Natalie Medina, Atwater
Paisley Garcia, Atwater
Amanda Englert, Buhach Colony
Isabella Raya, Livingston
Maicy Lee-Jones, Atwater
Valerie Quaid, Hilmar
Aless Chavez, Livingston
Cross Country
Ciarra Cabrera, Golden Valley
Gueritzi Martinez, Buhach Colony
Salome Gomez, Atwater
Anna Brazil, Atwater
Mariah Dhillon, Atwater
Angelina Borelli, Los Banos
Mia Terrell, Pacheco
Sidney Logsdon, Hilmar
