Three Wolves among those named Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week (Nov. 28-Dec. 3)

Ethan Hanson, Redding Record Searchlight
·2 min read
Shasta sophomore soccer player Talyn Hanley, (top), Foothill senior wrestler Ben Vega Sanchez (right), Shasta junior basketball player (left), West Valley wrestler Kylee Simmons (bottom left), Shasta freshman soccer player Gavin Copeland (bottom center) and junior guard Kayla Wiley (bottom right) were named the Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week for top performances between Nov. 28 and Dec. 3.

Three students from Shasta High School, two students from West Valley and one Foothill student were recognized for their outstanding skills in soccer, wrestling and basketball.

A senior boys wrestler left his mark during a tournament in Orland while a girls wrestler took top honors during her first high school competition. Soccer players from Shasta ignited their teams with key goals during tournaments in Northern California.

Shasta's boys basketball team is looking revitalized thanks to a junior point guard, while a West Valley guard muscled her way through the opposition during a tournament in Shasta County.

Read on about the six students named Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week.

Ben Vega Sanchez of Foothill throws a thumbs-up after winning his weight class at the CIF Northern Section Masters Wrestling meet in February 2022 at Corning High School.
Ben Vega Sanchez of Foothill throws a thumbs-up after winning his weight class at the CIF Northern Section Masters Wrestling meet in February 2022 at Corning High School.

Ben Vega-Sanchez

School: Foothill

Sport: Wrestling

Class: Senior

Team contributions: Vega-Sanchez made his first big statement of the winter after finishing in fourth place at last season's state championship. He was Shasta County's only CIF State wrestling placer in 2022. Vega-Sanchez, who competes in the 195-pound weight class, took first at the Doc Petersen Tournament in Orland last Saturday. He won all four matches via pinfall and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

West Valley sophomore wrestler Kylee Simmons smiles outside of her school's main office on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.
West Valley sophomore wrestler Kylee Simmons smiles outside of her school's main office on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.

Kylee Simmons

School: West Valley

Sport: Wrestling

Class: Sophomore

Team contributions: Simmons was once a basketball player for the Eagles. But her breathing problems from asthma made playing difficult for her at times. She decided to stop playing and find a new sport in wrestling. Wrestling is now Simmons' passion. Simmons, in her first high school wrestling tournament, finished second at the Doc Petersen Tournament in Orland. Simmons wrestled at the 150-pound class and won three matches.

Talyn Hanly

School: Shasta

Sport: Soccer

Class: Sophomore

Team contributions: Hanly was Shasta's leading goal scorer during a soccer tournament at Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley last Friday and Saturday. Hanly scored the game winning goal for the Wolves during the 79th and final minute to stun Golden Sierra 2-1 last Friday. Hanly followed her clutch performance by scoring a hat trick in a 9-1 victory over Bear River last Saturday.

Shasta freshman midfielder/forward Gavin Copeland poses for the camera after getting drenched by the rain while competing against Lassen at Foothill High School on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.
Shasta freshman midfielder/forward Gavin Copeland poses for the camera after getting drenched by the rain while competing against Lassen at Foothill High School on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.

Gavin Copeland

School: Shasta

Sport: Soccer

Class: Freshman

Team contributions: Copeland was Shasta's top goal scorer during a round robin tournament at Foothill High School last Friday and Saturday. Copeland scored goals against Lassen and Foothill.

Shasta incoming junior guard Carter Audino dribbles the ball while scanning the floor during the Redding 3-on-3 Tournament at the Redding Civic Auditorium parking lot on Saturday, June 4, 2022.
Shasta incoming junior guard Carter Audino dribbles the ball while scanning the floor during the Redding 3-on-3 Tournament at the Redding Civic Auditorium parking lot on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Carter Audino

School: Shasta

Sport: Basketball

Class: Junior

Team contributions: Audino showed Shasta High School's boys basketball team is improved from last winter. Audino scored 11 points to help beat Enterprise 53-38 in the Harlan Carter Invitational consolation game last Saturday. Audino was named to the Harlan Carter Invitational All Tournament team.

West Valley senior guard Kayla Wiley holds a basketball outside her school on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.
West Valley senior guard Kayla Wiley holds a basketball outside her school on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.

Kayla Wiley

School: West Valley

Sport: Basketball

Class: Junior

Team contributions: Wiley averaged 16 points, 13 rebounds and three steals per game to help West Valley win four games during a basketball tournament at Anderson High School last Thursday through Saturday. The Eagles earned victories over Red Bluff, Trinity and Modoc.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta, West Valley, Foothill students named YMCA Athletes of the Week