Check out the link below to see our very own, Natalie Drewitz, with a great interview after she set the course record for the PR City Invitational https://youtube.com/shorts/NrOsJnaNvPo?si=yWJqFM_2bnesnzM6

“2. Martin Luther King. Junior Maximo Zavaleta, who was seventh in the CIF Division 1 cross country final, is the top returner from that race. His team finished 10th that day but brings back six of the seven who competed. This is heady stuff for the Wolves of Riverside, who made their second appearance ever at the state meet last year. In addition to Zavaleta, the team brings back junior Bradley Quezada, senior Brayden Lunetta, senior Alex Wesolowski, and juniors Logan Carlson and Frank Stewart. If this group can stick together and develop, it could take a big step forward. " Check out the rest of the article at the attached link https://www.dyestat.com/gprofile.php?mgroup_id=44531&do=news&news_id=669748

“The MileSplit team analyzed the top 25 teams across the nation and looked ahead at what’s sure to be a jam-packed next couple of months.”
Our boys were ranked at the 14th spot in the nation making them the first team in years to be ranked among the best in the nation. We are very proud of all of their hard work and dedication so far and cannot wait to see what they can accomplish this season. Make sure to check out the article in the following link! https://www.milesplit.com/articles/350474/2024-coros-milesplit50-preseason-boys-team-xc-rankings

After numerous schedule changes due to the inclement weather that has affected the Inland Empire over the past few weeks, the Wolves finally lined up for an early 7:00 a.m. start. The meet was split by age group, allowing the varsity athletes to spread across multiple teams. Freshman Betsaida Sandoval, eager to complete the full 3-mile course after her previous race was cut short, surged to a strong finish. Sandoval placed 5th overall in her division with an impressive time of 20:46, the 7th fastest time for any King female runner that day.
The freshman boys’ race saw standout performances as well, led by Max Guzzetta, who continues to carve out his own legacy despite following in his sibling’s footsteps. Guzzetta posted a new personal best and finished 9th overall. Another highlight was Mason Stehmeier, who unleashed a powerful final mile, passing 17 competitors to secure 13th place. With Pendelton, Browning, and Ismerio rounding out the top five scorers, the team claimed the first plaque of the day with a 3rd place overall finish.
The sophomore girls’ squad was one of the strongest King teams of the day, featuring three varsity athletes. Their depth showed as they earned a 2nd place team finish. Leading the charge was Natalie Drewitz, who ran a new season best of 17:38, the fastest time by any female athlete and a new course record. Close behind were teammates Jude Abu-Ghazaleh (6th place) and Jordyn Ramirez (8th place), both delivering standout performances with Abu-Ghazaleh setting a season best and Ramirez achieving a personal best. Their combined efforts yielded the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fastest times for King runners that day.
On the boys’ side, the sophomore team had to race without their top runner, John Sosa, but still managed a 3rd place finish. Juan Carlos Leiva led the team with an impressive performance, supported by a solid pack of Moyo, Kane, Moon, and Thompson, showcasing the team’s strength with the tightest grouping of the day.
In the junior girls’ race, Gracie Guzzetta led the team with a season-best performance, finishing 6th in a highly competitive field. The junior boys, despite being without top athletes Zavaleta and Carlson, were led by the quietly dominant Bradley Quezada, who executed a race-winning strategy with ease. Behind him, Stewart, Gonzalez, Webster, and Collopy rounded out the top five, earning the team a commendable 3rd place finish.
The senior races closed out the day, highlighted by the Wesolowski siblings. Sofia Wesolowski led the senior girls with a new season best, while her brother Alex Wesolowski lead the wolves in 2nd place with a personal best of 15:07, the fastest time by any King runner. Brayden Lunetta also delivered a strong 7th place finish, rebounding from last week’s performance at the Cool Breeze Invitational. Zachary Halama showed early-season improvement, surpassing his personal record to finish as the team’s 3rd senior.
Overall, the Wolves weathered the heat and look forward to a week of focused training before their next big challenge at the Woodbridge Invitational.

September 1, 2024

Written by Mario Machuca

POMONA: After a rigorous and passion-fueled seven weeks of summer training, the Wolves were eager to showcase their hard work at the season opener—the Cool Breeze Invitational at the Pomona Fairplex. Despite the summer heat following them to the course, our athletes were undeterred, tackling both the high temperatures and the challenging course with grit and determination.

The junior varsity girls were the first to take on the challenge, with upperclassmen Brianna Monjarez and Jacqueline Mendez leading the way. Both upperclassmen surged through the competition, passing nearly 20 athletes each in the second half of the course, setting impressive new personal bests to kick off their seasons.

Next up, the junior varsity boys brought their A-game, determined to demonstrate the depth of our boys’ program. Led by junior Caelen Shelton, who clocked a new career best over 3 miles, the team secured the first King XC win of the season with a score of 75 points. Aiden Stuckey’s performance was particularly noteworthy—despite a tough summer, he battled through the adversity to pass 16 competitors on the back half, finishing as the team’s fourth scorer with a personal best.

Rookie Madelyn Wilson made a strong debut in her cross-country career, and as the day grew hotter, safety precautions led to the sophomore boys and both freshmen teams running a 1.5-mile course instead of the full 3-mile loop. The sophomore boys, led by Juan Carlos Leiva’s impressive 3rd-place finish, secured a respectable 3rd place team finish overall. Although the girls’ freshman team didn’t have enough runners to score, Betsaida Sandoval led the way with a solid performance. The freshman boys, however, were out in full force, with Max Guzzetta and Andrew Phillips working together to propel their team to a second-place finish.

As the sun set and the lights came on, the highly anticipated Sundown Showdown championship races began. The MLK girls’ team, racing against former state champions and national-caliber teams, secured a strong 5th place finish. Junior Elizabeth Jacklin, coming off an outstanding track season, led the girls, while sophomore Jordan Ramirez closed out the scoring five, proving she is more than just a softball player with her impressive improvement.

The final race of the night saw the boys’ team, one of the pre-race favorites, ready to defend their reputation. A sudden pain forced senior Brayden Lunetta out of the race, but his teammates used this setback as fuel. Junior Maximo Zavaleta led the pack, narrowly missing the win with a time of 14:30, while senior Alex Wesolowski took charge of the second group of runners, guiding juniors Logan Carlson and Bradley Quezada. Sophomore John Sosa dug deep to close out the scoring for the team, placing 5th for the first time in his career.

With this team victory, the boys have firmly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. As the Wolves look ahead to the PR Invitational at the Silver Lakes course next week, they carry the momentum of their strong start, ready to adapt to whatever challenges come their way.