Valencia is 2019 Express Athlete of the Year

Ruben Valencia, a senior at Winters High School, is the 2019 Winters Express Athlete of the Year. Valencia’s 2019 sports season started during his junior year on the varsity basketball team. Alongside teammate Daniel Carrion, he received an all-league award for being one of the most athletic and powerful players on the court. By the end of the season he racked up 246 points total, of which he sank 66 two-pointers and 38 3-pointers. He also contributed 16 offensive rebounds, 95 defensive rebounds, 103 assists and 28 steals. Of 25 games played he averaged eight points per game, 4.1 assists and 4.4 steals (stats according to MaxPreps.com). This year he serves as one of the varsity basketball team captains. At the end of 2019 Valencia had scored 24 points total in seven games for the Warriors. At the end of his junior year in May 2019 Valencia was also a powerhouse on the varsity baseball team. At the end of the season he led the team with 44 RBIs in 24 games. His batting average of .552 was the highest on the team, and he had a .630 on base percentage.  In their winning championship game (fifth championship win of which Valencia served three seasons) he contributed a home run, three runs and four RBIs. In June 2019 Valencia was selected by the Sacramento Bee as a designated hitter pick for its second All-Metro baseball team. This was followed by another placement in July 2019 when Valencia, the only junior from WHS, was named to Cal-Hi Sports Small Schools All-State first baseball team. Valencia kicked off his senior year on the WHS swim team. His main events were the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. He also competed as part of the relay teams for the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.  His best individual event times in 2019 were: 50 yard freestyle 23.47, 100 yard freestyle 54.04. For team events: 4×200 yard medley 1:56.12 (a team record set at the 2019 Masters), 4×200 yard freestyle 1:40.78 (his best time of the year set at 2019 Masters). At the swim team banquet he received the 2019 All League award for swimming in the Butte View League. Valencia’s achievements reach beyond his athletic skills. In October 2019 he was recognized by the Mexican American Concilio of Yolo County and was selected as the male WHS student to receive one of their $500 student scholarship. Valencia was honored for being an outstanding student with a 4.0 grade average all while competing as a three-sport athlete for all four years at WHS. “While he doesn’t say much he sets a good example by showing up and doing what he is supposed to do on the court, in the pool and in the classroom” said, WHS counselor, Marcella Heredia. *Staff writers Jeffrey Rawlinson and Sydney Andrade contributed to this story.]]>