PVWH Community Partnerships

The Tulare County of Education CHARACTER COUNTS! Program partners with local community service organizations to recognize student athletes for their character, talent and sportsmanship on and off the field.

Downtown Visalia Kiwanis

February 11, 2025

In partnership with the Downtown Visalia Kiwanis, TCOE’s CHARACTER COUNTS! Program celebrated this fall’s Pursuing Victory with Honor (PVWH) student-athletes at a lunch on Tuesday. The Downtown Visalia Kiwanis recognizes student-athletes, nominated by their coaches, each season for their sportsmanship. The awards included a certificate, patch, and lawn sign that reads "An Athlete of Character Lives Here.”

Below is a list of the Pursuing Victory with Honor award winners along with snippets from their coaches.

Central Valley Christian High School
Ally Lane – Girls Basketball
Ally is hard working, selfless and drives her team. Ally leads by example, always giving her best effort, and is encouraging those around her. While she is an amazing basketball player on the court, she is an even better person off of it. Her dedication, humility and respect for others makes it such a joy to coach her.

Jay Lemstra – Boys Soccer
Jay is a leader and an example for his teammates and is the first one cheering for every single one of them including our JV squad. He has the ability to adapt to whatever position we need him in with a positive attitude and strong work ethic. Lastly, and most importantly Jay serves as an example of what it means to follow God's path every day.

El Diamante High School
Kaylee Rivera – Girls Basketball
Kaylee is very hard working on the court and in the classroom. She is a great teammate and leader in our girl's basketball program. Kaylee always puts her teammates first and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Kaylee is committed to all that she does and gives 100% all the time. Kaylee not only pushes herself but her teammates to be the best they can be on the court, in the classroom and in the community.

Daniel Berrocales – Boys Wrestling
Daniel is a leader on and off the mat. He is someone you can rely on to help his teammates. He is a positive role model for others. Always one of the first to practice and one of the last ones to leave. All around a great person. Daniel is a leader and has an exemplary attitude. A lot can be said, there is no doubt in my mind he is deserving of this award.

Golden West High School
Estrella Sanchez – Girls Soccer
Estrella is a disciplined, dependable, and selfless athlete. She has a strong work ethic. She stays humble and focused. She leads by example rather than words. She’s mentally tough, taking responsibility for her performance without making excuses or blaming others. Her resilience and consistency make her a reliable teammate. Her commitment to the team earns her respect and admiration of those around her.

Matthew Caballero – Boys Soccer
Matthew is an excellent soccer player and an impressive young man who treats both peers and coaches with respect.  He is a hard-working, humble individual who plays soccer with intensity but under complete emotional control. He is an excellent role model for the younger players in the program about how to play with passion and intensity but in a controlled respectful manner that represents his team and school in a very positive way. 

Mt. Whitney High School
Isabella Brensel – Girls Wrestling
Isabella has made remarkable strides in the world of wrestling, transforming from a determined beginner into a formidable competitor. Her dedication, relentless work ethic, and passion for the sport have propelled her to new heights, earning the respect of both her teammates and coaches. Her ability to balance rigorous coursework with athletic success speaks to her discipline and perseverance. Isabella is not only an outstanding athlete and scholar but also a person of integrity and character.

Isaac Woods– Boys Wrestling
Isaac has consistently demonstrated leadership, respect, and responsibility, serving as a role model for his teammates. He competes with determination and always pursues victory with honor, embodying the core values of the sport. His work ethic and leadership have left a lasting impact on the program, inspiring those around him.

Redwood High School
Ruby Beal – Girls Soccer
Ruby is an incredibly tough and hard-working individual, but more importantly she is also a compassionate and caring teammate. Ruby is as tough as they come on the soccer field, she is a physical and dominate presence in our defense. Off the field, Ruby is a genuine person that is adored by her teammates. She is universally loved by the girls that have had the privilege of playing with her.

Johnny Benitez – Boys Wrestling
Johnny treats his fellow athletes, coaches, and opponents with the utmost respect. This quality not only makes him a pleasure to work with but also sets a positive example for his peers. Johnny understands the importance of sportsmanship, and he takes both wins and losses with dignity. His ability to handle challenges gracefully is a testament to his character.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Tulare

Tulare Fall PVWH
 December 3, 2024

In partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Tulare, TCOE’s CHARACTER COUNTS! Program recognized this fall’s Pursuing Victory with Honor (PVWH) student-athletes at a breakfast this week. For 16 years, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Tulare has recognized student-athletes, nominated by their coaches, each season for their sportsmanship. The awards included a certificate, a PVWH patch, a PVWH t-shirt, and a lawn sign that read "An Athlete of Character Lives Here.”

Tulare Western High School
America Martin - Girls Water Polo 
Coach McGuire said, “I cannot say enough about America. She is happy, kind, and one of the best things about our water polo program. There is nothing better than a coachable player. Her dedication to the sport is relentless; when practice sets get hard, she digs in and leads the team with commitment and stamina, all with a smile!  She is one of the first to compliment other players. It is a pleasure to know her as a person, student, and athlete. I am thankful and blessed to have her on our team.”

Elijah Parnell - Boys Water Polo
Coach Hodge said, “Young men like Elijah know how to take the leadership role from sports into all aspects of their life, which ultimately sets them up for success in life. The lessons learned and the development of character Elijah has experienced is unmatched. He is a great team player and is always looking to support the younger players. Elijah is our role model for all players, he keeps his cool in tough situations, and leads with respect for fellow teammates, opponents, and referees.” 

Mission Oak High School
Maleena Martin - Girls Water Polo
Coach Moya said, “Maleena demonstrates leadership characteristics far beyond her years. She is dependable, determined, and driven. She has led her team well these past three years as varsity captain. When I think of Maleena, I think of an unstoppable individual that is kind, welcoming, and respectful to all.”

Ethan Rodriguez -  Football
Coach Martin said, “Ethan is an outstanding young man who puts his heart and soul into whatever he is doing. As one of our team captains, he is a leader on and off the field and cares about his teammates. Ethan is a quiet and humble leader who leads with his actions. He truly epitomizes our program mantra - faith, family, football - Ethan is all of that.”

Tulare Union High School
Andrea Sandoval - Girls Cross Country
Coach Lapadula said, “Andrea is a young woman of tremendous character, and it shows during athletic competitions and in the classroom. She is a dedicated student-athlete who contributes to sports programs.  Even through injuries, Andrea spends time at practices and competitions supporting her teammates. As a coach, I am grateful to be able to trust and rely on Andrea to find ways to make our team stronger and successful. I‘ve had the privilege to be her teacher and coach and she is so deserving of this recognition.”

Nathan Christiansen - Boys Water Polo
Coach Pederson said, “Nathan is an all-around student of character, but especially in the area of respect and good citizenship. I have seen this demeanor all four years of him playing for me and even opposing coaches, players, and parents have noticed it as well. I am fortunate to have had a player like Nathan on my team.

Previous Community Partner Recognitions
For more information, contact Zoty Briceño at (559) 737-6349 or miozoty.briceno@tcoe.org.