ANNOUNCING THE 2025-2026 KING HIGH ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
May 1, 2026
Written by Brad Peters
RIVERSIDE: Continuing the fine tradition that dates back to the school’s founding, the Athletic Department of Martin Luther King High School is proud to announce the awarding of this year’s Athletes of the Year. Representing girls sports, Taylor Lauritzen and representing boys sports, Maximo Zavaleta
MAXIMO ZAVALETA – CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK
“Max” is a quiet storm. In the classroom and as a teammate, Max is a gentleman, a team player and doesn’t like to draw much attention to himself. “Maximo is the definition of a selfless competitor. Even as one of the top runners in the state, he never separates himself from the team,” said Alfonso Ibarra who has coached him in both cross country and track. Max is composed, driven, and humble. His isn’t the loudest voice, but it’s one of the most respected. Those qualities showed up early and in cross country he has been a Captain on the team in all four years, a rarity indeed.
“His teammates look up to him because of how he carries himself—he works hard, stays focused, and supports everyone around him,” Ibarra added.
Lace on the racing flats and it’s a whole different story. Thunder and lightning come from that 6-2 frame.
Max has amassed the greatest resume of any distance runner in King’s 27 years of existence. He has shattered the records that were set in both sports back when Max was a toddler in his parents’ home.
“Maximo’s achievements put him in rare company,” said Ibarra. He broke the Riverside County record in the 3200m and now holds multiple school records in the 800m, 3200m, Distance Medley Relay (DMR), and 4x800m relay. As of this writing, the 1600 record is just a couple of seconds away from being his as well. If (or when) that happens it will be a sort of distance “Hat Trick” for the talented runner. In the Fall of 2025, he was selected as the Press Enterprise’s Athlete of the Year for cross country (Link to story)
His versatility across the range of distance racing is exceptional, with the ability to compete at a high level at the 400, 800, 1600, 3200 and 5000 meters on the track and is a two-time CIF D1 Cross Country champion as well. In 2025 he qualified for the prestigious Nike Cross National championship in Portland, just the second male King athlete to do so.
Head track coach Mat Vasel commented that despite the amazing accomplishments he has seen Max put together, “I know his story here at King High is not over yet and he’s still got a few more surprises up his sleeve for this season.”
Never one to rest on his successes, Max has crafted a four years of accomplishment that no one else in King High’s storied history of distance running has done.
“The love he has for the sport is contagious and just spreads wherever he goes, Vasel added. “Max has taken himself – and me as a fan and coach – through many amazing moments and locations and every time he steps on the track you know something exciting is about to happen.”
Perhaps that is the key to his amazing success. A humble and enthusiastic warrior, a “quiet storm,” the 2025-2026 King High Male Athlete of the Year, Maximo Zavaleta
TAYLOR LAURITZEN – GOLF AND STUNT
.webp)
Taylor Lauritzen has competed on King’s girls golf team for each of her four years at the school. She started, as most do, on the JV level for two seasons and then lettered on varsity for both her Junior and Senior She was on JV for her freshman and sophomore years, then lettered during her junior and senior seasons.
Keith Moorman was her coach for those first three years and has fond memories of her time, her positive attitude, and her “team first” mentality. Morgan Sjoerdsma and Chandler Sjoerdsma, sisters who took the helm of golf upon Moorman’s retirement, had glowing words after just one season guiding Taylor.
“Whenever we met Taylor on the golf course,” said Chandler, “we could never tell whether she had a good score or a poor score because her behavior was the same regardless. Take it from two college players: it is rare for a golfer to not let their results affect their demeanor. But her success or struggles never impacted Taylor, at least not in ways that showed. She was always ready with a smile and an encouraging word for her teammates at the end of her round.”
Samantha Woolweaver was a great friend and teammate this year who helped propel Taylor’s success. Taylor, along with her supportive parents, was instrumental in helping the Sjoerdsmas (both of whom are King grads and played for Moorman) make a successful transition to coaching. Taylor’s best scoring average came in her Junior season. Her senior campaign saw her notch a 49 average but that might have due to the juggling of commitments that came with her participating in Stunt and cheer at the same time.
As in golf, she was a four-year competitor in Stunt and was varsity level each year. “She was always willing to do anything to help the team,” said Stunt coach Miranda Evans. “I could throw her in at the last minute to sub in a position she didn’t usually compete in and she’d do it without complaint,” she added.
A consummate team player, Taylor was one to stay longer at practice, use her words to build up her teammate or revisit the way the team had performed following competition. “Taylor is a very determined, hardworking, disciplined and coachable competitor,” Evans said.
Next Fall Taylor will attend Concordia University in Irvine and will no doubt continue to achieve excellence both in the classroom and in competition. All of this makes Taylor Lauritzen a worthy recipient of the 2025-2026 Female King High Athlete of the Year.
