**Geovana Ramos and Jimmy Torres were selected as Scholar Athletes of the Year for 2021-2022 at John Glenn High School. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)**

NORWALK – Two top scholars and athletes have been named Scholar Athletes of the Year for John Glenn High School for the year 2021-22 at the school’s senior awards night.

Geovana Ramos and Jimmy Torres have received the awards, along with seniors Natanael Jacobo and Gabriela Ortega, who were awarded the 2021-22 Athletes of the Year (See story in June 3, 2022 issue).

The common denominator for the two student-athletes were their nearly identical GPAs, as Torres had a 4.2 and Ramos had a 4.1. In addition, both seniors were four-year varsity players on their respective soccer teams.

“It feels like an honor and is a blessing to be recognized as the Scholar Athlete of the Year,” said Ramos, who also played volleyball for four years, two of which were on varsity. “But. it is was all thanks to the support from my family, teachers, coaches, and teammates. I wish the future athletes the best and I hope they too can earn this award.”

Torres echoed what Ramos expressed for the award.

“Being the Scholar Athlete of the Year is very special to me because it shows that I was able to accomplish a lot of things while still playing the sports that I love,” said Torres, who also played two years of varsity football. All my hard work and dedication of being a student athlete has now been noticed.”

Glenn Athletic Director Linda Parra praised the the two athletes and how they balanced their school work and athletics.

“Geovana and Jimmy have excelled not only on their athletic teams, but in the classroom as well,” Parra said. “Being a varsity athlete takes a lot of time and commitment. Geovana and Jimmy set goals that they would continue to achieve high academic marks within the classroom setting. Their GPAs reflect their dedication to accomplishing these goals.

“In addition to playing sports, both students have participated in other clubs on campus. They are great examples of student athletes. We are very proud of their accomplishments and wish them the best of luck in their future studies.”

Geovana Ramos

Ramos, 18, who is headed to San Diego State University and will major in business, began her high school career as a freshman and played volleyball in the Fall on the frosh-soph team. As volleyball ended, she went right into soccer and played the first of her four years on varsity.

Ramos usually played midfield and center mid.

Her favorite memory came in her senior year on soccer.

“I remember in my senior year winning our first game against Bassett,” she said. “The enthusiasm and the excitement from all of my teammates was really heartfelt. I really enjoyed that because it was our first win of the season.”

Ramos continued saying, “The memories I have was creating that bond with my friends and teammates,” Ramos added. “Being able to bond with each other on the field was important.

“I remember the get togethers we would have before the games and hype each other up.

“I really like the family atmosphere. It was like a second family. The team, as a whole, were able to work with each other. I really liked that bond that we created throughout the years.”

In her sophomore, Ramos advanced up to JV in volleyball and played the position of libero and on the right side (opposite). That was followed by her second year on varsity soccer.

Suzette Carrillo, in her third year in the program and second as head soccer coach said, “Geovana is an amazing athlete and scholar. She was our varsity captain the past two seasons and has been wonderful to work with. She pushes herself and her teammates to be the best they can be. “She plays center attacking middle and that is not an easy position to play. She communicates and moves the game around helping out her teammates in all areas.

“Geo works hard on and off the field. She is very organized with her studies and manages to balance homework, soccer, and volleyball. She is involved in clubs and helps run different activities around school. Geovana has a great future ahead of her.”

The third year was interrupted by the pandemic, and this last season Ramos was on varsity for volleyball playing for coach Daniel Reyes.

“Geovana is a very humble, and hard-working athlete,” Reyes said. “She always does what’s asked of her, without any hesitation.”

John Glenn History and AVID teacher Veronica Lorenzana said of Ramos, “There aren’t many students like Geovana. Her quiet demeanor, calm spirit, and desire to serve others has benefitted our school more than words can describe.

“She works hard to balance soccer and volleyball practices with her leadership roles in CSF (four years) and ASB, not to mention her school work. She’s finishing in the top 10, with a 4.1 GPA, and on her way to San Diego State University.”

Ramos commented on her balancing of studies and sports.

“As a student, athletics has helped me to just be able to balance everything I have,” she said. “I balanced clubs (AVID, CSF, ASB) sports and school work. It’s really helped me to step out as a person of my comfort zone and it’s helped me to balance everything going on in life.”

Jimmy Torres

Torres, 18, will continue his education at Cal State University Fullerton and will try for a walk-on for the soccer team.

“What I like about playing sports here at John Glenn, is you get better by competing against other schools,” he said. “You’re competing against other levels of competition.

“Overall, it has made me a better person and even a better player on the field.”

Torres talked about being a scholar athlete.

“A scholar athlete is setting me up for the real world,” he said. “Here at John Glenn, I had to focus both on school and sports and I feel like it’s getting your feet wet for the real world, having to go to work and take care of your family.

“I kind of see the similarity between the two.

“I plan to play soccer at Fullerton and I’m going to try my best and walk on to see if they will pick me up.”

Torres played varsity soccer all four years and football in his junior and senior years.

Torres decided to play football in his junior year, but it was delayed because of the pandemic. When all sports got the go-ahead to start up in early Spring of 2021, football had an abbreviated schedule. Torres, who played for coach David Cruz, was the punter and kicker for the team and also played other positions.

His senior year in the Fall of 2021, Torres played multiple positions, including cornerback, wide receiver, punting and kicking.

“During his junior year, or as we call it, the Covid season, Jimmy opened the coaching staff’s eyes by being more than just a kicker,” Cruz said. “He was a three-way starter for his two years playing football.

“In a typical game, Jimmy would Kick off, tackle opposing running backs, catch passes, intercept passes, and even kick the field goals. Thank you, Jimmy, for playing football at John Glenn.”

In soccer, Torres played goal keeper for coach Hugo Enciso-Reyes in his first two years as a freshman and sophomore and played the midfield position and defense in his junior and senior years.

“Jimmy is a smart, talented, and dedicated student athlete who dives 100% in to what he does, and above all is a great person,” Enciso-Rojas said.

A special memory for Torres was a CIF-Southern Section Division 6 playoff game in February of 2020.

The team finished second in the 605 League with a 6-3-1 record and was awarded a home Wild Card game hosting Lennox Academy.

“A special game I had here was in my sophomore year having a CIF Wild Card game at John Glenn in soccer,” Torres remembered. “It was the first CIF game in about 10 years and it meant a lot to me and my teammates. We just rewrote history by being able to participate in CIF.

“I was in the net and playing goalkeeper. I think we won 5-0 (4-0) in that game and it meant a lot because there was a lot of people out there to watch us and not everybody can say that they won a CIF game.”

With the win, Glenn advanced to the first round and lost to Ganesha, who went on to play in the CIF title game that season.

Mrs. Lorenzana also had some very nice comments about Torres.

“I am extremely proud of Jimmy’s dedication and leadership, both on and off the field,” she said. “He is never afraid of a challenge, as he has played on both offense and defense on the football team and taken on the rigors of multiple AP classes.

“His top 10 ranking and 4.2 GPA is evidence of his work ethic, and I know that he will continue to be successful at Cal State Fullerton.

Geovana Ramos, Jimmy Torres named John Glenn Scholar Athletes of the Year

Geovana Ramos

Jimmy Torres