La Mirada names its 2021-22 athletes of the year
Aidan Nasser and Janis Espoinoza were selected as La Mirada High School’s Athletes of the Year. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
LA MIRADA – With all of the great athletes at La Mirada High School, two have finished their careers being named 2021-22 Athletes of the Year.
Receiving the award was Janis Espinoza, who had a stellar career in softball and Aidan Nasser, who performed at a high level for both football and basketball.
The award is the result of all of the coaches nominating an athlete worthy of being athlete of the year
The coach then supplies all accolades the athlete has obtained over four years and all vote for the best athlete.
“Both kids had a leadership quality on campus and their teammates and peers looked up to them,” La Mirada Athletic Director Christine Mead said. “They had a great presence on the field or court. I predict great things from them over the next four years in college.
“It’s always exciting to see the athlete that wins as their name is announced.”
The announcement came in May at the school.
Both athletes excelled in their sports, as Espinoza was a four-year varsity player in softball and Nasser was a three-year varsity player in football and basketball.
They both finished their high school careers with multiple honors.
Nasser was voted both All-Suburban League first team in both basketball and football in his senior year. In addition, the 6-5 tight end in football, who also played defense, caught 12 passes and scored three touchdowns in his last high school game in the CIF-SS Quarterfinals.
For his efforts, he was offered scholarships to Air Force, Cornell and eventually committed to play at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“It was definitely an honor to win this award,” said Nasser, who transferred to La Mirada from La Serna after his freshman year. “When I first transferred here in my sophomore year, I had no clue and I never thought I’d be able to get this distinction. It’s so great knowing all of the hard work has shown for in this award.”
Espinoza, who will play at six-time CCCAA State Champion Mt. SAC, finished her senior year as All-CIF DI, Suburban League MVP, Ultimate Silver Slugger Award (1.123 OPS), batted .366 and had a .935 fielding average.
“It’s definitely a big honor (winning the Athlete of the Year Award), since my freshman year wasn’t as smooth as I’d liked to be, but ending my senior year strong and receiving this award is definitely a huge appreciation and I’m very grateful.”
Janis Espinoza
Espinoza, who is a true utility player who has played all positions except pitcher and was the fastest player in the program, finished with a 4.2 GPA and took several AP classes.
The all-around player had an injury in her freshman year and would come back playing at a top-level the following season.
“I had to learn a lot,” she said. “There was some trials and tribulations, but eventually I was able to manage my way through it. It worked out in the end.”
Espinoza, who will be playing at Mt. San Antonio College next season under coach Ruby Rojas, said this of her time at La Mirada – “Playing at La Mirada for four years was definitely a bittersweet experience,” she said. “It’s not easy coming into a team as a freshman that is full of some of the best in our city. But it was an incredible experience to get to be alongside those players and build upon my own athletic abilities and grow.
“Along with some setbacks and seasons being cut short, my senior year was the year for me to really prove myself and show what I was capable of. So, receiving this award and others is an extreme honor.”
Espinoza talked about her team this past season in her senior year, which was a special one…. “I can’t talk about LM softball without talking about the girls I closed out my senior year with. This team was so special and the memories I formed with many of the girls are memories I will hold close to my heart.”
She also talked about the underclassmen and what the future of La Mirada softball holds.
“The underclassmen not only pushed me to be a better leader as a senior, but a better teammate as well,” Espinoza added. “This team, in particular, is packed with fresh athleticism and amazing talent, so definitely do not miss out on what any of those girls do this upcoming season and seasons to come.
“Every single one of those girls has a very bright future ahead of themselves.”
Matadores Softball Coach, Brent Tuttle, who has won 95 games (5, 20-plus winning seasons) in his seven years at the helm and four Suburban League titles, received much praise from Espinoza – “Playing for coach Tuttle taught me a lot of things,” she said. “One, being that sometimes it may seem like your hard work is going unnoticed. However, with some patience and dedication, your time will eventually come. It wasn’t an easy experience for me but when that time finally came for me to step out onto the field, for sure didn’t take it for granted. But, that’s the beauty in softball. Many of the lessons you experience on the field are lessons that you carry with you as you go through life.”
In addition to coach Tuttle, Espinoza also had great things to say about all of her coaches: “I do want to give a quick shout out to varsity coach Mario (Alvarado), coach Kevin (Helms) and JV coach (Christine) Mead,” she said. “Your contribution to the LM softball program will not go unnoticed. So, thank you for everything you do.”
Espinoza ended with a special thank you – “Finally, there is someone special I would like to dedicate my senior year to,” Espinoza said. “He goes by coach Ed (Kelly). “Although he was only my coach for my freshman year, he had the biggest impact on me, as I was going through one of the hardest times of my high school season. His never-ending love is something I will forever carry through my softball career.”
Aidan Nasser
Nasser, who went on his official visit to St. Thomas in January of this past year with his dad, Erick, decided on his destination for the upcoming year.
Perhaps, for some odd reason, snow had something to do with it as Aidan enjoyed the 9” deep snowpack on the football field.
”I was doing snow angels on the field during my visit in 25 degree weather,” Aidan Nasser said.
“The University of St. Thomas has a great culture in their football program that I just couldn’t pass up,” Aidan Nasser said. “Coach Glenn Caruso is at the helm of the great culture and reminds me similarly of Coach Moschetti, making it a great fit.
“The story behind being the first team to take the jump from Division III to Division I was truly inspiring. Plus, I wanted to take on the challenge of cold weather and experience something new for a change.”
Aidan praised his coach of three years at La Mirada saying, “Playing for Coach Moschetti was awesome,” he said. “He’s the type of coach that makes you want to run through a wall for him. Definitely a true competitor on and off the field. He got the best out of his players all the time.”
Nasser attended La Serna for his freshman year, but transferred to La Mirada as a sophomore.
“I originally transferred here (LM) to play basketball in my sophomore year, but when I was working out in the weight room, coach Moschetti said I should try out for football,” said the younger Nasser. “The next thing you know I signed up and here we are and I’ll be playing tight end next year for St. Thomas.”
Managing his time while playing football was a challenge as it was for all of the players – try to fit in homework during the day, then get home late and maybe study for a test the next day.
On the hardwood, Nasser fondly remembered their run in the 2022 CIF playoffs.
“Our run in the CIF playoffs this year was incredible,” Nasser added. “Although we didn’t win it all, getting to the championship game was a dream come true.
“After our second-round win against Tesoro we were ecstatic.
We finally jumped over the second-round hurdle that ailed us the past couple years. Being the first La Mirada team to make the CIF Finals brings a great sense of pride.”
That run Nasser was talking about was especially special as they were playing in their newly remodeled gym.
The Matadores opened the playoffs with a 95-64 first-round win over Beckman, followed by that close, 52-50, win over Tesoro to advance to the quarterfinals against Calabasas and another close win, 57-54.
Next up came the 67-48 semifinal win over Edison to advance to the title game in 2A against San Juan Hills. Unfortunately, the run ended with a 10-point, 59-49 loss to San Juan Hills.
However, the season wasn’t over as they advanced to the CIF-State tournament.
They opened with a 65-60 win over King Drew but the season ended with a 55-37 loss to Los Altos in Round II.
“I believe winning the league championship for the first time in five years really propelled us into our championship run,” said Nasser, who had a 4.2 GPA.
Nasser was named the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year for the Matadores.
Nasser summed up his run on the La Mirada campus saying, “One thing that I could take away from my time at La Mirada was that I gained mental toughness, he said. “From the long nights studying the books to grinding during hot summer practices in football and finally ending out the year in basketball, tough was an understatement, but also a blessing.”
What they said:
Mike Moschetti, Varsity Football coach/AD, La Mirada HS: “Aidan (Nasser) was a great player that grew and got bigger and more physical as each year we had him. He is 6-5, athletic, great hands and a great athlete. He turned down D1 offers from the Air Force Academy and an Ivy League school (Cornell) to play at St Thomas. He is a big-time academic kid that will be very successful in life after football. He played defensive end and H-Back for us.”
Randy Oronoz, Varsity Basketball coach, LMHS: “Aidan (Nasser) was a good choice for Male Athlete of the Year. He was a 1st team All-League in basketball and 2nd Team All-Area. Aidan was a force down low defending bigger players on a nightly basis. He continues to make plays on both the court and the football field. He will be hard to replace in following years with his size and athleticism.”
Brent Tuttle, Varsity Softball coach, LMHS: “Janis is a coach’s dream player. In four years, she never complained and always trusted the process. Janis has played almost every position for us in her four years.
She is a great team player and always chips in whenever anything is needed to be done. On top of all that she was a scholar athlete all four years.”
Janis Espinoza: “It’s definitely an honor to play here at La Mirada, especially since a lot of us softball girls do look up to Jennie Finch since we were really young.
I learned a lot along the way from my freshman year and ended out strong my senior year. It was a pleasure and met a lot of good girls and amazing players, especially going DI. It was an amazing experience here.
It was extremely hard (playing at LM), Your position is never safe and you can never get too comfortable at your position. Having to constantly work for that position and never giving up. I think that’s the part that makes it fun. It’s never-ending here at La Mirada.
Aidan Nasser: “The experience at LM was very tough and learned to battle through adversity, with the grueling summer practices and everything. In the end, through the practices, the results were magnificent as we made it to the CIF Championship (game) in basketball and quarterfinals for football.
It just felt really good to have success over the course of time because of our hard work throughout the school year.”