Jazmin Zambrano, Joseph Melendez are St. Paul Athletes of the Year
Joseph Melendez and Jazmin Zambrano have been named the recipients of the Don Ward Athletes of the Year at St. Paul High School for the 2022-2023 school year. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
SANTA FE SPRINGS – With the 2023 school year completed, it was award season at St. Paul High School and the Athletes of the Year were named for the Swordsmen at the annual senior awards dinner (May 12) at the Doubletree in Whittier.
The recipients were Jazmin Zambrano and Joseph Melendez.
Track and Field was well represented with these awards, as both student-athletes were All-First team runners in the Del Rey and Camino Real Leagues.
Zambrano, who will continue her running career at Hope International University, was All-Camino Real League every year and Melendez was All-Santa Fe League in soccer this year in addition to All-Camino Real League in cross country and track and field. Melendez will continue his soccer career at Cerritos College.
“St. Paul High School is extremely proud of both Jazmin and Joseph as recipients of the Don Ward Athlete of the Year Award,” St. Paul Athletic Director Rich Avina said. “These two young athletes have worked extremely hard at their craft and demonstrated integrity and grit during competition. They are great students, as well as athletes and represent St. Paul High School in the greatest fashion.”
The Don Ward Outstanding Athlete of the Year Memorial Award was established as a tribute to the character and legacy of a beloved Swordsman, Don Ward, who passed away in September 2021 and was a longtime supporter of St. Paul athletics.
“Mr. Ward spent many years taking photographs of our athletes on the field and court,” Avina said. “He was a historian that has helped cement the tradition and values as a St. Paul Athlete. He was loved and respected by hundreds and even thousands of athletes that walked the campus at St. Paul from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s.
“He was a historian. Don Ward represented all that is great in athletics at St. Paul High School – commitment, passion, persistence, but most importantly, Mr. Ward was genuinely a great human being that left his imprint on our community. He changed the world one picture at a time.”
The Don Ward Athlete of the Year Award is given to one male and one female senior athlete.
To be eligible to receive this award, the athlete must:
- make a substantial impact to the overall athletic department
- be recognized as contributing to the overall school community in cooperation, Christian service, and attitude.”
Swordsmen Girls Basketball coach, Clarissa Perez, from the 2023 season said of both athletes winning the award: “It’s so awesome to see another sport like cross country and track be recognized,” she said. “It’s awesome to have two runners receive this award. Our school has accomplished that and coming into light having a runner, who is a Mexican-American win this award.”
St. Paul Track and Field coach Adam Padilla, who coached both athletes, echoed Perez’ thoughts saying, “We are proud of Joe and Jazmin being named Athletes of the Year,” he said. “St. Paul, being a football school, gave us great joy to have them both named to this high honor.”
On winning the award, Melendez said, “It feels really good. Our schools’ main sports are football and basketball and getting recognition for our sport of cross country and track and soccer is overwhelming, especially soccer.”
Zambrano and Melendez were both very surprised when they saw that they had won the award.
“They gave us a pamphlet at the awards, and I saw my name,” Melendez explained. “I thought it was a typo. Jazmin also saw her name and came over and said, ‘Joe, did you see that we got the athlete of the year award.’”
Zambrano dominates long distance
Zambrano, who qualified for CIF all four years, won the 1600 and 3200 in league three years in track and field, ran cross country and played varsity basketball all four years. She advanced to CIF State and was an All-League runner in cross country.
“It’s difficult on top of school, having to compete at that high level, but with your teammates and your coaches it’s very capable,” Zambrano said. “I’ve been playing basketball since I was five. It’s a family thing. I’ve always been around sports, but once I got to high school, running became something I was very good at and that became my life in high school.”
Jazz, as she also goes by to friends, ran the 3-mile in cross country and had been trying to qualify for state since her sophomore year. She finally succeeded this past season.
Zambrano previously missed qualifying for state in her junior year by three seconds. “That lit the biggest fire in me,” said Zambrano, of the near miss.
Zambrano said of her dad, Jesus, who said to her after she missed the cut for state last year in CIF. “’Remember this feeling,’” she remembered him saying. “’You never want to feel it again.’”
That fire was in her this season, as she qualified and recalled the moment it happened.
“As I crossed the line (at CIF finals) and as soon as I saw my name pop up on the board, I broke down in tears.”
She ran an even 19:00.
This time, however, they were tears of joy.
Jazz had a PR of 18:30 in a league meet earlier in the season.
“It was such a surreal moment when I qualified for state,” she said. “It was an amazing experience to participate in state.” I told my dad I qualified for state, and I cried.”
Coach Padilla said of Zambrano: “She has been one of most accomplished runners in the past twenty years,” he said. “Jazmin has always been successful in getting to the championships. Unfortunately, in her junior and senior years in track she was sick and wasn’t able to compete to her full ability. That was the same result at the state meet. She was hit with the flu (possible covid bug) the week of the state meet. Unfortunately, we never got to see her complete at the end of her years.
“It has been a great joy to watch her compete.”
In her four years, Jazz had a few highlight games from long range. Included in those games was on her senior night, she sank multiple 3-pointers and came away with 17 points.
“It (basketball) was something that I used to get a break from running,” she said. “It still has a very special place in my heart as my brother (Jesus) played basketball at St. Paul.” Coach Perez and Jesus Zambrano both played at the same time on the girls and boys basketball teams, and both graduated in 2015.
Zambrano was a three-sport athlete and typically didn’t have much of a break between seasons.
In addition to her athlete of the Year Award, Zambrano also received the Outstanding Christian Service Award.
Melendez stars in both soccer and running
Melendez, who was also a three-sport athlete, was on varsity soccer, cross country and track and field.
“My plan is to play soccer (Cerritos College) and focus on one sport,” he said.
Melendez will be going to a great program at Cerritos, coached by Benny Artiaga. The Falcons, who just missed advancing to state last season, have won four California Community College titles since 2006. Artiaga, in his 18th season, was recently named 3C2A So Cal coach of the year.
He said it best of the sport of running – “In cross, it sucks when you’re out there, but if I’m doing it, I’m going to try my best.”
Melendez was a member of the two-time defending Del Rey League Soccer team and the Camino Real League Track and Field team.
The soccer team won its first-round game this season in CIF, 4-1 over Webb, but fell to Taquitz, 3-2, in two overtimes in round two.
“Joe was the consummate team player,” St. Paul Boys Soccer coach Daniel Alvarez said. “He played everywhere on the field. He was a great leader that the team respected.
“He was great with the ball at his feet, and he also had the passion to defend and did it very well.”
“For track we won this year and went to CIF in soccer and got knocked out in the second round unfortunately,” said Melendez, who was a team captain and also won the “Most Dedicated” team award. “It’s always good that we advanced to CIF as a team.”
The cross-country team won the Santa Fe League and advanced to the CIF Prelims.
Melendez ran cross country for three years – freshman, junior and senior seasons. He helped the team by securing the Camino Real League title and making the top ten All League team from the Camino Real.
He also ran the same three seasons and was dedicated to the 400 and 4x400 relay team.
This year at the San Gabriel Championships, Melendez finished on the podium in the 400 Meter and with his team.
He won the 400 M at the Camino Real League Finals with a time of 53.5 and advanced to the CIF Prelims.
Unfortunately, the 4x400 was disqualified at the finals in league and the season was cut short.
Joseph did have a PR of 52.5 earlier in the season at a league meet.
“Joseph definitely would have helped his team get into the CIF Finals,” added Padilla. “He has always been a contributing force towards our team’s success and has a twin brother, Joshua, that I’ve witnessed and has pushed Joseph through cross country and track.
“Throughout the years they have both given St. Paul a name for themselves by having two runners of the same caliber. Joe works hard, as he is always eager to push himself through our workouts.”
Melendez talked of the immediate future of the program at St. Paul saying, “When I went to St. Paul, I grew through the years,” he said. “I can’t wait to see how the program continues.”
What they said:
Rich Avina, St. Paul AD: “Jazmin Zambrano has been one of our most tenacious workers over the past four years. Her work is a direct result of her success while competing. She has competed at the highest levels; this includes CIF finals and Masters. She has been at the top of the league in cross country and in track in her events. She also was a major component in the girls basketball program. Joseph Melendez had a tremendous year. First Team All-League in Cross country, then competing in CIF finals. First Team All-league in soccer on a team that went 10-0 and won a League title. He completed his year winning the league in track, competing in the 400 Meter. Joseph is an extremely talented athlete, but more importantly, he’s a great person.”
Clarissa Perez, St. Paul Girls Basketball coach (2022-’23): “It’s been a joy to coach Jazmin and I look forward to seeing her continue her running career.
Jazz balanced both sports and was able to handle the workload. Coming off the bench in basketball, she was able to help us and do their job. She was trying to do her job as a team leader.”
Adam Padilla, St. Paul Track and Field coach: “Joe works hard, as he is always eager to push himself through our workouts.