Gabriela Ortega, Natanael Jacobo named John Glenn Athletes of the Year
John Glenn High School Athletes of the Year, Natanael Jacobo, left, and Gabriela Ortega, right. Jacobo received letter for playing basketball, football, volleyball and marching band, and Gabriela Ortega lettered in playing softball and volleyball. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
NORWALK - It’s that time of the year for high school students – award season.
John Glenn High School has announced on Wednesday (May 25) the Senior Athletes of the Year – Gabriela Ortega and Natanael Jacobo.
At a senior awards ceremony on campus, numerous awards were handed out, including the athletes of the year.
An additional award was handed out to the 2021-22 Scholar Athletes of the Year to Geovana Ramos and Jimmy Torres (Story to appear in a future edition).
Ortega was a four-year varsity letter winner in softball and one year on varsity for volleyball. She was on the frosh-soph volleyball team her first two years and as a junior covid interrupted the season, but she attended open workouts.
Jacobo was a three-sport student-athlete, participating in Basketball (four years varsity), Football (two years varsity) and Volleyball (two years varsity).
Most importantly, both student-athletes were very good in the classroom as well.
Ortega, who will attend El Camino College and continue playing softball, will begin to pursue a career in nursing. She had an overall GPA 3.694.
Nearly identical to Ortega was Jacobo with a 3.667 GPA. Jocobo, who will concentrate on his studies, will attend nearby Biola University and major in Mechanical Engineering.
“This year we are excited to recognize two of our outstanding seniors,” John Glenn Athletic Director Linda Parra said. “It has been a pleasure to be able to watch these two athletes grow up at John Glenn. They are both exceptional students and are leaders within their sports programs.
“Each one of them was selected to serve as the captain of their varsity team. Their work ethic not only showed on the playing fields, but also in the classroom, which is reflected in their overall GPA’s. The John Glenn Staff is very proud of the hard work, dedication and character that they consistently displayed on and off the playing field/courts.”
At the senior school awards night on campus, after Ortega received the honor, she thanked her coaches.
“It feels amazing to win this award,” Ortega said. “It proves to me that all my hard work and dedication was noticed by my coaches.
“I would have to thank my volleyball coach (Daniel) Reyes for never giving up on me and always working with me to improve. I’d also have to thank my softball coaches Larry (Leal) and Javi (Javier Galvez). These last two seasons have been amazing. You guys were always there to encourage me. I’m glad to have been coached by you three. I will always remember the great memories I had throughout my four years of high school. “
Ortega’s leadership role showed in both sports, as she was both a captain for softball and volleyball.
“Each time I’m on the field on want to improve,” she said. “I take any criticism as motivation and I take any advice to make myself stronger.”
She reflected on a couple of her highlights in softball, the sport she has been playing since she was four years old.
Pitcher Gabriela Ortega was named the Girls Athlete of the Year for John Glenn High School. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
“Perhaps, my senior night when I was on the mound that night was one of my best performances,” she said. “And then, probably last season when we made it to the first round of CIF.”
After qualifying for the CIF-Southern Section playoffs, the John Glenn Eagles made a run in 2021 that will be remembered for some time. Not only did they make it to the first round for the first time in 31 years, the Eagles made a run to the quarterfinals.
“Before, people didn’t know much about the John Glenn Softball team and these past two years we’ve left a mark,” explained Ortega. “They know we are here and are ready to compete with other teams.”
In the first two playoff games the Eagles scored a whopping 24 runs in two shutouts.
“It feels good, because it hasn’t happened in a long time,” said Ortega last year during their post-season success.
Parra also said of their season after the playoffs last year, “….what an incredible run our softball program had this year. John Glenn High School and the Norwalk-La Mirada School District is so proud of the accomplishments of our varsity softball program this year.”
Not to be outdone was this years’ boys’ basketball team in CIF.
Jacobo, who played three sports in his high school career, was a member of the Eagles basketball team that advanced to the quarterfinals this past season for the first time in 20 years.
“An amazing memory was our playoff games for basketball this year,” Jacobo said. “We haven’t made the playoffs in over 20 years. It was just something special to me that my senior year we were able to play our first home playoff game.
“We made it to the third round and unfortunately, we lost to Fontana. It was a blast playing with those players and coaches.
“I’ve always put in extra work for basketball because that was my love. I was always in the gym.”
He received the Scholar Athlete Award (3.0 GPA or above) in basketball for all four years, was a two-time All-League 2nd Team, was a three-year varsity captain, leader in points (2 years - 10ppg) and Rookie of the Year in 2018.
In addition to basketball, Jacobo played varsity football for two years, was on the varsity volleyball team (2 years) and J.V. one year, and when he wasn’t busy, he was in the Eagles Marching Band all four years.
In football, he was varsity captain for two years, was an All-League First team selection and started at quarterback and middle linebacker in his senior year.
John Glenn boys varsity basketball player, Natanael Jacobo , was selected as the Boys Athletes of the Year. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
His four years in the band earned numerous awards – Two-time sweepstakes, placed in many band competitions, was Section of the Year (2019-’20) and two-time unanimous Superior in Festival.
“It’s been a story,” smiled Jacobo. “It feels amazing and I know I have represented the school really well and as a mentor to the younger players.
“It hasn’t been easy playing here because we don’t get enough players. It was a struggle getting basketball players, a struggle getting football players and it was even a struggle getting volleyball players.
“I took that upon me to motivate me as a person and I feel that I represented John Glenn just the way it should be.”
Jacobo spoke of his gratitude for winning the award.
“It’s an honor and a great privilege to be named the Athlete of the Year, Jacobo said. “Phantasmogorical. I will continue to show what it took and what it takes to represent the award.”
Parra wished both student athletes great success in the next phases of their lives.
“Thank you, Gabriel and Natanael, for being exceptional student-athletes at John Glenn,” she said. “Good luck in college.”
John Glenn teachers quotes about both Ortega and Jacobo:
Mrs. Veronica Lorenzana, teacher, JGHS:
“Gabby is a focused athlete who works towards excellence for herself as well as her teammates and friends. Whether it be on the softball field or in her classes, she works hard to make sure she and everyone else does their best. She has already made us proud with her recruitment to El Camino College to play softball, and I know she will lead them to success.”
Javier Galvez, JG Softball coach:
“Gabby has what every coach looks for and wants in an athlete - commitment, discipline, and leadership. She always gave it her best effort at every practice and game and never complained when we were down on the score board. Gabby always managed to bring out the best in every player on the team. She has set a good example for future Eagles. Thank you for four years of hard work and one incredible run in CIF that I will never forget. I wish her nothing but success. Go Eagles.”
Daniel Reyes, JG Girls Volleyball coach:
“Gabriela is such a fiery competitor. She is the kind of athlete that constantly pushes herself to be the best at what she does.”
Sam Abebe, JG Boys Basketball coach:
“My first day on the job I vividly remember talking to Natanael about the history of the program and what he thought we could do to improve it. From the get go I could tell how much the school and this program meant to him. In my first year being at Glenn, I have not come across a student who represents and loves Glenn like Nate does. As a player, Nate is extremely coachable. As coach, it’s really rare to say that about a player. No matter what I told him to do, whether he was comfortable with it or not, he did it. As a coach, that is the best compliment I can give. His first three years at Glenn he was a point guard. This past season I moved him to the small forward position and he made the transition seamlessly. Nate was such an unselfish player, always willing to make the extra pass to get his teammates a great shot. He can also leave the program knowing he was a part of the class who led John Glenn to its first ever CIF win in school history. I wish Nate all the success in his future endeavors and know he will succeed on any journey he chooses to embark on.”
Daniel Reyes, JG Boys Volleyball coach:
“Natanael is a natural leader. Constantly focused, he always kept his eyes on the prize, and held the rest of his teammates accountable.”
David Cruz, JG Football coach:
“As the football captain, Natanael was asked to switch from running back to quarterback, which was a new position for him. Well, he thrived at quarterback, quickly becoming our team leader. Throughout the season, Natanael developed the skills required for his new position all the while maintaining his linebacker spot. With all the hard work he put in, he was named 1st team All-League. Thank you for understanding the importance of the position and always having a calming, positive, and encouraging attitude.”