By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club honored West Salem’s Atalia Davila Macias (Girls Soccer), McNary’s Yosaf Picazo (Boys Cross Country), South Salem’s Lucas Lee (Boys Soccer), Blanchet’s Fatima Jimenez (Girls Soccer), West Salem’s Avery Meier (Girls Cross Country), McNary’s Fernando Zepeda (Boys Soccer)and West Salem’s Johi Diaz (Girls Soccer) at this past Friday’s meeting.
Here’s the Press Release
The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Les Schwab Athlete of the Week, from West Salem Girls Soccer, is Atalia Davila Macias.
Atalia Davila, a junior, is the goalkeeper for the Titans who won the Central Valley Conference with a 6-2 conference record. Atalia was pivotal in the 3-1 opening round playoff win over St. Mary’s Academy at home. She had 9 saves, including a tip save to keep the Titans in the game. She also had key saves in the last few league matches, shutting out both South and McNary as West secured the conference championship. Atalia has had over 50 saves this season and was recently voted 1st team goalkeeper for the Central Valley Conference.
From Coach Okerstrom, “Her vocal leadership and the ability to also contribute to our built-out possession in the back made her a key piece of our team.”
This is Atalia’ first SSBC recognition.
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The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Les Schwab Athlete of the Week, from McNary Boys Cross Country, is Yosef Picazo.
Yosef, a senior for the Celts, is a four-time athlete of the week, earning two honors each in cross-country and track and field. Yosef placed 5th at the Grant Robison Invitational, running his fastest time of the season, 16:17 and placed 6th at the Rose City Siver race with a time of 16:22. Yosef finished 2nd in the Central Valley Conference meet with a time of 16:30.43 and will compete tomorrow in the State meet at Lane Community College in Eugene.
Coach Piper describes Yosef: “He is a dedicated, humble athlete who shows great drive to improve with his inquisitive, thoughtful nature and desire to grow as a distance runner. “
This is Yosef’s fourth Athlete of the Week honor – two for cross country and two for track and field.
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The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Les Schwab Athlete of the Week, from South Salem Boys Soccer, is Lucas Lee.
Lucas, a sophomore, plays forward and winger for the Saxons who finished the season with a 10-4-3 record. As the season wound down, Lucas scored a brace (2 goals) and an assist in the 3-nil win over West. South went on to advance in the first round with a 2-1 win over Reynolds before facing a tough #5 Grant team in the second round. At the 14-game mark, Lucas led the Saxons with 10 goals and 2 assists.
From Coach Johansen (mainly because we love his writeups!), ‘Lucas scored his 1st goal about 12 minutes into the first half when senior midfielder Yurem Diaz lashed a free kick on target from about 30 yards out at the right hashmark. The Titan keeper parried the ball into the path of Lucas who was first to react and finished from short range through a couple of Titan defenders.
Lucas’ assist occurred in the 53rd minute, when he received the ball on the left side at midfield and drove down the line for about 35 yards surrounded by three defenders. He passed the ball to senior forward Diego “Kickz” Cruz at about the left corner of the penalty box. Kickz took the ball to his right, eluded one defender and continued towards the right post where he shot back towards the left post past two defenders and the keeper and into the left side of the goal.
3 or 4 minutes later, Kickz and Lucas switched roles for Lucas’ 2nd goal. Senior midfielder and captain Abraham “Chicha” Lopez intercepted an errant Titan pass about 35 yards out on the right hashmarks and passed to Kickz at the top of the “D.” Kickz turned and played the ball into the path of Lucas who was streaking in from the left. Lucas shot with his first touch about 15 yards out from the left post. The Titan keeper had no chance as the ball went sharply inside the right post.’
This is Lucas’ first Athlete of the Week honor.
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The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Les Schwab Athlete of the Week, from Blanchet Girls Soccer, is Fatima Jimenez.
Fatima, a senior and captain, is a center midfield defensive player for the Cavaliers who finished 10-4-2 overall and finished 5-1-2 in district. Blanchet opened the playoffs against Douglas at home on Saturday with a 3-0 win before moving on to play Creswell on the road. On October 23rd, in the 2-nil conference playoff win over Salem Academy, Fatima scored the second goal with a header into the back of the net off a corner kick.
Coach Pearson says, “Fatima has played this season for the Cavaliers with intensity, passion, and the eagerness to win, for her team and herself.”
This is Fatima’s first SSBC honor.
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The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Les Schwab Athlete of the Week, from West Salem Girls Cross Country, is Avery Meier.
Avery, a senior for the Titans, is a four-time SSBC athlete of the week, earning those honors in both cross country and track and field. Avery set a school record as she took 2nd at the Stumptown Showdown with a time of 17:54.5. She followed up with another 2nd place finish at the Central Valley Conference meet, helping the Titan’s to their 4th consecutive team title. Avery ranks in the top 10 for 6A in the 5000 meters headed into tomorrow afternoon’s State meet in Eugene.
Coach Lindsey says, “Her determination and leadership exemplify everything we look for in a Titan.”
This is Avery’s fourth SSBC Athlete of the Week – 3 for cross country and 1 for track and field.
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The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Olsen Daines Senior Athlete of the Year, from McNary Boys Soccer, is Fernando Zepeda.
Fernando, a captain, played midfielder for the Celts who finished as Central Valley Conference champions with a 5-0-3 conference record and 8-4-3 overall. Fernando, a 4-year varsity starter earned three All-CVC 1st team honors. A member of four CVC championship teams, he was named the CVC Player of the Year this season. As a senior, he had 7 goals and 10 assists, finishing his high school career with 31 goals and 17 assists.
Fernando will continue his soccer career next year at Corban University.
This is Fernando’s first SSBC honor.
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The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club Olsen Daines Senior Athlete of the Year, from West Salem Girls Soccer, is Johi Diaz.
Johi, a team captain, played midfielder for the Titans who finished as Central Valley Conference champions with a 6-2 conference record. Johi, a 4-year varsity starter, earned two SSBC Athlete of the Week honors for soccer during her high school career. She earned 1st team all-CVC honors for three consecutive years and was named the 2025 CVC Player of the Year. This season she tied her teammate for the most goals scored with 7 including 2 key goals in the 3-1 first round win over St. Mary’s Academy. She also led the team with 10 assists.
Coach Okerstrom says, “Johi provided a strong tactical soccer presence on the field and played a vital role as a leader of the team.”
This is Johi’s third SSBC recognition. She has also twice been a Les Schwab Athlete of the Week.
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