Two Wolverines Named "Athletes of the Year"
The San Bernardino Valley College Foundation honored a pair of athletes with the William
Harrison Jr. Memorial Award, presented to the male and female athletes of the year,
at an awards ceremony last month. Men’s distance runner Carlos De la Torre and women’s soccer player Jordan Steele were selected for the honor from a pool of nominations submitted by the SBVC coaching
staff.
Steele, a sophomore who is graduating this summer, will be transferring in the fall
with a full scholarship to Louisiana State University-Alexandria, where she will continue
her career. The graduate of Tahquitz High School was a two-year captain for the Wolverines
leading the team to conference championships both seasons and was selected to the
All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference team both seasons. She earned the PCAC Player
of the Year award following the 2017 season, and was selected for the California Community
College Soccer Coaches Association Sophomore Showcase. She was a two-year All-State
and All-Region selection as well.
De la Torre just completed his freshman year at SBVC. A Jurupa Valley Patriot High
School graduate, de la Torre had a stellar first season with the Wolverines. In cross
country, he won the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship, setting a course
record at Gaujome Park in Oceanside, finishing the course in 20 minutes, 31 seconds.
His victory helped propel the Wolverines to their 22nd straight conference championship.
He finished fifth at the Southern California championships and eighth at the State
championships, earning All-American designation. In track, he was the PCAC champion
in the 800 and 1500 meters, and finished sixth in the state at 5,000 meters, earning
second team All-American designation.
The William Harrison Jr. Memorial Award is a scholarship given annually to one male
and one female athlete from SBVC. Harrison graduated from SBVC in 1935 and owned Harrison
Sporting Goods, providing several gifts of service to the school. In 1947, he annually
awarded a Harrison Sporting Goods Trophy to the school’s athlete of the year.