Aldaz, Rodriguez named Calvary Chapel Downey Athletes of the Year

Jaedyn Aldaz (Soccer, Track and Cross Country) and Elijah Rodriguez (Baseball and Trap) were selected as the Calvary Chapel Downey’s 2026 Athletes of the Year. (Photo by Keith Durflinger) DOWNEY – The top athletic award for the Calvary Chapel Downey High School Grizzlies was announced recently with seniors Jaedyn Aldaz and Elijah Rodriguez receiving the awards. Aldaz excelled in soccer, track & field, cross country and volleyball, while Rodriguez was a four-year varsity player on the Calvary Chapel Baseball team and also excelled in the school’s trap shooting team. “I want to start by saying I am proud of Elijah and Jaedyn,” Calvary Chapel athletic director Nathan Tachin said. “They have been a true testament of Colossians 3:23, which says, ‘whatever you do, you do it to the very best of your ability to the Lord and not unto man.’ “They have represented our school with that same mindset both on and off the field, and I congratulate them for their hard work and dedication. I am excited to see what the Lord does in your next steps. Thank you both for being a true example of what it means to be a Grizzlie.” Aldaz on receiving the award “I was pretty excited and wasn’t really expecting it,” said Aldaz, on receiving the Athlete of the Year Award. “I was grateful to God and all of my coaches and my family. “It was a very happy and excited surprise to receive the award. I was so fixated on getting into college and wasn’t thinking about the award, but when I got it and going where God wanted me to do that’s when I was surprised.” Rodriguez on receiving the award “When I got nominated, I was excited and when I got selected I was happy that all of my hard...