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 work had paid off,” Rodriguez said.
Jaedyn Aldaz
Kenny Rogers, who is the girls soccer coach and track & field coach said of Aldaz: “She has distinguished herself as one of the most well-rounded student-athletes our school has seen. Excelling in soccer, track and field, cross country, and volleyball, she has consistently demonstrated an unmatched work ethic, competitive spirit, and commitment to excellence.
“Whether competing on the field, court, or course, Jaedyn’s positive attitude, determination, and integrity have earned the respect of teammates, coaches, and opponents alike.”
Rogers went on to talk about her actions away from sports saying, “Beyond her impressive athletic career, Jaedyn has been an outstanding student and a dedicated ASB leader, serving her school with pride and purpose.
“As a captain and leader, she has been an encourager who lifted up those around her, leading by example through humility, accountability, and unwavering dedication.”
Aldaz, who transferred into Calvary Chapel Downey in her sophomore year from Long Beach Wilson, talked of her time at the school.
“I transferred to Calvary because I wanted to be a part of a more Christian environment and wanted to feel like I was a part of a family,” she said. “My time here with my teammates has been nothing short of amazing,” she said. “It’s just been amazing. I’ve had teammates like Bella Zimbron (Soccer, T & F) and Celeste Santana (Soccer, Volleyball) and it’s been amazing to play with them and work with them. They’ve all just become my best friends. I’m just really grateful that God gave me the chance to be with them and have this memory.”
She said her first success at the school was not any trophy but meeting her new coaches. “Just getting to build those new relationships was really important to me,” she added.
Aldaz’ main sport was soccer where she had highs of 27 assists, 37 goals and 116 shots. She won coaches awards, and impact awards.
She only played volleyball one year (Senior), but coach Elyssa Quintero said of her player, “I am so excited for Jaedyn receiving the athlete of the year award,” she said. “Jaedyn was a great asset to the girls volleyball team here at CCCS. She was only on the team her senior year, but you would never know it in the way she played.
“The gym would always feel electric when she stepped onto the court. Jaedyn also had a special way of uniting the team regardless of if she was on or off the court. That is a kind of leadership that can’t be taught, and I’m glad I got to see her grow in her volleyball abilities, but also as a leader.”
As for T & F, Aldaz participated in nearly all of the events in her three years – She raced in every event except the 100 and 3200 and was a middle distance runner.
She took part in almost every event in the field competition, which included triple jump, long jump and high jump.
She was also part of three school records - 800 sprint medley relay team that was broken at the West Coast Classic Invitational. Also broken were the 4 x 200 relay and the 1600 sprint medley relay.
Highlighting her awards through the years were numerous coaches awards and impact awards. Included in those were All-League first team selections (Soccer and Cross Country) and CIF appearances.
She was part of a 13-win season in her junior for soccer and a 15-win season in soccer in her senior year.
In girls’ soccer, she was named the Impact Player in her junior year, an award recognizing an athlete who demonstrates unmatched intensity, unselfishness, and Christ-centered effort.
Assisting Rogers in soccer was Jaedyns mom Marisol. “She is an exceptional athlete that puts her whole heart into the game, spiritually and physically. She was the heart of the team this year by encouraging her teammates to bring out their best, whether a returner or a player that never played.”
That was along with the Mighty in Spirit Award in her junior year in T & F, an honor presented to an athlete who exemplifies humility, leadership, and Christ-like character.
In both her junior and senior years she ended the T & F season with appearances in the CIF Prelims.
Beyond her impressive athletic career, Aldaz has been an outstanding student and a dedicated ASB leader, serving her school with pride and purpose.
Rogers summarized Aldaz’ influence on her teammates and life in general saying, “Jaedyn’s legacy will be remembered not only for the championships, awards, and achievements she earned, but for the lives she influenced through her leadership, integrity, and genuine care for others. She truly exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete of excellence.”
Elijah Rodriguez
Rodriguez will attend Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terra Haute, Indiana this Fall. At Rose-Hulman he will be studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in electrical engineering. With this knowledge, he will strive to work in the Formula 1 industry.
He will also try and walk on the baseball team, after completing a successful four-year run on the diamond at Calvary.
“Rodriguez is a graduating senior whose impact on our athletic programs has been both consistent and outstanding across all four years,” Tachin said. “From the beginning of his high school career, he made his presence known in baseball, competing at a high level and steadily developing into one of the top athletes in his league.
Baseball coach Lennear said of Rodriguez
Across his career, he has been a competitor who led with intensity, resilience, and character. His impact has gone far beyond statistics, as he consistently set the standard for effort and attitude within the program.
Calvary Baseball coach Ennis Lennear also said of Rodriguez: “Elijah has been an outstanding student and baseball player since he arrived as a freshman,” he said. “From the very beginning, I knew that once he fully believed in himself and gained confidence, he would become a force to be reckoned with—and that is exactly what happened.
“Elijah is a young man who loves the Lord and represents both his faith and his family with excellence. He has consistently put in the work year after year, and his growth has been remarkable.”
Rodriguez succeeded athletically, but more importantly he maintained a 4.0 GPA.
“Calvary has helped me grow spiritually, physically, and mentally,” Rodriguez said. “Through maintaining a 4.0 and other academic achievements I got into Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
In addition to baseball, Elijah competes on the school Trap team, which is coached by Neil Matranga. Rodriguez also shoots skeet.
“He is a very respectful young man,” said Matranga, of his student-athlete. “His parents should be very proud of the man he is becoming. It has been a pleasure coaching him these past four years. He will be missed.”
As for baseball, Rodriguez earned the Coaches Award in baseball as a freshman, which is presented to an athlete who not only inspires the team athletically but also spiritually.
He began to improve as a sophomore and earned some awards for his efforts
He was named Impact Player in baseball, which is an award recognizing an athlete who demonstrates unmatched intensity, unselfishness, and Christ-centered effort in all they do. By doing so, he earned 2nd Team All-League honors, continuing to establish himself as a key contributor to the baseball program.
His junior year saw a couple more awards come his way – Coaches Award and First Team All-League.
His final year proved to be very rewarding as he earned the Impact Award, First Team All-League and MVP in league. In addition, he helped lead the team to an Academy League Championship.
Tachin concluded, saying of Rodriguez: “Across his career, he has been a competitor who led with intensity, resilience, and character,” Tachin said. “His impact has gone far beyond statistics, as he consistently set the standard for effort and attitude within the program.
“Across four years, this athlete has poured his heart into all things—not just as an athlete, but as a young man of faith, commitment, and perseverance.”
Rodriguez talked of his baseball team – “Our seasons we got (CIF) first round losses every time, but our camaraderie on the team was so strong we really didn’t take it to heart, we enjoyed playing with each other and just enjoying each other’s company”
Rodriguez played nearly every position on the diamond for the Grizzlies.
He played a majority of his freshman year at second base and started pitching in his sophomore year.
He pitched and played second and shortstop in his junior year. But, in his final year he was a valuable player as he pitched, caught, played third and short.
“As a coach, I have had the privilege of coaching Elijah throughout all four years of high school,” Lennear added. “He has been a blessing not only to me, but to our entire program.
“Watching him develop into an exceptional baseball player with outstanding baseball knowledge and a high baseball IQ has been a joy.”
Rodriguez actually started his second sport before he got into high school, as he started as an eighth grader. He also got involved in skeet shooting.
“Outside of Calvary I am in a club and compete in skeet,” explained Rodriguez. “The name of the club is called Shattered Clays. It is a youth non-profit club.”
In his junior year of trap he excelled. “In the state tournament for Trap, I took third, shooting 98 out of 100.” Rodriguez said.
Another sport he has also taken up is disc golf, as he plays at La Mirada and travels out of state to seek out courses.
As for his trap shooting, Matranga added, “I'm proud of him and all his accomplishments,” he said. “He earned a varsity letter all four years of his high school career, and was the team MVP as a junior and a senior. We call that award the Male Impact Shooter of the year. As great a shooter that Elijah is, he has been a great role model for his teammates.”
“I am thankful for my parents for placing me in these sports and investing their time and money into me,” Rodriguez said. “I am thankful for them making the long drive to school and showing up to my shoots and games.”