Downey High School announces a record 20 college athletic signees
Downey High School athletes are celebrated during the 2026 Athlete Commitment event for for those who signed letters of intent to compete in their sport in college. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
DOWNEY –Downey High School announced a record number of college signings in May with its annual Athletic Commitment Ceremony.
Twenty student-athletes in eight sports will be continuing their careers and were honored in the campus theater.
Downey athletic director Mark Rand talked of this tremendous achievement for the school.
“As athletic director, I am incredibly proud of our student-athletes for their commitment to continue both their academic and athletic careers at colleges and universities across the country.
“Their dedication, perseverance, and hard work have earned them this exciting opportunity, and they have represented our school with excellence both on and off the field of play. We congratulate each of them and their families on this significant achievement and look forward to watching them succeed at the next level.”
Here are those athletes:
Baseball – Eddie Causley (University of La Verne); Cheer – Montserrat Rivera (Cal Poly Pomona University), Graceland Davila (Vanguard University – Costa Mesa);
Football – Oscar Aguilar (Arizona State University – Tempe), Elijah Rincon (University of Montana - Missoula); Xavier Rivas (Willamette University – Salem, OR), Oscar Rios Middleton (University of Arizona - Tucson);
Lacrosse – Larissa Garcia-Oliva (University of Redlands), Maledia Placencia (Whittier College);
Softball – Daviana Calzada (Rutgers University – New Brunswick, NJ), Celest Flores (Hope International University - Fullerton), Jade Gonzalez (Nazareth University – Rochester, NY), Delilah Navarro (University of Toledo - Ohio),
Track & Field – Faletausala Amu (undecided as of May 21), Sebastian Burgos (UC Merced), Nathan Cazares (Cal State San Marcos), Adrien Guerrero (Cal Poly Pomona);
Water Polo – Alia De La Mora (Biola University – La Mirada);
Wrestling – Jayden Plata (Grand View University – Des Moines, Iowa), Katherine Luna – (Western Colorado – Gunnison, CO).
Here’s what some of the athletes and coaches had to say:
2026 Female Athlete of the Year Delilah Navarro (University of Toledo): “This fall I will be continuing my education and athletic career at the University of Toledo. I’m excited to see what god has planned for me these next few years in college. I get to play the sport I love while getting an education. Softball was my home and that’s where I belong.”
Softball coach Ed Garcia: “She has always been athletically talented. It is no surprise to any of us that she will be continuing her education and softball career at a Division I program like the University of Toledo. Any team will be lucky to have her so we are very excited to see what the future holds for Delilah.”
2026 Male Athlete of the Year - Jayden Plata (Grand View University): “Ever since I could remember sports was part of my life. Whether it was baseball, basketball or soccer, my parents always encouraged me to try new things and to stay active. Going to college after high school was always the plan. I’m excited and proud of myself that I get to do both after high school and represent Grand View University academically as well as on the wrestling mat.”
Wrestling coach Kyle Acevedo: “The Downey wrestling program is so excited to have been able to help Jayden grow as an individual and wrestler the past four years. He will be the first from Downey to compete at a four-year college since Dilan Ajtun in 2017. We are so excited to see him continue his education and wrestling career at Grand View University. We wish him the best of luck and wish that he could be grateful for the wonderful experience. We are so proud.”
Eddie Causley, Baseball (University of La Verne): “It’s the most (signees) they’ve ever had. It’s amazing for the school and it shows how committed all of our players are.
When I was a sophomore I struggled at the beginning of the season. It was a different level of competition. By the end of the season I figured it out and I was able to carry that on for my next two years.
My highlight here at Downey was hitting my ‘no doubt’ home run against Warren. It was away at Warren.”
Baseball coach Jess Gonzalez: “He’s going to get a good opportunity at La Verne to play. I’m excited for him. To be at Division III La Verne is a pretty darn good school academically.
You have to be a good baseball player too. I’m happy for him.
He got better the last three years and has improved. He’s a super smart kid. He works hard and I had him in the classroom. He’s a good student all the way around.”
Alia De La Mora, Water Polo (Biola University): “I’m so excited. They (Biola) made it to the championship in their conference this year.
Hard work is going to pay off and I know that because it helped in high school. I already know most of the girls (new Biola teammates). I’m just going to be working until I have that starter position.
Playing for (former Downey coach Uriel Villa) was something special because the new coach to come here has big shoes to fill. All I wish for this program is the best. I had so much fun here and I hope the girls will too.”
Uriel Villa (former Downey water polo coach and current new Orange Lutheran head boys water polo and boys swim coach)
“(Alia) has a few former Downey teammates on that team and also some former club teammates from Commerce that are there.
I’m excited for her and I know she is going to make an impact and I’m just excited to see her play at that next level. She’s worked so hard to get there.
She definitely makes up for her lack of size with her intelligence and her quickness and one of the smartest players in the pool at all times. She’s got the heart of a lion. I’m very happy for her.”
Faletausala Amu, Track & Field (shot put and discus):
“It feels like a huge accomplishment. Not many get to go out to college to compete athletically. Along the way I was inspired by my coaches to become better. In my junior year I PR’d by a lot (Discus - 173-3) and that boosted me up to a top ten in the state.
I feel excited to still compete in the sport that I like doing.”
Track & Field coach Bob Gleason: “Especially at this point it’s exciting when I have four athletes. I also have others that are going on. There’s Cerritos, El Camino and Mt. SAC.
“I’m very proud of the program. These guys are hard workers and I love to see the payoff. Now these colleges are saying come here and we’re going to give you some money too. You just have to be patient.”
Football coach Jack Williams: “That’s what you coach for is to see them get a scholarship, with them being little freshmen coming in and that’s been their dream to make their family proud.
Me just being involved in the process and helping them get to where they need to get to and celebrating days like this (signing day) is just doing the right thing.
I talk to my wife all the time when are you going to give up coaching, but it’s hard when you do stuff like this.
CIF titles are good, league titles are good, but getting the end goal whether it’s going to college and playing football or just going to college.
Whether it’s the NFL or becoming a police officer, I didn’t know I was successful until 2022 when we had that 10-year reunion. They said, ‘coach, this is my wife, these are my kids. This is the coach that changed my life.’ That’s what kept me motivated and keeps me doing what I do know.”
On quarterback Oscar Rios-Middleton, Williams said, “He knows what he has to do to get where he’s at. He’s looking forward to competing. Who knows what happens.
He’s going to be a sponge and learn whatever he can. Williams remembers when he ran a play in practice with no one around him and he sprints to the end zone for 60 yards and the coaches are yelling at him saying, ‘hurry up, we’re trying to get plays in’. You can’t fault a guy trying to score on every play.
Just seeing the kids and the parents (at signing day) is great.”
Note: As of May 21, these are the athletes and their chosen colleges and universities.