Sarah Masterson, Joshua Lennear are Calvary Chapel's Athletes of the Year
Joshua Lennear and Sarah Masterson have been selected as the Calvary Chapel Downey Boys and Girls Athletes of the Year. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
DOWNEY — Two athletes, six sports, one year make up the 2025 Calvary Chapel Downey Athletes of the Year.
Seniors Sarah Masterson and Joshua Lennear have been chosen for the ultimate athletic award recently (May 30) during the Calvary Chapel graduation ceremonies.
For the first time in school history, two brothers and two sisters have now won the Athlete of the Year Award.
Sarah Masterson’s older sister Hannah received the award in 2021 and Joshua’s older brother Ennis Lennear, Jr. was Athlete of the Year in 2023.
Masterson, who is a two-time Athlete of the Year, played soccer and ran cross country and was on the track and field team for the Grizzlies every year since her freshman year.
“Masterson plays with heart and intensity while displaying sportsmanship and respect toward her teammates, coaches, and opponents,” Calvary interim Athletic Director Nathan Tachin said. “Her character is matched by academic excellence, with a remarkable cumulative GPA of a 4.0 throughout her high school years and whose athletic career has been nothing short of extraordinary. She is a true multi-sport competitor.”
Lennear played football, basketball and baseball in his four years.
“Across four years, this athlete has poured his heart into every snap, dribble, and swing—not just as an athlete, but as a young man of faith, commitment, and perseverance,” Tachin said. “He has been a cornerstone of three major athletic programs and has led by example every step of the way. His character is matched by academic excellence, with a remarkable cumulative GPA of a 4.0 throughout his high school years.
“He has truly left a legacy across in three different sports. From the moment he arrived on campus, he made an impact—both on and off the field and court.”
Calvary Chapel Downey’s Sarah Masterson (3) is congratulated after scoring a goal against Loma Linda Academy in their girls soccer match at Rancho Los Amigos Sports Center. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Sarah Masterson – Female Athlete of the Year
Masterson, who is believed to be the first underclassmen last year to win athlete of the year as a junior, excelled at soccer and scored 31 goals this past season.
“When he said my name, I was smiling and happy and thanked (Tachin) when I walked up to him (to receive the award),” said Masterson, who has been at the school since kindergarten. “I looked and saw my dad (Jack) and he was crying a little and was too excited and couldn’t take a picture.
“A bunch of my family members were there, and I could hear them cheering and I was super excited, and my friends and teammates were there too.
“I met Josh (Lennear) when he was an incoming freshman over the summer when he joined cross country and became good friends, along with his family.”
Masterson started her career in her first two years with honors, as she received All-League Honorable Mention in Cross Country and was selected First Team All-League in soccer as a freshman.
She followed that up in her sophomore year with a Second Team selection in cross country and another First Team All-League in soccer.
The awards kept coming in her junior year, as she earned First Team All-League in soccer and received the Impact Player Award in both cross country and soccer.
“This award recognizes the athlete who demonstrates unmatched intensity, unselfishness, and Christ-centered effort in all they do, as inspired by Colossians 3:17 and 3:23,” said Tachin, of the honor. “She earned this award in both her sophomore and junior years.”
Masterson capped off her senior year in soccer as she was named First Team All-League, scored over 30 goals, and received the Impact Player Award. In track, she broke two school records (4 x 200 Relay and 1600 Sprint Medley Relay. “That further solidifying her legacy as one of the most accomplished athletes to represent Calvary,” said Tachin.
This past season, she was part of two school records in the 4 X 200 Meter Relay and the 1600 Sprint Relay.
“I think the best memory was the 1600 and when we broke the record,” she said. “It was two 200’s, a 400 and an 800. I ran the third leg (400). The time on the board was 5:01 and we (teammate Jaedyn Aldaz) were thinking maybe we can break the record.
“I handed off to her in the fourth leg and we ended up breaking the record by 15 seconds for a time of 4:46, which was pretty great and really exciting.”
One of her favorite coaches was coach Kenny Rogers, who she has had in at least one sport as coach every year.
“I’ve known him for a while, as he was my sisters coach in soccer,” she added. “He is one of the best coaches I have ever known. He knows how to talk to the girls and knows how to motivate us and represent Christ.”
The Grizzlies finished the 2025 season with a 13-5-2 overall record and were second in the Academy League with an 8-2 record.
“My best memory (in soccer) was playing with Bella (Zimbron), who I played together with before in club, and I was excited to play with her again,” Masterson said. “She just switched the team up and played up top and was scoring goals left and right and I could always count on her.”
On Tachin, she said, “He’s pretty cool and I met him when he was the strength and conditioning sub. He asked me to do the stats for the football team. It was a lot of fun.”
A cross country memory was when she got sick and she thought, “that was not good,” she said with a smile. “It was just because I wasn’t used to the running again. My coach was Amanda Gutierrez. She was fun.”
Masterson will be attending Vanguard University and will hope to play soccer and try and walk on for the team.
“I’m very grateful and getting it (Athlete of the Year) last year I was also hoping to get it this year, but knew I had to work hard for it,” said Masterson, of the opportunity to get it twice. I knew that in each sport I had to perform to the best of my ability.”
As for academics, Mastersons accumulative GPA was 4.04 and in her senior year her first semester GPA was 4.5 and the second semester was a 4.67.
Tachin also said of Masterson, “She is now officially a two-time Grizzly Athlete of the Year, a rare and well-deserved honor that reflects her impact across all four years.”
Calvary Chapel quarterback Joshua Lennear (8) throws a pass as they play Cornerstone Christian in their non-league eight-man football game at Downey High School. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
Joshua Lennear – Male Athlete of the Year
“That moment for me was very special and I really wanted Athlete of the Year since my freshman year,” Lennear said. “That was my goal and every year I would go to the graduation and hear them call the Athlete of the Year and my year was going to be mine. I’ve always had my eyes on the prize.
“My brother (Ennis Lennear, Jr. - EJ) won it in his senior year, which was my sophomore year (2022-’23). He was great and I was always trying to compete with him. He was the first one to stand up when I won.”
Lennear commented on the three-sport athlete saying,” Three sports, even though it’s not a big school, it’s definitely harder.
“Just to balance that, especially is hard, since you want to do good in school and you feel the pressure.”
Joshua’s father, Ennis Leannear, said of his son winning Athlete of the Year, “It was a joy,” he said. “My oldest son won Athlete of the Year and this is something that (Joshua) always wanted to get it and follow his brother’s footsteps. (Joshua) said, ‘that’s going to be mine. I’m going to get that trophy too.
“It was big when my older son (Ennis) got it and then after that Joshua wanted it.
“We all jumped for joy and screamed out his name.”
Joshua, who has six brothers and sisters, hit the ground running, literally, in football, basketball and baseball.
As a freshman, he was a part of the boys basketball team and received the Mighty in Spirit Award — an honor given to an athlete who exemplifies humility, leadership, and Christ-like character. During the spring season, he was a part of an Academy League Championship team in baseball.
Said Joshua of his dad, Ennis Lennear, and coach, “With my dad as his coach, it was amazing,” he said. “I feel like me and my dad have a lot of chemistry and if I saw something on the field, he knew what I was looking at.”
Ennis Lennear coached both of his boys in various sports. This year was his third year as head coach for football.
In his sophomore season, he earned First Team All-League honors in football, Second Team All-League honors in basketball, where he also contributed to a Western League Championship, and received Honorable Mention recognition in baseball.
“His junior year was a continuation of his upward trajectory,” Tachin said.
Joshua was selected All-CIF and First Team All-League in football, earned Second Team All-League honors in basketball while once again helping secure a Western League Championship, and received Second Team All-League in baseball.
“Then came his senior year,” added Tachin. “It was a true testament to his dedication, consistency, and leadership.”
Lennear was selected All-CIF in football and earned the Impact Player Award. This award recognizes the athlete who demonstrates unmatched intensity, unselfishness, and Christ-centered effort in all they do, as inspired by Colossians 3:17 and 3:23. In basketball, he was named Second Team All-League and received the Mighty in Spirit Award. On the baseball field, he capped off his high school career with First Team All-League honors and another Impact Player Award.
His favorite memory this past season in football was the first play of the game against Lancaster Baptist.
“I scored a 60-yard run for a touchdown,” said. Lennear, of the third game of the season.
Lennear went right into basketball after a first-round football loss for the Grizzlies in CIF, he started with basketball and remembers playing with one of his best friends, Aiden Escalante, “I think, honestly, playing with one of my best friends. He convinced me to play basketball.”
A baseball memory was, against Southlands Christian. “I hit a wall banger, that was close to a home run,” said Lennear.
“On teammates, we have always had each other’s backs, especially Aden in basketball and baseball. All of them are super competitive.”
Lennear will be attending L. A. Harbor College in the Fall and will play baseball with the goal to eventually attend The University of Southern California and play baseball.
Now, we have to make more memories,” said Ennis Leannear, of son’s next step.