Every week, Coral Gables Senior High likes to recognize the remarkable performances of student-athletes in their respective sports. They all put in a lot of effort, dedication and time to improve their skills, and are therefore deserving of attention for their achievements. Below are the outstanding athletes that were awarded with Athlete of the Week honors at Gables for the month of November.

Week of Nov. 4- 11: Arturo Diaz-Dube and Kevin Monjarrez. 

Inspired by his mother who was once a professional bowler, senior Arturo Diaz-Dube joined the bowling team in his sophomore year in hopes of continuing a family tradition. Diaz-Dube finished first overall in the District 17 Bowling Tournament, allowing him to qualify for the upcoming state competition. Originally, his goal was to win Districts alongside his teammates, but he went beyond his goal after winning Individuals at Districts and qualifying for States. When Diaz-Dube does not focus his energy on bowling, he also takes part in the varsity basketball and volleyball teams. Despite his major victory, Diaz-Dube will not let this District win get to his head, but will instead work intensively to further his bowling skills and make his senior year one of the most memorable and fulfilling years yet.

Diaz-Dube’s bowling partner, junior Kevin Monjarrez, developed a love for bowling through his attempts to find a sport he truly loved. He began playing in fifth grade and joined the Gables Bowling team in his freshman year. This year, he placed third overall in the District 17 Bowling Tournament. Alongside Diaz-Dube, Monjarrez qualified for the State Bowling Tournament. He got over a 200 average and was the second highest average in the district.

“I’m really happy about making it to states because I got to spend a lot of time with my coach, who’s a great role model for me,” Monjarrez said.

Monjarrez is happy to have had the opportunity of making it this far and knows what to expect for next year in order to improve himself. He credits his success to his 3o minute daily meditations, allowing him to reflect on what he has done and what he needs to do to exceed his limits as an athlete.

Week of Nov. 11-18: Etienne Montigny

Freshman Etienne Montigny earned the honor of being Athlete of the Week after achieving his personal best running time at State Finals causing him to shave off 40 seconds. Montigny began running in sixth grade after he was inspired by his dad who runs very often. In an average training session, Montigny runs five to eight miles right after school with the cross country team. Montigny credits his inspiration to run to his motivational father and teammates who always lift up his spirits when he is not doing his best.

When he is not running, he takes part in the Cavalier Soccer team and is hoping to join the track and field team after the soccer season ends in the spring. Despite it being his first year on the cross country team, he hopes to further develop his skills and perform at a level beyond what is expected of him. Since its Montigny’s first year in high school, he does not have a clear idea of what he wants to pursue in the future, but he does hope to continue his passion for running and soccer in college

Week of Nov. 18- 25: Luana Gomez

Born in a country of soccer fanatics, junior Luana Gomez attributes her love of soccer to her Brazilian roots.  Gomez decided to follow her passion when she came to the United States at 12 years of age. Despite her years of playing soccer, Gomez is still ready to learn as she believes that there is always room to improve in order to become a stronger athlete. Although she has been playing soccer since she first started walking, Gomez began joining club leagues only 5 years ago. This week, Gomez earned the title of Athlete of the Week after paving the way for her team, scoring three goals against Coral Park allowing the Lady Cavalier Soccer team to achieve a victory. When she is not out on the field in an effort to become a better soccer player, Gomez loves to go kite-surfing with her father in order to unwind from her academics. After high school, she hopes to continue to play soccer at a collegiate level while studying to fulfill her dream of becoming a veterinarian.

Week of Dec. 2- 9: John-Mark Kellogg

In a game versus their district rivals, Southwest Senior High School, senior John-Mark Kellogg scored two goals and tallied one assist, which pushed the Cavalier Boys Soccer team to a 2-0 lead over their opponent. Being the Athlete of the Week, he felt honored to represent his school and hopes to pay them back with a district championship. Under his leadership, the team currently stands at a 5-1 record for the regular season.

“As a captain, I enjoy leading my team and getting ready for each game. Besides that, I just love playing with a group of players that I get along with on and off the field,” Kellogg said.

Apart from athletics, he is involved in other clubs such as National Honor Society. Although being in the International Baccalaureate Program makes it harder for Kellogg to balance soccer with academics, he manages to be disciplined and finds the time to do both.  For this season, Kellogg wants to be on the All Miami-Dade team once more and lead his team to a district championship.

These individuals have all managed to accomplish astonishing goals they had set for themselves. They have successfully learned how to balance academics with their demanding and rigorous athletic schedules, and Gables is proud to honor them as Athletes of the Week.