San Diego's Top High School Athletes Honored for January

Standout performers in wrestling, soccer, water polo, and basketball earn Athlete of the Month awards.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 6:55pm

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The San Diego Union-Tribune has named the top high school athletes in the region for their performances in January. The honorees include wrestlers Mario Carini and Caroline Collins, soccer stars Emma Cunningham and Stephanie Hernandez, water polo player Avery Haugh, and basketball player Tavid Johnson.

Why it matters

Recognizing exceptional high school athletes not only celebrates their individual accomplishments, but also highlights the depth of talent in San Diego's sports programs and the continued growth of youth athletics in the region.

The details

Mario Carini, a wrestler from Poway High School, won the prestigious Doc Buchanan Tournament as a No. 3 seed, moving him to the No. 1 national ranking at 179 pounds. Emma Cunningham, a soccer player from Patrick Henry High School, led her team to a 5-0-1 record in January and has 23 assists on the season. Avery Haugh, a water polo player from El Camino High School, has scored 91 goals for her 18-3 team. Tavid Johnson, a basketball player from Francis Parker School, is averaging 25.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Caroline Collins, a wrestler from Carlsbad High School, moved to the top of the 112-pound weight class with a victory at the Queen of the Realm Tournament. Stephanie Hernandez, a soccer player from Hoover High School, scored 20 goals and had 9 assists in January, surpassing 100 career goals.

  • The athletes were honored for their performances in January 2026.

The players

Mario Carini

A wrestler from Poway High School who won the prestigious Doc Buchanan Tournament as a No. 3 seed, moving him to the No. 1 national ranking at 179 pounds.

Emma Cunningham

A soccer player from Patrick Henry High School who led her team to a 5-0-1 record in January and has 23 assists on the season.

Avery Haugh

A water polo player from El Camino High School who has scored 91 goals for her 18-3 team.

Tavid Johnson

A basketball player from Francis Parker School who is averaging 25.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.

Caroline Collins

A wrestler from Carlsbad High School who moved to the top of the 112-pound weight class with a victory at the Queen of the Realm Tournament.

Stephanie Hernandez

A soccer player from Hoover High School who scored 20 goals and had 9 assists in January, surpassing 100 career goals.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The diverse array of athletes recognized for their standout January performances underscores the breadth of talent and dedication among San Diego's high school sports programs, with stars emerging across wrestling, soccer, water polo, and basketball.