ALEXIS TELLEZ / 2022-23 Male Athlete of the Year
A kingpin on the mat, sophomore Alexis Tellez has been named the 2022-23 Rio Hondo College Male Student-Athlete of the Year for his impressive accomplishments for the Roadrunners.
Tellez achieved a rare feat for the storied Rio Hondo College wrestling program. Over the 56-year history of the sport at the college, Tellez became just the eighth Roadrunner to be named an All-American for two seasons.
He wrapped up the 2022 fall season by finishing in third place in the 125-pound weight division at the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) State Championships. As a freshman in 2021, Tellez was the state runner up, taking second place.
On his way to state, Tellez earned All-Southern California and All-Southern California Wrestling Association Southwest Conference honors. He was third at the Southern California Championships.
Prior to Ro Hondo, Tellez wrestled for just two seasons at Arroyo High School in El Monte, making his dramatic rise to success at the collegiate level even more astonishing.
“Alexis had a great season finishing third at the state championships and earning All-American honors,” said Rio Hondo College head coach Mike Tellez. “He led by example, worked hard in practice, lifted weights on his own every day, and never missed practice. I’m very proud of all he has accomplished.”
Tellez is the fifth wrestler over the past six seasons to be named Male Student Athlete of the Year. Last year (2021-22), swimmer Alexander Dimitriadas ended a streak of four consecutive wrestlers to take home the honor: Daniel Romero (2016-17), James Schmidt (2017-18), Diego Sanchez (2018-19), and Kahlil Tucker (2019-20).