Mader, Schmidt named 2017-18 Rio Hondo Athletes of the Year

Two-sport standout Madison Mader from the women's soccer and beach volleyball teams and state champion wrestler James Schmidt have been named the 2017-18 Rio Hondo College Athletes of the Year.

Mader recently wrapped up the spring season as a member of the women's beach volleyball team. In just her first season competing in the sport, Mader teamed with Andrea Velasco to form Rio Hondo's No. 1 doubles team. The duo finished fourth at the South Coast Conference Championships and earned a spot in the Southern California Regionals.

But it was on the soccer field where Mader shined most. This past fall, she led Rio Hondo with 13 goals, 12 assists, and 38 points on her way to being named the South Coast Conference North Division Offensive Player of the Year. The feat is even more impressive considering Mader was the SCC North Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman in 2016.

Mader recently signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her academic and soccer career at Cal State LA.

Schmidt capped an amazing sophomore season for Rio Hondo on the mat with a perfect 3-0 weekend at the CCCAA State Championships to capture a state title at the 157-pound division.

If there was a Fresno City College killer over the weekend, it was Schmidt. After he defeated Northern California champion Josh McMillon of Fresno in the semifinals, Schmidt capped off his season with a convincing 13-4 major decision victory over FCC's Conrad Lopez, who defeated Southern California champion Wyatt Gerl (Cerritos) in the other semifinal.

In the final, it was a close 2-2 match in the second period, when Schmidt recorded a pair of takedowns to carry a 6-3 lead into the third period. After an escape point to start the third period, Schmidt also received a point when Lopez was penalized for stalling. Another takedown with 1:01 left sealed the win.