Raiders send six athletes to collegiate level

Joined by friends, family and coaches, Cibola athletes signed to play sports at the next level

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Six student-athletes from Cibola High School celebrated the next step in their athletic careers during the school’s signing day ceremony, with each Raider preparing to continue competing at the collegiate level.

Among them was baseball standout Rodrigo Orozco, who signed with Arizona Western College.

“I’m really excited to take my talent to the next level,” Orozco said.

Orozco said Arizona Western’s strong baseball tradition played a major role in his decision.

“Arizona Western is a really good baseball program. Top 25 every year,” Orozco said. “So I’m excited to compete with the best and also put my talents out there and hopefully move on after Arizona Western.”

Soccer standouts Angelina Moreno and Danya Roman will continue their careers together at Cochise College after spending years playing side by side.

“It’s super exciting,” Roman said. “We were together throughout middle school, and now we came through high school together, and then we were captains. We did like everything together.”

Roman added that the opportunity to continue playing together in college makes the transition even more meaningful.

“We both found out we were going to the same college,” Roman said. “So now we’re going to be roomies and then also continue playing soccer. So I’m super excited for a new chapter of my life.”

While both athletes are eager for the opportunity, they admitted leaving family behind will be difficult.

“It was a very bittersweet moment,” Moreno said. “I love my family. And honestly, it was very emotional to be leaving, especially somewhere kind of far away.”

Roman echoed those feelings while embracing the opportunity for personal growth.

“I won’t be with my family. That’s the part that kind of breaks my heart,” Roman said. “But it’s a new chapter in my life. I’m going to start growing into adulthood.”

Softball player Karrington Jacobs will take her talents to Harris-Stowe State University, where she hopes to pursue both athletics and academics.

Jacobs credited her mother for helping her reach this point.

“She deserves everything,” Jacobs said. “I’m glad I had her as my mother. She is the main reason why I succeeded to this point.”

Jacobs said attending a Historically Black College or University was important to her because of the culture and opportunity to learn more about her heritage.

“I want to go to an HBCU just for the culture of it,” Jacobs said. “And to be the first one of my family to go to college and play sports — it’s kind of a pressure thing, but it’s also like, ‘Hey, you know, I’m going somewhere. I did it.’”

She also emphasized the importance of academics alongside athletics.

“They’re going to get someone that’s willing to not only succeed on the field, but also in the classroom too, because student before athlete,” Jacobs said. “You can't be an athlete if you're failing.”

Meanwhile, Sheyla Montano is headed to Mesa Community College and Cameron Kasid signed with Phoenix College.

Both athletes shared advice for future Raiders looking to follow a similar path.

“Don’t ever put yourself down,” Montano said. “Even in tough situations, you’re always going to make errors and mistakes, but don’t ever let that affect you.”

Kasid encouraged younger athletes to stay resilient through adversity.

“Never give up and always ask for help,” Kasid said. “Softball is a game of failure. I’ve gone through a lot of failure in softball, but that’s what pushes me every single day to become the player that I am.”