Two Teams. Two Championships. One Unforgettable Day for Shadow Hills Athletics.

The Shadow Hills High School boys’ and girls’ varsity cross country teams delivered a remarkable performance at the Desert Empire League Finals on Wednesday, November 4, sweeping both team championships and bringing two league titles home to Shadow Hills.

The boys battled to a thrilling four-point victory over Indio, while the girls dominated the competition with an impressive 27-point championship margin.

Together, the Knights demonstrated exactly what championship cross country is all about: determination, depth, and a commitment to team success.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: EVERY POINT MATTERS

The boys’ championship came down to a true team effort.

Shadow Hills finished with 40 points, narrowly defeating Indio (44) and La Quinta (57) to secure the Desert Empire League title.

Sophomore Arzek Salgado led the charge, finishing third overall with a personal-best time of 14:34.2 over the three-mile course. Junior Demetrius Bribiesca followed with an outstanding fifth-place finish in 15:01.2.

But it was the Knights’ depth that ultimately made the difference.

Sophomore Liam Reyes placed eighth (15:24.0), followed closely by fellow sophomores Armando Morales in tenth (15:26.7) and Diego Guzman in fourteenth (15:33.9).

All five Shadow Hills scoring runners finished in the top 14.

Indio claimed the individual race victory, but the Knights proved that cross country championships are won as a team. Their ability to pack runners near the front of the field provided the difference in a race decided by only four points.

Sophomore James Duarte added an eighteenth-place finish in 15:48.5, further demonstrating the strength of the Knights’ roster.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: A DOMINANT CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE

While the boys fought for every point, the Shadow Hills girls left little doubt about who would bring home the championship.

The Lady Knights finished with an incredible 30 points, comfortably ahead of second-place La Quinta (57), followed by Banning (85), Palm Desert (93), and Indio (107).

Freshman standout Alana Fernandez led Shadow Hills with a remarkable second-place overall finish, clocking a personal-best 18:00.4.

Sophomore Jaquelyn Ayala was right behind her, finishing third overall in a personal-best 18:17.6.

The Knights continued their impressive performance with sophomore Abriel McDermott taking sixth (18:47.1), sophomore Marlene Barraza-DeLaTorre placing ninth (19:22.4), and junior Sienna Fernandez finishing tenth (19:28.6).

Five Lady Knights in the top ten.

That level of depth made Shadow Hills nearly impossible to catch.

Sophomore Anna Long also delivered a strong thirteenth-place finish in 19:52.8, while freshman Julianna Cornejo placed seventeenth in 20:19.9.

LEADERSHIP BEHIND THE SUCCESS

Behind the Knights’ championship sweep is the leadership of Coach DeTamble, whose dedication to the cross country program has helped build a culture of hard work, accountability, and team success.

Cross country is a sport where progress is measured one mile at a time, and championships are earned long before race day. The success of both programs reflects the preparation, commitment, and expectations established throughout the season.

With both teams standing atop the Desert Empire League, Coach DeTamble and the Knights have plenty to be proud of—and an exciting future ahead.

THE FUTURE IS PURPLE

Perhaps the most exciting part of this championship sweep is what lies ahead.

Of the ten athletes who scored for Shadow Hills across both varsity races, nine are underclassmen.

That remarkable young core has already helped deliver two league championships, providing an exciting foundation for the future of Knights Cross Country.

But championships aren’t built in a single afternoon.

They are earned through early-morning practices, countless miles, demanding workouts, and a commitment to teammates that extends far beyond race day.

On November 4, all that work came together.

Shadow Hills Athletics proudly congratulates every member of the boys’ and girls’ cross country programs and their coaching staff on an extraordinary achievement.

TWO TEAMS. TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS. ONE KNIGHTS FAMILY.

GO KNIGHTS!