Artesia sports fans selected soccer player and track athlete Alani Escareno as the Artesia Girls Athlete of the Year.
Escareno helped Lady Bulldogs make history
Escareno helped the Lady Bulldogs to the best season in school history. The 2025 team went 18-4 overall and 6-0 in district play.
“I am really grateful to win this award,” Escareno said. “It proves that you can overcome adversity and setbacks.”
Escareno said the award carried extra meaning after she injured her Achilles tendon during cheerleading her sophomore year.
“I did not know if I was going to make it back to play soccer,” Escareno said. “I missed my junior year of soccer but was released to go back and play after seven months from the surgery. I wanted to play my senior year.”
A senior season built on work
She came back to have a strong senior season, finishing first on the team in shots with 11 and assists per match at 0.4. She was second in goals per match at 0.4 and goals with eight, third in assists with eight and second on the team with 24 points.
“Winning this award means that anyone can win it with hard work and dedication,” Escareno said. “If you put your mind to it, you will have it all day.”
She said the best advice she would give her Artesia teammates is to keep working hard because somebody will notice.
Learning the college game
Escareno started at Green River Junior College in Auburn, Washington, and said the biggest difference from high school is the speed of the game.
“The speed of the game is a lot faster,” Escareno said. “There are one, two touches on the ball. Everything about college soccer is so much different. Even warmups are different, and how other people around you play is so different as well.”
She said she also had to adjust her game to fit her teammates’ playing style.
Escareno will be remembered for her heart, hustle and being a good teammate as she helped the Lady Bulldogs make school history.