Crafton Hills College Athletics celebrates team accomplishments, honors at annual team banquet

Publish Date: May 8, 2026

Crafton Hills College Athletics capped off a banner year at its annual awards banquet on May 5 in the Barabra L. Smith Event Center.

Roadrunner student athletes from the men’s and women’s water polo, cross country, and swimming teams were recognized for their achievements, from breaking records to maintaining a high GPA.

“Thank you all for coming…today. It’s so exciting to celebrate all the growth we’ve seen this year,” said Cross Country Head Coach Martin Zamudio. “Last year, we held our celebration in the cafeteria and now we’re in the Event Center. Who knows where we’ll be next year?”

Remarks from Crafton President Kevin Horan helped usher in the celebration by breaking down how Crafton athletics have expanded since his tenure as president began in the late 2010s.

Team coaches also took a moment to reflect on team accomplishments and contributions, while also noting how tough it is to balance a full-time academic schedule with practice and competitive events.

“Walking into this role [as head coach for women’s swimming], I knew we had potential, but I didn’t think anyone predicted how special this season would become,” said Coach Kyle Hurst. “But what makes our accomplishments even more meaningful is the commitment, resilience, and heart these athletes brought every day.”

Additional event highlights included a catered Mexican dinner and dessert followed by awards and acknowledgements. The following earned Team MVP titles:

·         Esther Crandell – Women’s Water Polo

·         Andrew Lambert – Men’s Water Polo and Men’s Swimming

·         Elizabeth Garcia – Women’s Cross Country

·         Johnny Chavez – Men’s Cross Country

·         Kelly Heredia – Women’s Swimming

Crafton Hills College Athletics actively recruits and trains student athletes of all levels and has plans to expand its program with the addition of wrestling, soccer, and women’s flag football, to name a few.