School: Clayton Valley Charter
Grade: Senior
Sport: Swimming

CONCORD, CA (July 31, 2025) — From the Concord City Meet at age four to the 2025 California State Swim Championships, Clayton Valley Charter’s Castaneda has made a successful splash in the sport of swimming. Throughout his early childhood, Castaneda swam on the Dana Hills Otters summer recreation team in his Clayton hometown. At the age of 12, he made the decision to elevate his focus on swimming and joined the Concord-based Terrapins Swim Team. There he practices year-round, with 8-10 practices a week, demanding he gives his best. Over the course of his swimming career, Castaneda has mastered numerous values and skills such as time management and mental toughness which set him apart, both in the pool and classroom.

Clayton Valley Charter’s swim coach Heidi McMillan notes, “Diego is an extremely hard worker with the ability to accomplish what he puts his mind to. When he sets a goal, as a coach, there is no doubt in my mind that he is going to accomplish it because that is who Diego is. He is a fierce competitor who doesn’t like to lose and allows that drive to help him accomplish incredible things.” These talents and characteristics have indeed paid off in the pool. Diego was an NCS and State Championship meet qualifier all four years at CVCHS and was a two-time All-America swimmer. He was named first-team all-Diablo Athletic League four times. Additionally, Castaneda was awarded the CVCHS Mark of the Year Award in 2024 and earned male swimmer MVP three years in a row. He also holds Top 10 all-time school marks in five individual events plus one relay.

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Outside the pool at CVCHS, he found time to excel and embrace so many Ugly Eagle values. He was a member of the Engineering Academy all four years and graduated with the State Seal of Biliteracy, finishing his final semester with a 3.8 GPA. Additionally, he participated in several clubs including Angels for Minis, Animal Aid Association, Vietnamese Student Association and Doctors Without Borders Club. Castaneda has committed to swim at UC Santa Barbara where he will major in actuarial sciences. With all that he accomplished in his years swimming, his friends, family, teammates and coaches are excited to see what the future holds for this talented athlete.

The Pioneer congratulates Diego and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for over three decades at Family Vision Care Optometry.

Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement, or a great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

Abbey Keller

Abigail Keller is a junior at Clayton Valley Charter High School. She runs cross country team in the fall and track in the spring. She has also swum competitively since age five. Additionally, Keller teaches swimming in the summer and tutors during the school year. She holds numerous leadership positions at CVCHS, most notably being the founder and president of the Sports Psychology Club as well as California Scholarship Federation junior president and Link Crew commissioner. She edits the CVCHS publication, The Talon, and writes numerous articles every year. She concluded her sophomore year with a 4.5 GPA.