Pioneer Athlete Spotlight on Ryan Morimoto
School: Clayton Valley Charter High School
Grade: Junior
Sports: Football and Soccer
Varsity soccer and football player Morimoto has been able to juggle two sports in high school plus club soccer while maintaining a strong academic record. His soccer career started when he was only four years old and his love for the sport has carried all the way to high school. He first played for MDSA, then transferred to the competitive Diablo Valley Wolves. During his freshman year, Morimoto was a captain for the junior varsity soccer team, then has moved up to varsity for his sophomore and junior years.
Morimoto has always been a big football fan, but he waited until high school to play on a team. Even before he started classes at Clayton Valley Charter he tried out and made the freshman football team. He moved up to JVs last year and is on varsity this season. Football head coach Tim Murphy commends Morimoto on his success and drive, “Ryan is one of the most mature and good-natured players I’ve ever coached. He has the rare combination of talent, hard work and intelligence’ and is someone you can always rely on. No matter what he does with his future he is going to be extremely successful. His family has done an amazing job raising him.”
Hard work
Morimoto’s hard work is exemplified in the awards he has received over the first two years at CVCHS, including special teams player of the year on freshman football, student athlete of the month during his freshman soccer season and JV football team’s Ugly Eagle award for exemplifying good character.
He notes that his favorite part of being a student athlete is being able to represent all of the students and staff members of his school. Morimoto’s motivation to do well in both sports and school is derived from the support of his friends, peers, family and teachers.
In addition to his performances on the football and soccer fields, Morimoto’s drive to succeed carries over to his academics. He achieved a 4.3 weighted GPA for his sophomore year and currently holds a 4.5 GPA this year. Throughout high school, Morimoto has maintained an unweighted 4.0 GPA, participates in the Medical Careers Academy and is a member of CSF. He hopes to continue playing football at the college level and plans to pursue a career in medicine, specifically in the pediatrics or physical therapy area. Morimoto’s positive mindset, well-rounded personality and determination to prosper are guaranteed to contribute to his success in college and beyond.
CVCHS student journalist Katherine Pugh wrote this Spotlight.
The Pioneer congratulates Ryan and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years 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 great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
Katherine Pugh
Katherine Pugh is a junior at Clayton Valley Charter High School. She enjoys running on the CVCHS cross country team in the fall in addition to the track and field team in the spring. Pugh also swims recreationally for Oakhurst Country Club in the summer. She is a part of the CVCHS Engineering & Design academy and finished her sophomore year with a 4.33 GPA. She’s also excited to be a representative for CVCHS’s ASB leadership group during her junior year. In addition, Pugh works as a hostess at Ed’s Mudville Grill in Clayton. She is very excited to be writing the Student Athlete Spotlight for the Concord Clayton Pioneer.