FULLERTON’S SUAREZ, SANTA ANA’S PEREZ NAMED 2022 NEVCO CHARACTER CHAMPIONS

It was announced by the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) on Tuesday morning that Fullerton's dual-sport athlete Cindy Suarez and Santa Ana's Cedrick Perez of the baseball team earned the 2022 Nevco OEC Character Champion Award.

This award is given to the student-athletes who displays the following values; sportsmanship, respect, caring, fairness, civility, honesty, integrity and responsibility shown through a specific action, ideally directed toward an opponent during competition.

The criteria also includes the action of putting the team and teammates before oneself while acting as a positive role model. The inaugural award was given out following the 2009-10 academic year.

Suarez, a member of the women's soccer and women's lacrosse teams for the Hornets, recently signed with Providence Christian College after a strong season as the team's starting goalkeeper. She earned a First-Team All-Conference nod after amassing 88 saves in 18 games while also being recognized as the squad's captain. Her goalkeeping talents transferred successfully to the lacrosse pipes as she racked up the Nation's fourth-strongest saves mark at 51.

She is an excellent student as she was named to the Dean's List in the Fall of 2019 and 2020 with a 3.24 overall GPA. Her work extends into the community as she serves as a volunteer youth pastor, giving back to various youth groups such as "GOALS", AmeriCorps, Critten Residential Treatment Center and Rio Vista Elementary in Placienta.

A four-year member of the Santa Ana family due to COIVD-19, Perez has made a lasting impact on many during his time with the Dons. He is the team's starting shortstop and earned 2021 OEC All-Conference recognition. This is due to his improved mentality of first guy on the field and last guy off. It was not always this way, but a shift in attitude and maturity has made him a more viable candidate for transfer to the next level.

His early morning wakeup call at 4 a.m. gets him moving, but he sets this alarm time by choice. He is often up early working by moving boxes and stocking shelves to earn money and follows by hitting the field. His efforts led him to see time in the field and on the mound this season.

Below is a full list of the 2022 OEC Nevco Character Champion Team: