Connor Luetto- Baseball

Chaffey College Athletics is pleased to announce Connor Luetto as the February 2025 Panther of the Month. The freshman right-handed pitcher, a graduate of Orange Lutheran High School, had an incredible month. Over 18 innings pitched, Luetto maintained a perfect 0.00 ERA, allowing only 4 hits and 2 walks while recording 13 strikeouts. The Panthers finished the month with an 8-2-1 record.

Kevin de Lama
Water Polo
sophomore

Kevin de Lama (Water Polo, SO) - Kevin de Lama is the sole goalkeeper for the Panther Men's Water Polo team and has a 48% save average and is ranked 10th in the state (4th in conference) with 144 saves.

Jared Bujanda
Baseball
freshman

Jared Bujanda (Baseball) The sophomore OF has hit .472 in the month of April (17 for 36) with an 8 game hitting streak, including a current 6 game streak of multi-hit games. He has hit 2 home runs and 4 doubles in that span, and is currently 6th in the state in stolen bases with 25. Jared is committed to play for D1 CSU Bakersfield on a full-ride scholarship.

Zach Kim
Baseball
freshman

Head Coach Andy Smith: “Zach stepped in to a starting role early March and ended up hitting .387 in the month, hitting safely in all 8 games he played in, including 2 home runs. He has also been exceptional on the defensive side of the ball locking down third base. He waited patiently for his opportunity to be an everyday guy and has done an outstanding job for us.”

Kristian Curl
Men's Basketball
sophomore

Kristian Curl had a great run of games in February. He made the winning shot vs VVC and led us with 17 pts in our upset win over Cerro Coso.  This season Curl has amassed 186 points and hit a career high 24 points in the Panthers' final conference game February 24th at Barstow.

Eric Milner
Men's Basketball
sophomore

Eric Milner is a 2-season guard from Eisenhower High School who played for the Panthers in the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons.  During his sophomore season he has repeatedly been a force on the court assisting the Panthers offensively and defensively.  In January he scored 114 points in 6 games (averaging 19 points/game) including 12 3-pointers. 16 rebounds and 7 steals for 01/22.  "Eric has been a consistent leader and scorer on our team." 

Sheick Diakite
freshman
Football

Diakite was recently named to the All-National Central team. In November, he pulled off 11 tackles including 4 solos against Riverside.

Benjamin Dow
freshman
Men's Water Polo

Freshman attacker Benjamin Dow led the Panthers in scoring last month with 17 goals. Dow played in and scored in every game this season with a total of 38 goals scored.

Joey Magana
freshman
Men's Cross Country

Freshman runner Joey Magana has continued to improve his time and performance since opening the XC season at the end of August.  In September, Magana led the Panther men at the Oxnard Invitational with a 21:48 finish.

Andrew Tafolla
freshman
Men's Cross Country

Freshman Andrew Tafolla comes to Chaffey from Los Osos High School.  In his collegiate debut, Andrew led the Panthers to a 5th overall team finish, completing the course in 22:24 for an 11th place individual finish.

Elias Jauregui
sophomore
Baseball
pitcher

Sophomore Elias Jauregui is currently leading the nation in strikeouts (52 in 7 games).  Elias is a returner for Panther Baseball having made 15 appearances on the mound for the 2019 squad.  Elias attributes his success this season to the hard work he put in in the weightroom.  "When I was in high school I really didn't lift.  I've learned what I need to do and it has definitely made a difference in my speed."  Jauregui's pitching speed has increased by 5mph over last season now topping out in the low 90s.

A 2020 scholar-athlete, Juaregi believes the same mindset he puts into his baseball has led to his success in the classroom as well.  "I chose Chaffey because it would give me a chance to really play and get used to the schedule of college.  I had 4-year opportunities right out of high school but after I met with the Chaffey coaches I knew this was the right place."  A kinesiology major, Jauregui hopes to transfer to a 4-year college and then pursue a career in physical therapy.

When not playing baseball or studying, "I do what pretty much all college guys do," Elias said smirking... "play video games."  He also enjoys spending time with family and hanging out with friends.

Darren Williams
sophomore
Men's Basketball
point guard

Sophomore basketball player Darren Williams has proven himself to be a leader both on and off the court.  Not only does Williams lead the Panthers in scoring (averaging 17 points per game), he also leads the team in success in the classroom with a 3.8 GPA.  A business administration major, Williams hopes to pursue a career as an athletic director or coach after college.

"I didn't get any notice from 4-year colleges when I was in high school," commented Williams.  "I saw what Brian (Beard) and Victor (Joseph) were doing at Chaffey and that's what brought me here."  Like Beard and Joseph, Williams is a graduate of Rancho Cucamonga High School. 

Four-year colleges are taking notice of Williams now as the Panthers continue their undefeated conference season with the 5'8 point guard leading the charge.  Coach Klein depends on Williams, "He is our leader; a clutch performer. Darren represents Chaffey College with class."

"We're going to go undefeated the rest of the way," said Williams confidently.  "All the way to the state championship."

Manu Oulai
sophomore
Men's Basketball
guard

Manu (Kehasson) Oulai is the "big guy" on the Panthers' Men's Basketball team and is averaging 12.2 rebounds/game (total 158) making him the leading rebounder in the state.  In addition, he has scored in double digits in 12 of the Panthers' 13 games this season, averaging 17.5 points/game and hitting a career high 30 points against Santiago Canyon on December 4th.

Manu comes to Chaffey from the Ivory Coast where he was a member of the country's national team.  Back home, he was the first captain to ever play and qualify for World Cup U19.

In Manu's freshman season at Chaffey, he led the Panthers to the Elite Eight, a trip he sites as his most memorable of the 2018-19 season.  Oulai's performance last season earned him SCC North Player of the Year and All-State distinction.

At Chaffey, Manu is studying political science and hopes to work for the United Nations improving the lives of people in Africa and around the world.  He intends to transfer this year and will play basketball at the four-year level and beyond.

Dylan Arreola
David Sweigart
sophomores
Men's Cross Country

Dylan Arreola and David Sweigart both chose Chaffey College because of Coach Rob Lander.  "I ran for Coach Lander in high school and I knew it would be a good experience running for him at Chaffey" said Dylan.  "Coach Rob is an awesome coach, he keeps us working to our potential," added David.  Both athletes ran all four years of high school; Dylan at Claremont and David at Alta Loma.

The pair recently made the trip to Fresno for state championships and both cited the experience as some of their best memories of the season.  "When we were at SoCA and I saw my name on the list, I was ectatic.  I was just on the cusp and I made it," said Dylan.  "His name was just above the line, that was pretty cool," chimed in David.  "Fresno was a lot fun," both agreed... dying Dylan's hair blue, the weather, being there as a team.

David & Dylan are both exploring STEM majors and careers.  Dylan is studying math and considering a career in mathematic modeling (creating simulations using math).  David is an engineering major and may specialize in chemical engineering or architecture.  Neither has selected a transfer school although David is considering staying local at Cal Poly Pomona for their engineering and running programs.

Coach Lander summed it up, "These two guys did the work. They showed up to every practice with great attitudes and did what was asked to the best of their abilities."

Gary Theard
Football
sophomore
Linebacker/Safety

Gary Theard was a 2018 SCFA Player of the Week and a driving force on the conference championship team until a broken leg derailed his season four games in.  Theard, a linebacker/safety from Upland High, came back this year and resumed his leadership role both on and off the field.  This season Gary leads the Panthers in total tackles (32) driving his opponents back 107 yards.  Theard is a 2018 graduate of Upland High where he was a three-time varsity member on the Highlander’s team playing both offensive and defensive positions. 

“I met Coach Hadaway when my brother visited Chaffey,” said Theard.  “He’s a good guy and a good coach and I knew I could come out and make a difference on a team that was struggling.”  Theard is the youngest of eight children with three brothers in the Marine Corps.  “I’m also the shortest male at 6’3.”  Gary knew he wanted to do something different than his brothers and after a 10 month stint at the Naval Academy Prep School he made the decision to pursue his degree in civil engineering.

“Theard is an all-around good guy.  He works hard and does what needs to be done.  He came back after his injury last year and has been a weekly captain for this year’s squad.” Coach Rob Hadaway

Looking forward to the last two games of his JC career: Mt SAC was a great game for me.  We’re the underdog and there was no other feeling than showing them last year wasn’t a fluke and in their house.  And for me to do that healthy this year; I was emotional.  We’re a team that is full of potential and we have yet to accomplish it all. 

Ivan Diaz
Men's Soccer
sophomore
forward

Caleb Arreola started his third collegiate game Saturday, posting a win for the Panthers with a TD and a 73-yard pass to score. 

Oscar Casillas-Palomar earned his first two goals of the season Wednesday in the Panthers' 3-0 shutout over Fullerton.