As the athletic season at Citrus ends, several athletes are transferring to four-year universities and colleges to continue their athletic careers.
13 student-athletes who are playing their sports at the next level talk about their careers at Citrus, their support systems and moving on.
JJ Mitchell
Men’s Basketball
Cal State Dominguez Hills
“My favorite memory at Citrus has to be making the final four this year,” JJ Mitchell said.
Mitchell will continue his basketball career at Cal State Dominguez Hills in the winter of 2025.
Mitchell was named first-team all-Conference in 2024 and 2025 and was a two-time Western State Conference champion. He was also a part of the 2025 team to make the 3C2A state semi-finals as one of the top four teams in the state.
Mitchell said he is most excited to create new goals to work for in this next chapter of his life and accomplish them just as he did at Citrus.
He averaged 10.3 points and 1 block per game in 2025.
“My message for my (Citrus) teammates would be thank you for all the good times,” Mitchell said. “They will always be my brothers. Thank you to my coaches for pushing me to my absolute best and letting me be the best basketball player and person I can.”
Brandon Suber
Men’s basketball
Lewis-Clark State College
“I’m getting out of my comfort zone,” Brandon Suber said. “It’s exciting, it’s a change.”
Suber will transfer to continue his career at Lewis-Clark State College In Lewiston, Idaho, next season.
Suber was a part of two Western State Conference championship teams and competed in the 3C2A final four with the 2025 team.
Suber averaged 7.3 points in his Citrus career of 61 games.
“My dad has been my biggest supporter,” Suber said. “He’s at every single game. I would tell him thank you for believing in me, for being there all the time, giving me advice, instilling confidence in me and challenging me to be better every day.”
To his future teammates, Suber wants them to know he is ready to work hard with anybody and ready to better himself while having fun at the same time.
Pejan Slater
Men’s Basketball
Chaminade University of Honolulu
“My favorite sports memory would be the Elite Eight game, just seeing how much passion we played with, and energy,” Pejan Slater said.
Slater will continue playing basketball at Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Slater averaged 8.7 points per game while shooting 49.5% from the field during his one season at Citrus. Slater leaves a part of the Citrus as a Western State Conference championship team.
“My message for my teammates would be thank you for pushing me to become the best version of myself, both as a player and person,” Slater said.
Slater said he is excited for the upcoming exposure and the chance to showcase his talents moving forward.
Tyler Isaak
Men’s Basketball
University of Montana
“I’m extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to compete with (my teammates),” Tyler Isaak said. “I will forever remember my time with them and always appreciate their belief in me and support.”
Isaak will continue his playing career at the University of Montana.
Isaak averaged 18.6 points per game while shooting 56.4% from the field during his one season at Citrus.
Isaak was named to the 3C2A State Championship all-tournament team, 3C2A all-state team and was the 2024-2025 Western State Conference Player of the Year. Isaak also leaves Citrus a part of the Western State Conference championship team.
Isaak said that his biggest supporters were his family. He said he feels blessed and grateful for all their support and sacrifice to help him live his dream.
“In five years, God willing, I see myself playing basketball professionally,” Isaak said.
Blake Ballard
Men’s Basketball
Concordia University Irvine
“My favorite sports memory at Citrus was beating West LA on the road at the end of the season to secure the conference championship,” Blake Ballard said. “It was a special feeling to beat our rivals to win it on the road.”
Ballard will continue his playing career at Concordia University, Irvine.
Ballard averaged 12.9 points per game during his one year career at Citrus while shooting 52.7% from the field.
Ballard leaves Citrus a part of the Western State Conference championship team while making appearances in 3C2A elite eight and final four.
“The message I’d have to my teammates would be to wish them the best in their future in basketball and in life,” Ballard said. “The memories and relationships I made with them, I will forever cherish.”
Ballard said that his biggest supporter throughout his career has been his father. He said every value he has leads back to his father and he’s been his rock, especially when it comes to basketball.
“I’m excited to be able to play basketball for a great basketball program at Concordia University,” Ballard said. “I’m almost excited to see where this chapter of my life leads me to.”
Jo Olia
Women’s Basketball
Cal Poly Pomona
“It’s been a dream of mine since, I don’t know when, probably when I thought I was actually good at basketball,” Jo Olia said. “So I’m excited to know I am in a position where I can play at the highest level.”
Olia will continue her basketball career at Cal Poly Pomona in winter 2025.
Olia was named Western State South Conference player of the year in her first season with the Owls in 2023-24. She was named first-team all-conference in 2024-25.
In her Citrus career, Olia averaged 17.8 points per game and led the team to the playoffs two years in a row.
Olia leaves Citrus first all-time in career scoring with 1,053 points, first in free throw percentage with 88.2%, and second in three-pointers made with 98.
Olia said her teammates are a big part of what made Citrus a great experience.
“It’s hard to show up, but showing up for someone else and trusting that your teammates are going to show up for you, that’s my favorite thing about everyone,” Olia said.
Olia said her biggest support through her career has been her mom.
“Even on days where I don’t wanna be here or care what I am doing or care about the work I am putting in, she is all around campus telling people, ‘Look, my daughter plays,’ or, ‘Look what my daughter’s team is doing,’” Olia said. “I’m not one to be like, ‘Oh I’m this good,’ but knowing that she’s doing that for me and she cares enough and sees the talent in me means so much.”
Olia said she hopes to return to Citrus as a coach when she finishes her athletic career at Cal Poly.
Stevie Spencer
Women’s Soccer
Life Pacific University
“Game days were my favorite with my Citrus teammates,” Stevie Spencer said. “We always had each other’s back and supported each other on and off the field.”
Center back Spencer will continue her playing career at Life Pacific University.
Spencer played two years at Citrus, starting 38 of her total 39 games played. She also recorded four assists during her Citrus career. She was named to the Western State Conference first team her second year.
Spencer said that she’s thankful to her coaches as well as her mother and father for supporting her and pushing her to her best.
“My mom and dad have been my biggest supporters,” Spencer said. “I am able to go for everything and I know that they will always listen plus give me really good advice. … I couldn’t be more thankful for that.”
Megan Sewell
Women’s Soccer
University of La Verne
“Playing college soccer is rewarding in more ways than you’ll ever know,” Megan Sewell said.
Center defender Sewell will continue to play soccer at the University of La Verne. Sewell recorded three goals throughout her 40-game career at Citrus.
She was named to the Western State Conference first team her second year. She was also named to the 2024 Southern California All-Region team.
Along with captaining the Citrus women’s soccer team, Sewell also received the Ms. Hootie award for women’s soccer during the 2024 season.
Sewell’s favorite memory at Citrus was beating College of the Canyons 1-0 early in the 2024 season in a hard-fought game.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better team to be a part of these last two years,” Sewell said. “Endless thanks to Citrus and our incredible coaching staff.”
Emily Cherry
Women’s Soccer
Southwest Minnesota State University
“Thank you for the memorable two years at Citrus and pushing myself to accomplish my goals on and off the field,” Emily Cherry said.
Center midfielder Cherry will continue her playing career at Southwest Minnesota State University.
In Cherry’s two-year Citrus career, she scored five goals and collected 14 assists over 40 games. She was named to the Western State Conference first team her second year.
Cherry’s message to her future teammates would be to consistently work and play hard, while having fun.
“I can’t wait to play soccer at the next level and really get to put to the test as far as my soccer skills,” Cherry said.
Arianna Salcido
Women’s Soccer
Life Pacific University
“I’m super excited to start this new journey at (my) new school with new team mates and I’m ready for any challenges that may come my way,” Arianna Salcido said.
Forward and midfielder Salcido will be continuing her playing career at Life Pacific University.
Salcido scored one goal in 10 games in two seasons at Citrus.
Salcido’s favorite memory was when she got to bond with her teammates on a trip to Camarillo.
“These were honestly the best two years of my life,” Salcido said. “I’m so glad I did it with them (my teammates) and I’ll never forget it.”
Kori Cunningham
Women’s water polo, Swim and dive
Azusa Pacific University
“My favorite memory is traveling up to Santa Rosa to compete in the 3C2A State Championship swim meet with my coach Jordan Ellis,” Kori Cunningham said.
Cunningham finished fifth in the 200 freestyle and set three Citrus swim records.
She set a new school record in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle.
Cunningham earned first team honors for water polo in the spring. Her total shot percentage was 97.2% for the 2024-25 season.
She will continue her career in water polo at Azusa Pacific University next season.
“My coaches have pushed me to my highest potential, always had my back and have helped me transfer to a four year university,” Cunningham said. “My teammates are like my sisters and we have gone through highs and lows together. I consider them some of my best friends and I am truly grateful we crossed paths at Citrus.”
Cunningham said that she sees herself getting a doctorate in physical therapy after her athletic career.
“I am looking forward to continuing to play the sport I love and meeting new people,” Cunningham said.
Anika Nichols
Women’s water polo
University of La Verne
“I’m grateful and thankful to have had the experience to play at Citrus with these awesome ladies and dedicated coaches,” Anike Nichols said. “I could not have had a better team, environment to play and support group.”
Nichols is transferring to the University of La Verne to play water polo in the fall of 2025.
“I’m most excited about the fact that I am fusing my education and my water polo career at a whole other level,” Nichols said. “At one time in my life I was told this wouldn’t be possible.”
Nichols is thankful for the support of her parents for supporting her career and recovery at Citrus.
In 2023 Nichols fell 30 feet out of a ski lift and broke her eye socket, her nose, both wrists, tore open the lip and tore her spleen.
Her wrists had to be reinforced with metal due to the severity of the damage.
“While I was recovering, we were told I most likely would not play again, but I was way too stubborn and committed,” Nichols said. “They were by my side the entire time, pushing me and getting me all the help I could get to recover fast and safely.”
She also thanks her boyfriend Tommy for his continued support.
“Tommy has been by my side through all of it,” Nichols said. “Most of the time he’d hear me vent about practice or a game or see me cry or watch me be in pain because of my wrists, and though it all he told me some hard truths I needed to hear as well as pushed me to keep going because he knew my goal was to get back to where I used to be before my accident.”
Nichols said she is proud to play at La Verne and is excited to prove to herself and others that if it’s wanted badly enough, it’s achievable.
Ava Camarena
Softball
Cal State Dominguez Hills
“From starting 2-11 to being Western State Conference champions is my favorite memory at Citrus,” Ava Camarena said. “Most teams will either give up or have a lot of doubt of turning their season around, but team three didn’t.”
Camarena said their head coach, Jessica Brown, calls them “team three” because this is her third year coaching.
Camera will continue to play softball at Cal State Dominguez Hills in the spring of 2026.
“I am most excited to earn another degree and play the sport I have loved since I was 5 years old,” Camarena said.
In her one season with the Owls, Camarena had 15 RBIs, 36 stolen bases and scored 32 runs.
She also has 73 putouts, 10 assists and was named Western State South second-team-all-conference.
Camarena said her biggest supporter at Citrus is her coach, Brown.
“Not only did she bring my love for the game back, she also helped me love me again,” Camarena said.
Camarena said she had a tough season mentally and physically but stuck it out and saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
She said she thanks her teammates and coaches for making her better even on days where that might seem impossible.
“I am thankful for the path God has led me through and I am very excited to finish up my career at Cal State Dominguez Hills,” Camarena said.
