SAN DIEGO—(Jan. 5, 2016)—Danny Woodhead, the inspirational running back-receiver for the San Diego Chargers, Kraig Chiles of the San Diego Sockers and Arizona Cardinal defender Tony Jefferson topped the list of 15 athletes who earned Stars of the Month honors for December as selected by the San Diego Hall of Champions.
Woodhead finished with more than 1,000 all-purpose yards on a team that each week battled a revolving door of offensive linemen. He was a key player down the stretch, especially taking short passes and turning them into big gains.
Chiles, the face of the Sockers indoor soccer team, continued to shatter records, this time passing Breitbard Hall of Famer Juli Veee at No. 2 on the all-time list with his 255th career goal.
Jefferson, who first gained recognition punishing opponents while a student at Eastlake High, capped off a solid regular season for the Cardinals with 78 tackles, five interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Hawai’i Bowl MVP Dakota Gordon led the way among six amateur award-winners. Gordon led the San Diego State Aztecs to victory in the Mountain West Conference title game and the Hawai’i Bowl as the lead blocker for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers.
Others honored included UCSD basketball standouts Farrah Shokoor and Drew Dyer, USD hoop star Maya Hood, Point Loma Nazarene University freshman hoop standout Josh Rodriguez and Cal State University San Marcos basketball ace Darnell Taylor.
High school athletes also were in the limelight, led by football players C.J. Verdell of Mater Dei Catholic and Mark Salazar of Rancho Bernardo, both of whom led their teams to state titles. Olympian’s Lauren Appelman guided her volleyball team to the SoCal championship while basketball players T.J. Leaf of Foothills Christian, Khayla Rooks of Mission Hills and Destiny Littleton of Bishop’s dominated.