SAN LUIS OBISPO (June 18, 2021) – In 2003 the Cuesta Athletic Department instituted its first true Athlete of the Year Award. The coaching staff was encouraged to nominate their best athlete and a committee was created to weigh performance athletic as the highest criteria. Today Cuesta announced its Outstanding Athletes of the Year for the nineteenth time. The 2020-21 Cuesta Outstanding Athlete of the Year is Freshman Track & Field Star Madeline Fletcher (San Luis Obispo HS).
Freshman Madeline Fletcher (San Luis Obispo HS) burst onto the community college track scene with an explosive three-meet performance. Fletcher opened the season by posting an All-Time Cuesta Top 10 mark in the 800-meters at 2:17.49, however it was the shorter distances that allowed her to make her mark. In the 2021 Western State Conference (WSC) Preliminary Meet she qualified for the finals in three events. She eventually won a WSC title in both the 200 and 400-meters, while taking 2nd place in the 800-meters. Her time of :59.44 in the 400-meters also earned her All-State Honors (Top 4). Fletcher is the first Cougar to win a WSC title in the 400-meters and joins 2021 Olympic Trials participant Riley Cooks as only the second to claim the 200m crown. Fletcher just missed winning an unprecedented third title but finished 2nd in the 800m. She joins Cooks (2014), Christina Reyes (2003 & 04), Devon Kelsey (2012), Miranda Daschian (2017) and Abby Richey (2019) as the program's only double-event champions on record. She also joins Cooks, Reyes, Kelsey and Daschian as the fifth Women's Track & Field Athlete to be selected as Cuesta Female Athlete of the Year since the award began 2003. In the classroom, Fletcher earned All-WSC Academic Honors and has signed to compete for St Mary's College in Moraga next year. Her short stint at Cuesta has made a lasting impact on the program. She ranks #4 all time at Cuesta in the 400m (:59.44), 5th in the 200m (:26.13) and 9th in the 800m (2:17.49). Coach Brian Locher says, "Maddie Fletcher was a stalwart in each of her three track & field competitions this season, improving on her times in each consecutive race. Maddie left her best for last at the Western State Conference Championships by placing 1st in the 400 meters (59.44), followed by a 1st place finish in the 800, just 40 minutes later (2:33.20), and 2nd in the 200 a scant 20 minutes after the 800 in a time of 26.13. Maddie also ran on the 4x100 and anchored the 4x400 at WSC. Maddie now ranks among the top 10 all time at Cuesta College in three different categories (200, 400, 800) with her season best marks."
Cuesta College
Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year
2003 Shanna DeMichelle, Napa, CA (Swim & Dive)
2004 Christina Reyes, Los Osos, CA (Cross Country, Track)
2005 Jessie Ritchie, Arroyo Grande, CA (Tennis)
2006 Lindsay Campana, Templeton, CA (Softball)
2007 Whitney Levicki, Santa Cruz, CA (Water Polo)
2008 Julie Coelho, Lemoore, CA (Volleyball)
2009 Chloe Redman, Morro Bay, CA (Tennis)
2010 Kelly Barmann, Cimarron, NM (Cross Country)
2011 Alexandria Bernard, Porterville, CA (Water Polo, Swim)
2012 Devon Kelsey, Atascadero, CA (Cross Country, Track)
2013 Kryn Masutani, Honolulu, HI (Softball)
2014 Riley Cooks, Coarsegold, CA (Volleyball, Track)
2015 Rachel Gruetzmacher, Atascadero, CA (Water Polo, Swim)
2016 Augusta Thomason, San Diego, CA (Track)
2017 Miranda Daschian, Atascadero, CA (Cross Country, Track)
2018 Torie White, Los Osos, CA (Swim & Dive)
2019 Faith Archibald, Atascadero, CA (Water Polo)
2020 Martha Mora, Cambria, CA (Soccer)
2021 Madeline Fletcher, San Luis Obispo, CA (Track)
