Grace Bailey from Soquel High School and Parker Boswell from El Diamante High School (Visalia) were selected Monday as the 2019 CIF Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Since 1982, the scholarship award identifies student-athletes who excel in the classroom, athletics, and are strong contributors to their schools and communities.
“I want to congratulate Grace and Parker, and the exceptional group of nominees this year that exemplified the best in education-based athletics,” said CIF Executive Director Roger L. Blake. “The students of California and our CIF scholar-athletes continue to confirm for all of us involved in high school activities that the future is bright.”
Bailey and Boswell were selected from a pool of 243 candidates representing 1,606 CIF member schools and more than 830,000 student-athletes statewide. The State Capitol and Senate and Assembly Floors will honor Bailey and Boswell on Thursday, May 16 in Sacramento. In addition, each will receive a $5,000 scholarship award.
Additionally, 20 CIF Section winners earned a $1,000 scholarship award.
Grace Bailey (Soquel)
Bailey is a three-sport athlete at the CIF Central Coast Section school, serving as team captain of the soccer, cross country and track teams the past two years. She has received numerous awards including AP Scholar with Distinction, Principal’s Honor Roll, National Hispanic Recognition Scholar, and Stanford Clinical Summer Internship Certification. She also invests in her community; as a sophomore, Bailey founded the Math Peer Tutoring Club, recruiting 18 math tutors. She is also heavily involved in the Link Crew program, mentoring and supporting incoming ninth-grade students.
“I have learned that athletics are just as much about competition and scores as they are about character,” states Bailey. “I believe that my actions throughout high school have positively influenced those around me, while also pushing me to be the best version of myself, building my own character along with my peers.”
“Grace’s academic and athletic greatness is obvious when you look at her accomplishments in both areas, but I believe it is her leadership and character that makes her really stand out,” states Soquel athletic director Stu Walters. “Leading by example she always plays the game with great effort, at the same time showing the utmost respect for the opponents and officials.”
More Bailey facts: GPA: 4.00 College: Vanderbilt University Career Interest: Medicine College Major: Medicine, Health & Society or Biomedical Engineering Primary Sport: Soccer
Parker Boswell (El Diamante, Visalia)
Boswell is a two-sport athlete at the CIF Central Section school, participating in baseball and football all four years, while also serving as team captain the past three years. He has been very involved in student government most recently serving as ASB President and as the elected student representative to the school board. Additionally, he has served his community volunteering with the Valley Children’s Hospital, the Miracle League, Paint it Forward for Heros, and tutoring his fellow teammates in Math and English.
“As long as I, Parker Boswell, can remember, my Plan A has been to graduate from UCLA with a major in Business Economics. Although life has dealt me many obstacles that may have caused some to entertain a Plan B, for me that has never been an option,” states Boswell. “I know now, cloaked in the characters of responsibility, respect, caring, and citizenship if given the opportunity, I will fulfill Plan A.”
“Parker is humble and respectful in his dealings with everyone, and that speaks to his high moral character and quality,” praised El Diamante Learning Director Larry Buenafe. “He is the kind of person you would wish for as a teammate, friend, and son. I hold him in as high esteem as any student I have ever had the pleasure to work with.”
More Boswell facts: GPA: 3.93 College: UCLA Career Interest: Wealth Management College Major: Business Economics Primary Sport: Baseball
2019 CIF Scholar-Athlete SECTION Winners
Central Section — Hayden Hobbs (Redwood, Visalia) & Lilian Svetich (San Luis Obispo)
Central Coast Section — Chris Anderson (San Lorenzo Valley, Felton) & Ana Gutierrez (St. Francis, Watsonville)
L.A. City Section — Calvin Stephens (El Camino Real, Woodland Hills) & Diris Pineda (Central City Value)
North Coast Section — James Schmidt (San Marin, Novato) & Katherin Tavella (San Ramon Valley, Danville)
Northern Section — Payton Fuller (West Valley, Cottonwood) & Sydney Rose Paillon (Orland)
Oakland Section — Allen Hynh (Skyline) & Nell Schafer (Oakland Tech)
Sac-Joaquin Section — Samuel Wright (Lodi) & Ashley Jones (Vacaville Christian)
San Diego Section — Tyler Cunningham (Mt. Carmel) & Gillian Folk (Academy of Our Lady of Peace)
San Francisco Section — Steven Wong (Phillip & Sala Burton Academic) & Kamiah Brown (Wallenberg)
Southern Section — Sangjun Lee (Redondo Union) & Kaitlin Day (Walnut)
