Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
Special to Valley News
Elvis Herrera has been making a name for himself at Vista Murrieta High School for his outstanding athletic prowess. Most recently, the sophomore won the Boys Wrestling JV 150 championship, Feb. 7 at Chaparral High School. Elvis, of Murrieta and the Soboba Reservation, is the son of Elvin Herrera and JoAnna G.
Head Wrestling Coach Zack Paterson said that since beginning his wrestling career last season as a freshman, Elvis has demonstrated his commitment to the sport and the team.
“At the conclusion of last season, Elvis was selected for our Freshmen CLASS Award as the freshman wrestler that best represented the five pillars of CLASS (Character, Leadership, Attitude, Scholarship, Service),” Paterson said. “Elvis continued the work through the Spring and Fall, during which he earned the title of ‘Workhorse.’ This season, the hard work paid off as Elvis earned his varsity letter. Elvis finished the season strong by winning first place in the JV Southwestern League Finals tournament.”
Elvis’ athleticism isn’t confined to one sport. He was also a linebacker for the Vista Murrieta Broncos JV football team. His mother said, “After football season, Elvis surprised me by expressing an interest in wrestling—and even more so by how naturally he took to it. Watching him step into a new challenge with courage and determination has been incredibly meaningful. He embodies the Native value of being a go-getter: setting intentions, committing fully, and moving forward with confidence and resilience. I am deeply proud of the young man he is becoming as he continues to honor himself, his family, and his roots.”
He has played sports such as baseball and football since he was eight but decided to stick to football and wrestling recently. Elvis is not the only one in his family to do well in sports. His mother says his siblings are all thriving and continue to walk their own paths with purpose and pride.
His sister Jezebel is a standout performer in winter guard and is currently ranked number one in California with her color guard team—a reflection of discipline, dedication, and the strength passed down through generations. His younger brother Dakota plays football with heart, perseverance, and humility, while his younger sister Jizelle brings spirit and positivity as part of the cheer team. Each of them carries the values of family, community, and respect as they grow and represent themselves.
“My favorite sport is wrestling,” said Elvis, 16. “I started just last year and instantly excelled at it with my record being 20 wins and 4 losses my freshman year.”
In the recent tournament, Elvis faced opponents from Murrieta Valley and Temecula Valley high schools before heading into the final match against Chaparral’s Maxwell Miles.
“My toughest opponent was in the finals against Max. I had lost to him a week before the tournament,” Elvis said. “We went through all three periods with a tied score at the end, which led to a sudden victory round that was one minute, and the first person who scored wins the match. My opponent was tired and left an opening for me to take my shot and get a take-down on him, earning me three points, which gave me the victory.”
He feels like his extra conditioning alongside his intense practice helped him wrestle to the end and gain the upper hand over his opponent when he was tired.
