Brokton Borelli

Brokton Borelli at Stanford Media day.

Many high school athletes dream of competing at the next level, but the transition to college sports brings new challenges. Three Los Banos High School Class of 2025 graduates, Brokton Borelli, Emanuel Hurley, and Mikayla Mendoza, are taking that next step as they continue their athletic careers in college.

Mikayla Mendoza, a women’s wrestling commit to Lassen College, said the biggest change has been discipline. “It is a lot more discipline, on and off the mat and in the weight room, and it’s all on you,” Mendoza said.

She explained that there is always someone pushing to take your spot. This season, her main goal is to recover from surgery and be ready to compete. “My goal is to be on the mat by the time my season starts and take one match at a time to place at state,” she said.

Academically, Mendoza noted that college requires more studying and late nights, but academics are still the most important part of being a student-athlete. Despite the pressure, she is excited about traveling and making memories with her team.

Brokton Borelli, a Division I wrestling commit to Stanford University, described college athletics as a completely new experience. “It’s a whole new world, especially being at Stanford,” Borelli said.

His goal is to keep improving and win as many matches as possible. He explained that the work ethic at Stanford is intense, with athletes constantly getting extra work in. “The room always has someone doing something, even on off days,” he said.

Borelli is most excited about the challenge of being in a new program and believes that while strength and technique are both important, technical mistakes are quickly exposed at the college level.

Emanuel Hurley, a cross country and track commit to Dominican University of California, said the biggest difference has been the intensity of competition. “Practices are more in depth and there’s a big focus on recovery and nutrition,” Hurley said.

His goals include running consistent personal records, qualifying for conference, and scoring for his team. Academically, Hurley said college requires strong time management because of the heavier workload. “Everyone is working really hard, so every practice and lift matters,” he said. Hurley is most excited to compete against higher-level athletes and see how much he can improve.

These three alumni show the dedication and hard work it takes to compete at the college level. As they move on from high school sports, they are ready to represent Los Banos High School and continue building their athletic legacies.