These 4 Redding students earn Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week award (Oct. 10-15)

Ethan Hanson, Redding Record Searchlight
·3 min read
Enterprise quarterback Jaylen Johnson (top left), U-Prep senior Morgan Wilding (top right), Shasta senior Natalya Turner (middle left) and Redding Christian senior Joey Casey (middle right) were named Athletes of the Week.
Enterprise quarterback Jaylen Johnson (top left), U-Prep senior Morgan Wilding (top right), Shasta senior Natalya Turner (middle left) and Redding Christian senior Joey Casey (middle right) were named Athletes of the Week.

Two male and female students were selected as the Shasta YMCA Athletes of the Week for performances between Oct. 10 and Oct. 15.

An Enterprise sophomore rose to the occasion at River Bowl XXX last Friday and a U-Prep senior led her team in assists during a volleyball tournament at Pleasant Valley High School last Saturday.

Redding Christian football earned its second victory of the season with help from a senior wide receiver last Friday, and a Shasta senior helped her team score wins against Chico and Pleasant Valley.

Read on about this week's Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week.

Male Athlete of the Week

Enterprise quarterback Jaylen Johnson (7) runs for a first down against Shasta’s Carter Oliver (22) in the first quarter of the River Bowl on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022 in Thompson Field. The Hornets defeated the Wolves 41-14 in River Bowl XXX, a tradition of the rivalry between the two Redding schools.
Enterprise quarterback Jaylen Johnson (7) runs for a first down against Shasta’s Carter Oliver (22) in the first quarter of the River Bowl on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022 in Thompson Field. The Hornets defeated the Wolves 41-14 in River Bowl XXX, a tradition of the rivalry between the two Redding schools.

Jaylen Johnson

School: Enterprise

Grade: Sophomore

Sport: Football

Position: Quarterback and defensive back

Team contributions: Johnson was named the River Bowl XXX Most Valuable Player after leading Enterprise to victory against Shasta, 41-14. Johnson completed 15 of 17 passes for 218 yards and three passing touchdowns. Johnson also ran for 62 yards, a touchdown and had a completion percentage of 88.2%. He also made three tackles. Enterprise (7-0, 2-0 EAL) has won seven games to start a season for the first time since 2013. The Hornets travel on Friday to play Red Bluff.

Redding Christian senior wide receiver Joey Casey seen at his school was named one of four Athletes of the Week on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.
Redding Christian senior wide receiver Joey Casey seen at his school was named one of four Athletes of the Week on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.

Joey Casey

School: Redding Christian

Grade: Senior

Sport: Football

Position: Defensive back and wide receiver

Team contributions: Casey made several key plays in Redding Christian's 14-7 victory against Modoc. Casey caught a touchdown with four minutes in the fourth quarter and intercepted a pass with a minute left to help the Lions secure a win on the road. The win helped Redding Christian stay in playoff contention. Redding Christian (2-5, 2-4 CVL) travels Friday to play Los Molinos.

Female Athletes of the Week

U-Prep junior setter Morgan Wilding sets a ball as her team swept Colusa, 25-15, 25-14, 25-12, to take the Division IV championship title in Red Bluff on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.
U-Prep junior setter Morgan Wilding sets a ball as her team swept Colusa, 25-15, 25-14, 25-12, to take the Division IV championship title in Red Bluff on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021.

Morgan Wilding

School: U-Prep

Grade: Senior

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Setter

Team contribution: Wilding led U-Prep to impressive victories against top teams from Northern California and won the Viking Classic at Pleasant Valley High School last Saturday. Wilding averaged 20 assists per game and U-Prep scored victories over Nevada Union (25-15 25-16), Del Oro (25-13 25-19), Vanden of Fairfield (25-9 25-10), Carondelet of Concord (25-20 21-25 15-10) and Pleasant Valley (25-22, 25-18). U-Prep (34-3, 9-0 NAL) has won 21 straight matches. The Panthers close the regular season at home against Anderson this Tuesday and at home against West Valley on Thursday.

Shasta senior outside hitter Natalya Turner poses for a photo before playing scrimmages at Foothill High School on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022.
Shasta senior outside hitter Natalya Turner poses for a photo before playing scrimmages at Foothill High School on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022.

Natalya Turner

School: Shasta

Grade: Senior

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Outside hitter and setter

Team contributions: Shasta, led by Turner, earned five set victories at home against Pleasant Valley and Chico. Turner had 11 kills and 13 kills against Pleasant Valley on Oct. 11. Turner followed with 20 kills and 28 digs against Chico last Thursday. Shasta (16-17, 4-4 EAL) is tied for third place in the Eastern Athletic League standing with Chico. Shasta plays Enterprise on the road on Tuesday and hosts Red Bluff on Thursday.

Each week, the Record Searchlight selects the girl and boy athletes who stand out based on merits from their performance in the prior week. Profiles highlight their accomplishments on the field or inside the gym and provide a glimpse into who they are as students. To make suggestions for R-S Athletes of the Week, email sports reporter Ethan Hanson at ethan.hanson@redding.com or go to bit.ly/3HuxlfW. 

Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Shasta Family YMCA Athletes of the Week