Mesa's Jager, West Valley's Mahi Named CCCSIA 2023-24 State Athletes of the Year
Two-sport state champion San Diego Mesa College volleyball player Kailyn Jager and West Valley basketball star Elijah Mahi are the 2023-2024 California Community College Sports Information Association State Athletes of the Year for all sports.
The sports information association (CCCSIA) started the State AOTY honors in 2011-12. List of All Winners, click here
CCCSIA 2023-24 WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kailyn Jager, Sophomore, San Diego Mesa/Indoor Volleyball/Beach Volleyball (La Costa Canyon High, Encinatas)
Jager accomplished great heights as the 6-foot, outside hitter led Mesa to the school's first-ever, 3C2A state title in women's volleyball in December, then partnered with teammate Myah Gomez to win the beach volleyball pairs state championship last month.
Jager was the tourney MVP at the indoor championship as she a set a state tourney record for highest kills per set with 57 in nine for a 6.33 average. She helped Mesa go a perfect 9-0 in sets to win all three tournament matches as Mesa finished 29-2 overall.
In beach play, Jager and Gomez rallied to beat Santa Barbara City's Olivia Medina and Ashley Rossi, 18-21, 21-18, 15-8, in the finals for the pairs crown. Jager-Gomez also went three sets in a semifinals win over a Moorpark duo. In team play, Jager helped Mesa win the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference title and won her pairs match in the Olympians' 3-2 elimination loss to Fresno City during state team championship pool play.
Jager was an AVCA Second Team, All-American and All-State selection in indoor volleyball after finishing second in the state in kills per set (4.93). She was a CCCWVCA State Player of the Week in September. She was recently selected as Mesa's Athlete of the Year for all sports.
As a freshman, Jager was an All-SoCal Region player at MiraCosta College and finished fourth in the state in kills before transferring to Mesa for her sophomore campaign. In her 2-year community college career, she totaled a remarkable 919 kills and 661 digs.
Carrying a 3.8 GPA in the classroom, Jager is headed on scholarship to play indoor at NCAA Division I UC Riverside.
Jager is the third volleyball player to receive the SIA state award and second to play both beach/indoor as Irvine Valley's Annie Mitchem excelled in the two sports in 2014-15.
CCCSIA 2023-2024 MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Elijah Mahi, Sophomore, West Valley/Basketball (Potter's House Christian, Florida)
A 6-foot-6, forward, Mahi was the tournament MVP in helping West Valley complete an undefeated season at 33-0 to win the 3C2A state men's basketball championship in March. The Vikings became just the fifth team to ever finish as undefeated champions and the first in 18 years.
An NABC All-American and a 2-time, All-State selection as well as this year's MVP of the Coast Conference South Division, Mahi was at his best in the state final as he scored more than half of his team's points with a game-high 30 in defeating College of the Sequoias, 59-51. Mahi was 10-for-16 from the field and a perfect 9-for-9 at the free throw line.
He averaged 24 points in WVC's three state tourney games and in the NorCal Regional finals, Mahi tallied 26 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a win over Sacramento City. In five postseason games, he averaged 25.5 points. Mahi was the North Region State Player of the Year for the regular season.
As a freshman, Mahi scored a career-high 35 points in a playoff win over Porterville. He was Coast South Freshman of the Year and conference Defensive Player of the Year as well as All-State.
West Valley performed a 59-5 record in his two seasons and back-to-back, state tourney appearances. He averaged 17.5 points overall in both of his Vikings' seasons.
From Toronto, Ontario, Mahi played last summer on the Canadian U23 Men's National Team and helped Team Canada reach the championship game of the Global Jam.
Mahi will continue his playing career and education at D1 Santa Clara University.
Mahi is the second basketball player to receive the SIA state award in joining Santiago Canyon's Antoine Jenkins, who won in 2019-20.
Release by Robert Lewis, CCCSIA Executive Board member