Fourteen additional Class of 2025 student-athletes from Santa Margarita Catholic High School announced their future plans on Wednesday, February 5, as they celebrated their commitment to attend colleges from across the country for their sport.
The 14 join 45 other SMCHS Class of 2025 student-athletes who announced their plans in November. More student-athletes from the school are expected to commit and announce their plans in May.
Santa Margarita’s winter contingent is comprised of 11 boys and three girls, representing seven different Eagles teams and a club rugby squad. Santa Margarita's fall group was comprised of 31 girls and 14 boys, spanning 13 different sports.
View and download photos by photographer Steve Wylie.
Santa Margarita Catholic High school congratulates the following student-athletes:
SMCHS congratulates the following student-athletes:
Nicole Christensen of Lake Forest has committed to Texas Christian University for swimming. Nicole is a four-year varsity scholar athlete who helped the Eagles establish the Trinity League record in the 4-by-50 Medley Relay in 2023. She was a state finalist in the 200 Individual Medley in 2024, and is a U.S. Open qualifier. She is also a member of the Venezuelan National Team, having competed in two South American Championships and one Bolivarian Games in the past two years. She has received a Certificate of Congressional Recognition for her international efforts. In the classroom, Christensen has maintained a 4.04 grade-point average and is a USA Swimming Scholastic All American. Christensen has also engaged with several environmental cleanup organizations, such as Stand Up to Trash and ZeroTrash Mission Viejo. She enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach, doing ceramics and traveling.
Leo Francis of Laguna Niguel has committed to the University of Pennsylvania for track and field. Francis is a four-year member of Santa Margarita’s varsity track and field team and a two-year team captain. He was Trinity League champion in the 300-meter hurdles last spring and was runner-up in long jump, contributing to back-to-back Trinity League team titles for the Eagles. Francis has been All-Trinity League in four events – the 300-meter hurdles, long jump, 4-by-100-meter relay and the 4-by-400-meter relay – as well as All-CIF Southern Section and a State Championships competitor in the long jump. Currently, he is ranked No. 7 in the state in the open 300 meters. Francis was Santa Margarita’s Sprinter of the Year in 2024 and already this year was recognized as a Student Athlete of Character by the Orange County Athletic Director’s Association. Francis has a 4.84 grade-point average, is a member of the National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation and is a National Merit Commended Scholar. On campus, he has served with Link Crew and Student Ambassadors. He’s also a long-time volunteer with Lion’s Heart and Mercy Warehouse and, during his “spare time,” co-owns a resale business and works as a math tutor.
Daniel Fu of Mission Viejo has committed to the University of Chicago for swimming. Daniel is a four-year varsity swimmer for the Eagles. He was a finalist in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 Championships in the 100-yard butterfly and he qualified for State Championships, where he placed 23rd. Away from the pool, Fu is a scholar-athlete, maintaining a 4.65 grade-point average while pursuing a full International Baccalaureate diploma. He has been recognized as an AP Scholar with Honor, achieving top scores on every exam. Fu is the President of the non-profit Boolean Bears, where he developed and taught AP Computer Science A courses. He also is the creator of Swimzen Inc., a nonprofit for which he designed a website and taught swimming to students. Fu also has earned the President's Gold Volunteer Service Award for his more than 250 hours of community service, including teaching programming to under-represented K-8 students through the IgniteCS Club. In his free time, Fu likes to play guitar and video games.
Logan Freeborn of Robinson Ranch has committed to Cal State Monterey Bay for baseball.
Freeborn is a scholar athlete who has played designated hitter, first base and outfield for the Eagles. He has also played for the Saddleback Cowboys youth program since he was 10, receiving accolades such as 5-Tool West Coast World Series Tournament Most Valuable Player and Cooperstown Home Run Derby Champion. In the classroom, he has maintained a 4.3 grade-point average and developed a passion for film, specifically cinematography. For the past two years, Freeborn has participated in Santa Margarita’s International Baccalaureate Film Program and won the Outstanding Achievement in Film award in 2024. Logan has volunteered with the Never Ever Give Up (NEGU) Foundation, the Little League Challenger program and also for Sandy Feet Initiatives and Miracles for Kids / Boundless Athletics. He enjoys spending time with his family and girlfriend, watching movies and playing with his dogs.
Cade Gilbert of Ladera Ranch has committed to the United States Military Academy at West Point for rugby. Gilbert is a four-year varsity starter for the South Orange County Raptors Rugby Club. He is a member of the USA Eagles U18 National Team as well as the RFCLA U18 Academy and has toured internationally every year since his sophomore year at SM. He participated in the High School Rugby National Championships his freshman, sophomore and junior years and won the U18 bracket at the Mid-Atlantic Academy Championship Tournament in 2024 with the Legion U18 MLR Academy. Off the pitch, Gilbert was a scholar-athlete in football for Santa Margarita as a freshman and sophomore. He has maintained a 4.41 grade-point average. He was awarded two Eagle Foundation Scholarships, five Model United Nations (MUN) Conference Awards, and is a member of the Honors Chamber Choir. In his free time, he enjoys writing and performing with his band, Gill Freely.
Jenna Haigh of Irvine has committed to California Baptist University for diving. Haigh is a four-year varsity scholar-athlete and diver for the Eagles. She has been a top-10 finisher in the Trinity League Championships and is a four-time USA Diving Junior Olympic national qualifier for the Mission Viejo Nadadores on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards and platform during her 10-year Junior Olympic diving career. Away from the pool, she has maintained a 3.8 grade-point average and is a seven-time second honor roll recipient. For several years, she also has served as a group leader for off-campus ministry retreats. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the beach, playing with her dogs, and hanging out with her family and friends.
Brooke Kaltenbach of Coto De Caza has committed to the University of Pacific for water polo. Kaltenbach is a four-year varsity player for the Eagles and was a starting attacker for a Santa Margarita team that won the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship during the 2022-23 season. Her dedication to the sport extends beyond high school, as she has competed both in club water polo and as a swimmer. Away from the SM pool, she has maintained a 3.72 grade point average while serving as a Link Crew leader and in Peer Ministry. Outside of school, she is a volunteer youth coach at the Orange County Water Polo Club, sharing her passion with young people who are being introduced to the sport. She also is a Lions Heart volunteer. Kaltenbach enjoys going to church and the beach and playing pickleball.
Matthew Kim of Irvine has committed to Swarthmore College for swimming. Kim is a four-year varsity scholar-athlete who has qualified as a Trinity League finalist in the 200 Individual Medley and 500 Freestyle three times and competed in the CIF Southern Section Championships three times. In 2023, he was honored as the team's Most Improved Swimmer; this year, he is a team captain. Away from the pool, Kim has maintained a 4.6 grade-point average and has earned three scholar-athlete awards. He also is a proud member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. Kim serves as a student ambassador at Santa Margarita and is president of the nonprofit organization Students With Warmth, which supports the homeless and visits shelters. In addition, Kim has volunteered as a youth coach for the Irvine Swim League the past four years. In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his family, golfing with his friends, and playing computer games.
Adam Lee of Irvine has committed to Claremont-McKenna College for swimming. Lee is a four-year varsity swimmer for the Eagles. He contributed to Santa Margarita’s back-to-back CIF-Southern Section and State Championship sweeps in 2023 and 2024. Last season, Lee helped break a school record and earned NISCA All American status in the 4-by-100-meter freestyle relay. In school, Adam has maintained a 4.06 grade-point average while exploring his passion for business. Outside of the classroom, Adam volunteers for his summer league swim team and Mariners Church while actively participating in club swimming for Irvine Novaquatics. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and basketball with family and friends.
Nicholas Lee of Irvine has committed to Johns Hopkins University for swimming. Nicholas is a three-year varsity swimmer who helped lead Santa Margarita to back-to-back State Championships in 2023 and 2024. After transferring from St. Francis High, where he was part of two state-qualifying relay teams, Lee made an immediate impact with the Eagles, earning Newcomer of the Year honors in 2023. He has qualified for multiple CIF events and is currently a Santa Margarita team captain. Outside of high school competition, Lee swims for the Mission Viejo Nadadores Senior Elite team. In the classroom, Lee has maintained a 4.56 grade-point average and is a National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, and member of both the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation. His service to the community includes volunteering as a youth coach for the Woodbury Waves swim program and performing violin at nursing homes and hospitals through the National Teens Act. Nicholas also enjoys collecting vinyl records.
Valentino Nieto of Laguna Beach has committed to the University of Southern California for diving.
Nieto is among the greatest male divers in school history. He is nationally ranked and has qualified for the U.S. Championships while competing with the Mission Viejo Nadadores. As a high school diver, Valentino won the CIF San Diego Section diving championship and placed seventh in the State Championships as a freshman in 2022 before transferring to Santa Margarita. In 2023, as a sophomore, Valentino placed fourth in CIF Southern Section and then improved that finish with a runner-up performance as a junior in 2024, the highest CIF finish for a member of the Eagles boys’ team in five years. Nieto also qualified for the State Championships last year and, in his most impressive dive meet as an Eagle, finished sixth. Valentino’s top score of 566.85 ranks second all-time in Santa Margarita Catholic’s history. He also carries a 3.7 grade-point average.
Delmar Perez of Trabuco Canyon has committed to Whittier College for baseball. A two-year varsity outfielder for Santa Margarita, Perez is known for his leadership and ability to foster camaraderie on the field. He also gets great jumps on balls hit anywhere near him and, as a hitter, is always a tough out. Off the field, Delmar is an entrepreneur who started his own business and a volunteer for the Never Ever Give Up (NEGU) Foundation. Strong in his faith, Perez prioritizes God in all he does. He enjoys Bible study with his teammates, spending time with family and friends and working out. He also has maintained a 3.51 grade-point average. Delmar is especially excited to begin his college journey because he’ll be sharing a dorm with his twin brother, Aramis, who also will be playing baseball for Whittier.
Ethan Thomas of Moreno Valley has committed to Duquesne University for football. Thomas is a gentle giant – except when he’s competing on the football field. There are not many football players who can say they were three-year starters in the Trinity League – the toughest high-school football league in the country -- but Thomas earned that distinction. He played tackle in his first seasons at SM but was moved to right guard last season, allowing him to demonstrate his ability to pull and make blocks in space. Thomas is a quiet young man but passionate about his team and teammates. He said he enjoys working with coaches who care about their players and being pushed to his limits, breaking through those limits, then setting new goals. Thomas was a second-team All-Trinity League choice in 2023 and was invited to play in the Orange County All-Star Football Game after his senior season.
Hudson Vedder of Laguna Niguel has committed to Central Michigan University for golf. Vedder is a three-time All-Trinity League player who is captain of SM’s golf team this Spring. In 2023, Hudson played in five American Junior Golf (AJGA) Tournaments, placing in the top 25 each time with scores of par or better. He also played in the PGA West AJGA Tournament, firing two-under par for three days and finishing in the top 10 in a tough field. This past fall, Hudson won the Futures Champion Fall Tour Championship, shooting 66-69 to win by five shots. In addition to his love for golf, Hudson enjoys playing pickleball with his family and is a devoted fan of Cal football, making time to attend Golden Bears games every year.