Cibola High celebrates six signings, Yuma Catholic advances to state title
Six Cibola athletes signed for college sports as Yuma Catholic golf finished seventh and the baseball team moved on to the 3A title series.
Six Cibola High School student-athletes signed to keep playing in college, a reminder that in Yuma, the signing table is often the first stop on a much longer athletic path. The Raiders’ celebration put Morgan Feller, Samuel Kirk, Mariana Vega, Nicolas Acero, Caius Lastra and Judd Thrower in the spotlight as the school again showed it can turn local high school production into next-level opportunities.
The names carry a familiar pattern for Cibola. Mariana Vega signed in 2025 to play basketball at Scottsdale Community College, Nicolas Acero signed for swimming at Quincy College in Illinois, and Caius Lastra signed in March 2026 to run track and cross country at Central Arizona College. Taken together, those moves suggest the Raiders’ athletic brand is not built on a single standout class, but on a steady stream of athletes who can attract college attention year after year.
That matters in a county where families measure school sports not just in wins, but in doors opened. Signing day at Cibola is as much about exposure, coaching, and sustained development as it is about celebration. The program has become a visible pipeline from Yuma classrooms and practice fields to rosters in Arizona and beyond.
Across town, Yuma Catholic kept its own postseason run alive on multiple fronts. The Shamrocks’ golf team finished seventh overall at the Division III Team State Championship, ending the tournament at 60 over par after two days of play. It was not a podium finish, but it kept Yuma Catholic on the state stage in a competitive field.
The baseball team gave the school a bigger headline. Yuma Catholic beat Northwest Christian 12-0 in the May 12 semifinal round at Tempe Diablo Stadium to move on in the 3A State Baseball Championship series. The Shamrocks arrived there after a dominant bracket run, beating Pusch Ridge 15-0 on May 5 and Tanque Verde 10-2 on May 9.
For Yuma County, the spring slate has underscored two sides of the same sports ecosystem. Cibola is sending athletes into college programs, while Yuma Catholic is pushing teams into championship territory. Together, the results show a local high school sports scene that still produces both individual advancement and deep postseason relevance.
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