St. Francis High alumna Aaliysah Gomez took her collegiate softball career in another direction after hitting the transfer portal during the summer.
The former Sharks star athlete jumped ship to join Jackson State University in Mississippi for her sophomore season following her decision to leave South Dakota State after just one season.
“South Dakota wasn’t the best fit for me,” Gomez said. “The winters were really hard. It started snowing, so that was an adjustment. I knew it was gonna snow, but I didn’t really know how bad it would get.”
As soon as she entered the transfer portal, Gomez received immediate interest from Jackson State head coach Kevin Montgomery.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer because I already had a relationship with [Montgomery],” Gomez said. “When I visited here two years ago in October, I really liked it.”
Gomez, the 2023-24 Pajaronian’s Female Athlete of the Year, talked to several other schools during the transfer portal, including one from within the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
However, she remained adamant on attending Jackson State.
“Nothing close to home, everything was pretty far,” she said. “But Jackson State was always my first choice.”
Jackson State captured its second consecutive SWAC Tournament title by defeating Florida A&M on May 11. They also qualified for the NCAA Division I championships for a second straight year.
“The first thing [Montgomery] sent me was, ‘You missed out on a [SWAC championship] ring this year,’” Gomez said. “It was just a good conversation.
Gomez, who is half African-American and Mexican-American, said she also liked the fact Jackson State is a Historically Black College and University. She added that she’s looking forward to being in a new environment, meshing with her new teammates and becoming part of a winning culture.
“I really like the culture of the team, not just of the school,” she said. “And also the fact that they made the [NCAA] tournament two years in a row and won their conference two years in a row. That was a big factor, as well.”
Monterey County declares “Clara Adams Day”
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday honored former North Salinas High track and field athlete Clara Adams by declaring Aug. 19 as “Clara Adams Day.”
Adams, who transferred to Watsonville High in the summer, was recognized for winning a pair of Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Nationals gold medals and setting all-time county records in her respective events.
The 16-year-old Salinas native captured national titles in both the 200- and 400-meter races in 23.71 and 52.58 seconds, respectively, at Humble High School in Houston on Aug. 2.
Adams, who competes for Central Coast Cheethas in Salinas, closed the summer ranked No. 1 in the USA Track and Field 18-under division in the 200 (23.42) and 400 (52.58)—both Monterey County records. She is also ranked No. 6 in the world in the 400, according to the World Athletics website.
According to a press release sent by Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo, “This recognition not only celebrates Adams’ remarkable athletic achievements, but also her role as a source of pride and inspiration for Monterey County.”
Alejo added, “By declaring August 19 as ‘Clara Adams Day,’ the Board of Supervisors seeks to encourage and inspire local young athletes to pursue excellence in sports, academics and community leadership.”
The board also commended Adams’ coach and father, David, as they became the first father-daughter dynamic duo to win double AAU Junior Olympic titles in Monterey County’s history.
