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Mariah Bravo and Jake Houseworth were named the Fortuna High Athletes of the Year at the recent Husky ESPYs.

The annual event, which honors the school’s senior student-athletes, has quickly become a popular tradition for the Huskies, with the nominees all dressing up for the occasion.

Bravo was a two-time winner on the night, taking home Female Athlete of the Year and Best Female Individual Performance for her efforts on the softball field.

“Her performance wasn’t just dominant — it was the product of relentless work, quiet determination, and a constant drive to improve,” the coaches said of Bravo, who led the Big 5 with six home runs, batted over .475, and played stellar defense.

Bravo was a five-sport star during her time with the Huskies, competing in soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball and golf.

“Her drive to improve, her calm under pressure, and her consistent leadership on and off the field have made her a cornerstone of Fortuna athletics,” the coaches said.

Houseworth, who will play football for Cal after graduation, took home the Male Athlete of the Year award.

The outgoing senior was a two-time conference defensive MVP and is arguably one of the best football players to emerge from Fortuna in the last 30 years.

“Beyond his impressive accolades, Jake embodies exceptional character and serves as an incredible leader,” the coaches said of Houseworth, who also starred for the Huskies in basketball. “Over the past few years, he has been a coach on the field, consistently prioritizing his teammates and the team’s success over individual achievements.”

Bravo’s teammate Myra Hayes also took home a pair of awards, winning co-Most Inspirational Female Athlete and Female Breakthrough Athlete.

“What truly sets her apart is the way she leads — with humility, heart, and purpose,” her coaches said. “Whether rallying her teammates during tough games or lifting others up with words of encouragement, Myra shows up with quiet strength and unmatched character.”

Lauren Terrell also received co-Most Inspirational Female Athlete honors.

“Lauren is the true definition of inspirational. The kind of athlete who leaves a lasting impression,” her coaches said. “Her radiant smile, genuine kindness, and unwavering positivity light up every room she enters and every sideline she cheers on.”

Jace Barsanti, meanwhile, received the Most Inspirational Male Athlete award.

“Jace prepares and plays with a chip on his shoulder,” basketball coach Norm Sotomayor said. “Jace put in more time honing in his basketball skills than any other player. He works on his own, with the team, with his dad, with a private trainer and with the Redwoods players.  His work ethic put him at the forefront of being a leader and an inspiration to his teammates and our younger players.”

The Team of Year award went to the history-making Fortuna Cheer Squad while softball head coach Eric Helms was named Coach of the Year.

Among their many accomplishments this past year, the Huskies cheer team became the first from the school to compete at the North Coast Section championships and took home first place in the Non-Tumbling large team competition.

Helms, meanwhile, led the Fortuna softball team to a Charles Lakin tournament championship for the first time in seven years.

“Coach Helms has also made a name for himself at the collegiate level as an assistant football coach at College of the Redwoods, where he has earned two bowl championship rings in just three postseason appearances,” a press release said. “His coaching success spans beyond wins and losses — he is admired for his ability to build athletes’ confidence, character, and resilience, both on and off the field.”

Also honored were Jesus Herrera, who won Best Male Individual Performance and Robbie Shoemaker, who won the award for Male Breakthrough Athlete.

“Jesus Herrera didn’t just play a game — he put us on his back, carried our hopes, and delivered a performance that will be talked about for years to come,” his soccer head coach Daniel Holmes said of his big performance back in the fall. “Four goals. One match. One league title.”

Shoemaker enjoyed a big spring in H-DNL golf.

“Not only am I proud of the golfer that he’s become but I’m incredibly proud of the young man he’s developed into,” head coach Hec Wood said. “He is kind, caring, and always willing to reach out and help others.”

Most Scholastic Female and male Athlete awards went to Stella Lewis and Josh Fuller, respectively.

Lewis, who has competed in cross country and track and field for the past four years, “is an extremely academically oriented student athlete,” according to her coaches, who added “She is cheerful and always has a smile on her face. She never hesitates to help out with fundraising and any other activities associated with sports. While she works hard on all these sport and clubs related activities, she still maintains an exceptional GPA.”

Fuller, who played varsity tennis for the past three years, had the No. 1 GPA ranking for the graduating class of 2025.

“Josh applies himself to being the best at everything he does,” his coaches said, adding “What is really amazing about Josh is that he achieved the excellence of being a top male athlete while also being very involved in his school and community.”

Fan of the Year honors, meanwhile, went to Joe Toroni.

“Joe has been one of our program’s biggest fans and always has positive and nice things to say about the softball team and athletes,” Helms said. “Seeing him show up brings a smile to my face and warmth in our players’ hearts knowing his commitment to watching us compete in our regular season and playoff games.”