Morales, Altunyan selected Rio Hondo College Student-Athletes of the Year

Rio Hondo College has named Miranda Morales from the women's basketball team and wrestling's Edmon Altunyan as its Student-Athletes of the Year for the 2025-26 sports season.

Morales stood out not only on the court, but in the classroom as well.

The sophomore guard originally out of Covina High School helped lead the Roadrunners to a spot in the Southern California Regional Playoffs this past winter. She earned first-team All-South Coast Conference North Division honors after averaging a team-high 18.0 points as well as 5.4 rebounds per game.

Morales was also and Academic All-State honoree as she earned a cumulative 3.78 grade point average.

She leaves Rio Hondo as the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,091 career points and was a two-time All-SCC first-team selection.

"Miranda played a key role as a leader for us," said head coach Rene Herrera. "She can score at all three levels and consistently stepped up for her team.

"Off the court, Miranda is a great person who is respected by her teammates and peers. She understands what it takes to be a true student-athlete and represents her program the right way every day."

Morales is the second straight women's basketball student-athlete to take the honor after Alexia Valencia was selected last year (2024-25).

Altunyan, a sophomore from Montebello High School, was solid on the mat for the Roadrunners' wrestling team this fall.

He wrapped up the season with a seventh-place finish in the 125-pound division at the 3C2A State Championships and took fifth place at the Southern California Regional Championships on his way to All-SCWA Southwest Conference honors.

"Edmon was one of the most consistent wrestlers on the team as he placed in every tournament for us," said head coach Mike Tellez. "He led by example on the mat and in the classroom."

Altunyan had a first-place finish at the Cuesta College tournament, was second at the ELAC Brawl, and took third at the Santa Ana College tournament.

Off the mat, he totaled a 3.53 GPA and is set to transfer to Benedictine College in Kansas on a wrestling scholarship.

Altunyan is the second straight wrestler to earn the award after Julian Bilezikjian was selected last year (2024-25).