The California Interscholastic Federation, CIF, Sac-Joaquin Section recently announced its A. Dale Lacky Scholar-Athlete Award winners for outstanding athletic performance, community service and academic success during their four years of high school.
Among the recipients were Wes Burford, an Oakdale High School senior and Maya Guzman, a Riverbank High School senior.
The award, named after former Section and State CIF President, A. Dale Lacky, recognizes the top male and female student-athletes within the Section. Each league is able to send two winners, one male and one female, to be honored. The scholarship committee has selected four male and four female students as the recipients of a $2,000 scholarship. The remaining nominees are awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Section.
Burford was selected as one of the $2,000 award winners; Guzman was named as a $1,000 award winner.
In addition, the Clarke Coover Award is given to two of the top honorees. This award is named in honor of former Section Commissioner Clarke Coover. The 2026 winners of the Clarke Coover Award were Placer’s Cooper Barr and Liberty Ranch’s Haley Smith. They received $3,000 each.
All schools were allowed to play one extra boys and girls volleyball match, an extra flag football game, and an extra boys and girls basketball game; the proceeds from these games went directly to the foundation for the scholarships. These games are called the Peter J. Saco Foundation Games, named after the former commissioner. Saco served as the Sac-Joaquin Section leader from 1993-2014. More than $60,000 was generated through the foundation games.
All of the winners were recognized at the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Breakfast Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at District 56 in Elk Grove. The Section was also slated to honor three male and three female model coach winners at the breakfast as well.
WES BURFORD - $2,000 recipient
Wes played football, wrestled and competed for the track and field team for all four years at Oakdale High School. In football, he was named all-State three times and is the Sac-Joaquin Section leading career rusher. In wrestling, he medaled in the state three times, most recently taking second, and is a two-time Section champion. He was named the D3 state overall athlete of the year as a junior. He won the Hope of America Award and is a member of Leadership, Leo Club, FCA and 100 Students. He volunteers with the Valley Home Harvest Festival and the OHS Boosters. Wes has a 4.2 GPA and will attend the US Air Force Academy, where he will play football and wrestle while majoring in business with the future goal of becoming a pilot.
MAYA GUZMAN - $1000 recipient
Maya ran cross country and played softball for four years each at Riverbank High School; she also played soccer twice and flag football once along with taking part in track and field. In softball, she was named all-SJS three times, league pitcher of the year once, and league Most Outstanding Player once. In soccer, she was all-league once. She won the Seal of Biliteracy and is a member of Link Crew, NHS, Avid Club, CSF and Skills USA. She volunteers with Riverbank Little League and as an after-school tutor. Maya has a 4.24 GPA, which is No. 2 in her class of 208. She will attend Stanislaus State University, where she will play softball while majoring in biology with the future goal of becoming a neuroscientist.
The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section oversees high school athletics for 208 schools and 225,000 students. Its geographic boundaries stretch from Merced in the south, Grass Valley in the North, Vallejo to the west and the Nevada state line to the east. The Section is the second largest of California’s 10 athletic sections.
