There are two- and three-sport athletes, and then there is Rio Hondo Prep’s Noah Penunuri. He stretched the boundaries for multisport athletes this year. Penunuri excelled in football, soccer, baseball and track. For good measure, he is also a Mui Thai state champion in martial arts.

At Rio Hondo Prep, multisport athletes are always encouraged and celebrated, but few have been as successful as Penunuri.

“Noah is the ultimate competitor,” Rio Hondo Prep football coach Mark Carson said. “The fact that he plays four different sports at a high level is a testament to his athleticism and work ethic. And you won’t find a better teammate. What he accomplished this year is remarkable, but you ask Noah and it’s no big deal.”

Penunuri was most dominant in football, where he led Rio Hondo Prep to back-to-back CIF Southern Section titles. He was named the CIF-SS Division 7 player of the year after the Kares beat Warren 43-16 in the championship game. Penunuri rushed for 1,965 yards and 31 touchdowns. He was named the Pasadena Star-News player of the year.

The Kares also won the CIF State Division 3-A Southern California Regional title with a 28-14 win over Poway before losing in the state championship game. Penunuri was named to Cal-Hi Sports’ 2024 All-State football team.

Penunuri was also a smooth-gloved left fielder for the baseball team, which finished 15-4 and won the Prep League title. Penunuri was solid at the plate, batting .285 with 18 runs scored and was named to the all-league team.

In soccer, Penunuri was one of the team’s best defensive players and helped the Kares qualify for the CIF-SS playoffs for the first time. He used his speed to run down attackers, and his toughness was felt all over the field.

There was a fourth high school sport — track. Penunuri finished second in the Prep League finals in the boys long jump with a mark of 20 feet, 9 inches. Penunuri qualified for the CIF-SS prelims in the long jump and was on the Kares’ 400 relay team.

Last summer Penunuri became a state champion in the ring when he won the California Amateur League International Muay Thai middleweight championship.