Yareli Gomez is Fourth Player to Sign from TC Women’s Basketball

TAFT, CA – Sophomore Yareli Gomez of Taft College Women's Basketball becomes the fourth player to sign a National Letter of Intent to play at the next level under first year Head Coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr.

Gomez, a 5'9 power forward, made a commitment to play for St. Mary of the Woods College (SMWC) in Indiana. St. Mary of the Woods participates in the River States Conference of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) led by first year Head Coach Terry Bowe.

After an outstanding 2023-2024 season, Gomez had a huge impact on her final season at Taft College by being voted Second Team All-Central Valley Conference. She averaged 3.5 points and 7.5 rebounds. Her career high was 16 rebounds in a game, while having double digit rebounds in 8 games, and being ranked top five in the conference averaging the most rebounds. Gomez was also voted Academic All-State in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.

Coach Bowe on Gomez, "Yareli will be a needed addition to our team and will be forced to learn under fire. We have a need at the 4/5 and losing a four-year starter at that position has opened a lot of opportunities for Yareli and others. We feel she is the perfect fit to take that leap and begin her career at SMWC. Yareli will join a powerful group of experienced ladies ready for a championship run. With four all conference returners and starters, the team is poised to expand upon its second-place finish and take the next jump of being an elite national contender."

Coach Lagmay expressed his joy, "I wish I could have Yareli another season. She is the ideal student-athlete, and you don't come across individuals like her often in today's generation. She was an absolute joy to coach. When the task was challenging, when the smoke was thick, and the heat was extremely hot, Yareli was in the middle of it all. St. Mary's is getting a work horse!"