Knight Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Soquel High School

Sports run deep in Soquel, and Soquel High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Knight uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Soquel High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

1. Quinn Healy – Water Polo (Stanford University, Team USA)

A Capitola native and Soquel High School alum, Quinn Healy has emerged as a rising force in collegiate and international water polo. A standout two-meter defender at Stanford University, she made an immediate impact as a freshman and helped Team USA’s Women’s Senior National Team capture gold at the 2024 Pan American Championships, earning a berth at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. (Source: SantaCruzSentinel, StanfordAthletics)

2. Maggie Vessey – Track & Field (Middle Distance)

Soquel High School graduate Maggie Vessey built an elite track and field career highlighted by two Big West Conference titles at Cal Poly and a breakthrough victory at the 2009 Prefontaine Classic. She represented the United States at multiple World Championships, placed as high as fourth in the 800 meters, and helped set a national record in the 4x800m relay. (Source: CalPolyAthletics, WorldAthleticsOrg)

3. Christina Radvanyi – Water Polo

A 1999 graduate of Soquel High School, Christina Radvanyi was a three-time All-City and All-County selection and earned back-to-back All-Central Coast Conference honors as a junior and senior. She continued her water polo career at the collegiate level with Loyola Marymount University. (Source: LoyolaMarymountAthletics)

4. Luke Rockhold – Mixed Martial Arts (UFC & Strikeforce)

Santa Cruz native and Soquel High School graduate Luke Rockhold is a former UFC Middleweight Champion, capturing the title in 2015 with a landmark victory over Chris Weidman. Known for his resilience and elite skillset, Rockhold’s career achievements led the city of Santa Cruz to honor him with “Luke Rockhold Day.” (Sources: ESPN, SantaCruzSentinel)

5. Casey McGehee – Professional Baseball (MLB & NPB)

A standout athlete at Soquel High School, Casey McGehee went on to enjoy a successful professional baseball career in both Major League Baseball and Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. A 2014 NL Comeback Player of the Year, McGehee later transitioned into coaching and was named head baseball coach at Union University in 2022. (Sources: ESPN, UnionUniversityAthletics)

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