by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

The start of the school year is often a busy time for Claremont High School’s Lyle Mideiros.

The 17-year-old, now in his senior year, juggles the demands of school work and teenage social life with the rigorous schedule brought by autumn’s cross-country and band competitions. Even so, he manages to balance it all.

“The key is really becoming a leader in everything, because then you can kind of get a say in when things happen,” he said with a laugh.

Communication is another factor for success. “For instance, I gave my band director my cross-country schedule, and I gave my [cross-country] coach my band schedule,” he said.

Claremont High senior Lyle Mideiros juggles school work and a rigorous sports and band schedule with aplomb, and was recently named Palomares League boys cross-country MVP. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

But Lyle — the Courier’s 2023 CHS boys fall athlete of the year — has proven he’s capable of much more than just balancing a busy schedule: he is also a powerhouse competitor.

This year has been especially abundant. In November he competed as captain of the cross-country team and drum major for the marching band, and was the Palomares League’s MVP and helped the band to its second consecutive appearance at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Championships. He also led the band to an eighth-place finish at the Division 4 SoCal band and orchestra championships on November 22 (Results are at scsboa.org/2025-field-season). CHS competed in the 4A division this year, up from 3A last year as the program grew in size. And on November 13 he helped the program to a second place finish at the South Hills field competition, which secured Claremont’s trip to the championships.

Like marching band, Lyle has been a cross-country team member for each of his four years at CHS.

The boys cross-country team wrapped the season November 21 at the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championships, with Lyle tying for second at 14:06.7 among 128 runners. It was his personal best on a three-mile course. The girls team brought home the CIF-SS Division II championship with a score of 103, with the boys finishing eighth with 213 points.

A week earlier at preliminaries, Lyle took second out of a field of 380 with a time of 14:25.9. And at the November 7 Palomares League championships he finished first among 42 runners at 14:26.4, setting a new Palomares League and CHS record. The team finished second with 44 points. Lyle was later named Palomares League MVP.

“It was my last chance to win league, so I decided I’m going to go out and try to do it,” he said. “It was mostly, the guy behind me is a sophomore, so I’m not about to lose to a sophomore,” referring to Ayala’s Bryson Caganap, who took second at 14:32.

“What Lyle is really good at is taking information in, listening, and then executing,” said cross-country coach Mark Batres. “He doesn’t try to take what I say and spin it … If I tell him it’s an easy day, he goes easy. If you tell him it’s hard, he goes hard. So, his ability to listen and follow directions properly is, I think, the secret to his success.”

CHS instrumental music director Burke Shouse echoed Batres’ praise.

“He’s like one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever taught. He rarely complains about anything,” Shouse said. “I don’t think he ever leaves school. I mean, he’s always the last to leave. He’s talking to me, helping out … He’s just all over the place.”

The hardworking 17-year-old is now preparing for the spring track and field season and his final set of races for the Wolfpack.