Delta College sophomore Ally Ratto has been awarded the 3C4A Student-Athlete Award, recognizing her achievements in athletics and academics while overcoming personal adversity.
The award, granted by the California Community College Counselors/Advisors Academic Association for Athletics (3C4A), honors one male and one female student-athlete from each college who have succeeded despite significant challenges.
Ratto, 18, has faced more than her share.
In September 2022, her mother was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer — a moment Ratto said “changed everything.” One year later, her teammate Kayla Crespin died in a car crash, shocking the Delta Athletics community.
In the months that followed, Ratto said her focus and grades suffered as she navigated the emotional toll.
“My high school GPA was 4.2, and my first semester in college it dropped to 2.4,” she said. “I had to put aside my academics to take care of my mom.”
Now, she’s turned a corner. Her mother has been cancer-free for a year, and Ratto earned a 4.0 GPA in fall 2024. She also helped lead the women’s water polo team to the 3C2A State Championship Quarterfinals — milestones she credits to determination and a strong support system.
“I learned how to lean on my team, my coach, the athletic department and my community,” she said.
Each year, 3C4A academic athletic counselors nominate student-athletes for the award, with winners selected by a statewide committee of experts.
Ratto said the award also acknowledges those who stood by her.
“It shows that what I went through was hard,” she said, “and it gives my mom recognition for the fight she’s been through, and my team for putting up with the fight of losing a teammate.”
Delta College Head Water Polo Coach Nathan Varosh praised Ratto’s resilience and maturity.
“Ally has made tremendous progress through the past two years,” he said. “She has faced adversity with grace and poise. She’s mature beyond her years and has a bright future ahead.”
Ratto wants others facing similar struggles to know they’re not alone.
“There are so many resources to help you, and it’s okay to ask for help,” she said, crediting Delta’s Basic Needs and Resource Specialists for supporting her.
Ratto plans to continue her education and athletic career at the University of La Verne, where she hopes to pursue a degree in psychology. For now, she remains focused on discipline, supporting her teammates and honoring those who have helped her persevere.
