RECognition: Jonathan Yepez, Competitive Sports

Recreation's monthly series to celebrate our staff

By Shawn Cyr
Assistant Marketing Director

It’s the Intramural Sports teams from campus clubs and organizations that always bring the noise. Their friends and fans add a little bit more drama to each goal or made basket.

And, quite honestly, Jonathan Yepez prefers it that way.

“It's always very memorable when a team has lots of fans come out to support them,” Jonathan, an Intramural Sports official in his first year with UC San Diego Recreation. “It makes the game more intense and it’s always funny when they cheer loudly or rush the field to celebrate.”

Jonathan is a second-year Data Science major in Seventh College. For REC, he has thus far reffed soccer (his favorite sport), basketball, and football. He’s also highly engaged on campus, participating in groups such as Student Sustainability Collective, UCSD Mentor Collective, and SPARK.

“My favorite part about working in REC is being a part of a fun and friendly environment where I am surrounded by sports that I love,” he says. “I also enjoy some friendly banter with the intramural players.

“I would say basketball and flag football are the sports where the fans get the most involved.”

That sort of passion is nothing foreign to Jonathan. A lifelong sports fan and Los Angeles native (specifically from Redondo Beach), he loves watching college and pro sports and rooting for the LA Rams, LA Clippers, and FC Barcelona. While he’s a diehard LA Galaxy fan, he “will definitely root for San Diego FC,” which is its inaugural season in 2025.

“I wanted to work for REC because I enjoyed playing intramural sports and I just love sports in general, which made it seem like an exciting department to be a part of,” he says.

And he’s fit right in, says Jacob Woodhead, competitive sports assistant director.

“He has stepped up as an official this past year, working both soccer and basketball this quarter,” Woodhead says. “He is always willing to take on an extra shift or cover for another coworker. He is calm in his demeanor and able to control the games that he officiates. I have seen maturity from him and the ability to deal with difficult individuals and keep his composure.”

When he’s not officiating or mixing it up with the other players, Jonathan also enjoys snowboarding, listening to music, and watching shows such as “Game of Thrones.” He’s currently on season four and his favorite characters are Tyrion Lannister, Arya Stark, and Jon Snow. (No spoilers, please.)

But unlike Westeros, this is San Diego, where winter is most definitely not coming.

Which means more sports for Jonathan to enjoy — and more Intramural Sports teams to bring the noise.