ATHLETE OF THE MONTH
Swim Team Basks in Glory as Mission Leage Champs
Salas Scores Big- Diver Wins League
Swim Pushes Harvard-Westlake Out of the Limelight
Time Out- How Early Morning Practice Changed My Life Forever
Varsity Track Ends a Challenging Season
JV Softball Keeps Spirits Up
Varsity Softball Disappointed with Season
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“Go red! Go white! Go fight, fight, fight! F-S-H-A go, fight, swim! F-S-H-A go, fight, win!” The entire team and Teddy, too, huddled at the end of the lane, cheering their hearts out, |
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while the final varsity swimmer sprinted towards the finish. A few seconds later, ecstatic swimmers jumped and screamed, basking in the glory of beating Notre Dame Sherman Oaks, as they maintained their undefeated season and took the well-deserved title of Mission League champs.
With an overall record of 9-0 and 5-0 in league, record-breaking times galore, a first place win at the Royal Invitational, seventh place at the Mission Viejo Invitational and now proclaimed Mission League champs, swim’s drive was unstoppable.
A FSHA swim team hasn’t dominated the Mission League since 1995.
“The freshmen may not realize how special it is because they’ve only been here one year, but as a senior, I am so excited,” said varsity captain Chelsea Nugent.
Fierce determination and an intense team bond provided no chance that swimmers were going to let an opponent glide ahead. Even at the historical encounter with long-time rival Harvard-Westlake, which hadn’t lost a dual meet since 2001, the girls didn’t lose face.
“This has been a total team effort. When I came here the girls said they weren’t winning; I envisioned that the school would have a winning record. The girls wanted to do well and they did,” varsity coach Gary Appel said.
JV swim finished equally as successful with an 8-1 overall record and 5-0 in league.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” said JV captain Brianna Miller ’08, “and inspiring to think that last year we never won a meet and now we’re undefeated.”
Making history and reversing losing streaks weren’t the only happenings on swim.
Freshmen Shaylyn Stanley and Amanda Erwin on JV and varsity swimmer Andrea Kropp ’10 are among a few who broke school record times this season.
At Division II finals, varsity continued to overachieve. They won second place, behind Harvard by only 10 points.
Coined the “fab four,” freshmen Kropp (breastroke) and Briana Swinney (backstroke) and sophomores Trisha Dobson (butterfly) and Alex Marquez (freestyle), reaped first place in the 200-yard medley relay and lone diver Brittany Salas ‘09 ranked eighth at CIF finals, but their victories weren’t enough to vault Sacred Heart into first overall that day.
A week later at Masters, Tologs took home a runner-up plaque. Kropp was the 100-yard breakstroke champion and the “fab four” secured third in the 200 medley.
“I’m proud of each and every one of us. We worked our tails off, were there for each other, supported each other, and we push each other,” Miller said.
“I think it’s great for the girls and the recognition the school gets. Next year we can only get stronger,” said Appel.
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The lone Tolog diver, sophomore Brittany Salas, has once again dominated Mission League and proven herself in CIF. For the second consecutive year Salas won Mission League. For finals, her competition knew they didn't stand a chance and decided not to show up. Even in CIF, after failing her first dive and getting straight zeros because she basically fell off the board, she was still able to place eigth, a high jump from 15th place last year. "I was |
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better this year because I had a lot more experience and knew what was going on." said Salas. She will no longer be alone on the team as she expects two freshman will be joining in 2007. "She's an amazing diver and without her diving for our school, we would not have gotten the CIF runner-up plaque." said Mrs. Contreras. While most students will be enjoying their summers, Salas will be attending summer school, traveling to Europe to participate in the Oxbridge program and of course, she will dive. "Diving has no off season, although much to the disappointment of my coach I usually take August and September off," said Salas.
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while JV won 99-95, making this the first time Harvard-Westlake has lost a dual meet since 2001. A new era of FSHA swim began with the arrival of an intimidating army of freshman swimmers – Madeline Talt, Briana Swinney, Christina Brandt and Andrea Kropp – and suddenly beating Harvard-Westlake didn’t seem so impossible. “Our team was already impressive. But the freshmen gave us the edge up to finally beat Harvard-Westlake,” said Coach Garry Appel. The talented freshmen plus the already exceptional swim-mers from previous years made a deadly combination that was perfect for defeating Harvard-Westlake. The relay Dream Team, consisting of Swinney, Kropp, junior Beth Strub and sophomore Alex Marquez, took first in the 200 medley relay and then went on to take the top spot in the 400 relay, even though by then the team knew that the win was in the bag. The fan turnout at the meet was astounding. There were signs and even Teddy the Tolog danced along with the cheering. At the end of the meet, ecstatic swimmers gleefully pushed the two coaches into the pool in a swimmer’s version of coach appreciation. “You have no idea how good it feels to have finally beat them. This is my last year and I wanted it more than anything,” said captain Chelsea Nugent ’07.
From November to February, girls drown, punch, kick, pull and sometimes, bite me. Yet for the past four years, I’ve come back for more. I don’t enjoy pain. I play water polo. |
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Even early morning practices have more purpose in life other than making you get out of bed before Starbucks opens. From club volleyball to intramural dodgeball, sports can build up the body, mind and soul if we are willing to run, swim or kick our way to reach it.
Before water polo, I swam competitively, racing endlessly back and forth. Although my name appeared on the team roster, I won, lost and competed alone in races against my former self, my past times. Every new record I set instantly became another goal to beat, another excuse to focus on my race, not on my team.
I looked down and away from the people I competed against, the people I feared, the people I wanted to call friends. By carrying myself within my thoughts, I gave my team a reason to ignore me. I was quiet, they said. I had no thoughts.
I discovered FSHA water polo freshman year. Girls dug their nails into each other to rip the ball away and score a goal. It was so scary I had to join. I saw aggression, cooperation and control. Thought balanced with action. The self-poised with the team.
Yet, game after game, I tried my best to avoid contact with other players and kept my distance by swimming near the sideline. Only when the ball splashed in front of my face did I look above water. Charging masses of muscular girls approached. In a moment, they could rip the ball out of my hands, taking away yet another opportunity I’d watch drift way.
My teammates yell at me to do something. I sit and wait. No one makes a move, no one including myself. All along, I’ve waited for someone to take the initiative, to make something happen. All along, I’ve waited for me.
I hardly recognize myself now. No longer do I sit and wait. I make opportunities happen. For too long, passive silence consumed my world, paralyzing my thoughts with “What if” this and “should have done that.” Through water polo, I found I must not only listen, but I must also be heard. I found my voice. Take a chance, play a sport and find yours.
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JV Two track stars moved on to CIF finals following the team’s challenging 1-4 season in Mission League. Erin Hartwig ’09, who placed 8th in the 800, and Amanda Rincon ’08, who placed 8th in the 3200, both set new school records. Kathryn Poet ’07 placed 10th in both discus and pole vault, missing CIF by one spot. Athletic Director Ms. Contreras commended all the runners on their hard work: “Always at the beginning [of the season] we have lots of girls who try out; unfortunately we tend to lose girls as we go on this year. There were 17 dedicated girls who ran their hearts out and they did well.” |
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JV softball finished the season with an overall record of 2-9 and a league record of 2-4. |
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Varsity started the season strong but finished 8-11 overall and a depressing 3-7 league record. “Last year, the team made it to playoffs so it’s a little disappointing not being able to go. Regardless, the girls did a good job,” said Ms. Contreras. Though this season’s records didn’t meet expectations, the team worked hard and always kept up their spirits. “When we were down in one of our games, we had this intense energy, everyone worked together and we did an amazing job,” said Michelle Stansbury ’09. The stats didn’t matter as long as the team enjoyed playing America’s favorite pastime. With this kind of spirit, varsity softball will rise higher than ever in the years to come. “I can see the team doing better and better,” said Ms. Contreras.
