Maddie Schwartz – Girls Swimming
By: Lauren Fox
This season, swimmer, Maddie Schwartz, has shown outstanding performance and contribution in swimming for CdM. Schwartz has been recognized as a leader by example and has worked very hard to become an outstanding distance swimmer on the Girls Swim Team.
Schwartz has helped the team by playing a key role in victories over Irvine and San Juan. Her personal best is 5:42 for the 500.
“My biggest mentor has been one of our coaches, Stephanie Gabert. Also my team-mates, I would have never accomplished the things I did if it weren’t for them,” said Schwartz.
Schwartz has accomplished many things during her years of swimming, and through her hard work she has become a great swimmer.
Brent Gray – Boys Track
By: Hannah Hagemann
What one could call a veteran of the sport, Brent Gray began competitively running track at the tender age of 14, during freshman year.
He automatically found a connection with the 100 meter race,”because it is an all out sprint and always a close race which makes it really intense.”
Gray’s dad is his biggest influence to run track and pushes him to excel in track . “He was really fast back in his day and its fun to learn from him and try to beat his times, but overall its just nice having him at all my races supporting me, making him proud no matter, win or lose.”
Gray’s personal records are 10.8 seconds in the 100 meter and 22.2 in the 200 meter.Times he calls both “pretty lucky.”
Gray doesn’t plan on continuing track in college or in the future but advises anyone who wants to pursue the sport to do so.
“Anybody who likes running or thinks they’re fast should definitely g out and give it a try. It’s a really fun experience because each race is always going to be different and the coaches are really great and will help in getting speed not only in track but in any other sport.”
Matt Berry – Boys Swimming
By: Hannah Hagemann
A natural when it comes to anything water related whether water polo or competitive swimming there is no doubt Berry has a promising future in either endeavor. Berry was selected as CdM’s Swim Team athlete of the month. He began competitively swimming in summer 2009. Berry quickly found his favorite event to be the 50 freestyle, and presently holds a PR of 21.3 seconds. Rich Sagert, a personal coach Berry grew close to through club swimming last summer, has been his prominent influence in perusing his competitive swimming in the 2010 season. Berry’s final word to those who want to seriously pursue competitive swimming was that ” Definitely start with club and understand it’s a big time commitment, but definitely worth it.”
Sarah Keddington – Girls Track
By: Melissa LaBruna
Some athletes are born with an undeniable talent that leads them effortlessly to a career, while others that are born with that same talent are faced with career-jeopardizing challenges. On this harder path includes one Sarah Keddington. During her sophomore year she had scoliosis surgery. This procedure could have gone wrong at any moment, but thankfully she made it through and was able to compete 100% a year later.
Although Keddington has an overwhelming amount of natural talent, she still has to practice in an effort to improve her times. With a 6-day practice schedule each week, she is doing just that. Also, right before a meet, Keddington eats a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to give her more energy.
“I don’t even like them, but I perform well when I eat them,” Keddington said, about her pre-meet snack.
Through out her high school career, Keddington broke one record at the Trabuca Hills Invitational in the 800m. Because of her great efforts, she is going in to run next year at UC Berkeley.
Pippa Saunders – Girls Swimming
By: Jillian Kingkade
Pippa Saunders has been swimming since she was about 8 years old. “I started out really slow and bad. I only started getting better in the 5th grade,” said Saunders. Today, she swims the 100 yard free stroke at a startling 52.9 seconds. As far as this season, Saunders commented, “Since we had a new coach, Mr. O’Dea, and Stephanie Gabert, swim team became way more intense and everyone was serious about winning. Overall, [there was] a lot of improvement and success.” Pippa is the top girl swimmer for CdM. She has recorded two personal best times this month and helps lead the girls in wins over Irvine and San Juan Hills,” said her coach.
Blake Myers – Boys Track
By: Michelle Kim
Most people assume that the only way of becoming a varsity athlete is by starting the sport at a very young age, but this was not true with sophomore Blake Myers. He has only been running for two years and made varsity his freshman year for cross country/track.
“I originally was a soccer player and because Sage didn’t have an offseason soccer team, I decided to try cross country and track,” said this star runner. This season at League Finals he ran 1:59 for the 800 and 4:26 for the 1600!
“Whatever you do, don’t look back,” says Myers when in need of motivation. Even though running is a one man sport, he couldn’t have accomplished what he has today if not for his peers. “My motivation for me comes from my fellow teammates who push me to do better and Coach Sumner who is a great figure to follow and be lead by. My motivation also comes from the sport itself, in that to do well in running it is all about how hard you try; you determine how fast you go and how hard you push yourself to win, which motivates me to try as hard as possible and give 100% every race.”
“As a runner, I agree with Yoda, that there is no try, only do or do not,” said Myers.
All in all, Myers’ determination and hard work these past couple of years have proved to others that it doesn’t matter how old or young you were when you start a sport, but it is the amount of effort you put into getting better that determines the outcome.
Brynne Wong – Girls Swimming
By: Michelle Kim
“Let’s do this,” says freshman Brynne Wong to her teammates before each swim meet. Being a freshman didn’t stop her from working her hardest as a varsity swimmer this year.
She had done phenomenal in every event, but her records this year were with the 100 Butterfly and the 200 Freestyle Relay with Ally McCormick, Hollace Barden, and Margot Money. At the League Finals this year, she placed first in the 100 Butterfly and broke the school record!
She decided to start swimming at the age of five after watching both of her sisters, Natalie and Taylor, swim and she has held a strong passion for the sport ever since. “My role models are Jason Lezak and Natalie Coughlin because they are both such great come backs at the Olympics,” said Wong.
The people who motivate her to do better are her parents, her friends on Azot, and her high school coaches. “Even though she gets a lot of support from her teammates, there is no doubt that she pushes herself so hard because she personally wants to get better, not just because her coaches tell her to,” said Wong’s teammate and friend Caitlyn Brandenberger.
“You can walk away, say we don’t need this, but there’s something in your eyes saying we can beat this” is a verse from Taylor Swift’s “Change” that encourages Brynne Wong to never give up no matter what.
John Davenport – Boys Golf
By: Michelle Kim
Golf — one of the most strategic of games, requiring high concentration, tons of motivation, and extreme focus; all of which are qualities that sophomore John Davenport express. Davenport has been golfing for about eleven years and all of his hard work is definitely paying off because he is the Spring Athlete of the Month.
“I have always found it really fun and challenging. Golf is just addicting,” said Davenport. “‘You’ve got to stay patient, stay in the moment, keep grinding; You never know what can happen’ is a quote that motivates me from Tiger Woods. He is my inspiration because of his great work ethic and his dedication to the game,” said this golfer.
This year, his best round was at CIF team finals in Temecula. He had a pretty catastrophic start, but proudly managed to bring it back and shoot a decent score.
“I think everyone on the golf team helped me out a lot. We ll just had a lot of fun together and encouraged each other, and I think that made us all play better as a whole,” said John Davenport.
Lindsey Susolik – Girls Softball
By: Melanie De Arkal
Lindsey Susolik has been playing softball since she was five years of age. In her ten years of softball experience she has played two positions: third base, and catcher. At the age of twelve she joined a travel softball team, and has been playing with them since.
Susolik was the March Athlete of the Month for varsity softball because of her hard work, improvement, and her batting average. As the leading hitter for the month of March, Susolik was a major part of the Sea Queen offense.
What Susolik really enjoyed about softball this year was how much of a team sport it is.
“You need everybody to work together in order to win, and if you get down on yourself you always have your team to back you up and cheer you on again,” said Susolik.
Lindsey plays third base on her club team, and has played this position most of her softball career, but for Corona del Mar, she is the starting catcher, a position she has learned to play over the past two years.
“My favorite memory from softball this year was when we had our last day of practice and everybody went to the outfield and got hit fly balls and we all acted really dramatic by falling on the ground and pretending to dive,” said Susolik.
Overall, Susolik had a great season with the Sea Queens, and a fantastic month of March with her contributions to the team.
Shane Korber – Boys Tennis
By: Liz Barzegar
Team leadership and exceptional conduct are two reasons why junior varsity tennis player Shane Korber is one of this week’s Athlete of the Week. His third season play on CdM tennis proved very successful for Korber winning 12-3 with a sweep over the #2 Division 1 Peninsula Tournament. In addition, he almost went undefeated this season, only losing to the #1 player in the Division 1 University. He finally reached the quarter finals of Ojai in doubles. Korber’s success contributed greatly to the success of the rest of the CdM tennis team which went 18 in 2 this season.
Korber says his favorite aspect of being a part of this team is that he and his teammates provide ample support for one another in such an independent sport. Next season Korber is looking to all of the returning seniors and incoming freshman. He hopes his senior year on the team will be a great success as it has been in the past.
Weston Nielsen – Boys Volleyball
By: Hailey Senske
Weston Nielsen is an optimist when it came to volleyball.
“I keep myself happy on the court and rarely get upset no matter what is happening in the game. It helps me play at a consistent level if I’m not totally hacking,” said Nielsen.
Not only was the senior positive, but he was talented. The senior outside hitter was also a captain on the varsity volleyball team. Nielsen believed that he was the captain because he had competed on Varsity the longest (3 years), and gained the most experience playing for CdM.
“The best part about being captain is that I can make sophomores do whatever I want…literally whatever,” said Nielsen. Nielsen liked volleyball because it was fast-paced and everybody stayed involved.
Nielsen was headed to UCSB to play, and planned on playing beach volleyball with his brother Blaine.
“Don’t take anything too seriously, look to your teammates to get a good joke out of everything, and try to win for each other and nothing else,” Nielsen advised.
Alex Mainthow – Boys Lacrosse
By: Paul Zubatov
Alex Mainthow, number 11. What a great season he has had. A seasoned veteran among the always dangerous varsity boys lacrosse squad, Mainthow captained the Sea Kings to another successful season, alongside Ryan Mix. When asked where he gets his inspiration, Mainthow replied, “I try to draw most of my energy from the same sources that Goku does in Dragonball Z.” Supersaiyan or not, Mainthow displays the potential on the lacrosse field. His coach describes him as a “nut on and off the field.”
Mainthow’s only regret is not having another year to sacrifice for his team. Growing up with his teammates has undoubtedly been a huge asset for him, as the team’s style of play reflects cooperation and respect for one another.
Joey Booth – Boys Volleyball
By: Erik Ctvrtlik
Joey Booth has almost become a legend among CdM volleyball players. Transferring in from Sage, this 6-5 powerhouse sat out his junior season. Now, as a senior, he delivered for the Sea Kings. With a total of 247 kills and 31 aces, the outside hitter was an anchor for the CdM offense, and was voted part of the 2010 1st team All-County boys volleyball team. One of the three seniors on the CdM volleyball team, Booth has signed with USC, and will be on their campus in the fall.
Evan Dean – Boys Volleyball
By: Katherine Fox
Throughout the whole boys volleyball season, junior Evan Dean, standing at a modest 6 foot 3 inches, played his heart out. From game one to the CIF Semifinals, Dean worked hard and earned the title of being athlete of the month. Dean has been on varsity since freshman year and has made his mark as a middle blocker. According to OC Varsity, Dean is one of the top middle blockers in Orange County. At every game towers over other players when he goes to block or spike a ball with immense power. If one were to count how many times Dean has assisted, saved, or scored a point for CdM, they would run out of fingers and toes. Dean also has many other aspects that make him an all around great player. Dedication, sportsmanship, and teamwork are just a few skills that Dean posses and uses on and off the court. From his volleyball skills to great character, Dean has all of the qualities that make a great athlete and there is no doubt that he will go very far in the future.
Jaycee Olsen – Girls Track
By: Jenna Shapiro
Surely, you have heard her name before. Senior Jaycee Olsen has become somewhat of a celebrity within the CdM community. This track star excels as both a sprinter and a thrower, a rare combination valuable to the sport. Her unbelievable sprinting times include 12.72 seconds for the 100-meter dash and 26.1 seconds for the 200-meter dash. As a thrower, she has a record-breaking discus distance of 139 feet 7 inches and has a shot put distance of about 39 feet. This year, Olsen made it to CIF finals in three events—discus, shotput, and 4×400 relay. From there, she qualified into Master’s for discus and then State prelims for shotput.
Coach Bill Sumner said, “[Jaycee] has a fiery spirit that is contagious.”
Olsen will continue spreading her spirit next year on the track team at UCLA. Practicing six days a week, her unbelievable accomplishments and acceptance into the prestigious school prove that practice truly pays off.
Gabby Smith – Girls Lacrosse
By: Jenna Shapiro
Sophomore Gabby Smith has already made her impression in the lacrosse community. As both a freshman and a sophomore, she has played on CdM’s Girl’s Varsity team, this year helping the team to gain second place in the league.
Coach Aly Vislocky said, “Gabby’s passion for the game of lacrosse is contagious. This young player is a dominant force whose talent is only outmatched by her desire to play.”
This month, Gabby was selected to be a part of the Women’s Division National Tournament team, representing the best of Orange County and Los Angeles high school lacrosse players. In May, she traveled to Maryland to compete against the best lacrosse players in the country. Obviously, this young star goes after her goals—along with the actual goal on the lacrosse field.
Vislocky said, “Whether it be left hand passes, hustling down the sideline, or cheering her teammates on, Gabby is always 120% in the game in some way.”
The passionate player said, “Lacrosse is an awesome sport. I learned how to play in eighth grade and I absolutely fell in love with it. It’s like a combination of all the sports. It has the perfect balance of aggression and technique…plus the uniforms are cute.”
Katie Deverian – Girls Track
By: Jenna Sahpiro
As a senior, Katie Deverian has ended her track year strongly. She qualified into CIF for four events—the 200- and 400-meter dashes (her personal records for these events being 26.4 and 57.4 seconds, consecutively), 4×100 relay, and 4×400 relay. Her 4×400 team continued on to go to CIF finals, running an impressive time of 3 minutes 55 seconds.
Deverian said, “I like running because not only is it a great exercise and keeps me healthy, but also because CdM track is a great program and it’s worth going to practice every day to hang out with the people there. We’re like a big family.”
Attending University of Washington next year, Deverian is unsure of whether she wants to continue track, but she says she will probably end up walking onto the track team.
“Running has taught me discipline and dedication. I have learned many things from Coach like to never give up and to always stick with the plan. I know that whether I run in college or not, I will run for the rest of my life,” she said.
Golf — one of the most strategic of games, requiring high concentration, tons of motivation, and extreme focus; all of which are qualities that sophomore John Davenport express. Davenport has been golfing for about eleven years and all of his hard work is definitely paying off because he is the Spring Athlete of the Month.
Sophomore Gabby Smith has already made her impression in the lacrosse community. As both a freshman and a sophomore, she has played on CdM’s Girl’s Varsity team, this year helping the team to gain second place in the league.
