C3 Sports
Friday, February 11, 2011
Grizzly talent travels afar
James Kinloch, Willamette University
w The Granite Bay Gazette
Nate Esposito, Oregon State University
Alison and Jessica Hamby, Wagner College
Maddie Lummis, Chico State
Kevin Nielsen, Brigham Young University
Elliot Adams, Cal Poly SLO Chelsea Putman, Point Loma University
Matt Kasner, Brown University Nik Reeves, Grand Canyon University
Brooke Holt, Georgetown University
Kendall Modiste, San Diego State University
Seniors courted by universities
Gazette illustration/ALISON SALE Gazette photos /RACHAEL VASQUEZ
BY CHRISTINE ZAVESKY
O
czavesky.gazette@gmail.com
ver a dozen Granite Bay High School senior student-athletes have to traveled around the the school, country visiting various instiindicating his full intent to go I wouldn’t take tutes of higher education in through with the process. anything back from search of a university to earn a “I had to send my transcripts, in-progress degree at and compete athletithat trip. I’m really transcripts, letters of recommendation, and my cally. application (to the university),” Kasner said. glad I went and got These “official” visits are “We talked and called each other, and he set to experience what limited to five because the it up on his own. Then he mailed the flight athletic department of the uniit is like. list and told me what to do (to finalize everyversity pays for the visit. thing).” When he visited Brown Uni– Matt Kasner, GBHS During the visit itself, the number of athletes versity in Rhode Island from senior on the trip can vary greatly. Kasner said there January 21-23, senior football were 18 other athletes on his trip, while Hamby player Matt Kasner’s host from and her sister were the only two on their trip to the team was given a card to Wagner College in Staten Island, New York. cover the cost of everything However, some elements of official visits they were to do. are consistent in all sports and colleges, such as touring “They paid for (my) flight because it’s obviously a long the campus, spending time with the team, and going to see trip to get there, a car for (me) and (my) host and gave (us) some of the interesting places in the immediate area. money so (we could) do whatever (we) wanted,” Kasner Senior track athlete Maddie Lummis did all of these dursaid. ing her trip to California State University Chico, where she This seemingly endless flow of money allows prospective says she captured a snapshot of the college experience. student athletes to feel the full spectrum of possibilities the “The best part was (of the trip) is figuring out what colschool and its surroundings have to offer. lege is like because going to tour and see the campus can “The first night we went to Dave and Buster’s to loosen give you the vibe of the school,” she said. “But by spendthe mood and play some video games, toured the campus ing the night, eating in the hall, and taking a shower there, and visited the football stadium,” Kasner said. “On Saturyou can get a lot better idea of the school, even if you’re day we went to a hockey game, which was extremely fun just there for one night.” to watch. After the game, they had dinner waiting for us Even if the school isn’t an athlete’s first choice, the expeand then we walked around and met people, got the lay of rience can still be a positive one. the land, and stayed up until 2 a.m. just hanging out.” “I had a great time (at Brown). I loved visiting the school As much as official visits are fantastic experiences for and seeing the great connection players had with one recruits, they come as a result of both outstanding athletic another,” Kasner said. “I wouldn’t take anything back from achievement and a job-like effort to maintain relationships that trip. I’m really glad I went and got to experience what with prospective programs, including extensive exchanges it is like.” of phone calls between coach and athlete starting July 1 However, official visits don’t necessarily end with the after the athlete’s junior year. athlete giving a verbal commitment to the school. With After seeing the effort that her older brother had to put Brown, Kasner was given a one day window following his visit to decide the next four years of life. With Staninto the recruiting process, senior water polo player Jessica ford University still an option, he had to decline attending Hamby was well aware of how the relations with college Brown has hopes to play in Palo Alto next year for the coaches works and dove into the process slightly earlier Cardinal. than most athletes. “I’m not a kid who is going to make a quick decision that “(My sister Alison and I) emailed coaches and let them will affect the rest of my life,” he said. “I wasn’t about to get to know us (early on), so (the process) started a couple put my whole life on the line because I thought I might like of months before the end of junior year for us,” Hamby Brown more when I hadn’t even experienced Stanford.” said. “We started right away talking to coaches and introUnlike Kasner, Hamby and her sister are weighing their ducing ourselves.” options still and anticipate making a decision in April. They Once a coach feels like the athlete is comfortable with himself and the program, the plan for an official visit begins are very much looking forward to the end of the intensive process and are ready to reap the rewards of their labors. to unfold. “The process has been really long but worth it,” Hamby For his January visit to Brown, Kasner began planning it said. “All the hard work definitely opened up a lot of opin November with the university’s local recruiting director. portunities for us.” In order to go on the visit, he had to submit his application
Sophomore wrestler Phil Canete finds GBHS junior varsity success BY MATT PALKOWSKI
mpalkowski.gazette@gmail.com
Even though he has been wrestling for just two and a half years, Phil Canete is making quick strides in his sophomore year at Granite Bay High School. Surprisingly, even though his parents were unfamiliar with wrestling, he felt that he was able to easily catch on to this sport. “I started wrestling last year. I started because I wanted a new challenge,” Phil Canete said. “I really don’t think I have reached my peak and I have a lot of room left for extreme improvement.” Being a sport of physical strength and skill, wrestling training has acquired a vigorous reputation. “The training is tough. You have to lift weights for an hour and then run a mile right afterward,” Phil Canete said. “We have to practice three hours a day and seven days a week.”
Coaches Cooley and Dickson have had much success while coaching athletes such as Phil Canete on the JV wrestling team at GBHS and are much respected by the athletes on their squad. “They want us to train extremely hard until it hurts and they really care about us improving. They have definitely helped me get better while attending the team practice sessions,” Canete said. While Coach Cooley has a son who attends GBHS, he is able to relate to his athletes and is able to use the right coaching methods in order to prevent frustration and to promote a strong working environment. In contrast to many beliefs, wrestling requires a strong mind as well as a toned body. “My ultimate gameplan before every wrestling match is to dominate and get on top of my opponent. However
I also try to be the aggressor and be faster than my opponent. My strength in wrestling is being able to relax and choose a good strategy to beat my opponent,” Canete said. Phil credits much of his success to his two parents. “My parents don’t know much about the sport of wrestling in general, but they both try to help out the team in any way they can. My mom usually helps out by bringing team snacks or drinks for our team during team meets.” While contemplating his future after his four years at GBHS, Phil highly doubts he will wrestle after GBHS. He primarily competes to receive physical exercise and to have a fun hobby. “I have really enjoyed and have had a lot of fun wrestling recreationally during my GBHS career but I do not plan wrestling in college or participating competitively in the future,” said Phil Canete.
Recruiting trip marks first step in collegiate journey For an athlete to take a recruiting trip is to know you have “arrived.” Finally, after years of endless workouts, extra training sessions and competitions, institutions of higher education recognize your efforts and want to bring you down to visit their school, all expenses paid, in the hopes that you will want to compete for their program. As a recruited athlete myself, I counted down the days to July 1 following my junior year because that is the first day that colleges can call an athlete for most sports, according to NCAA rules. The seemingly pointless conversations I had with about a dozen different coaches during midsummer eventually unintentionally dwindled down to just a handful of serious options. I received a phone call on my birthday at the end of December and was offered an amazing present: to be flown down for a weekend to visit the most successful athletic program in the nation, the UCLA Bruins. Being asked to come had the thrill of a surprise and the pride of a job well done. I eagerly anticipated my visit, which was planned for the next weekend as a 48 hour stay on Friday through Sunday. As insignificant as it may feel, being dropped off at Sacramento International Airport by my mom plastered a smile on my face. It was a real sign of independence. I was about to fly to Los Angeles and spend an entire weekend living the life of a college student, minus the classes. The athletes on the team treated the recruits, a small group of four girls and one boy, like we were celebrities. I was introduced to dozens of other athletes, not just members of track and field but the football, baseball, crew, and water polo teams, including a GBHS alumnus. Every time I met
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christine zavesky czavesky.gazette@gmail.com
someone new, my host would say, “This is Christine. She’s a recruit.” and without fail, the other athletes would become more engaged in conversation and exclaim that I had to come to UCLA. It was amazing that I could be exposed to the opinions of strangers and yet be so impacted by their words. It exemplified school spirit and pride, and every single athlete was so proud to be a Bruin. My 48 hour visit wrapped up as quickly as it had come. The coach dropped me off at LAX and I went through security and into the terminal to come home. I had thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my visit, from the 10 mile run in the hills just outside campus to brunch with the team in the dining hall to the bonfire on the beach. The trip had completely changed my thoughts about UCLA from wishy-washy to a serious option for my future. I didn’t absorb the full impact of the visit until I was alone with my thoughts in the terminal. It then hit me how amazing my trip had been and my desire to go back. I took it as a sign of fate that my flight was delayed two hours back to Sacramento. Destiny wanted me to stay in Los Angeles just a little longer.
Canete brings down a Golden Eagle wrestler in a meet against Del Oro Gazette photo / MAGGIE LOUIS