Klein ISD VYPE - January 2022

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Dear Klein ISD Community,

We are thrilled to continue highlighting our student-athletes in VYPE magazine! We are so proud of the accomplishments of all of our students who participated in fall sports and excited to kick off winter sports at all of our high schools.

Klein ISD is known for our longstanding tradition of excellence not only in the athletic arena but also in our classrooms. Our exceptional students are excelling in Academics, Athletics, and the Arts—making our outstanding school district AAA through our high-achieving students and programs! Thank you to our talented studentathletes, incredible teachers and coaches, amazing families, and our Klein community for your dedication to creating a culture of excellence.

We can’t wait to celebrate the hard work of our student-athletes during an incredible season of winter sports! We look forward to cheering them on and rallying support for these exceptional students.

HOT SHOTS

THE KLEIN OAK GIRLS WERE THE HEADLINERS LAST SEASON AS THE PANTHERS TIED FOR THE DISTRICT TITLE AND REACHED THE REGIONAL SEMIFINALS, GOING 17-10 ON THE YEAR. KHLOE VAUGHN WAS THE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR, WHILE AALIYAIAH DURDEN WAS A FIRST-TEAMER. WHAT WILL THEY DO FOR AN ENCORE? KLEIN COLLINS AND KLEIN CAIN ALSO MADE THE POSTSEASON. FOR THE BOYS, THE KLEIN BEARKATS RAN THE TABLE IN DISTRICT 15-6A BUT FELL IN THE FIRST ROUND ALONG WITH FOREST, CAIN AND OAK. THE BEARKATS GRADUATED CO-MVPS, WHICH OPENS THE DOOR FOR ALL CONTENDERS, LIKELY KLEIN FOREST.

Kendrick Williams II, Klein Cain

Aubrey Campbell, Klein Collins

Joseph Gonzales, Klein High

Joshua Ugbaja, Klein Forest

Khloe Vaughn, Klein Oak

Braden Fobbs, Klein Cain

Aaron Cooper, Klein High

Hayden Green, Klein Cain

Klein Collins’ Toliver Bryant, Colton Griffin, Ethan Wyatt and Chris Cornelssen

Klein Oak’s Devyn Edmond, Aaliyaiah Durden, Khloe Vaughn and Brianna Womack

Breanna Scott, Klein Forest

Brennan White, Klein Oak

Jeanie Leal-Feliz, Klein Collins

Klein Cain’s Ma’Riya Vincent, Kayla Ngo, Haley Hastings and Hayden Green

Klein Forest’s Joshua Ugbaja, Chandler Williams, Jalen Collins, Hakeem Jones and Larry Holmes

Klein Collins’ Linsie Allen, Aubrey Campbell, Jeanie Leal-Feliz and Donalyn Nance

Klein High’s Joseph Gonzales, Tahir Khan, Aaron Cooper and Hayden Smith

Klein Oak’s Noel White, Brennan White, Antoine Perry and Carson Hanson

Aaliyaiah Durden, Klein Oak Karley Cook, Klein High

Klein Forest’s Jayla Pullings, Breanna Scott, Nadazia Simien, Brooke Adams and Shayda Fletcher

Klein Cain’s Braden Fobbs, Kendrick Williams II and Emmanuel Sosa

Klein High’s Karley Cook, Victoria Henson, Jade Jurgens and Audrey Poston

Chris Cornelssen, Klein Collins

Noel White, Klein Oak

SWIMMING

Reilly VanderNuet

Lorenzo Viteri

Braden Hamilton

Jessica Powell

Klein High’s Jessica Powell, Reilly VanderNeut, Braden Hamilton, Landon Moore, Victoria Sanchez and Lorenzo Viteri

BOTH SOCCER PROGRAMS EYEING PLAYOFF RUNS IN 2022 WE ARE … KLEIN HIGH!

\\ By Joshua Koch

KLEIN HI GH GIRLS SOCCER

TEA M WA S JUS T O N TH E OUTSIDE OF THE PLAYOF F PICTUR E BY A G AME LA ST YEAR FINI S HIN G 7-11- 3 O VERAL L AND 5 5 2 I N DI S TRI CT PLAY.

Ke y re turner s f o r the Bearkat s i n 202 2 include f irst-team , all-district midfielde r ElenaSiekas , s econder-teamer Makenzi e Bl an ( Defender ) a n d honorable-mentio n p ic k Va ri a Sufu e va (Outside Back ). Anot h e r name to remem b er is j un i o r Ma d a l y n N i ssen . L as t season , t h e K l e in H i g h b oy s f oun d t h emse l ves in a to n o f t i es. T h e Bear k at s

finished t he year 5-7- 9 ov e rall. O f thos e nin e ties, fiv e o f th em c am e in Distri ct 15-6 A pla y and three came in t h e fin al f ou r matche s of th e season.

T hi s wa s a sen i or- l a d e n t ea m las t yea r an d wil l have a lo t to re p lace. Comin g bac k i s second-tea m f orwar d Parke r B owman , who wil l be a junior O th er junior s joining him will b e C arson A lld re d ge ( Center-M id) a n d Ze k e B eas l ey ( Cente r Attac ki ng Mid). A l so , wat ch out for s e n i or fo rw a r d Roge r Torr e s to h e lp K l e in ge t b ac k i nt o the playo ffs in 2022.

Makenzie Blan

Carson Alldredge

Klein High’s Elena Siekas, Makenzie Blan, Varia Sufueva and Madalyn Nissen

Parker Bowman

Elena Siekas

Klein High’s Zeke Beasley, Carson Alldredge, Roger Torres and Parker Bowman

Klein High

Nicholas Bayliss

Gaby Sanchez

Timothy McGuire

Klein High’s Jaidyn Criswell, Roberto Bautista, Timothy McGuire and Nicholas Bayliss

Klein High’s Jacee Skillicorn, Gaby Sanchez, Lilly Alderete and Jade Nunez

WRESTLE FOR THE NAME

KLEIN SENIOR ROBERTO BAUTISTA READY TO WRESTLE FOR STATE TITLE

\\ By Joshua Koch

J e su s B au ti s t a w as an All-Am e ri c a n a n d th en hi s son, Joaqui n Bautista , w as a S tate Champio n wrestle r i n Ne w Mexic o a t S a nt a F e Hi gh Schoo l befor e g oin g on to wrestle a t the University o f Minnesota.

Joaqui n the n h ad three childre n Christina , Joa q uin J r. a n d th en Rob e rto .

C h r i st i na , w ho is no w an ass i stan t wrest li n g coac h a t C i nc o Ranc h H i g h Sc h oo l, w on a S tate C h amp i ons hi p a t Co ll eyv ill e Her i tag e H i g h Schoo l a n d w as a two-tim e All-American. Joa q uin J r. w as a s t a t e ru nne r-u p at C y Lakes Hi gh School a n d n o w wrestle s at Universit y of th e Ozarks.

Th at leave s th e bab y of th e famil y Rob e rto.

“ It ’s b ee n a f amil y s p or t for g enerations,” t he K lein H igh sen i or said. “He’s b eenone to carr y on t he l e g ac y in our f amil y a n d we h o pe t o do the sam e thin g . We knew we were g oin g t o wrestle . We were g oin g to kee p i t i n our famil y forever. We expec t u s to be the bes t f amily i n Texa s in wrestling.”

Joa q ui n added: “ I starte d hi m i n th e little ki ds p r og r am . B ecaus e I w as compet i n g an d tra i n i n g so much , th at w as my c han ce to spen d t i m e w i t h hi m . I ’ v e b ee n d eve l op i n g him s i nce he w as s m all for thi s . ”

In his so ph omor e s e ason at Kl e i n Hi gh School , wh e r e dad i s inhi s thir d y ea r as th e hea d wrestling coach , Ro b ert o too k f ourt h a t S tate a n d l ast year f inishe d as a S taterunner-up

“ It ’s toug h bu t it ’s a l so r eall y g ood becaus e he p us h e s me mo r e an d mo r e e v e ry d a y an d ma k e s me the b est I can be ,” Ro b erto s a id . “Overall , h e ma k e s me a g oo d wrestler.”

J oaqui n added : “I wouldn’t c h ange it f o r anyt hi ng in t he w or ld . I k no w a l ot o f t i me s coaches sa y, ‘ I w a n t m y son

Goin g throu gh th e u ps an d d own s o f a d a d -coac h r e l at i ons hip can be h ar d s omet i mes , Joa q u in sa id, but havin g dad as hi s c oa ch i s s omethin g Robert o w ou l d n ’t change a n d vic e v e r sa .

or daughte r t o be coached b y somebody els e so the y c a n b e a re g ula r ki d ’ . I n e v e r w anted th a t. I f I have th e expert i se, w hy pu t y o ur ki d’s ca r ee r in someone else ’s h a n ds ? ”

S i nc e t hat S tat e t i t l e l oss , Joaqu in said Ro b ert o has b een wor ki n g ou t non-s t op to n ot onl y g et ba ck t o th a t mat ch but to b e standin g on t o p of th e podium whe n it ’s a ll sa i d a n d done

“ He’s th e bes t on e out of

all of us at his a g e,” Joaqu in said. “ He ’s wa y b etter t han I was , w hich is t he wa y it ’s su pp ose d to be. Th e r e’s a l ot of p r ess ur e , he ’s g o t to per f orm.”

B ut wh at we reall y w a n t to kn ow i s wh o win s on th e m at betwee n f ather a n d so n ?

“ I could tak e hi m do wn ever y on ce in a while , but h e ’s g o t th a t o l d -m an stren g th,” Rob e rt o sa i d

BAUTISTA NAM E I N TH E WRESTLIN G WORL D I S ONE OF LEGEND .

Cristian Marcucci

Gabriella VonHaven

Nico Lozano

Elena Gutierrez

Klein Cain’s Mishonai Syon, Gabriella VonHaven, Talyn Naylor and Elena Gutierrez

Klein Cain’s Jailin Verklas, Nico Lozano, Talim Hussain and Ethan Foreman

CAIN SOCCER READY TO BUILD OFF 2021 SUCCESS A STORM IS COMING

\\ By Joshua Koch

Klei n Cai n reached th e pla y off s bu t fel l i n th e BiDistrict round t o C ypres s Springs (2-0).

Distric t Newcome r of th e Year N a th a nMartinez i s

bac k afte r a stella r freshman season as a defende r f or th e H urricanes. First-teamer s J oey H l avac an d H enr y M olin a are als o bac k i n th e mix They will b e a senio r an d j unior, respectivel y Othe r ke y re t urner s include senior defender J ami e Pe y to n a n d j unior f orwar d Donn y Caca j, w h o bo t h earne d a n honorablementio n no d a y ear ago.

Also , watch out fo r senior mid f i e ld er C ristian Mar c u cci an d senio r center-mi d Nic o Chobuathong .

The Klein Cain g irl s made histor y l ast season , g ettin g int o th e pla y off s f or th e fir st tim e e v e r a n d th e n advancin g to th e Regiona l Q uarterfinals

Returnin g o f f th at histori c te a m i n cl u des first-team , a ll di str ic t pi c k So phia

E s c ontrias a n d s ec ondt eamer s K amr y n N ance an d Sy dnee Smith.

S ome othe r name s to re m e mb er in c lud e Hale y L ehrer (Center-Mid , Outside B ack), Gabriell a Cervantes (Defender ) a n d Camila A ndrade (Striker).

The f ou n da ti on of success has bee n se t i n place , no w c an the y bu il d o f f of i t i n 2 022?

KLEIN C AI N BOYS SOCCER TEA M TOO K HOM E TH E FINAL PLAYOF F SPO T OU T O F DISTRIC T 15-6A A YEAR A GO. WITH AN EXPERIEN C E D R OS TER BA C K ON THE PITCH , THEY COU L D B E U P F OR M O R E I N 2022 .

Sydnee Smith

Klein Cain’s Cristian Marcucci, Jamey Peyton, Joey Hlavac and Nico Chobuathong

Joey Hlavac

Kamryn Nance

Camila Andrade

Nico Chobuathong

Cristian Marcucci

Gabriella Cervantes

Klein Cain’s Sydnee Smith, Gabriella Cervantes, Sophia Escontrias, Camila Andrade, Hayley Lehrer and Kamryn Nance

SWIMMING

Genna Davenport

Naomi Polito

Pablo Salazar

Diego Rangel

Klein Cain’s Rachel Bear, Diego Rangel, Genna Davenport, Mikaela Molinaro, Pablo Salazar, Bryson Wylie, Naomi Polito and Noah Smith

CAIN’S ESCONTRIAS THRIVES ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GOALIE ROLE LEAN ON ME

\\ By Matt Malatesta

CAIN’ S SOPHIA ESCONTRIA S FOUN D HE R PASSIO N EARLY… SOCCER.

I g ues s th e r e c oul d b e a n ar g umen t wh o th e al p ha i s on a socce r t eam. It could be a mid-fielde r wh o touche s th e ba ll the most , or a fast-twitch, g oal scorin g f o rw a r d . M ost coache s woul d sa y the backbon e i s th e goalie

Th at i s th e case a t KleinCain.

Th e Hurricane s made school histor y l ast s e aso n reachin g th e Reg i ona l Quarter f inal s in t he UI L playoffs. Protect i n g t he goa l wa s t h e f irst-teame r Escontr i as. S he re t urn s to l ea d t he ‘ Cane s in 2022.

“ Goalie s can make o r brea k a g ame a n d I like the idea of bein g there for m y t ea m when the y nee d me ,” sh e sa i d . “N ot many peopl e wil l accep t the responsibilit y of bein g a g oali e but as soon as I ex p erience d it, I kn ew i t w as th e p osition f or m e ”

S o , w hy soccer ? W ha t d re w her t o t he s p ort a t a n ear ly a g e ?

“ I l ov e t h e atmos ph er e t ha t su rr ou n ds t he s p ort,” s he said “I starte d soccer w h en I w as five- y ears-old It’s bee n m y life I ’ v e mad e so man y connection s throu gh the s p or t a n d it ’s mad e me suc h a confiden t person.”

Escontria s a l so pa y s i t fo rw a r d. T he sen i o r en j oy s coac hi n g t he s p or t she love s to y outh t eams i n the a r ea. Lik e any other t een , sh e t une s int o Net f lix, love s musi c an d en j oy s t i m e w i t h h er f amily.

“I g ot int o coachin g as a w ay to h e lp y oun g kids un de rstan d t h e g am e a n d f in d t h e l ov e of soccer like my coac h e s did for me ,” s he said

Sh e ’s a l so lookin g to th e f utur e She ’s committe d to pla y socce r at S t Th o m as a n d pursu e he r nex t pass i on.

“I p la n on stud y in g biolo gy i n colle g e , whic h wil l lead me to my g oal of earnin g my doctorate in p h ys i ca l therapy,” s he sa id “That’s t h e p lan.”

Raegan Mulloy

Ava Inman

Chantz Bell

Taegen Hejl

Alex Gonzales

Klein Collins’ Vincent Garza, Chantz Bell, Sam Hinson and Alex Gonzales

Klein Collins’ Raegan Mulloy, Ava Inman, Makayla Noe and Taegen Hejl

COLLINS’ GIRLS ARE YOUNG AND TALENTED; BOYS CONTINUE TO REBUILD BUILDING UP

\\ By Matt Malatesta

B Y A TRI O O F SOPHOMORE S AN D A JUNIOR , KLEIN COLLINS GAINE D SOM E MUCH-NEEDED EXPERIEN CE IN THE R OUG H-ANDT U MBLE DI S TRI CT 1 5 6 A .

Th e Tiger s finished secondi n district play with a 5 -2- 5 recor d but fel l t o C y pres s Woods i n the fir st round Now-juniors Jasmin e Kessler andAdysen Armenta w er e hi g hl y decorate d i n 202 1 beingname d Distric t Goalkee p e r MVP a n d Mid f ielde r MVP, respect i ve l y.

Kar li Orante s is anot h er recogn i ze d j un i o r a s a return i n g secon d -teamer. The e ld er stateswoman i s senio r Reaga n Wammack , w h o earne d f irst-tea m h o n o r s .Ca n Collin s topple To m ba l l Memoria l for th e distric t title i n 2022 ?

Sta y tuned O n theboy s side , the Ti g er s stru gg le d i n 2 0 2 1 f inishin g w i n l es s in di str i ct. G oo d n e w s is t hat s ec on dteamer L a n don Guent h e r is b ac k to carr y t he b anne r for t he T ig ers. He w ill b e com p lemented b y Ta y lor H amlet t a n d Godfre y Ponce.

Taylor Hamlett

Jasmine Kessler

Godfrey Ponce

Klein Collins’ Reagan Wammack, Jasmine Kessler, Adysen Armenta and Karli Orantes

Reagan Wammack

Adysen Armenta

Klein Collins’s Landon Guenther, Taylor Hamlett and Godfrey Ponce

Allison Kay

Julius Soltero

Ana Gonzalez

Giovanni Rosamilia

Klein Collins’ Chris Wilemon, Ana Gonzalez, Julius Soltero, Abigail Martinez, Dellton Warren, Allison Kay, Giovanni Rosamilia and Marcela Moreno

Klein Collins

THE WHOLE PACKAGE

MARTINEZ BREAKS MOLD OF A HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLER

\\ By Matt Malatesta

ABI G AI L MARTINEZ I S N O T Y O UR S TERE O TYPICA L HI G H S CH OOL WRE S TLER.

Yo u woul d think a wrestler wouldbe rou g h , tou gh and intimidatin g always wanting t o snap a n d p ut someone on the g round.

Abi g ail…no t so much.

Th e Klein Collin s sta r i s sweet , soft-s p oken, thou g htfu l a n d dar e I sa y do n’ t sa y it !

“You w ou l d n’ t thin k it f ro m t he spor t I d o , b u t I’m reall y g irl y,” sh e lau g hs. “I love decoratin g r oo m s a n d

organizing thing s to loo k reall y prett y.”

C urv e ball .

S h e g o t int o th e spor t t hrough her siste r a n d f inish e d s ec on d in distri c t l ast s e aso n advancin g to Re g ionals. While she’s “cutesy”, Mart i nez i s comm i tte d t o h er craft.

“ I wrest le fo r R i se Wrest li n g an d a l s o coac h t here,” s he sa id . “I’ m coaching m y sister. I lov e i t . Wrestlin g kee ps me f ocused and disciplined It help s me so much with

t im e mana g emen t too. I t has g ive n me th a t drive to p us h m y sel f be y on d wh at I think I can do i n a ll aspec t s of m y life .

“ It ’s su ch a com p etitiv e spor t a n d no match i s e v er t he same. It ’s constantl y changing.”

Her g oal thi s s e ason i s to g e t throu g h th e Re g io n a n d plac e at State, but it will t ake mor e training a n d sel f sa c rifi ce “ I lov e to wat c h Briti sh B akin g Sh o w s on Netfli x a n d wrestler s lov e f ood , right?”

s h e lau g hs. “B ut I’v e p u t my self on a prett y stric t die t to hel p m e reall y compete t hi s y ea r. It ’s an all-veggi e d i e t. I e attw o m e at s a week, cu t d ow n on sa l t an d I don ’ t ea t car b s.

“ I n wrest li ng, y ou a r e a l wa ys tr yi n g t o ma ke w ei g ht and it’s constantl y on y our mind . Sinc e bein g on thi s diet , it has taken t hat stres s awa y, helpin g m e concen t ra te mor e on m y t rainin g a n d techniques.”

Ok, mayb e sh e i s your t yp i ca l wrest l er.

SWIMMING

Chelsea Hernãndez

Cornelia Watts

Alex Black

Klein Forest’s Cornelia Watts, Bryan Benitez, Jessica Oliphant, Alex Black, Cecilia Thai and Chelsea Hernãndez

EAGLES MAKE SCHOOL HISTORY REACHING REGIONAL SEMIS; WHAT’S NEXT? HISTORY MADE

goa lk eepe r Kev in Av il a, midfi e ld er Manu e l D e Paz Andrad e a n d f o rw a r d Cristian Canas Javet h F igueroa s h ou l d a l so play a bi gge r facto r t his season.

W hil e t he b oys team showe d it s dominance , th e g irl s t e a m i s i n a rebuildin g s t a t us

Klei n Forest sa ys g oodb y e to N a th an Lo p ez , th e Distric t MVP, t o g raduation , bu t re t urn s De f ensiv e MVP Ro d r i g o Rosa l es t o t he pi tc h.

Er ik Segov ia earne d a f irst-tea m no d a y ear ago an d w ill be ass i ste d by a trio of second-teams in

F orest struggled i n 2021 , but h as ho p es of being mo r e com p et i t i v e t his season w ith t he retur n of A le xa Zamarr ip a, Mar let De La Cruz , A l e j an d r a Romo , Je nni fer Coreas , Palo m a E s pi noz a a n d A h tz i r is Gut i errez.

WA S AMA G I C A L SEASO N FO R TH E KLEIN FORES T EAGL E FÚTBO L SQUA D AS COAC H R OG ER RAMIREZ LED HI S TEAM T O SC H OO LHISTORY, REA C HIN G THE RE G I O NA L S EMI S. TH E EA G LE S FEL L T O R OC KWALLHEAT H B U T THEDY E HA S BEE N C A S T F OR TH E PR OG RA M AFTER H O I S TIN G THE C O VETE D DI S TRIC T 1 5 6 A TITLE.

\\ By Matt Malatesta

Erik Segovia

Jennifer Coreas

Klein Forest’s Cristian Canas, Rodrigo Rosales, Javeth Figueroa and Erik Segovia

Alexa Zamarripa

Paloma Espinoza

Cristian Canas

Klein Forest’s Alexa Zamarripa, Marlet De La Cruz, Alejandra Romo, Jennifer Coreas, Paloma Espinoza and Ahtziris Gutierrez

Steven Uresti

Angelique Sandoval

Mikhail Yusri

Klein Forest’s Christopher Huerta, Angelique Sandoval, Steven Uresti, Jade Turner and Mikhail Yusri

THE 411

ROSALES BREAKING “CURSES” AT KLEIN FOREST

\\ By Matt Malatesta

B ac k i n th e mi x i s Rodrigo R osales, th e hammer on defense. The Defensive MV P o f the district returns f or hi s senio r y ea r wi th bi g expectation s fo r himself and his t eam

V YP E cau g h t u p wi t h th e “lea d b ir d” t o t a l k about th e 2021-22 s e ason.

V YPE : Whatthas b een your socce rr t imeline ?

R OS ALE S: W h en I was young, I rea ll y didn ’t lik e socce r. My b rot h e r p l aye d an d m y p arent s kep t telling me I s h ou l d play I w ou l d onl y g et i n for like f ive minute s a game. I wen t h a r d t hos e f ive minutes a n d started gettin g noticed.

VYPE : O ffensiv e pla y er s gettall th e h e adlin e s Whattdo yo u lov e ab o u t d e f e ns e ?

R OS ALE S: I l ove b e i n g p hy s i ca l a n d runn i n g p eo ple do wn I us ed to p l a y foo t ba ll a n d w as pre tty g oo d at it . W h en I g o t to high school , m y m a i n focu s becam e socce r I watch a l ot of socce r on T V a n d on th e int e rn e t to l e ar n mor e abou t m y p osition.

VYPE: Whatthave y ou i m p rove d on go i n g i nto yourrseniorrseason?

R OS ALE S: I ’ ve i mprove d my spee d a n d soccer IQ. All I do i s j ust wor k out , pract i c e a n d r un a lo t I do pla y a l o t of FIFA. My t ea m i s Li verpoo l. It ’s soun ds c r a zy b u t p l a yi n g FIFA rea lly h e lp s yo ur I Q fo r t he g ame

VYPE: W h a t’ s yourrultimate goa l w i t h t he sport?

R OS ALE S: I w a n t to p l a y at a universit y a n d a l so h ad th e opportunit y to t r y out f or Club Americ a i n Mexico. I pla n on p l ay i n g somew h ere a f ter hi g h s c hool

KLEI N FORES T BROK E ITS “THIRDROUND CURSE ” LASTSEASON AS THE GOLDE N EAGLE S WO N DISTRICT 15-6 A AND REA C HE D THE RE G I O NA L S EMI S.

WRESTLING

Klein Oak’s Chloe Hanes, Cassidy Castro, Laita Perez and Pamela Carlos

Sebastian Tobar

Brecket McCann

Cassidy Castro

Laita Perez

Klein Oak’s Sebastian Tobar, Brecket McCann, Jayden Jones and Spencer Ayon

KLEIN OAK PROGRAMS HAVE PLAYOFF POTENTIAL ON THE PROWL

\\ By Matt Malatesta

the squa d an d ge t t h e b a ll i n th e n e t . Sh e w as a n honorabl e -m e ntio n s e l ec tion .

W h y the optimism?

Th e r eason i s the retur n o f first-t e am e r s Al a in a Nug i er an d A bb y Dav is to th e h u ddl e . T h e y can defen d with t h e b es t in t h e di str i ct. Ha lle He b er t is a l s o a so lid de f ender. Ann ika Mur d oc h is goin g to nee d to quarterbac k

While girl s a r e defensive , t h e boy s are offensive Oa k w a s a game-and-a-hal f fro m ma ki n g t he p ostseaso n an d returns first-team midfielder F ran c is c o M e dina an d s econd-teamers Garret t B almann o and Bria n C ama c ho. B a lm a nn o can sco r e u p f r o nt a n d Camac h o holds it do w n in goa l. A l so , w at ch out for Fab r i z io Fe r ei r a in t he mid f i e ld.

W ith a li tt le mo r e p us h , bo t h Oa k s q ua ds cou ld f in d th emse l ve s in t he playo ffs in 2022.

KLEIN OAKBOYS AND GIRL S SOCCE R PROGRAMS COULD BE O N THE CUSP O F PLAYOF F CO NTENTI ON AFTER P U TTIN G UP CO MPETITIV E EFF O RT S IN 202 1 . LET’ S S TAR T WIT H TH E LADIE S .TH E PANTHER S WER E O N E WIN AWAY FR O M G ETTIN G INT O TH E P OS T S EA SO N A S C AI N AND KLEIN HI GH JU ST NUD G E D THEM O UT.

Annika Murdoch

Francisco Medina

Klein Oak’s Francisco Medina, Garrett Balmanno, Brian Camacho and Fabrizio Fereira

Halle Hebert

Garrett Balmanno

Klein Oak’s Alaina Nugier, Abby Davis,

Halle Hebert and Annika Murdoch

Avery Fuhr

Brenden Massey

Cameryn Johnson

Klein Oak’s Abigail Fonseca, Avery Fuhr, Izabella Ortiz and Cameryn Johnson

Klein Oak’s Brenden Massey, Patrick Lister, Hunter Lund and Will Ridley oak

LUND OVERCOMES ADVERSITY EN ROUTE TO BECOMING AN ELITE SWIMMER MASTERING THE MENTAL

\\ By Matt Malatesta

W h at g ives ?

W h at L u n d d i d w as maste r the mental “ I wen t to Statemy freshma n a n d sophomore y ea r, so l ast season I though t i t w as g oin g t o b e eas y,” h e sa id. “ It ’s a g i ven I ’m go i n g to State , r i g h t ? M y b o dy wasn ’t h av i n g it. I go t s i c k an d m y b o dy b ro k e d own . I h a d no stam i n a an d didn’ t ma k e it . I w as reall y do wn.”

W h at h e d i d next i s wh a t spor ts i s a ll abou t . It ’s h o w y ou overcom e adversit y.

“ To be an elite swimmer, y ou have t o hav e th e mentalit y th a tther e i s going t o b e failure ,” Lund , wh o s w i m s fo r Prem i e r A q uat i c s Cl u b said “ You c an ’ t let y ou r lo w s be too lo w a n d l ear n f r om y ou r f ailures. It ’s a h u ge menta l g ame.”

L u n d wen t bac k t o work , a n d a fe w m o nth s late r became a n a ti o n al recruit, droppin g his time s drasticall y i n a l l of hi s even t s .

“ I t was an even t i n Ma g nolia,” h e sa i d . “ Th at mee t sen t me to tha t nex t l eve l, an d I b ecam e nat i ona ll y rank ed b ec aus e of i t . ”

He decided on U N C for m an y reasons.

“ Th e sc h oo l is amaz i ng, academicall y,” he ex pl a i ne d “ I c ar e deepl y abou t academic s be y on d th e spor t. It ’s an amazin g spor ts p rogra m t h at care s d eep ly abou t their student-athletes.

T h e campu s w as amazin g , a n d the scholarshi p w as r i g h t I tw as a grea t f it.”

L un d i s a l ong- di stanc e

s w i mmer, compet i ng in 500 -meter, 1-m ile a n d 1, 000 -meter r aces.

“ It seems ki n d o f b or i ng , b ut I l ov e it,” h e sa id . “It t a k es a l ot o f wor k. Yo u are in s o muc h pa i n, y our b o dy i s cramp i ng , an d y ou a r e a l ways ou t o f b reat h , b ut y ou j ust h ave t o k ee p g o i n g.

“ It soun d s s t range , b ut I do n ’ t set goals I thin k goals can sometime s limi t y o u I wa nt t o b e th e best versio n I can , an d I migh t blo w right t hrou g h th e g oal s I c oul d s et fo r mysel f . ”

Lu n d h as a unique a n d hecti c schedule that is t remendousl y re g imented . He ha s followe d i t fo r y ears.

“I wak e u p a t 5: 05 a.m . e v e r y day… sometime s I se t m y a l a rm f or 5:08,” he laughs. “ I s wi m or hit t h e wei g hts, g e t read y f or school , go t o school, hav e a snack , a n d s wi m u nti l 7 p.m. I eat , s h ower, do h omewor k a n d go t o bed.”

Th e dud e a l so e ats a n d e at s a n d e ats t o fu e l hi s bod y “ I ’m eat i n g a ll d ay, espec i a lly in t he summer,”

h e sa id. “I usua lly h ave f ou r e gg s, a smoothie a n d peanu t b utt e r t oas t . I’ll e at som e L ean Cuisine s during the day a n d then a dinner. It ’s a l o t.”

The life o f a swimme r is n ot g lamourous . Whil e t alent a n d ph y sicalit y have a l o t t o do wi t h it, th e m os t i mportant muscl e for a s wimmer i s between th e e ars.

“ Peo p le ask me a ll th e ti me if I wan t t o q u it d ur i ng a race,” h e l aug h s “All t he ti me , b ut somet hi n g j ust k ee p s me going.”

OAK’ S HUNTER LUN D DOESN ’ T SE T GOAL S AN D DIDN ’ T EVEN MAKE IT T O THE UIL STAT E S WI M MEET LA ST YEAR , YET H E RE C ENTLY S I G NED T O S WIM F OR TH E U NIVER S IT Y OF N O RT H C AR O LINA .

Owner of uScore Soccer

Teacher Appreciation Program

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Kelly Malatesta