Underrated & Underappreciated: Senior Sports Stars

It is frustrating when someone does not receive recognition for the hard work they put forth. At CB, many senior athletes spend numerous hours lifting weights to become stronger and conditioning their bodies to improve speed and agility. On top of this, they are always seen giving 110% at practices.

Yet, even when they perform exceptionally on the main stage, they get no credit for their hard work and their successes are often ignored. The Talon decided to give some of these hard working Falcons the credit they deserve before they fly away from the nest.

Christian Montanez (’17)

Sport: Football

Position: Punter

Age Started Playing: 14

Biggest Strength: Punting

Favorite Football Experience/Moment: Holy Bowl Week 2016. “I’ve never seen our team that determined and focused,” he commented. “When we tied the game in the third quarter, no one expected that to happen. I’d never felt like that in a game before. The outcome of the game doesn’t reflect how we played though; we knew we were the better team and still believe it to this day.”

Punters are athletes too!

Anthony Davis (’17)

Sport: Football (co-captain)

Position: Defensive End

Age Started Playing: 10

Biggest Strength: Pass rushing on the outside

Favorite Football Experience/Moment: Holy Bowl 2016. “The week of practice before was so focused and the level of energy was outstanding,” he stated. “It really contributed to the way we played in that close game.”

“I exhibit hard work through my great endurance,” he said. “I take pride in being in good shape.”

Jared Ferguson (’17)

Sport: Tennis (co-captain)

Position: Number 1 singles

Age Started Playing: 3

Biggest Strength: Forehand

Favorite Tennis Experience/Moment: “My favorite moments are not usually during the actual match but hanging out with teammates before and after. We enjoy doing things such as skateboarding or getting In-n-Out Burger.”

“I always do my best to never miss a practice,” he comments. “I always work hard and am on time.”

Will Yuponce (’17)

Sport: Cross Country, Track and Field

Position/Events: Top 7 Varsity (XC)/1 Mile, 800 Meter, 3200 Meter, 4 by 400 Relay (T&F)

Age Started Running: 10

Biggest Strength: Perseverance

Favorite XC, T&F Experience/Moment: “My favorite memory was when I advanced to the section finals for the mile. I was seeded/ranked as #11 while only the top 4 advanced, but I up seeded by seven places and beat my personal record of 4:50 by 16 seconds.”

“I wasn’t always where I was with my running ability,” he claimed. “I used to be substantially slower, but through hard work and not giving up, I was able to achieve some of the things I desired like attending the state meet and breaking five minutes in the mile.”

Lindsay Hewitt (’17)

Sport: Track and Field

Events: Hurdles (100 meter high hurdles and 300 meter low hurdles), 200 meter and 400 meter races

Age Started Running: 12

Biggest Strength: Hurdles

Favorite XC Experience/Moment: Getting In-n-Out after meets.

“My favorite meet is always the Placerville relays because those are all for fun and pretty much all the races are coed relays.”

“I  always work really hard during the track season,” she exclaims. “Track is an individual sport and it’s up to each individual how hard he or she is going to try.”

Ceyenna Tillman (’17)

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Libero

Age Started Playing: 10

Biggest Strength: Willingness to Sacrifice Body for a Play, Communication

Favorite Volleyball Experience/Moment: Winning Holy Court two years in a row and winning sections.

“I think I exhibit hard work on the team because as libero it’s my job to dig the hard hitters and pass the hard serves which means I spend a lot of time throwing myself on the ground and diving to try and save balls,” she stated.

Fernando Gil (’17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sport: Rugby, Tennis

Position: Flanker (Rugby), Number 4 Singles (Tennis)

Age Started Playing: 15 (Rugby), 8 (Tennis)

Biggest Strength: Tackling (Rugby), Serve (Tennis)

Favorite Rugby, Tennis Experience/Moment: “My favorite part of CB rugby are the practices,” he states. “The rugby coaches are the best coaches I have ever had in my life, especially head coach Eric Guillen, who makes them instructive while also enjoyable. However, there is no such feeling as the adrenaline rush while playing on the rugby pitch.

“For tennis, it’s without a doubt the other guys on the team. Some of the best experiences we have are skateboarding before matches or going to get food afterwards or the many inside jokes we have. The camaraderie is like no other.”

“I try work hard at the sports I play while also maintaining good grades” he claims. “In every sport I play, I demonstrate genuine sportsmanship. In fact, rugby, a gentleman’s sport, perfectly encapsulates the spirit that every sport should carry. On the pitch, each team tackles and tries their best to beat one another. But off the pitch, we have mad respect for one another.”

Nick Hilton (’17)

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Outside Hitter

Age Started Playing: 11

Biggest Strength: Hitting

Favorite Volleyball Experience/Moment: Taking down Jesuit during Sophomore Year.

“He always gives 200%,” teammate Chase Mehlhop (’17) exclaims. “No one loves the sport like as much as he does.”

Jessica Cooper (’17)

Sport: Basketball

Position: Guard/Shooting Guard

Age Started Playing: 6

Biggest Strength: Speed, Shooting

Favorite Basketball Experience/Moment: Playing at Sleep Train Arena for the Sac Joaquin Section Championships and winning Holy Hoops last year.

“My hard work comes from my true love of the game,” she states. “All of the hard work is definitely worth it, especially when we get the W.”