Kropp Rides Waves of Success on Land and Sea : High School Senior Doubles as Nationally-Ranked Surfer and Soccer Standout

Robyn Kropp belongs on the beach.

Whether it is Redondo or Manhattan or some other ocean-front sand dune is inconsequential. Her appearance screams surfer .

Her hair is blond and straight. She drives a small black Mercedes-Benz with a “Spyder” sticker on the rear window, Spyder being her surfing sponsor.

And the relationship is profitable for both. Kropp is supplied with boards and other paraphernalia by Spyder and returns the No. 1 ranking in the open women’s division. She is one of only two women on the national team and has been surfing for 5 years.

The more time Kropp invests in a sport, the more she figures to accomplish.

For example, she started playing soccer at age 6 and is a standout at Mira Costa High. She has had a hand in more than half of the team’s goals 33 goals (13 goals, 5 assists).

“Because she is our leading scorer and assist person,” Mira Costa Coach Kevin McBride said, “every other team knows who she is. And sometimes they play more than aggressively. Knowing this, she has to figure out their tendencies and what’s going to work for Robyn. Usually she does.

“Near the end of the game, we want her to have the ball. She is our Magic Johnson. She makes things happen.”

McBride has watched Kropp make things happen for years.

During a Pony League baseball game, Kropp took one of McBride’s son’s fastballs to the wall for a triple. Kropp also slapped her twin brother’s fastballs to the wall a few times, McBride said.

“I can pretty much do any sport well,” Kropp said, flashing a smile. “But I still have to work very hard. My dad used to pitch in minor-league baseball, so that helped.”

Because of her success in sports, though, Kropp has been accused of being a tomboy.

“It bothered me when I was little,” she said. “But you just get used to it. I guess when people get to know you, it changes things.”

Kropp sits on a metal bench, back to the soccer field. She wears sweat pants and a sweat shirt with “Mira Costa Soccer” emblazoned on the back. Her name and No. 15 are stitched into the front of both.

When Kropp walks from the bench, her strides are catlike, natural. She looks like a trained runner.

“Speed,” Kropp says, succinctly explaining her greatest soccer asset. “(That’s why) I like to play forward. It’s more of a challenge to get by people. I like beating people out.”

And that assertive train of thought is exactly what McBride likes about his star forward.

“(She has) quick feet,” McBride said, “and is able to head the ball aggressively.

“Forwards need smartness, meaning being able to find the open space. They have to be a very good athlete and can’t be one-dimensional. Robyn is more than a one-dimensional player.”

Kropp is also more than a one-dimensional person.

She worked for a 3.3 grade-point average this semester. She wants to study business and play soccer at Cal.

“Before a soccer game you psych yourself up with other people,” she said. “You have to worry about getting your team psyched. For surfing, I concentrate on what I am going to do. You don’t have to worry about who’s next to you.”

McBride praises Kropp’s game-time confidence.

“The position she plays is called a finisher,” he said. “They may touch the ball once all game, but they have to concentrate 110%. You have to stay mentally in the game. You have to be ready for that one moment. Robyn does that.”