Stanford’s McLaren Finds Herself in Africa

There’s definitely something to be said for occasionally getting away from it all, Stanford junior Maureen McLaren believes, especially when it becomes unclear.

A key member of Stanford’s powerful women’s volleyball and swimming teams, McLaren needed a boost--in a big way--after her sophomore year. So during summer break, McLaren bolted from pristine Palo Alto for 2 1/2 weeks in Africa.

The experience paid off.

McLaren’s perspective has improved--and not only about sports.

“It was an amazing thing,” said McLaren, a former volleyball, swimming and basketball standout at Newport Harbor High.

“When you grow up in Newport Beach and go to (college) in Palo Alto, you really don’t get to see where other people are coming from . . . how other people live. Obviously, it’s something I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”

McLaren traveled in the east African nation of Tanzania, a member of the British Commonwealth, researching epic folklore.

“I listened to people tell stories, saw dances and other performances,” McLaren said. “I got to see so many people.”

She was part of a program in which individuals pay to join scholars studying abroad and assist in their research. McLaren studies American history and culture at Stanford and could have received college credit for the endeavor, but that wasn’t her focus.

“This was a real eye-opener for me as far as race and people’s conception of race,” she said. “It was weird to have people looking at me because I (am) white, to see how that feels.”

Time away from pools and volleyball courts helped McLaren clear her head and charge her batteries. She maintained an intense schedule for two years, and the effects of the constant rush were catching up with her.

“It gets brutal sometimes,” she said. “During the spring quarter, both sports overlap. I (practice) volleyball in the morning and swimming in the afternoon, and last year it got to me.”

McLaren (6 feet 1) started at outside hitter and middle blocker for the Cardinal as a sophomore after being a reserve as a freshman on the 1992 NCAA championship team. She swims the 100 and 200 backstroke, helping the swim team win national championships as a freshman and sophomore.

She’s the first Cardinal woman to win two national titles in one year. However, the grind of the last two seasons left her wondering if the accomplishments were worth her frantic pace.

Hello, perspective.

“The time off just changed my whole outlook on why I play sports,” McLaren said. “It’s not about the winning, it’s about getting up everyday and practicing with the best people, having amazing people as friends, having great coaches.

“That’s why it’s all worth it. So many people wish they could do this and never get a chance. I look back and think, ‘How could I be so selfish?’ ”

Her improved outlook arrived just in time. McLaren was beaten out for a starting position at both middle blocker and outside hitter this season.

She has played in 18 of Stanford’s 28 matches and has only 48 kills after 112 last season. But Stanford (27-1) won the Pacific 10 Conference and is ranked second in the nation behind Nebraska.

The Cardinal is seeded No. 1 in the NCAA tournament’s West Region, and McLaren has an excellent shot at winning her fourth national championship. Cardinal Coach Don Shaw said McLaren is a great influence on the team.

“She’s been successful and she knows what team success is and how to achieve it,” Shaw said.

*

Craig Thomas deftly handled the 5:30 a.m. wake-ups, impromptu history tests, mopping, scrubbing and hours of in-his-face intimidation by older, bigger guys. So juggling 21.5 units and starting at goalkeeper for the Air Force Academy is a breeze, right?

“Nah, it’s still kind of rough,” said Thomas, a sophomore. “But you learn to adjust. I’m thinking about my future when I get out of here, and I think I’ll have a pretty solid future ahead of me.”

The Southern Section Division II player of the year as a senior at Esperanza, Thomas took off for Colorado Springs, Colo.

Thomas (6-1, 180) was a key to the Falcons’ Western Water Polo Assn. championship. In 30 games, he averaged 9.5 saves and only gave up 7.8 goals. Air Force was 19-11 and finished seventh in the NCAA championships won by Stanford on Sunday at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach. A civil engineering major, Thomas said he has maintained a 2.83 grade-point average.

The biggest challenge was coping with being a cadet fourth class, known to those outside the military as a freshman. Upperclassmen routinely quiz freshmen on Air Force knowledge and freshmen are required to clean up after their more experienced classmates. Throw in mandatory 5:30 a.m. wake-up and marching to meals, and that’s a tough first year.

Keeping Track is a regular column in The Times following the progress of former Orange County athletes competing for colleges elsewhere. Readers with information for this feature may reach Jason Reid at (714) 966-5847 or send it by fax: (714) 966-5663.