THE BOTTOM LINE

Erik Boal

The past three weeks has been a time of reflection for hundreds of

high school students, who with the presentation of a diploma, concluded

four years at their homes away from home since the fall of 1997.

St. Francis was the first graduating class to own the privilege, and

responsibility, of taking the giant step into the real world June 2, and

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Village Christian, Flintridge Prep and

La Canada have since followed suit.

When Verdugo Hills completes the list Thursday, the Class of 2001 will

officially be immersed in summer activities, with the memories of SATs,

college application essays, assemblies and sporting events against one’s

archrival as the topic of e-mail correspondences.

However, for the writers and editors which constitute the News-Press

sports department, the transformation of these student-athletes from high

school freshmen to graduated seniors has provided a number of lasting

memories.

It is never easy to bid farewell to those individuals that have graced

the headlines, filled the box scores and inspired the feature stories

that provide the material for our product six days a week.

A mere thank you can only attempt to pay gratitude for the past four

years of individual achievement and team success, but it is with great

honor that the News-Press sports staff salutes tomorrow’s college

freshmen one last time.

To Maria Abaca, Heather Fieldsteel and Robin Pearce, just three of

many reasons why Coach Bill Schnobrich was always quick to brag about his

girls’ volleyball team.

Although your careers at Village Christian ended sooner than you

expected, don’t forget the impact you had on your peers, your school and

your community.

Collectively, you brought a special blend of intensity and enthusiasm,

reminding us all of why we play, and watch, high school sports.

To Ken Benesh and Nick Manghelli, the hard-hitting duo on the Village

Christian boys’ volleyball team.

You embraced the challenge of playing against the best competition

that this state, and others, had to offer, and in doing so proved

yourself, and your school, as more than worthy opponents.

It’s one thing to reach the CIF Southern Section semifinals, but it’s

another thing to return, and you and the rest of your teammates did so in

dominating fashion.

Your individual games wil no doubt flourish at Cal State Northridge

and Rutgers University.

To Nicole Bonino, who ran past the competition as a freshman and just

kept on running for four glorious years.

With you in front of the pack, La Canada became not only a statewide,

but a national commodity in cross-country.

You set goals that many individuals hope to achieve, but few

accomplish, and you did it against local competition the same way you did

it at the state championships.

And as a result, you made the arduous trips to Fresno all the more

worthwhile.

To Crystal Dingman, thanks for proving that size and stature doesn’t

always define success.

Helping guide two teams to the L.A. City Section playoffs is a

tremendous accomplishment, but it was never your nature to brag.

Your ability to excel in perhaps the most demanding positions on a

soccer field and a softball diamond -- goalkeeper and catcher -- despite

battling nagging injuries speaks volumes about your desire to succeed.

To Heather Fowlie and Lauren Guza, perhaps the most consistent

defensive softball players in this, or any other area.

You led by example at the plate, in the field and in the classroom,

and helped motivate a diverse group of individuals into accomplising

great things, both on and off the field.

Your teammates looked to you provide the foundation for a successful

season, and you led them to another Rio Hondo League title and another

appearance in the CIF Southern quarterfinals, breaking individual and

team records along the way.

To Antonio Harrison, Flintridge Prep’s remarkable three-sport athlete,

thanks for bringing a certain swagger to the football field, into the gym

or onto the track.

You weren’t afraid to make a prediction, because you delivered the

performance necessary to back it up.

You exemplified what it meant to be a captain and a competitor, and

did so with a great deal of confidence.

To Eric Irvine, perhaps the most versatile soccer player this area has

seen in years.

You possessed a special ability to score a goal one minute and thwart

the opponent’s best player from doing so the next.

Louie Bilowitz has coached a multitude of great players in his 14

years at La Canada, but rest assured, your name is cemented among the

best of them.

Continue to captivate the crowd at the University of Santa Clara.

To Michael Jenkins, the St. Francis basketball player who always

wanted the ball in his hands when the game was on the line.

Your efforts allowed the Golden Knights to be competitive in a Mission

League that is consistently one of the toughest in Southern California,

and you did it with a quiet confidence.

You are the true definition of a scholar-athlete and a strong role

model for future players.

To Lauren Johnson, thanks for making the necessary sacrifices as an

individual to give Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy a chance to be a

better soccer program.

You could have led your team, and possibly the area in goals, but you

recognized that it was more important to showcase your defensive skills

in order to provide the team with its best chance at being competitive in

the elite Mission League.

Congratulations on receiving the Jackie Robinson Foundation

scholarship and best of luck at Northwestern.

To Matt Milton and John Sciarra, the driving forces behind the St.

Francis football team.

College scholarships to Nevada-Reno and UCLA aside, your dedication

and competitive spirit helped reelevate the Golden Knights to prominence,

and you did it the old-fashioned way.

You understood the importance of family, tradition and teammwork,

which is more profound a statement about your abilities than any trip to

the CIF Southern Section semifinals.

To Tracy Neumeier and Vanessa Young, for four years and more than 80

matches, you battled through injuries and coaching changes to play some

of the best volleyball this area has ever scene.

Whether it was the first game or the fifth, a tournament match or the

playoffs, you delivered against some of the best players in Southern

California.

Your school records are as much a tribute to your amazing level of

consistency as it is your exceptional talent.

To Jeff Osborn, whose preparation and dedication in the demanding

sport of golf was second to none.

Despite recording some of the most unbelievable rounds for a junior

player, your persistence and work ethic didn’t allow you to become

satisifed.

You strived to be the best, and regardless of how the scores read at

the end of the round, you provided your teammates with exactly that.

You represented Flintridge Prep well and will do more of the same at

Tulane.

To Jenny Rowland, scoring 54 goals during the past two seasons only

begins to tell the impact you had on the Flintridge Prep girls’ soccer

program.

A lesser athlete, and person, wouldn’t have responded from an anterior

cruciate ligament the way you did, but when you set your mind to do

something, there was seldom anyone, or any team, that would stop you from

doing it.

Your accomplishments in soccer and track will be a fixture in the

school’ record books long after you complete your service at the Air

Force Academy.

To Ryan Shaw, an individual who would stop at nothing to score goals

for the St. Francis soccer team.

But for everyone of the 80 goals you scored, you always recognized the

teammates who made it possible for you to do just that.

If clutch performances are a measure of success, then regardless of

your CIF title, you are already a champion.

UC Davis has secured the services of not just a fine athlete, but a

fine young man.

To Lacey Smale, thanks for understanding the importance of loyalty.

You could have played at any school and been a dominant softball

player, but you strived to make the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy

program the best it could be.

No one deserved to bask in the glory of defeating Chaminade more than

you.

Good luck at Santa Clara.

* And to Miriam Anthony, Valerie Arboleda, Chase Atkinson, Travis

Atkinson, Garrett Babbs, Jordan Ballard, Ryan Benko, Megan Blatchley, Joe

Bosco, Ryan Brown, Devin Brown, Brandon Butcher, Rachel Chalermsopone,

Alyssa Chin, Brian Choi, Ellen Choi, Libby Cline, Mike Cloud, Chris Cole,

Elizabeth Cook, LeAnn Culbertson, Sean DeGroot, Alyssa DePompa, Courtney

Dickins, Lonnie Dietz, Brian Drown, Justin Duncan, Daryl Ellis, Kimmy

Evanilla, Brent Fabbri, Elana Fishman, Lindsay Fleece, Jana Fristad,

Bobby Garafolo, Chris Garnic, Jon Garrett, Ashleigh Gibbs, Jennifer

Gilmour, Sarah Girard, Bryan Gonzalez, Becky Gregg, Neil Gunn, Bryce

Hester, Kalee Heydorff, Courtney Hodge, Katie Hodge, Annie Howard, Jeff

Hull, Matt Jackson, Nancy Jimenez, Theresa Johnson, Karri Keeble, Scott

Keen, Tessa Kelley, Philip Kenney, Bassam Khan, Will Kim, Mike Kotick,

Kelly La Russa, Matt Lauer, Dan Lim, Jeff Linden, Haomin Lo, Jennifer

Lombardo.

Nick Marquand, Marty Marquardt, Nikki Marquez, Shanda Marsh, Amber

Martin, Josh Martin, Ariosto Martinez, Thomas Mason, Erin McCoy, Meghan

McKenna, Chase McKibben, Brett Mitchell, Matt Moore, Leslie Muelder, Matt

Nicchitta, Mike Nijjar, Justine Nyby, Alex Ortiz, Nick Ortiz, Aaron Owen,

Billy Parra, Steve Pearson, Raul Perez, Nikki Pettersen, Dwight Phelps,

James Pickett, Ian Pocock, David Poehler, Tom Ragus, Anabel Ramirez,

Priscella Reynado, Donovan Schuil, David Shanley, Brian Shim, Matt

Sikorski, Sarah Skeehan, Nicki Sperling, Brian Strand, Elizabeth Stucki,

Phil Swenson, Nathan Terrazone, Katy Thornton, Stacy Toyota, Hana Turek,

Kurt Turley, Jared Vandercook, West Vane, Ray Villasenor, Amy Wall,

Jeremy Walls, Ben Watt, Phil Webster, Steven Westerveldt, Clayton

Wolflick, Bryan Young, Mariah Zebrowski, Becky Zentmyer, Danielle

Ziemann, and all the other outstanding student-athletes representing the

Class of 2001, your accomplishments have not gone unnoticed during the

past four years.

The News-Press sports department applauds you for the sacrifices that

you have made and hopes that you had as much fun competing as we did

watching.

And in the fall, when you start anew at a junior college, two- or

four-year school somewhere across the United States, prepare to make your

mark all over again.

Whether it be in the gym, on the field, in the pool or on the track,

or in a classroom or lecture hall, continue to strive for the best life

has to offer.

And thanks for four memorable years.

* ERIK BOAL is a sports correspondent. He can be reached at 637-3228.