Wildcat Athletes Moving On

Derek Azzopardi pitches during a home game. Photo courtesy of the Azzopardi family.

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• Woodside Cross Country Goes to CCS

Ryan Blocker, Sports Editor and Staff Writer
May 24, 2012
Filed under Sports, Student Life

Now that their high school careers are winding down, many Woodside athletes are excited to begin training and preparing for the challenge of playing their sport at the next level: college. These athletes have had a very successful four years in high school sports, and are ready to see what they can do against a higher standard of competition. Whether they are going on a scholarship, being recruited, walking on, or simply playing intramural sports, Woodside athletes are excited for the next chapter in their sports lives.

One of the most notable of these athletes is Chris Waschura, the cross country and track star who has set records in the state for his running times. Waschura will be attending Stanford next year on a scholarship for cross country and track. This summer, Waschura will be doing “a lot of long-distance running to build aerobic fitness.” Next year, the track star is “looking forward to improving [his] speed and endurance as a runner, and also growing as a person alongside [his] teammates. [He] can’t wait to run faster than [he] ever has and train with the best collegiate runners around!” As a student at Stanford, Waschura will have to put his academics first. He hopes to get some advice from his teammates on how to deal with balancing school work with running, and then “tweak [that advice] to [his] own personal schedule.” In the end, Waschura is excited about starting a new chapter in his academic and athletic life.

Chris poses with the Woodside track and field coaches as well as his soon to be coach at Stanford. Photo Credit to Ms. Waschura

From the gridiron we have senior Sam Kerrigan, who will be playing football in college. Sam Kerrigan, a defensive-end, will be playing next year on a scholarship at Culver-Stockton University in Canton, Missouri. In preparation for college football, Kerrigan is currently doing explosive weight training right, but will be on Culver-Stockton’s weight training program after graduation. For the future, Kerrigan has great ambition. “I look to accomplish personal goals like being all conference as a senior,” he commented, “ and also to learn more about the game to educate me to be a good football coach in the future.” Speaking of education, Kerrigan is confident that he will be able to navigate the fine line that collegiate student-athletes must balance on to stay on top of school work as well as football. “I don’t think [football] will get in the way of my studies,” he predicts, “The coaches do a good job of watching the players grades and provide us all with tutors.”

Sam as he poses with his family before Woodsides' 'Senior Night' football game. Photo credit to Kerrigan family.

On the diamond, senior pitcher Derek Azzopardi will be taking his tremendous arm strength to American International College on a partial scholarship. Regarding his preparation for next year, Azzopardi commented, “I was fortunate enough to be able to see what type of workouts the team does in the off season and I plan to do those workouts five days a week over the summer while playing on a summer team.” Furthermore, Azzopardi expects to see just how committed he is to playing baseball. “When you play a sport in college it becomes a job,” he said, “You have to be committed and ready to go to work everyday.” That being said, he knows that his other job, school, comes first, and while balancing baseball and class work will be tough. Nevertheless, he does not believe it will be an issue because “the support I will get to keep my grades up will be tremendous. When you are an athlete in college you make the school more money if you get good grades. So the coaches will be on me about my grades.” Lastly, Azzopardi is excited to see the difference between playing in high school and playing in college, and hopes to keep his career going as long as possible.

Derek Azzopardi pitches during a home game. Photo courtesy of the Azzopardi family

One of these athletes is our very own editor-in-chief, Cara Jack, who is planning to walk onto the varsity swim team at Williamette University, a division 3 school in Salem, Oregon. As an unrecruited swimmer hoping to make a collegiate level swim team, she knows that she will have to prepare her body for the challenges to come. “I will be on the summer swim league,” Jack says, “And will also be doing independent dry-land workouts that focus on my core muscles.” With this dedication, she expects to dramatically improve her times while also meeting new people who share her passion for the sport. In addition, Jack knows she’ll have to manage her time wisely in order to be able to keep up with the challenge of playing a sport in college and getting her schoolwork done, but for her, it’s worth it.

Cara "CJ" Jack poses for her swim team photo. Photo Courtesy of the Woodside Swim Team

From the fields of Woodside, Lexi Kasser will be making her way to the mountains of Montana to continue her love and passion for soccer. “At Montana State there isn’t a NCAA soccer team, so I will be playing soccer intramurals.” Soccer means so much to Lexi, she wouldn’t let anything get in the way. “Soccer has always been a huge part of my life, it helps me relieve stress and get away from all the school work I will have to do.” Going to college and playing soccer for her will mean a lot to her. “This experience will help me gain more friends, stay in shape, and just have a good overall experience at college.”

Lexi as she sails the ball down the field. Photo credit to Ashlynn Avendano.

After laxin’ it up with the Wildcats, Kevin Rangel will be joining the Mustangs at Cal Poly to continue his life as a ‘lax bro’. “I will have to get in shape and improve my stick skills. During the summer I’ll be hitting the gym and practicing with my friends.” Being a 4.0 student, Kevin finds no problem balancing his lacrosse and academics, he’s focused on other things, “playing lacrosse in college will give me an opportunity to meet a lot of new people.”

Kevin fighting for the ground ball. Photo by Erin Stockford

Tags: athletes, baseball, College, Football, intramurals, Lacrosse, scholarships, soccer, sports, Swimming, track & field

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