Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell

Vif Uwrll. Jimr 5. 19S6. Part 19
.SPORTS
Athletes of the month
Chen, Newmeyer share sports honors
By Michelle Tom
"I love th? fading of winning.**
asserted vanity tcnnU pla>er Jiinn
Chen. riprc*aing • universal
sentiment.
Senior Chen, June's MJIC Athlete
or the Month, has been fortunate to
experience such • reeling repeatedly
during this past tennis season.
In his second year as a vanity team
member, Chen *as ranked number
two in singles, moving up from last
year's fourth rank position.
Coach Hugh Aanofucn who has
only praise for Chen, obierved,
"iism b an eucUcnc and con axtitive
tournament player who ptays extremely
well under pressure. He is a
good strategist whr. understands
pUccmentofiheUti."
During the reason he practices two
hours a day every day after school
and on occasion play* whh friends on
jveckendt.
"I like tennis because of the
competitivcccss—the one on one.
Playing tennis has taught we to think
positively, not to be intimidated by
m/ uppuof nt uid. most oTall, never
to gi»c e>." reflected Chen.
O;nnj- league teawn. Chen won
£i of his crunchen with a record nf
7-0.
In the All-City tuunumcni held
from April 23— May 2. Chen compctcd
in the doubles division with
junior Andrew Van.
Chen and hh partner pU)ed fout
rounds of tcnnii. advanced to the
finals, and captured the title of Alt-
City Duublcs cramps.
Van expressed. "JUrm was very
supportive and helped me to bomt ray
confidence on the coun...he ii an
ur emotional player which is good
because he never gives his opponent
a psychological edge over Mm/'
Before becoming interested in tennis,
Chen was an avid table tennis
pUycr for four years. Kc competed
in park aad recreation ujuraamems
tnd won many trophies and awards.
Cfcea switched to tennis in his
freshman year because there wxw'i
• table temus turn in high school and
many of his fri ds were involved
with tcnnU.
So Chen (raded in his ping-pong
paddk for a tcnius racquet and learned
the game of tennis on his own.
without any formal instruction.
" It was haruVr \o switch from pingpong
10 icnna became fcrmi* requires
more phjtkal endurance and il b a
harder sport to be good «, when-as
ping-pong i% much lev* competitive,"
remarked Chen.
Teammate KaChi WOT; added.
"Whaicvcr ihc sport—,xng-pong.
basketball, tinnii-hc gi*c* 100percent.
He always has the 'inning
urpc."
Ak far as hi* fim.ic endeavun are
concerned. Chen plaa* to attend the
University ofCalifrmia at Saitta ttir-
Kira where he will continue to pUy
remits for fun.
Sophomores
By Julie beat Wonc Freshmen
lta*e ihe undeiclaMincn c*u)4i%hed
a precedent? How?
On May 16. the Frcshr.un and
Sophomore Classes held iheir second
annual softbal) game. After seven innings,
the sophomores came up on
top with • score of 17* 11. Then what
happened? Well, the sophomores
cheered the freshmen, and the
freshmen cheered the sophomores.
Though the sophomores wuo b> six
rum. sophomore coach Nadja
McNeil cnp | airni1i "The teams were
prnry evenly matched. It wavi'l easy
(to win). Everyone really worked
hard. ..the ftcslunen had a lot ol
good hitters and fie Wen."
McNeil continued by saying lhat
the only advantage that the
sophomores h*d was better organua-
•Jon. Sophomore Jenny Camou reinforced.
"We had some experience
from last year'* fame."
When did tliix competition begin?
Thr froth-soph softball same came
when ihe CUss of '87 presented the
ids* at a BCO meeting last year. According
to Camou. last year's game
was unorganised because it was the
firJ game, while thi* year's game
turnoiout "...pretty good..."
Ov reason f«w ihu year's better
orgaruatioa is the set of rules that the
sophomores established. Each team
U allowed only two p«tices to cnture
recreational play instead of the
competitive Powdcipuff play in
HAPPY 16th
BIRTHDAY
VICKI!
love from
Judy, Carolyn. Mary.
Chariaa. Batbara.
Aria, and da
June 14
which a true rivalry of guts and touph
)>h}ok:a1 ctKU^ct JC%C1«TH.
Twelve pU>cr* dii boys and ux
girls) can be on the field at any one
time.
Interestingly enough, each team
pilches to his own team with 4 masi.num
of five pitches or three strikes.
Meanwhile* (h? other learn occupies
all the parts of ihc diamond—even the
mound.
Since each team puches to hh own
team, the pitches arc usually slow or
medttun'paccd. and this in turn
means there is tess danger of being
hit by 1 fast ball to condemn this
friendly competition to the s.une fclc
lhat Powderpufr received.
As Camou itresaed. "The focus u
to have a good tune, not to go out
with only winning ot our
minds...we juu wanted to basically
ly go out and have a good t'me."
A further aid to keeping down the
level of dancer is adult supervision.
Varsity basketball coach Dave Low
supervised the sophomore practices
while gotfeoaen Don Baker watched
over the IrcaJuncn.
Bjr MMitn Voting
"When you 4ave to perform stunts
on a four inch wide bean, four feet
olTihc floor, thinp don'i iccm quite
so bad on liic grounj," claimed Gtrla
Newmeyer. Athlete of the Month.
Ncwrrcyer's career id gymiusiici
began with Up dance, ballet, and
eventually gymnastics clasKs at
Hoover Middle School. During all
four years at I .owl, Newmeyer has
been a contributing member of the
gymnastics team. She compeud in
Class 01 as a fmhman and nxnol up
to Optionals in her sophomore year.
"Carla is a very hird and consistent
worker. Her ban! work has raid
off." stated coach Jcrilyn Jank.
On May 9. Newmeyer look third
place in the all-around competition at
All-City.
Ct>mincnting on the reason w hy the
cboi* to participate in gymnastics.
Ncwtrejer uid. "Gymnastics has a
lot of %fiiety. You pcrf.irm on four
different picco of equipment. It's a
pretty sport, but it alto is very
strenuuuv. It's 4 team spoil, but it'*
alwi in individual spon. It's timply
a tot of fun!"
Newmeyer conJitions for gymnauits
by riding her icnvpcoJ bike,
running and practicing pu*h-ups and
tit-urn.
"Carl* vb a gi*xi cumpte fur the
ftcshmen by aUcndtng prxtxx every-
day." noted Jank.
Remarking on Jank'k coaching
skills Ne**t:ieje«- stated. "Ms. Jank
is a fun pencn. She's aware (hit our
ability i\ limited. We're not performing
the stunu thai can be done in
the sport ol gymnastics, but she's
there to help us ukmg and let us enjoy
ounclves.
"Gymnastics has given me a lot of
confidence. It helps me >tty in shape.
Gymnastics is good for poise,
balance, and strength." noted
Ncwtne>er.
"Carla Et always optimistic, and
she heljx- relieve the (etuita be'ore
Ihe men.* with her encouraging
words. In addition, she ha* really improved
in her technical skills." said
jynior teammate Valerie Lee.
Newmeyer has J variety of interests
aiide from gymnastics. She
iklci her bicycle, runs, skis, plays (he
violin, and pamcipaucton the Forcaiic*
team. While pirticipaiinf in thc*c
aciiviiin. Newmeyer maintain* a
high GPA in her N~J.S and AP
cmncs.
New rfycr vill attend PrincetoR
Uni% f*ify in ihc fall, but she i* unsure
P." what r.cM she will -enter.
In college. Ncwmcycr may decide
to join iwimming *ad running and
pcrtupi g>nin**tic*.
"Carla hu been a joy to have oa
the 'com Tor a!' four >cars," declared
Jank.
Track takes second
By Cetrstc Suited
The All-Cuy tract meet look pUx
on May 17 a! McA.tcr High Scttnol.
Lowell competed against Galileo,
McAtcer. Miuion. Wilton, Li.xiita.
» IKJ«S
placed third. !M vanity girtt placed
«rcond. and the frmii-wtph division
placed fourth. Tbe first place winner
in every cjtejorv w« McA'cer.
This U the first time since track
season starred that uV vanity gitU
have placed secuod. earlier, they
have always pUccd first.
Senior Irene KnihpinovKh e»platncd.
"It was a vnall team to begin
with, ark! most ol u>c team is fairly
young. Also.alotttfval'ublc vanity
runnen quit."
First, second, and titird nlacr w tnrten
in the fnnh-soph division in individual
events included uphoinorcs
Ken Skidmore (fint in the mile and
the two mile). Leon Mcduu (third in
ihc 800 r«t«). and Victor Veal (third
in ditcus).
Vanity gitU' first, second, and
third plxe winnen included senior
Chelsea Henundcz (Tint in the two
mile and second in the mile), juniors
Maureen Coll (f.nt in the mile and
the 800 meter), and Xtiu Marshall
REMEMBER: SWIMMING IS A
GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
SUMMER PROGRESSIVE SWIM
JUNE 23 - AUGUST 8
M - F 8:30 - S
SAT. 9 A.M. - NOON
CHINATOWN YMCA 855 SACRAMENTO ST.
982-4412