| All-Region boys track and field athlete of the year |
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It took some convincing before Ty Lang decided to join the Heritage track team for his senior season. But once Lang stepped to the starting line, it was clear why coaches and friends worked hard to convince Lang he belonged on the track.
With explosive finishes over the final 50 meters, Lang won the Class 4A state championship in the 100- and 200-meter dashes this spring, wins that helped the Timberwolves capture the boys team state championship.
For that dynamic debut, Lang is The Columbian All-Region athlete of the year for boys track and field.
The All-Region boys track and field team will be in Thursday's edition of The Columbian, along with an interview with Lang. A short video featuring his answers is at www.columbian.com/multimedia.
Lang plans to continue running and his education at Spokane Community College, the track and field power of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges. Here are some of Lang's answers from a recent interview:
What expectations did you have for yourself?
"I never thought I was going to be a state champion or anything. I came out and ran like 11-flat (100 meters), and that was pretty good, I guess. From there, I started working hard, and then became a state champion."
Did you run in middle school?
"I didn't really run. I just messed around. I was on the track team, but I didn't do anything, really."
What was early-season practice like for you?
"It was a lot of repetition, (working on) a lot of little things that would be big things later on."
What were some of the more difficult techniques to learn?
"The way my arms move. How to get out of the blocks properly. How to stride out."
Early in the season, you ran the 100 and did the long jump. When a teammate decided not to run the 200, coaches asked you to add that event. After running your first 200 race, how did you feel?
"I hated it. I didn't want to run it anymore. But everybody said, 'you have the potential to run the 200, that could be the main event.' "
Before this spring, what sport were you most interested in?
"I always wanted to be a soccer player."
How do you approach each race?
"I'm usually scared before most of the races, because I don't want to get dusted. (At state) Donavon said: 'Just go out there and run you race. If you go out there and run your race, no one can stop you.' So that's what I did."
You seemed to thrive over the final 50 meters, passing several runners late to win both sprints at state. What sparked that late kick to the finish line?
"Around 50 meters, Donavon Cunningham yelled 'It's time to cook.' ... He'd stand at the 50, and yell: 'Time to cook!' and that's when it's time to fly."
What was the reaction at Heritage to getting the school's first team state title?
"Everybody was excited for us. Everybody has been congratulating us, telling us good job. It's a lot of fun."
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| All-Region girls track and field athlete of the year |
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Battle Ground's Gabi Dixson is The Columbian's All-Region girls track and field athlete of the year.
Dixson, a junior, won the Class 4A state championship in the discus. She also finished second place in the shot put.
The All-Region girls track and field team will be in Wednesday's edition of The Columbian. Dixson's portrait, as well as an interview with her, also will be published. There is a short video at www.columbian.com/video. Here are some of Dixson's answers from a recent Q&A session:
Most memorable moment from the season:
Oh man. There was a lot of stuff. I really liked hanging out with all my throwing buddies. When me and my sister (Tori) were throwing the shot put our coaches were always like, 'Hey, we don't want you tired out for tomorrow, so this is your last one.' And for some reason our last one would always be bad. We wanted to end on a good one. Our coach would say, 'OK, that's it, you're going home.' And we're like, 'No, we're not.' And we had this big giant pity party and me and my sister and one of my friends, we got up and marched around the circle singing, 'Heck no, we won't go.' It was funny.
Advice to a younger thrower:
Just keep working at it. Keep working on your technique. Keep listening to your coaches, because everyone has a different opinion. You have to figure out what works for you. Do your own thing and keep practicing what it is until you can perfect it.
Your feelings on being The Columbian's player of the year:
It feels really cool. I wasn't really sure what it was at first. I was pretty excited. Then I found out. Wow, the whole region. I'm pretty excited about it now.
What does it mean to you to compete for Battle Ground?
I've been playing for Battle Ground for three years. I'm a three-sport athlete. It means a lot because there is something about Battle Ground. I love the town, I love the people, I love my coaches. I don't know, orange and black. Tigers. All the way. I'm part-time home-schooled and part-time at Battle Ground.
What does throwing mean to you?
I'd have to say it's probably my best ticket to college. I love the season of track, and throwing is one of the hardest things that I do, but I know it's going to be my best bet to get a scholarship. It's a lot of hard work to get the technique down, but it works out in the end. So hopefully it will work out in the end for college.
How did you get started in track and field?
Funny story. A long time ago, like five or so years, my family was sitting down at Muchas Gracias. We had six kids. And we saw another family (the Schmidts) and they had a lot of kids, too. Our parents started talking for like three hours or something and all the kids were hanging out. Somewhere along the line they found out they had a track team in Vancouver. I started doing it there. They taught me the technique. I don't think I would have started it if it wasn't for them. From there on it's been Junior Olympics, track meets on the side, and I started doing it in high school because I wasn't any good at softball. It was my thing.
Most influential coach:
I love all my coaches. They're all there... My parents are great coaches. If I get frustrated my mom says, 'You've got to take a deep breath.' I have coaches from every aspect of it. It's not just one or two coaches.
Most embarassing moment:
There's a lot of them. I'm a klutz. I can barely stand on my feet. It's all embarrassing for me. I can't think of one embarrassing moment honestly. I have a lot of them.
Something about you someone might be surprised to learn:
I'm a Christian. God is my awesomeness. I get everything I get from him. I love music. Music is another huge part of my life. I have five brothers and sisters, all younger than me. I am way into choir. I'm in the highest choir in my high school and we won two awards. We're really, really good. I love it. I have a different favorite color almost every day.
How is it being the oldest of six kids?
It's a blast. It gets hard sometimes because, for example last night, you're sitting there for dinner, and you dish up everyone's plate because I help make dinner. My brothers and sisters come inside to eat and I dish everybody's plate up and then I sit down to eat mine and, 'Can I have more?' My mom has it more than I do but it's still really hilarious. I love watching their sporting stuff.
What is a goal associated with track that you want to accomplish in the next few years?
I would like to hit mid-40s, upper 40s (in shot put) by next year and I would like to get a full-ride scholarship.
What is a non-track goal you want to accomplish in the next few years?
I don't want to get away from God. I want to stay on the right path. I just want to make sure I do what God wants me to do. I want to be a good Christian example. I want to be able to let my light shine through.
What is something people don't understand about your sport?
My favorite thing is, 'Oh, you do that big heavy ball thingy.' Shot and discus aren't very known to people. There's really a lot of that. They're like, 'Oh, you won state for what?' Shot put and discus. 'What's that?'
People think it's all arm strength, if you want a shorter answer.
What other sports do you play?
In the fall I play volleyball, and then I play basketball and then I do track.
Do you have any hobbies?
I really like to draw. I love drawing and painting. I love to sing. I sing all the time. Ask my parents. The three words I probably hear most are 'Gabi, shut up.' I talk a lot. I love the phone. I love texting. I love church.
What will you remember most about the season?
Probably just winning state. It was real exciting because it was so much adrenaline and then Bam!, I was like 'That's a huge PR.' I was excited. It was way better because the day before getting second in shot putt was great but I was really disappointed in myself because I had been throwing 42 and 43 feet in warm-ups and then I came back and threw 39. The next day I won discus and I was OK because I wanted to get the yellow shirt (state champion shirt). I was super, super happy that I got it.
How long did it take to sink in that you were a state champion?
A while after it was kind of 'Wow, I'm the only one in the state of Washington. There's 50 states, and I'm a whole one of them.' That's really cool to me. It dawned on me. It was kind of like an aftershock. |
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| All-Region baseball player of the year |
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Heritage's Ian Miller is The Columbian's All-Region baseball player of the year.
Miller went 10-1 on the mound with a 1.56 ERA, leading the Timberwolves to the elite eight in the Class 4A state baseball tournament. He struck out 86 batters in 76 innings of work. Heritage finished third in the 4A Greater St. Helens League, then won three games in a row to take the district tournament title. The Timberwolves also won their first-round game at state, an eight-inning game with Miller on the mound from start to finish.
The All-Region baseball team will be in Tuesday's edition of The Columbian. Miller's portrait, as well as an interview with him also will be published. There is a short video at www.columbian.com/video. Here are some of Miller's answers from a recent Q&A session:
What will you remember most about the season?
“It has to be the success of the team. We went from third place (in league) and played all the way through (to the elite eight). Not to be cocky, but for me, it was kind of a lucky season. Everything went my way. It was just amazing joy all the time.
Most influential coach:
“That’s tough. I’d probably have to say Tom Haly, Matt Haly’s dad. (Matt Haly plays for Prairie.) Tom coached me in Little League. He got me started thinking about pitching more. He helped me become a pitcher instead of a thrower.”
Favorite teacher:
Robert Jones of Silver Star Elementary was Miller’s fifth-grade math teacher. “He got me going in math and advanced placement type of classes. He’s the first guy who pushed me to be all I could be. We still keep in touch.”
Have you met any famous people?
“Randy Myers comes to our workouts sometimes.” Myers, a Vancouver resident, saved 347 games in 14 major-league seasons.
What is a goal, associated with your sport, that you want to accomplish in the next few years?
“I think it’s as simple as being a successful college pitcher. I want to prove to people I can be successful at the next level.” (Although Miller is closing in on a college, he has not signed as of this week.)
What is a goal, not associated with your sport, that you want to accomplish in the next few years?
“Just keep up the academics and not get overwhelmed with the college lifestyle.”
What is one thing most people do not understand about your sport?
“The balk.” Miller lost one decision this year. “I balked two or three times that game. I don’t know if anybody understands the rule. It’s up to the umpire if he feels like it or not.”
Do you play other sports?
“I used to play club soccer, and I played golf for Heritage in the fall.”
Any hobbies?
“After school and baseball, not much time for hobbies.”
Memorable moment from the season:
“Had to be at the state tournament in Tacoma. That first game that we won was amazing. It was unlike anything else we’d ever played before. It was amazing, pitching eight innings. I didn’t pick up a ball for a week after that game.”
Advice to a younger player:
“I always felt like I worked a little bit harder. I did a lot of little extra than other people. I’m kind of a smaller guy. I was told I wasn’t going to be able to throw as hard as everybody else. I outworked them, I guess.”
Thoughts on being named the player of the year:
The whole year was kind of a whirlwind. One game after another, it all fell into place for me. It was kind of unbelievable, like I didn’t know what was happening to me. I did my job, threw, and came out with the W’s, I guess.”
What does it mean to play for Heritage?
“It’s actually cool because of the newness of the school. To be part of the first wave of people to be successful in baseball is really neat. We’d never won a playoff game before this year. It kinds of feels like a family thing, too, since my brother (Noah) went there. I’m doing it for him, too.”
How did you get your start in baseball?
“My older brother. I’ve been playing since I was 5. My dad (John) coached me when I was younger, then I moved on to other father-like figures.”
What does baseball mean to you?
“It’s everything. It’s an easy answer, but it’s true. I think constantly about baseball. There’s really nothing else on my mind most days. I’m always thinking about the net practice, the next game, what I need to do to prepare, what the weather is like. Everything focuses on the game.”
What is something about you that some people might be surprised to learn?
“I actually have a 4.0 GPA (grade-point average). The baseball kid stereotype is getting worse and worse. A lot of people see baseball players and assume they’re up to no good. I’ve always worked hard to get good grades.” |
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| All-Region softball player of the year |
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Evergreen's Staci Doucette is The Columbian's All-Region softball player of the year for the second time. (Whoops. This is Doucette's first time being the player of the year.)
Doucette batted .529 and had an on-base percentage better than .700, leading Evergreen to a league title. Doucette hit seven home runs before opponents started walking her intentionally for much of the second half of the season. She also did not strike out once this season.
The All-Region softball team will be in Monday's edition of The Columbian. Doucette's portrait, as well as an interview with her also will be published Saturday. Soon, a short video is expected to be put online at www.columbian.com/video. Here are some of Doucette's answers from a recent Q&A session:
How did you get your start in softball?
“My parents were playing slow-pitch when I was growing up. I was always going to their games. I played T-ball when I was 5. Ever since then, it was softball.” But not all softball. Staci was an all-league goalkeeper for Evergreen soccer in the fall as well as an All-Region bowler in the winter.
Most influential coach:
Tom Bequette of Staci’s summer team, Washington Glacier Northwest. “Freshman year, I did not hit well at all. He completely turned my hitting around. He’s just a really good guy. He’s been a really good influence on my life. I wouldn’t be on his team for four years if he wasn’t a good coach.”
Most embarrassing moment in softball:
“I dropped Whitney Baker’s home run ball. That wasn’t really embarrassing, though. It just sucked.” Baker, the former Skyview standout now on scholarship at UCLA, hit what turned out to be the winning home run in a loser-out game at the district tournament. “She crushed the ball to center, and I had it in my glove, but as I hit the fence, the ball dropped over the fence. I don’t know if was embarrassing. Most people wouldn’t have made that catch. I was really frustrating.”
Favorite teacher:
Erin Bray, English teacher at Evergreen. “She’s really down to earth and doesn’t treat me like a little high schooler. She knows I’m an actual person.”
What is a goal, associated with your sport, that you want to achieve in the next few years?
“I really want to do well at Linfield. I’d like to help to get them back to the national tournament. I’m really excited to part of the great program that they have. And I want to be a coach in the future.”
What is a goal, outside of your sport, that you want to achieve in the next few years?
“I want to graduate from college.”
What is one thing people do not understand about softball?
“A lot of people don’t realize that even though our pitchers aren’t throwing as hard (as baseball players), the pitchers are a lot closer to the plate than pitchers from a baseball mound. It’s a lot harder than it looks to hit a softball.”
What will you remember most about this season?
“My teammates. They surprised me and they surprised themselves with how well they played and how well we played together. We turned this season into a lot better than we thought it would be.”
No strikeouts for the season, really?
“When I get two strikes on me, I change my mind-set. I’m trying to foul off pitches to wait for a good pitch.” She also learned early on that even weaker hits in play are better than strikeouts. “You have to force them to make a play. That’s just how I was brought up.”
Memorable moment from the season:
“Winning a league championship is always going to be pretty high on the list. But it was also the chemistry with our team. We didn’t have as much talent (as other teams). We didn’t think we were going to do as well as we did. We had so much chemistry. It wasn’t about talent. It was about the team. Without the chemistry, there was no way we would have won that championship.”
Advice to a younger player:
“Take what your coach says to heart and don’t take anything for granted because it’s over before you know it.”
What does it mean to you to represent Evergreen?
“I love Evergreen. It’s been a home, and it’s been a great place to play. It’s an honor to be on the Evergreen uniform. I’m always going to be proud to be an Evergreen grad.”
On being named the player of the year:
“I was actually pretty surprised,” she said, noting several other talented players. “It’s great. It’s pretty cool. It wouldn’t have happened without my teammates. They were always pushing me harder in practice.”
What does the sport mean to you?
“I wouldn’t be playing all summer, 100 games a year, if I didn’t love it. It’s my fun thing.” Staci added that she prefers the summer schedule to the high school schedule because she likes playing anywhere from four to eight games on a weekend as opposed to one game a day a few times a week in high school.
What is one thing about you some might be surprised to learn?
“I love video games. I don’t think people would expect a three-sport athlete to be playing as many video games as I do,” she said, describing Call of Duty and Rock Band as her favorites right now. |
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| All-Region boys soccer player of the year |
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Camas senior Brent Richards is The Columbian's all-region player of the year for boys soccer. After skipping his junior high school season to focus on playing for his Eastside United Club team in Gresham, Ore., Richards returned (along with goalkeeper Chris Hansen) to play for the Papermakers this season. He scored 26 goals and had 10 assists, helping the Papermakers to their second 3A state title in three years. The Gatorade Washington state player of the year, Richards is headed to the University of Washington to play soccer. He is featured in the June 8 edition of The Columbian sports section. Here is more from Brent:
What advice what you give to younger players? "I guess the advice I would give would be to have a good attitude. Coach Gavin (Wilkinson, Richards' coach in club soccer and the head coach of the Portland Timbers) says if things don't go your way, just look in the mirror and see what can I change? "Just remain positive and be able to see the big picture."
How did you get started in soccer? "I started in the Camas-Washougal area. My brother had played soccer so I started playing when I was four or five. I just stuck with it.."
First team: The Camas-Washougal Coyotes (Camas defender Scott Downs was also on the rec-level team)
When did you jump from recreation soccer to advanced competition? "When I was 10, I started playing a year up for the local Camas-Washougal teams. And at U12 started playing with the F.C. Vancouver Revolution under Joe Mendez and Chuck Ah Choy."
When did soccer become your passion? "I would say I was about 10. I was still playing a few different sports. I'd played baseball the year before. There was a spring (soccer) camp. From then on soccer's always been my thing. "I still dribble the ball around the house and my parents are fine with it."
You are going to the University of Washington. How much does your soccer scholarship pay for?: "The first year I'm getting a little over 40 percent (of tuition). That's guaranteed for four years. But the coaches say if I perform well, that can definitely increase." Richards said he might have a chance to play as a freshmen because the Huskies top forwards graduated this spring.
What areas of your game must you improve heading to college? "My defense is one of my weaker points. Coaches have been telling me that since I was 12. "I stab too much. I jump into tackles. I'm not patient enough is what I'm trying to say."
How does club soccer compare with high school games? "Typically, club games are a lot more intense. The ball speed and the quickness of the game is a lot faster. They put more emphasis on that in practice instead of just the shape of the team. "We put a lot of emphasis on playing the ball quickly (in club soccer). I guess that's the main difference between club and high school. We play together year-round and we don't remake our team every year. We don't graduate seniors. Weve been with each other for quite a while, so I guess we're a lot more comfortable with each other."
Who are your soccer heroes? "When I was younger, I didn't really watch a lot of professional soccer. I've only started watching it a little bit in the last fewe years. Even with his World Cup fiasco, I still like Zinedine Zidane. He's my favorite player. I have a poster of him in my room. You can see videos of him on You Tube, and the things he does are just incredible. He's made a big impact on the game. "He's an attacking midfielder. I think he just reads the game really well. He sees the field. He can pass, he can score, he can defend."
What's one thing that someone might be surprised to learn about you? "I'm kind of politically active. I'm one of the members of my school's Young Democrats Club. "I've always been interested in the environment. I went to (Cascadia Montesori) school in Vancouver up until eighth grade. The teachers there put a lot of emphasis on the environment. We went on a lot of nature walks. "The environment, protecting it, has always been a big part of my life. That's why for my senior project I chose a cans and bottles recycling program at Camas High School. "The Earth Club at the school had been doing it, but that fell apart this year. I decided to revive it as my senior project because I felt it was important."
What did the project entail? "I restructured the program. I put bins all around the school and every week I'd go and collect them and I'd take them to a recycling center. "At the beginninig of my project I was going to take that money and donate it to the Greanpeace organization, but I found that was just a huge hassle separating the redeemable cans and bottles from each other, so I just kind of stopped doing that."
What did you think of the Democratic primary? "I'm supporting Barak Obama. They're both great candidates, but I just like Barak Obama's charisma. It seems like he has the kind of charisma that could bring nations together. He seems like he could reach out to different people, and people would accept him."
What is one major goal, away from your sport, you want to accomplish in the next few years: "In college, to find my calling I guess, because I'm not going to be able to do soccer my whole life. I guess that's my main goal, to find what I really want to do with my life."
Do you see pro soccer as a goal: "I think that's a long way off right now. We'll see how college (soccer) goes. If college goes well, then that might open up, but we'll see. "Playing pro soccer, it's not an easy life. It's quite a time commitment, but it's not the greatest paycheck provider."
As a smaller player, how do you handle the physical part of the game: "I've dealt with that I guess all the time I've played soccer. One thing you do when you're smaller is you've got to be quickand you've got to have quick speed of thought. You've got to be able to get the ball and know what you're going to do with it right away. Because once the big guys get on you it's kind of too late. You have to have technical ability to have control of the ball, and also be able to distribute the ball quickly." Because you've always been one of the smaller players on your teams, did you develop your skills out of survival? "I've talked about that with one of my coaches. He thought that's probably one of the reasons I've become so techically gifted is I've had to because I was so small. There's a freshman this year on the Camas JV team, Parker Roland. He's just this really small kid. But he's really technically gifted. He's a good player. I kind of relate to him."
Have you always had the instinct to be strong in the air and heading the ball despite being a smaller player? "Not in soccer. I played volleyball since I was about 7. I've been able to jump in volleyball for a long time. But it wasn't until U15 until I started getting good at heading the ball in soccer."
How did you come to play volleyball? "I really like volleyball. We played grass doubles volleyball. It's always been a big thing with my family in the summer time."
Did you think about playing serious volleyball? "There wasn't much opportunity here. I always just played with my parents in Orchards Park. We played pretty high competition. My mom and I went up to a tournament when I was 14 or 15 in Olympia, and we got fifth out of 30-something teams, so we did pretty well. And I played a few men's tournaments with my dad, and it's always been fun."
Back to soccer. How confident was this Camas team when the playoffs started? "Coming off the loss to (Columbia) River (in the final regular-season match), that was actually a good thing for us. It kind of opened our eyes and showed we were not invincible. After the first couple of games when we beat Bonney Lake 7-0 and Nathan Hale 9-0, I think we really got that confidence, and that momentum."
What was it like having freshmen Drew White and Nick Palodichuk play such key roles? "It was great. They were both a big asset to the team. Drew helped lock down the defense. He was a big guy back there. And Nick was the first line of defense as a defensive midfielder. "It was really nice when the playoffs came and we had all of our players back from injuries. The playoffs were definitely where we were at our best, and they contributed a lot to that." |
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| All-Region girls golfer of the year |
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Skyview's Avery Collura is The Columbian's All-Region girls golfer of the year for the second time.
Collura won her second consecutive Class 4A District 4 championship, leading her team to the district title, as well. She then finished sixth at the state tournament. A junior, Collura is hoping to play well this summer to attract attention from college coaches.
The All-Region girls golf team will be in Saturday's edition of The Columbian. Collura's portrait, as well as an interview with her also will be published Saturday. There is a short video at www.columbian.com/video. Here are some of Collura's answers from a recent Q&A session:
What will you remember most this season?
“The rain. Not to be negative, but it was hard for everyone this spring. It was the worst we’ve seen. It tested all of us. It’s definitely a lot more draining when you have to keep going out in bad weather.”
Fun with teammates:
“Golf is different to have the whole team aspect because there is a lot of individual. But from my freshman year to now, we’ve come together. We all enjoy playing together. Our practice rounds for district were really fun.”
How did you get your start in the sport?
“My family is into it. My dad is really into it. It used to be our family outing on Sundays. It started out as a fun thing, no pressure, just a game. I’ve always been competitive in everything I do, so it’s not a surprise that this is what it turned out to be.”
Most influential coach:
Adrian Burtner of Columbia-Edgewater Golf Club in Portland is Avery’s swing coach. “He’s been at all the different levels of golf. There is a lot to learn from him.”
Have you met any famous people?
Avery worked on the practice range at the Safeway Classic last year in Portland and met LPGA golfers Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, and Natalie Gulbis. Avery said it was better meeting them there than at an autograph session, for example. “I got to see them, what they do, up close. I got to meet them while they were preparing for their match.”
One thing people might not understand about your sport:
“They don’t really understand how athletic you have to be. Everybody is hitting the ball farther.”
Hobbies:
“I like to work out. Golf is my hobby. It’s my sport, but it’s also for fun.”
Most memorable moment of the season:
“One day it was sunny.” (That could have been the end of her answer because there were so few good days. However, she elaborated, talking about how invigorating it was with her teammate and the other team’s two players having a blast in the sun.) “That’s when it’s most fun, when you’re playing with girls you like, everyone’s playing well, and the weather turns out nice.”
Defending the district title:
“I had high expectations. I feel like I did a good job of handling the pressure and keeping the other girls I was playing (against) out of my head and just tried to play my game.”
On being named All-Region player of the year ... again:
“After getting it once, you hope you can keep it up. It’s an honor. There are a lot of good golfers in the (region). To be chosen as the top is exciting.”
Advice to a younger player:
“Stick with it. Golf is the only sport I’ve ever played when you have lots of ups and downs no matter how good you get. You have to struggle through the hard times to get to the good times.”
What does your sport mean to you?
“It’s probably one of the most rewarding things. All your success depends on the time you put into it. Sometimes that doesn’t happen in other sports, when you’re relying on a team. It takes more discipline to practice by yourself when there’s not a coach saying, ‘Come work out with the team.’ It’s year-round.”
Favorite teacher:
Mr. Brands, calculus. “He’s probably the most dedicated teacher that I have had. You can tell it’s rewarding for him when his students are succeeding. It’s good to see someone care so much about how others are doing.”
What is a goal, associated with your sport, you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
“To play college golf for a Division-I school.” This summer, between her junior and senior years, is crucial for a golfer in hopes of drawing attention from college coaches. “I have tournaments lined up throughout the summer. I don’t stop until about mid-August.”
What is a goal, not associated with your sport, you would like to accomplish in the next few years?
Avery carries a 3.95 grade-point average, and she does not want to go to college based only on athletics. “I would like part of the scholarship to be academic.” |
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| All-Region boys golfer of the year |
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Hockinson's Gaston De La Torre is The Columbian's All-Region boys golfer of the year for the third time.
De La Torre won his third consecutive Class 2A state championship and led his team to a third consecutive state title, as well. De La Torre will be playing for New Mexico State next school year and hopes one day to make it to the PGA Tour.
The All-Region boys golf team will be in Friday's edition of The Columbian. De La Torre's portrait, as well as an interview with him will also be published Thursday. There is a short video at www.columbian.com/video. Here are some of De La Torre's answers from a recent Q&A session:
Your feelings on being selected the golfer of the year for the third consecutive year:
I think it's pretty cool, but I just focus on my accomplishments and focus on what I need to get done, and I think the recognition comes afterwards. So, it's an honor, I guess.
What does golf mean to you?
Golf's a way of life for me. It's taught me life skills that I couldn't ever ask for in any other sport, and I find a peace within golf, I find just about everything I could ask for in golf. It's just been a savior for me as far as life goes.
What was your most embarrassing moment in golf?
In golf? Ummm, I have no idea. Golf is a serious sport. I don't know, I don't remember. Honestly, I cannot think of one.
Who is your favorite teacher?
Oh, man, I'll be letting a few people down. I'd have to say Miss Feist. She's my English teacher at Hockinson High school for my senior year. She loves golf. And she took time off school just to come watch me. I really appreciate that. It was pretty cool.
Have you ever met any famous people?
Oh, yeah. Arnold Palmer. Clint Eastwood. Gary Player. I think meeting Gary Player was pretty cool. We talked about his accent and — this was at the First Tee Open at Pebble Beach when I was, like, 13, 14 — and he was the only guy who was my height, so we related pretty well.
What is one big goal associated with your sport that you want to accomplish in the next few years?
General goal, just make it to the PGA Tour.
What is one thing most people do not understand about your sport?
Most people don't realize that it's actually a sport to begin with. But I'd say it's a lot more physical sport than people realize, and obviously a lot more mental than people realize. It's not just a bunch of fat old guys running around in a cart smoking cigars.
Do you play other sports?
No. I did play four sports when I was in sixth grade, but I quit all those sports because I decided when I was 11 years old to become a professional golfer one day, so I just quit all the other sports and decided to focus on one thing. And that was the only way to do it.
Do you have any hobbies?
Girls. Focus on girls every once in a while.
What will you remember most about the season?
Obviously the state tournament was the coolest thing. State's always more memorable than anything else.
When you look back on your individual and team accomplishments 10 years from now, what do you think it will mean to you?
I think it's something that I will never forget, and it's something that will stay with me. People will always remember that within the team. And the four seniors that are leaving this year will definitely talk about that at our high school reunion, and hopefully a couple of the guys will be on the PGA Tour and may be arriving in limousines or something that like. It would be pretty cool.
Most memorable moment from the season:
Definitely the last hole at state. Eighteenth hole, had 110-yards in, and I hit a pitching wedge, and I had a terrible lie, and I was just trying to get it on the green, and I stuck it within a foot. And just having a huge gallery and everybody clapping, you know, knowing this was my last high school hole, last basically full shot at high school, and being able to just walk up there and soak up every moment of it was probably the coolest experience of my entire high school (career) by far.
What does it mean for you to play for Hockinson?
It's an honor to play for Hockinson. We have a great team, and I couldn't be happier choosing Hockinson. I actually was going to choose another school. I was gonna go to a 4A school because I thought golf would be better. But actually 2A's where it's at, I think, as far as competition goes in the local area.
How did you get your start in golf?
I moved from Kentucky, and we lived right across the street from a golf course, and my dad basically took me across the street to the golf course and started just chipping and putting. I've loved it ever since. When I was 9 years old I was walking up to the ninth green and he said, 'One day you can be a professional and make money and make a living on this game.' And ever since then I've been working every day and had that dream in mind.
Who is your most influential coach?
I'd have to say Bob Evans, my high school coach. He's a golf mentor to me and life mentor. He's a great guy.
What is one thing that about you that some people may be surprised to learn about you?
I'm a mysterious person. (When asked to elaborate) Mysterious people don't explain about their mysteriousness. They lose their mysteriousness. |
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