Saddleback High School - Caparral Yearbook (Santa Ana, CA)

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Athletes grueling practices, endured to- gether, not only bring improve- ment and progress, but a close- ness amongst the teammates. Being in sports has not only brought me friends from my own teams, but also many friendships with the opposing schools, said soccer player Sylvia Castro. It is these friends who, together, ex- perience the thrills of victory and the agonies of defeat. In the face of adversity, the member of a winless team pos- sesses a special inner drive, a yearning for self-satisfaction. He must forget the past scores, real- ize he has done his best, and pre- pare himself for the next game. He must remember that he is there because of his love for the sport, and that the results are secon- dary. When a player ' s team is down by twenty points, the score is less important if he enjoys the play itself. Sure I love to win, but playing is more important, says varsity basketball player Heather Webb. Although the cheers and ap- plause of the crowd aren ' t a part of a weaker team ' s atmosphere, the athletes persevere. Parents and coaches give them the cour- age and confidence to go on. Scores, statistics, and rankings become meaningless when the athlete remains unbeaten in his positive attitude, inner drive, and self-satisfaction. The responsibility to perform his best is one he owes himself and is the primary force behind the ' undefeated ' athlete.v by Lisa Wood Sporrs Feature 87

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Undefeated by Lisa Wood The winning teams in football and basketball are showered with glory and attention, while other teams are left in the shadows. Those other not so prosperous teams continue to strive, hoping that someday they too will be amongst the recognizable stars. Every participant in an interscho- lastic sport, whether a talented natural or a heartful bench- warmer, puts in a great deal of time and effort, gaining exper- iences that make the final score secondary. Although Orange County is the breeding home of superior prep athletes, the underdogs who main- tain a winning attitude don ' t find the challenge defeating. When I run, I experience a feeling of free- dom, a feeling that nothing else can bring. Although other schools have tough competitors, I perse- vere because I want to discover my own potentials, commented runner Larry Silva. Each sporting event brings new experiences, friendships, goals, and most im- portantly, a personal feeling of ac- complishment. The experiences that an athlete encounters become a valued part of his school days, and are fondly looked upon. It is a great exper- ience to see yourself or a team- mate progress throughout a sea- son, and before you know it, you can look back on those first exper- iences and honestly laugh, said Sherman Liao, a varsity badmin- ton player. Along with experience and com- petition come friendships. Long, 86 Undefeared Arhleres

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88 Orqanizarions