University City High School - Excelsus Yearbook (San Diego, CA)

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Aces Another Season wmmtmimmmmm i !:indy Benshof displays her unique style Shirl Washington concentrates on a winning return. Top Row: Julie Emerson. Wendy Wheeler. Lisa Marincio. Cindy Benshoof. Laura Ferguson. Karen Lillie. Laura Korbelak. Shirl Washington. Lisa Hunt Bottom Row: Gail Sheehan. Debbie West. Cindy Buzard. Heather Phillips. Amanda Foster. Akiko Tamano. Andy Sickles. Tina Mertel. Karma Heim- burger. It IS all in the grip according to Gail Sheehan. Girls Tennis 97

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Girls Tennis All of us on the tennis team are like sisters! exclaimed UCHS Varsity girls tennis team cap- tain, Debbie West. On the top of the ladder was senior Cindy Benshoff, followed by juniors Gail Sheean and Cindy Buzard. After the loss of Cindy Benshoof ' s expert match playing (due to her injured leg) the team remained a pretty evenly talented group. The girls on the ' 83- ' 84 team were a truly dedicated bunch. They began a two hour prac- tice day schedule during the last two weeks of summer. The energetic atheletes continued to sweat thro ugh endless workouts throughout the entire season. Coach Connie Thompson helped the girls de- velop better tennis skills and taught them strategy to use during their tough matches. The long hours and hard work led to a smash- ing success for the UCHS Varsity girls tennis team this year. A tough return in the making by a determined Cindy Buzard. Karma Heimburger shows us her smooth backhand. Team captain, Debbie West, checks the pre-game roster. 96 Girls Tennis

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Pass, Pass f Score! ' A quick sprint and a perfectly executed slide tackle by the fullback regains the ball in Centu- rion control, only to be quickly released to a halfback who dribbles downfield allowing the offenders time to set up. A quick pass to the wing and the strategy is obvious: a loft across the face of the goal and a connection with one of the sure footed forwards provides the finish- ing touches on the typical scoring drive so of- ten executed by the Centurion soccer team this year. I like soccer players that hustle! Coach Donaldo Viana exclaimed, And we have a whole team of them this year! The Centurions were a large team this year because of the junior varsity team being cut from the pro- gram. This made for lots of anxious people on the bench and frequent substitutions to keep everyone fresh and give everybody a chance to play. I felt that the key to success was teamwork, hustle and conditioning, Coach Viana com- mented, looking out over the field where the players were running wind sprints. They ran sprints, jogged miles and drilled on numerous soccer agilities all year long to hone their skills and stay in shape, practicing plays and basic soccer strategy, passing and teamwork. The Centurions were a powerful team, con- sistent in their drives and dominant in ball con- trol all season long. They had few goals scored against them due to an unforgiving, iron-clad defense and goalie, Scott Huckleberry, who yelled plays and set up the defense for impend- ing attacks. However, the Cents scored an average of five goals a game due to a vora- cious, goal-hungry offense led by Aaron Ellis, the leading scorer for the Cents. Those quali- ties led them to victory for their first thirteen games, including winning both the La Jolla and Vista Tournaments before starting into regular season play, in which they won the Western League title and entered C.I.F. competition. The 1 seat. Coach Kelly and Viana discuss second hour strategy during halftime. % m -»i • Eric Ryan and Aaron Ellis celebrate the winning goal of the LaJolla Cup. JHI 98 Varsity Soccer Vincent Wong powers through Madison defenders on yet another goal scoring drive.