The Mark Highlights
By Aisha Saeed
Community Outreach Student Intern
Athletic Scholars at Sierra High School
Juggling the rigor of the classroom and the competitive nature of the field and court, athletic scholars like Kaitlyn Rausa, Bradley Moorhead, and Holden Fishburn, find the balance between schoolwork and athletic activities, and excel in both disciplines. Senior Kaitlyn Rausa, #1 singles player for Sierra High School’s Girls Tennis Team, rallied her team into the section championship game against Central Catholic. In a showdown between the last two VOL singles champions, Rausa played for her win at 7-6, 7-6 for both games, and the tennis team won Sierra High School’s first ever Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV team title. After celebrating their historic win, team captain Rausa, headed straight to the books before finally giving out and waking up bright and early for another eventful day. Despite the stigma that athletes can only excel in sports, and academic scholars at schoolwork, Kaitlyn Rausa defines
new borders unseen in high school society. However, Rausa confessed that managing her schoolwork and playing sports on the side is not an easy task. She said, “Maintaining my GPA while having tennis has been difficult, especially with having to miss school often due to traveling for games or VOL/section tournaments.” When asked how she maintains an astounding 4.5 GPA while juggling tennis she said, “I just have to be persistent. Even when I am exhausted when I arrive home from a game, I push myself to still complete my work before resting. My studies are still a priority for me even with sports; we are called student athletes after all.” Rausa has immersed herself in the sport of tennis for 7 years. Rausa says she began playing tennis at a very early age. It started as a fun activity her and her family played on the weekends. Soon, Rausa would join Northern California’s United States Tennis Association
Kaitlyn Rausa and play on the Junior Team Tennis league. She relocated to Laguna Creek Sports Club in Elk Grove and played in the same divisions offered by NC. She has been with them ever since. Rausa began realizing the impact of the sport on her and her family and the opportunities awaiting her outside of it, when she began winning titles through competing in tournaments and leagues. At school, Rausa Is the president of National Honor Society: an organization committed to students who serve their community and maintain an overall 3.75 GPA and higher. Rausa also serves as secretary for California Scholarship Federation, and community service club, KIWINS. Rausa plans to pursue a career in the medical field, spending nearly 230 hours volunteering at the Doctors Hospital of Manteca, managing the front desk, and visiting and taking care of patients. Playing the dual role of scholar and
12 | Grade Level Standards
