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SPORTS
Echo Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Out of the PARK Racquel
“If (Abati) is putting in time for both and can still keep up with what he has to do then great for him. Alex Peterson, senior
Fhima racquelfhima@ slpecho.com
Keeping my head in the game
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ental toughness is a skill that comes with hard work and perseverance. My experience with overcoming my mental block shaped the way I think about myself and my tennis game. As an eighth grader, my mental game was at an all time low. It got to the point where I was known to give up after losing a couple of games. I stopped training altogether at one point, but that was only a temporary fix. After that, Natalie Lorentz, the previous tennis captain, helped to make that the low point. As my skills developed and my attitude toward What’s the tennis bePOINT? came more confident throughout the year, I became less focused on my mental game. I pushed myself to get better by playing four to eight hours every day in the summer. While this helped my racquet skills, my mental attitude still created difficulties in matches. At that point, I realized in these matches although my strokes were there, my mental game put me at a disadvantage to others at my level. This rude awakening gave me the determination to work harder, and by the end of freshman year my tennis and mental game was greatly improved. At my first tournament I got to the finals and then lost to a girl that was the same skill level as me because my overconfidence got the better of me. This tournament humbled me and made me realize that while I was still better than eighth grade me, I had a lot of hard work to do. The next tournament, I played one of my best friends in the second round, who I had always admired. I ended up winning which gave me the biggest confidence boost I have ever experienced. Throughout the season I held this win with me, and whenever I was getting down on myself I remembered the tournament where I beat the girl who I had looked up to since I was 12. All it takes is one win, one second, to switch the feeling of hopelessness to resolve and create a mental game of steel. By retraining my mind, I have achieved more than I ever imagined as a sophomore. I still have a lot of work to do concerning my mental game, as well as my racquet skills, but that is all within my reach.
Mental game key in developing success
Varsity athlete takes on two sports
Photo Adam Johnson
Two is better than one: Senior Abati Dedefo winds up to kick the ball in the Orioles’ match against Minneapolis South. Dedefo participates in both soccer and cross country at the varsity level.
Senior follows athletic passion with soccer, cross country Adam Johnson adamjohnson@slpecho.com
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hen senior athlete Abati Dedefo prepared to begin his last year in high school, he sought to play both soccer and run cross country. According to Dedefo, soccer has always been an important aspect to his life, but he also wanted to run for the cross country team this fall. “I love playing soccer. I decided to join cross country this season because it is my last year of high school and I thought it would be fun,” Dedefo said. According to Park cross country coach Chris Nordstrom he said he supports Dedefo’s involvement in the two sports.
“(Dedefo’s) focus has more been on the soccer side,” said Nordstrom. “he nice thing with cross country is soccer and cross country do have a lot of similarities,” Nordstrom said. According to Dedefo, he primarily attends soccer practice while running in cross country meets. He said communicating with both coaches is crucial. “I talked to my coaches and we just kind of talked to each other and figured out what we were going to do,” Dedefo said. Senior cross country captain and teammate Colin Perkins said he looks up to Dedefo’s dedication to pursue two sports. “He provides a standard of what you can achieve if you push yourself,” Perkins said. According to varsity assistant soccer coach Pat Hartman he acknowledges Dedefo’s performance in both sports.
Dual-sport accomplishments Scored two goals Placed third out of in the soccer seas 502 athletes in The Griak Invitational Contributed one Ran the two mile assist for the team race in 10:20
Infographic Brooklyn Donelson Source gophersports.com, mnsoccerhub
“The same week that he placed third in Griak, he scored two goals in the next match after that,” Hartman said. Nordstrom said he hopes students will be able to pursue multiple sports in the future. “I hope it’s something that we can work out with coaches in the future,” Nordstrom said.
Officer Bill Mathews honored at Vikings game Family accepts Hometown Hero recognition
Sam Birnberg & Jacob Stillman sambirnberg@slpecho.com jacobstillman@slpecho.com
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t the Vikings-Packers game Oct. 15, U.S. Bank Stadium filled with cheers and applause for the recogPhoto Sam Birnberg Honoring a hero: Wyatt and Shawn Mathews displayed as part of a tribute video made nition of one of St. Louis Park’s own. Park’s assistant athletic director Shawn in honor of Officer Bill Mathews during a stoppage in play at U.S. Bank Stadium Oct. 15 Mathews and her son Wyatt stood on the after Officer Mathews. He said that the field, receiving the Hometown Hero honor were brought into Winter Park to watch a honors given by both the city of Wayzata Vikings practice. on behalf of her husband Officer Bill and the Minnesota Vikings go a long way “We just thought if there was a chance Mathews, who passed away on Friday, to preserving Officer Mathews’ heroism to bring that story to the Vikings fan Sept. 8 while clearing debris from Highand service. base and have the opportunity to honor way U.S. 12. “Because of how impactful he was, the family, that would be something we The Hometown Hero award honors people want to make sure his memory wanted to do,” Bostrom said. individuals who have made a difference in lasts,” Ewald said. Park athletic director Andy Ewald said their community. Bostrom said the Hometown Hero that although he was not involved in the Greg Bostrom, the Director of Enhonor was created to promote recognition nomination process, he was elated to see tertainment for the Minnesota Vikings, for those who have a major impact on the the Mathews family being honored. said the organization felt the Hometown local community. “I think it is a great gesture for the Hero award was the perfect platform to “There is no more fitting person for Vikings to do,” Ewald said. honor Officer Mathews’ commitment to this recognition than someone like Bill Ewald said the city of Wayzata has the community, and that Bill was chosen Mathews,” Bostrom said. plans to name a stretch of the highway to be honored after Shawn and Wyatt
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I think it is great we finally have a good team, and now we are winning.”
SPORTS
Echo Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Jayda Witherspoon, junior
Park earns first-round bye Orioles reach first winning record since 1972 Sam Birnberg, William Phelan & Adam Johnson sambirnberg@slpecho.com adamjohnson@slpecho.com williamphelanb@slpecho.com
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Meet the ATHLETE
Rushing to victory: Senior quarterback Jonny Sorenson scrambles to gain yards against Orono Oct. 6. The Orioles football team earned its first winning record since 1972. Who Antonio Olivos-Reyes Grade Senior Sport Soccer
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hen senior Skyler Rudelius Palmer looks back at the regular season, he looks fondly on the football team’s 5-3 record. “We worked together as a team more we weren’t focused on individuality we were more focused on team play. That’s what let us break a (45 year) curse of never having a winning season,” Rudelius-Palmer said. Captain Ryan Klaers shared the same positivity when reflecting on the season. Klaers attributed the team’s success to focusing on one game at a time. “The regular season went very well for us. Every week the goal was to play our best game and have everyone doing their jobs and it paid off with our record,” Klaers said Park head coach Ben Wolfe said the team met their own expectations, earning a first round bye in the sections tournament. He said the team reached their goal by staying true to the work ethic set at the beginning of the season. “Our attitude and effort brought us a winning season,” Wolfe said. Rudelius-Palmer said the team looks to carry the same attitude and effort into
How long have you been playing soccer? I have been playing soccer since I was eight years old.
the postseason. “We’ve always sort of been the underdog in the regular season. I think we just have to keep track of that and keep that mentality,” Rudelius-Palmer said. Wolfe said the team is ready to go for their first sections game after finishing the season with three straight wins. “It has been a great journey overall, and we hope that we can continue that journey into the section tournament,” Wolfe said, “It is an 0 and 0 season at this point, so every play matters.” Park plays winner of Irondale-Park Center game 1:00 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Stadium.
Fall sports wrap-up
What do you enjoy most about playing soccer? My teammates and just the feeling of scoring. (Also) winning and having fun I guess. I mean scoring is nice but assisting also is good because you are contributing to the team. What position(s) do you play? I started playing center mid, but the past two years I have been playing left mid or right mid, but center mid is my position. What teams have you played for outside of high school? I have played with Park Valley United.
Photo illustration Josh Halper
Girls’ soccer
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he Oriole girls finished the season at a 9-4-1 mark, according to MN Soccer Hub. They placed second in their conference and third in section 6AA. The team put up 34 goals on the year and conceeded 22. Junior captain Ellie Kent and senior captain Rafferty Kugler paced the team with seven goals a piece. The team will graduate six seniors and have 15 players returning next year. Jacob Stillman jacobstillman@slpecho.com Photo Josh Halper
Girls’ tennis
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he Oriole girls finished their regular season with a 10-2 record, according to gopark.org. The team graduated seven seniors, led by captains Hanna Schechter, Mimi Fhima and Maddie Lund. The team qualified for sections, losing in the second round. All individual players, aside from senior captain Mimi Fhima and junior Suzy Hu, were eliminated in the first round. Coach David Breitenbucher earned the Section Coach Award.
Photo Josh Halper
Alec Pittman alecpittman@slpecho.com
Boys’ soccer
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he boys’ soccer team ended with a record of 9-4-1. The team won its conference and placed second in Section 6AA. The team earned 29 goals during the course of the season and gave up 22. Junior captain Zinedine Kroeten was awarded second team all state. There are eight graduating seniors on the team and 12 players returning next year. The top scorer was senior captain Jacob Stillman with a total of eight goals.
Photo Caroline Green
Jenna Cook & Sophie Yarosh jennacook@slpecho.com, sophieyarosh@slpecho.com
How is high school soccer different from other clubs or leagues you have played in? I feel like the competition in high school is more competitive. It is a bit better than in club. Who has influenced you most? My dad since he plays, because he was the one I played with. What do you feel like you have improved in the most? Probably just dribbling a bit, and just looking at the field instead of just dribbling with the ball, looking up and all. What is your favorite memory in soccer? (My favorite high school memory) is scoring playing varsity, so scoring yeah it was nice scoring. Who is your favorite soccer player and why? My favorite soccer player is Messi, because one he is left footed and I am left footed as well, and two he is small and he can compete with any guy. He is very smart and his dribbling skills are just sick. What do you hope you’ll learn from this experience? I hope I’ll learn to be quicker and to know how other players play. Do you want to keep playing soccer throughout your life? Yeah why not? It is a beautiful game.
Jacob Stillman jacobstillman@slpecho.com