Lin wins CCS Female Scholar-Athlete award

By Dick Sparrer

The high school sports year is nearing an end, with only those athletes involved in spring Central Coast Section competition still in action. But the end of the sports year is just the beginning for senior athletes collecting scholarships and awards for the 1998-99 school year.

The CCS, the San Jose Sports Authority and the Charlie Wedemeyer Family Outreach program are getting the scholarship ball rolling with special honors for outstanding senior athletes.

CCS Scholar-Athletes

Iming Lin of Los Gatos and Andrew Hill of Los Altos topped a list of five scholar-athletes recognized by the Board of Managers of the Central Coast Section for excellence in the '98-99 school year.

Lin, an outstanding field hockey and softball player for the Wildcats, was selected as the 1999 Female CCS Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and Hill, a track and cross country star for the Eagles, was the male winner.

The two were each presented a $1,500 scholarship at a CCS Board of Managers meeting April 29 at Cupertino High School.

Taylor Henricks of Los Gatos, Betsy Masiello of Saratoga and Jason Sabet-Peyman of Leland were other CCS winners and were each presented $500 scholarships at the meeting.

Henricks was a swimming and water polo standout for the Cats, and Masiello was a standout on the softball diamond for the Falcons.

Athletes were honored by the CCS based on athletic and academic accomplishments, school and community service and a written essay on the general subject of what participation in interscholastic athletics has meant to each of them personally.

Just to be eligible, applicants had to possess at least a 3.5 grade point average, score at least 950 on the SAT and compete at the varsity level for a CCS school for at least two years.

"It's gratifying to realize the number of absolutely incredible kids we have throughout the Central Coast Section," said CCS Assistant Commissioner Steve Stearns. "These young people are striving for, and achieving, wonderful accomplishments for themselves and their school communities."

San Jose Sports Authority

Laura Fairchild of Monta Vista was among the six local student-athletes winning top honors at the third annual REACH Youth Scholarship Awards Breakfast, hosted by the San Jose Sports Authority and underwritten by NEC Electronics Inc.

Natalie Verna of St. Francis walked away with the top scholarship of $2,000, with Stacy Davis of Mt. Pleasant winning a $1,500 scholarship award, Leif Schmit-Kallas of Palo Alto $1,000, and Fairchild, Gloria Flores of Overfelt and Analyn La Guardia of Silver Creek $500 each.

The REACH Youth Scholarship program recognizes high school seniors who have overcome adversity to excel both in the classroom and in athletics.

Program co-chairs Ronnie Lott and Jennifer Azzi joined with NEC Electronics CEO and President Hirokazu Hasimoto to present the awards to the student-athletes.

Among the scholarship nominees were David Evans of Lynbrook; Fairchild and Lauren Adams of Monta Vista; Flores and Andrea Hightower of Overfelt; Davis of Mt. Pleasant; Schmit-Kallas of Palo Alto; La Guardia and Stephanie Wooden of Silver Creek; Verna of St. Francis; Tony Fazzio of Leigh; Bobby Magami and Teresa Perez of Gunn; Andrea Lee of Gunderson; Renata Davis, Melvin Rabena, Tarang Saini and Roman Vulfovich of Fremont; and Tiffany Abuan, Kevin Drumm, Jaime Forman-Lau, Kerri Nakamoto, Lauren Sherburne and Lisa Singer of Mitty.

Wedemeyer Gala

Bill Walsh of the San Francisco 49ers will host the first annual Charlie Wedemeyer Celebration Gala, honoring outstanding Bay Area high school seniors, on May 20, 6 p.m., in the Imperial Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel.

The dinner will honor six outstanding high school senior athletes who best exemplify the theme, "Champions meet challenges with courage and commitment."

Kristi Cangiamilla of Prospect, Saini of Fremont, Monica Blankenship of Fremont, Jeff Luu of Pioneer, Davis of Mt. Pleasant and Verna of St. Francis will each be presented a $1,000 scholarship at the night's event.

Cangiamilla competed on the cross country squad and for a championship girls track team at Prospect, and Verna was a standout in soccer and field hockey for the Lancers.

Luu and Davis were each three-sport athletes at their respective schools in the 1998-99 school year. Luu played football and basketball, then competed for the track and field team at Pioneer, and Davis played volleyball, basketball and softball for the Cardinals.

Saini and Blankenship were each outstanding athletes at Fremont in Sunnyvale this past year. Saini played tennis and badminton for the Firebirds, and Blankenship was a member of the school's swimming team.

Jan Hutchins and Joanie Greggains will share master of ceremonies duties, and other special guests expected at the celebration include Peggy Fleming, Kristie Yamaguchi, Steve Mariucchi and R.C. Owens, along with Walsh.

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