Sports Shorts Sports Shorts (May 28, 2003)

HONOR FOR SHP GRAD . . . Palo Alto's Kathryn (Katie) Whitchurch, a graduate of Sacred Heart Prep, has been named Senior Scholar Athlete at Occidental College. Whitchurch is a four-time All-SCIAC First Team selection in women's water polo and a three-time AWPCA First Team All-American. She scored the game-winning goal in the 2000 Collegiate III National Championship game and tallied 12 goals in the Tigers' 2002 tournament run, which ended with a runnerup finish. Although hampered by a sprained wrist for much of the season, Whitchurch recorded 23 goals in 2003 and had six-goal games against Cal-State Bakersfield and Whitter College. A kinesiology major with a 3.44 GPA, Whitchurch has been accepted into the Johns Hopkins University nursing program, where she will enroll next fall. Her senior research project covered the biomechanics of walking and potential foot injuries as influenced by a diversity of shoe designs for women. "The title of scholar-athlete is a fitting one for Kate," said Occidental kinesiology professor Stuart Rugg, "because she has embraced both with passion. She is vibrant, radiant and strives for excellence in all aspects of her life." Since 1987, the Occidental College Tiger Club has presented annual awards to the school's outstanding male and female senior scholar-athletes. Criteria for nomination include a minimum grade-point average of 3.0, participation in intercollegiate athletics at the varsity level, and recommendations from both the teaching faculty and the Department of Athletics.

VICTOIRE FOR GRANVILLE . . . Stanford product Laura Granville continued her advancement on the women's tennis professional tour with a 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Meilen Tu in the first round of the French Open on Monday. Granville, who would have been a senior at Stanford had she not turned pro, is currently ranked No. 30 in the nation. She reached the semifinals of the Kroger St. Jude Classic in late February. Meanwhile, Stanford grad Alex Kim lost his first round match at the French Open to hard-serving Mark Philippousis, 6-7 (1), 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. Kim is 1-5 on the circuit this season.

SOCCER TRYOUTS . . . The CYSA Alpine Stampede will hold tryouts for the fall season on May 28, May 30, June 4 and June 6 from 4:30-6:15 p.m. at Woodland School in Ladera. Girls born between Aug. 1, 1990 and July 31, 1991 are welcome to attend a few practices with current team members and to try out. Practices are at Woodland, 360 La Cuesta Drive, from 4:30-6:15 p.m. For more information, call 854-6761 or e-mail to wnaylor@pankow.com . . . The Stanford Avalanche, a Class I Under-15 Girls CYSA team, will be hold tryouts during May and early June, Mondays and Thursdays, 4:15-6:15 p.m., in Palo Alto. For specific locations, contact team manager Betsy McCarthy at 533-8661 or at mccargroup@aol.com.

VOLLEYBALL CAMPS . . . The Stanford women's volleyball program has added two day camp dates to its summer schedule. The camps, which run from 9 a.m. until noon, will be offered August 9 and 16 for first through eighth graders at a cost of 40 dollars per session. Join the Stanford Volleyball youth fan club, open to kids 14 and under, and receive the inaugural Stanford Super Spikers T-shirt, two free clinics, and an invitation to an ice cream social with the Stanford Volleyball team. For more information on the additional camp dates, please contact Denise Corlett at (650) 723-1997 or nesi@stanford.edu.

COACHES NEEDED . . . Mid-Peninsula High will be expanding its athletic program next school year and is looking for coaches for some of the new sports. The Dragons need a varsity head coach for the boys' and girls' soccer and volleyball teams, plus a girls' basketball head coach. In addition to girls soccer, the school is adding cross country for both boys and girls. Interested coaches should contact Mid-Peninsula Athletic Direction Chris Spano at 321-1991 (ext. 105) . . . Sacred Heart Prep is looking for the following coaches for the fall of 2003: assistant varsity football coaches, JV head football coach, JV and freshman water polo coaches, boys' freshman soccer coach, and varsity girls' cross-country coach. Those interested should contact SHP Athletic Director Mike Ciardella at 473-4031.