IN THE SWIM OF THINGS SOPHOMORE RAMSUM IS PALMDALE'S HEAD OF STATE.Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer PALMDALE - The Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Unified School District A unified school district is a school district which includes both primary school (kindergarten through middle school or junior high) and high school (grades 9-12). In Illinois, these districts are called unit school districts. is trying to get local athletes to become good ambassadors. The district's ``CharacterCounts'' campaign emphasizes sportsmanship and representing the region in a positive light. Fortunately for the Palmdale swim team, it happens to have an aspiring as·pire intr.v. as·pired, as·pir·ing, as·pires 1. To have a great ambition or ultimate goal; desire strongly: aspired to stardom. 2. diplomat on its side. Sophomore Mandy Ramsum, one of the team's top returning swimmers, was nominated nom·i·nate tr.v. nom·i·nat·ed, nom·i·nat·ing, nom·i·nates 1. To propose by name as a candidate, especially for election. 2. To designate or appoint to an office, responsibility, or honor. to represent the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. in a sports-ambassadorship program in Australia later this year. The program originally was established by President Dwight Eisenhower and currently is run by his living relatives. Ramsum already has interviewed for the program and expects to find out if she's among the 80 U.S. swimmers who'll participate within the next two weeks. ``I think it would be a great opportunity to go abroad and swim against other people, meet new cultures, and have a really good time,'' she said. Palmdale coach Coli Lynch, who wrote a recommendation letter in support of Ramsum's candidacy, said all of the team's swimmers have been briefed on the district's expectations. She believes Ramsum will be a good ambassador. ``She's somebody who's aware of different cultures,'' Lynch said. ``She has the potential to be a leader and I think she'll make a really good (team) captain when she's a senior.'' A year-round swimmer, Ramsum is expected to help the Falcons challenge perennial perennial, any plant that under natural conditions lives for several to many growing seasons, as contrasted to an annual or a biennial. Botanically, the term perennial Golden League power Quartz Hill for the league title. Last season, she qualified for Southern Section competition as a member of the 200-yard medley med·ley n. pl. med·leys 1. An often jumbled assortment; a mixture: "That night he dreamed he was traveling in a foreign country, only it seemed to be a medley of all the countries he'd ever been to and relay and 200 freestyle The code name for the MCE version of Windows. See Media Center Edition. relay teams. A versatile swimmer, she also swims the butterfly and the breaststroke. Other key returnees for the girls' team, which finished second in league behind the Rebels last season, are seniors Seeloong Young, Alyssa Takatori and Amanda Clayton, and sophomores Katie Takatori (Alyssa's sister) and Bita Rostama. Young, the girls' team's top individual swimmer, qualified for sectional sec·tion·al adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular district. 2. Composed of or divided into component sections. n. competition in the 100 and breaststroke and 100 freestyle. Alyssa Takatori was on both qualifying relay teams. Rostama, a backstroke specialist, was on the medley relay team. The boys' team, which also finished second to Quartz Hill last season, returns some of the area's top swimmers, including seniors Josh Cobb and Jonathan Sieber, both of whom qualified for Southern Section competition last season. Cobb, a year-round swimmer, placed seventh in Division IV in the 100-yard backstroke, and Sieber swam swam v. Past tense of swim. swam Verb the past tense of swim swam swim the breaststroke leg of the qualifying medley-relay team. Cobb excelled last season despite suffering an ankle injury two years ago, which hasn't fully recovered. Other top returnees for the boys' team are senior Ryan Collins and juniors Tory Mortensen and Cameron Froede. Collins, an alternate on the medley-relay team last season, and Mortensen are freestyle swimmers. Froede's specialty is the backstroke. Newcomers to watch include sophomore Samantha Blohn (freestyle), and freshman backstroke specialist Carrie Cobb (Josh's sister) on the girls' team, and freshmen freestyler Kyle Mortensen (Tory's brother) and breaststroker Thomas Allen Thomas Allen may refer to:
AT A GLANCE Team: Palmdale High Coach: Coli Lynch, 3rd season 2001: Both boys' and girls' teams finished in second place in Golden League Top returnees: Girls - Seeloong Young, Sr.; Alyssa Takatori, Sr.; Amanda Clayton, Sr.; Mandy Ramsum, So.; Katie Takatori, So.; Bita Rostama, So. Boys - Josh Cobb, Sr.; Jonathan Sieber, Sr.; Ryan Collins, Sr.; Tory Mortensen, Jr.; Cameron Froede, Jr. Top newcomers: Girls - Samantha Blohn, So.; Carrie Cobb, Fr. Boys - Kyle Mortensen, Fr.; Thomas Allen, Fr. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Palmdale's Mandy Ramsum could be swimming in Australia later this season as part of a national ambassadorship program. (2 -- color) MANDY RAMSUM Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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