LORD RETURNS TO SAUGUS' TENNIS CENTURIONS' ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BACK TO COACHING GIRLS' TEAM.Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer When the girls' tennis coach resigned unexpectedly after last season, Saugus High athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic Teri Lord was disappointed but not overly concerned. She was sure she'd find a replacement. But she never guessed she'd be the replacement. Lord has been the athletic director at Saugus for 14 years, and has been a part of the school's landscape for 25 years - in the physical education department and also as a girls' tennis coach. ``I haven't coached for four years,'' Lord said, ``and if anything, I've just taken four years off and I'm coming back rejuvenated re·ju·ve·nate tr.v. re·ju·ve·nat·ed, re·ju·ve·nat·ing, re·ju·ve·nates 1. To restore to youthful vigor or appearance; make young again. 2. . And excited.'' Lord had better be recharged - she's also without a junior varsity junior varsity n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. coach, and so will be doing the work of two. Lord will take over the varsity position vacated by John Robb John Robb may refer to:
``Usually when I hire I'm looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. longevity,'' Lord said. ``It's kind of disillusioning dis·il·lu·sion tr.v. dis·il·lu·sioned, dis·il·lu·sion·ing, dis·il·lu·sions To free or deprive of illusion. n. 1. The act of disenchanting. 2. The condition or fact of being disenchanted. as an older teacher/coach.'' Lord admitted she didn't know much about her team's skill level yet, but she's got enough tennis know-how to highlight the Centurions' strengths. With fewer walk-ons each year, the team is slowly developing a solid foundation in the basics and is becoming more teachable teach·a·ble adj. 1. That can be taught: teachable skills. 2. Able and willing to learn: teachable youngsters. . There is one player Lord knows well - Yasaman Sakhakorn, the Centurions' No. 1 singles player. Sakhakorn, just a sophomore, used to practice at the Saugus High courts with her younger sister while she was in middle school. Lord couldn't wait until she was old enough to play at Saugus. ``She a great girl,'' Lord said. ``And a real strong tennis player.'' As a freshman, Sakhakorn went 53-1 and beat defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del título defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre Olga Yepremian of Burbank for the Foothill League individual title. She was named a 2001 Daily News All-Area honorable mention. Sakhakorn isn't a typical returning league champion. She's not looking forward to any showdowns with top players at other Foothill League schools. Instead, she's choosing to stay in the match at hand. ``The main thing that's important is looking at who you're playing that day,'' Sakhakorn said. ``I just look at it one match at a time.'' Sakhakorn's started to play mind games during matches to improve her focus - she imagines there are no spectators watching, that it's just her and her competition. She said her mom comes to her matches, but sometimes she doesn't realize it until she's played a few games. Sakhakorn started playing with her dad when she was six. She's ranked No. 46 in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, by the United States Tennis Association “USTA” redirects here. For other uses, see USTA (disambiguation). The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the United States. in the under-16 division. Her sister, Nadia, who will be a freshman at Saugus next year, is ranked No. 93. Lord hasn't had the benefit of a summer program like other area coaches. She is predicting a conservative finish for a team that went winless two seasons ago. ``I don't think we're going to do much,'' Lord said. ``But, I'll always underestimate how well we'll do.'' She picks her team to finish somewhere in the fourth, fifth or sixth place range. Lord had 23 players come out for 18 spots, and is encouraged by the numbers, even though she'll have to make some cuts. SAUGUS COACH: Teri Lord Key returnees: Yasaman Sakhakorn (Sophomore, No. 1 Singles), Melody Silver (Senior, Singles). Sept. 12 Quartz Hill 3:15 p.m. Sept. 13 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 3:15 p.m. Sept. 14 Valencia Varsity Tournament 8 a.m. Sept. 20 at Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. 3 p.m. Sept. 24 Palmdale 3 p.m. Sept. 25 Highland at Lancaster City Park 3:15 p.m. Sept. 27 Littlerock 3 p.m. Oct. 1* Hart 3 p.m. Oct. 3* at Canyon 3 p.m. Oct. 8* Valencia 3 p.m. Oct. 10* at Burroughs 3 p.m. Oct. 15* Burbank 3 p.m. Oct. 17* at Hart 3 p.m. Oct. 22* Canyon 3 p.m. Oct. 24* at Valencia 3 p.m. Oct. 29* at Burroughs 2 p.m. Oct. 31* at Burbank 2 p.m. Nov. 6* Foothill League Prelims at Burbank Tennis Center 12 p.m. Nov. 7* Foothill League Finals at Burbank Tennis Center 12 p.m. *League contest CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Saugus High tennis player Yasaman Sakhakorn is expected to play in the No. 1 singles spot for the Centurions this season. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer Box: SAUGUS (see text) |
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