SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS: A DIFFERENT VIEW VIEWPOINT BOYS', GIRLS' SOCCER TEAMS PRACTICE ON SAME FIELD, BUILDING CAMARADERIE.Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News It's 6:30 a.m. and the day is already more than an hour old for Sarah Laird and her teammates. As the morning rush begins to unfold along Mullholland Highway in Calabasas, a short distance off the road the noise level begins to escalate on the tiny Viewpoint High campus. Emanating from the school's gym is the sound of squeaking squeak v. squeaked, squeak·ing, squeaks v.intr. 1. To give forth a short, shrill cry or sound. 2. Slang To turn informer. v.tr. sneakers sneakers Noun, pl US, Canad, Austral & NZ canvas shoes with rubber soles sneakers npl (US) → zapatos mpl de lona; zapatillas fpl , soccer balls thudding thud n. 1. A dull sound, as that of a heavy object striking a solid surface. 2. A blow or fall causing such a sound. intr.v. thud·ded, thud·ding, thuds To make a heavy, dull sound. against the walls and muddled voices being drowned out Drowned Out is a 2002 documentary by Franny Armstrong about the controversial Sardar Sarovar Project. It closely follows a family that is unwilling to leave its village home as the water levels of the Narmada River, mostly because the government provides them no viable by loud music. The hour-long training session has only begun for Laird, a senior on Viewpoint's girls' soccer team, who has become accustomed to the early morning wake-up call in an attempt to remain a step ahead of the competition. Even if it means taking their game indoors. ``When your alarm goes off, it's like `what am I doing?','' Laird said. ``But once you're there, you might as well make it worth your while.'' Nearly 12 hours later, Laird and junior captain Alex Stabler can again be found playing soccer. Only this time, it's following another demanding academic schedule, and the workout has moved outside. Some days, the athletes who comprise the boys' and girls' varsity soccer teams are fortunate enough to train on a spacious field like the one at Pierce College In 2006 the Library won a national Excellence award. Academics Pierce College offers associate's degrees, mainly in the arts and sciences. There are also certificate programs in early childhood education, social services, dental hygienist, and others. in Woodland Hills. Most days, they are forced to practice simultaneously on the 35-by-60 patch of grass on the school's campus, awaiting a much bigger FieldTurf surface to be installed next season. ``I've been at school since 5:45 a.m.,'' Stabler said. ``But see you results. And the results are directly related to your work ethic work ethic n. A set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. work ethic Noun a belief in the moral value of work . We're reforming the whole athletic program. Other teams want to emulate us because they see that we're successful.'' Since Travis Kikugawa took over as Viewpoint's girls' soccer coach six years ago, few area teams produce a work rate like the Patriots. This season, the same can be said about Viewpoint's boys' soccer team, as Kikugawa - with the assistance of Cal State Northridge women's player Casey Dodd, and men's team members Kevin Guppy and Ronny Shields - decided to take on the daunting daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin task of coaching both teams. Although the balancing act has been a challenge for Kikugawa - an established club soccer coach with West Valley Samba samba Ballroom dance of Brazilian origin, popularized in the U.S. and Europe in the 1940s. Danced to music in ⁴⁄₄ time with a syncopated rhythm, the dance is characterized by simple forward and backward steps and tilting, rocking body movements. - the results have been impressive. A year after recording its first postseason victory in a decade, Viewpoint's boys' team finished in second place in the Liberty League, losing only twice in 21 regular-season games. The Patriots girls' team, which shared the league title with Windward of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. last season, won the championship outright this year and matched its male counterparts with 16 victories. ``Especially in my senior year, to put in all the work and to see all the pieces come together, it's a truly amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. experience,'' said senior captain Todd Snyder, who will lead his team into today's Southern Section Div. VI first-round playoff game Noun 1. playoff game - one game in the series of games constituting a playoff game - a single play of a sport or other contest; "the game lasted two hours" playoff - any final competition to determine a championship against Oxford Academy of Cypress at 3 p.m. at Pierce College. ``Last year, (the girls) definitely showed us up. But this year everybody's working at the same rate and everybody's together going for the same goal. It's a new atmosphere out here.'' According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Kikugawa, one of the biggest reasons for the success of both teams is the camaraderie and support system between the athletes. Although there are three sets of siblings in the program - Jeff and Lisa Dubow, Allison and Michael Howard
``It's been a complete transformation,'' Michael Howard said. ``This year, the focus is more on soccer as a program. And practicing with the girls makes both teams work that much harder. It pushes both teams to do their best.'' Said Kikugawa, who also coaches Viewpoint's girls' tennis team in the fall: ``I really have enjoyed watching them interact and compete. The boys have learned a lot about the girls' determination, and the girls have learned to compete against players who are bigger, stronger and faster than they are.'' Viewpoint's girls' team hopes the competition against the boys pays dividends in the postseason, which begins Saturday against Cate of Carpinteria at Chaminade High in West Hills. ``It's intimidating training with the guys,'' Laird said. ``I'm not going to kid you, at first, it struck fear in me. But it has really helped us out.'' For Kikugawa, his biggest inspiration continues to be the determination and motivation of his players, who look forward to their next morning workout in an attempt to prolong their season. ``They're the ones putting in the work, putting in the sacrifice,'' he said. ``The soccer ball and the two goals are secondary. Those just happen to be the tools we use to teach and learn about life. ``I'm involved with soccer 365 days a year, so you definitely go through those phases of burnout Burnout Depletion of a tax shelter's benefits. In the context of mortgage backed securities it refers to the percentage of the pool that has prepaid their mortgage. . But it's the relationships you form with these kids that's the most rewarding part of coaching.'' Erik Boal, (818) 713-3607 erik.boal(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Viewpoint High girls' and boys' varsity soccer teams practice together each day on the same field. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Special to the Daily News |
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