Girl Athletes-of-the-Year chosen for 2008-2009
By Pete Mohr | July 15, 2009
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| Lauren Weaver | Natalie Omundson |
Not on your life! Both equally outstanding in their respective sports. Both equally excel as students.
Both equally impressive as leaders. Both equally deserving to share in this award.
I’ll lead off with Lauren. Born March 7, 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio, Lauren is the older daughter of Desert Mountain residents Craig and Sandra Weaver. The Weavers came to the Valley when Lauren was an 8th grader. She started playing golf at age 5, appreciatively identifying “my Dad” as her main coach. Younger sister, Lindsey, 15, a rising sophomore, is prepared and ready to lead the Lady Falcon golfers to their 3rd straight State title. The two sisters are fierce competitors!
From the front page sidebar, readers already know Lauren led the Lady Falcons to consecutive State Championships in 2007 and 2008, shooting a “lights out” 68-66 in last season’s tourney. Perhaps her greatest honor/recognition to date is being selected two straight years as one of 12 girls to the Hewlett-Packard Scholastic All-American Team.
She identifies playing for Cactus Shadows as “the highlight of my high school years.”
After competing this summer in several prestigious tournaments, Lauren will enroll at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., where she’ll golf for the Lady Wildcats, while pursuing a pre-med curriculum (looking to a career in dermatology).
Now to Natalie. “Don’t call me Nat!” she boldly chastised as a freshman. Daughter of Creekers Peter and Debbie Omundson, Natalie earned nine CSHS varsity letters: four each in Cross Country and Track; one in Basketball, playing as a defensive specialist her freshman and sophomore years.
Distance running was her athletic concentration. She led Lady Falcons Cross Country and Track for four years, her principal Track events being the 1,600m (mile) and 3,200m (two-mile) runs. At 2009 State, she was a member of the 4X800m relay team that set a new CSHS record.
And what did she enjoy most during her Cactus Shadows athletic career? I was not surprised by her answer: “Working with and encouraging my teammates.” This summer, she’s been training with her likely successor, rising junior Jesse Hass. “She’s going to be really great!” Natalie enthuses.
Just as Natalie will be “great” at American University, Washington, DC, where she’ll continue to run Cross Country.
Congratulations and best wishes to both of you.