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EATON AND COE SELECTED 2006 CIF SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR ALAMEDA - Kelly Eaton from Menlo-Atherton (Atherton) High School and Michael Coe of Cabrillo (Lompoc) High School have been selected as the 2006 CIF Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The scholarship award, established in 1982, recognizes student-athletes who excel in the classroom, in athletics and are strong contributors to their schools and communities. Both students will be honored at the State Capitol and on the Senate and Assembly Floors in Sacramento on Thursday, June 22. In addition, they will receive a $2,000 scholarship to the college/university of their choice. Nominations for this prestigious award were received from the 1,393 high schools that make up the CIF membership. "I am constantly encouraged by the young people in our schools and our two scholar-athletes are another reaffirmation of the great potential the future holds," said CIF Executive Director Marie M. Ishida. "I wish to personally congratulate all the nominees. We, once again, had an excellent group of scholar-athletes." KELLY EATON, Menlo-Atherton High School Eaton has been a varsity member of both the water polo and swimming teams throughout her four-year career. She ranks in the top 10% of her class with a 4.27 grade-point average, and has signed a National Letter of Intent to play water polo at Stanford University in the fall. She has been recognized by the San Francisco Chronicle as one of the Peninsula's Top 10 Female High School Athletes, has been named water polo player of the year by both the CIF Central Coast Section and San Jose Mercury News, and league swimmer of the year by The San Mateo Times. In addition, she was named the school's 2005 Athlete of the Year. Eaton is a four-time first-team all-league selection in water polo and swimming. She is a three All-America in swimming and also has two All-America consideration times. She recently was selected to the 2006 Women's Senior and Junior National Team Tryouts. She is a black belt in Jujitsu and a Self Defense for Women instructor, as well as a swimming and water polo coach and instructor. Eaton also serves as a tutor at SCORE! Center and plays three musical instruments: alto sax, flute and piccolo. She founded "Kelly Cares," a business that provides vacation services and child/pet care. Eaton intends to major in Molecular or Genetic Biology with career goals of being involved in Biomedical, Biological or Pharmaceutical Research. "I have nothing but praise for this bright and talented young woman. Kelly is a well-organized and hardworking young woman with high intellect who is well respected by her peers and our staff. The depth and breadth of Kelly's interests, talents and abilities make her the outstanding young woman she is today. Kelly is always committed to doing her best in whatever she endeavors and I have no doubt she will succeed and make a positive contribution to her community and society as a whole," said Karen Ramirez, Menlo-Atherton High School Head Guidance Counselor.
"It doesn't matter if you win or lose, but how you play the game." Sometimes this character lesson is unfortunately ignored in the throes of heated competition. The actions (or inactions) of a coach or individual speak louder than their words, and athletes quickly learn what they see. In the end, what they do speaks so loud that athletes can't hear what they say in school mission statements. Unhealthy patterns become established, the "sportsmanship bar" is lowered, and a Roman gladiator pit results rather than healthy, wholesome competition. Although my second sport of swimming is a non-contact sport with fewer opportunities for unsportsmanlike conduct, sadly, my favorite game of water polo has come under increased scrutiny due to a few coaches', teams', fans' and athletes' unprofessional or even brutal acts. I trust the sport I love will mature so players may still play hard and play tough, but play with respect for the game, competitors and overtaxed coaches and officials. Hopefully, strong, prompt consequences will be given for aggressors or coaches, and common decency will prevail. Nevertheless, I remain proud to be part of this first Olympic sport known for the best-conditioned athletes in one of the most physically and mentally challenging games. However, as a fierce competitor, I must admit it MATTERS if we win or lose, and I experience the scientifically acknowledged physiological reactions after winning or losing tough games: "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." However, perspective allows me to feel emotionally good again after reflecting that although our team may have come up short, we can feel gratified if we played with intensity, gave it our best, and used the finest strategy and tactics we knew at the time. Accepting setbacks and defeat with dignity means applying the new lessons learned to future contests, which is all we can expect on Monday morning. No excuses, no whining. Therefore, I can't relate to the first phrase by itself, I wholeheartedly agree with the overall message of the admonishment: "how you play the game" is an even more important value to me. Victory without honor is hollow and meaningless, and would cause me to always wonder if my team would have prevailed if it were not for questionable tactics. I couldn't enjoy a cheap or "stolen" win. What joy is a triumph if you can't look yourself in the mirror that night and feel you won a match fair and square? I couldn't live with the hypocrisy of parading down the post-game high-five "good game" line-up when deep down inside I knew we were not morally or ethically "good." This age-old ritual would be reduced to a mockery of the sport. One more "W" in the W/L column is simply not worth compromising my character or that of my school and team I represent. One's reputation is for life, while sports "success" is just for a few seasons or years. Indeed, I'm baffled when certain sports figures are idolized as "role models" while their personal character and behavior on-and-off the court, field, or pool may be self-serving and disrespectful. More important than collecting superficial trophies or medals is how you play the game, including the game of life. I've been privileged to witness school administrators, coaches and parents working together with integrity to model or "teach" motivated athletes the value of respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship in the game of life. Coaches can achieve success while shunning a winning-at-all-costs mentality. Although difficult, they can obtain victories while honoring all athletes on their own team as well as the opposition. One does not necessarily exclude the other, and a balance can be achieved between the ultimate goal of winning and celebrating other smaller team successes and individual goals. Sports are a perfect microcosm for kids to learn tough life lessons, and the journey can be a reward (not just outcomes). I am grateful that my own character has been molded for the better through interscholastic athletics. MICHAEL COE, Cabrillo High School Coe has been a four-year member of both the cross country and track teams at Cabrillo High School and ranks 11th in his class with a 4.00 grade-point average. He will participate in both sports at University of California in the fall. He earned Fastest in the Nation recognition with a 4:07.3 finish in the mile at the Boston Indoor Games. He won the 2005 state cross country championship (D III) and was named California "Runner of the Year." In his first two years, he had been selected as the state's Freshman and Sophomore Runner of the Year, respectively. Coe finished second at last year's Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships. He is a four-time first-team all-league selection and a three-time league MVP. He has served as a second grade teacher's assistant and been heavily involved in St. Mary's Church. He directed a Hurricane Katrina Relief Project as well as a Toys for Tots Drive. Coe has been the ASB Vice President for four years and President of the school's National Honor Society. Coe plans to major in business with career goals of working in sports marketing or accounting. "Accomplished, hard working and determined are three words that come to mind when I think of Michael Coe. He is an extremely focused and determined young man. I have truly enjoyed his positivism and willingness to accept any challenge that he is faced with. Michael's resume speaks volumes of who he is as a person," said Brianne Jory, Cabrillo High School Lead Counselor.
Coe Essay: "Living By Three Valued Qualities" Throughout my four years at Cabrillo High School, I have learned how to balance my athletic and academic efforts while always keeping the values of integrity, humility and honesty. To me, being successful is much more than just accomplishing things and winning awards. As I work hard to become the best athlete and student possible, I believe it is my duty to live by my three valued qualities and always treat others with respect. There are many athletes with high achievements in high school that develop selfish qualities and large egos. I am not one of those athletes. Those people who let their egos get too big are destined to fail, because humility is a quality that will earn respect from your peers and push you in the right direction. Developing people skills and good personal relationships is another thing I've learned to value in my high school experience. I know that being able to communicate well with others (especially those with more knowledge than myself) can only help me in my path to a successful future. Being a good human being and giving every single person that I encounter the time of day is mandatory for someone in my position. One key reason that it is so important for a high school athlete and scholar like myself to stay humble is that there is always so much more knowledge to obtain for improvement, no matter how much has been achieved already. Without humility and integrity, one might lose the desire to improve and think he/she is the king of the world while still in high school. I am one of those people who is always striving to be great in everything I do, and I never feel satisfied. In both sports and school, I take every day as a chance to improve because I know that high school is simply a stepping-stone for the future. I have always had aspirations to be an Olympic athlete, and I know that will take an incredible amount of self-discipline, patience and, of course, hard work. With that goal in place, I know I have so much else going for me because I know my athletic capabilities won't last forever. Staying sharp in the classroom is what I value more than anything because my education is something nobody will ever be able to take away from me. The skills I learn in high school set me up well for all the knowledge I am going to obtain when I attend the University of California Berkeley next fall. In addition to the great education I will be getting, I am looking forward to the great challenge of running track and the Division I college level, and I think I can be successful as long as I maintain my three valued qualities and live every day to the fullest. 
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