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She had sat on the bench for most of the season as a 12 year old, and it was starting to make her extremely frustrated. That’s when she decided that things needed to change, and that’s when she started to put the real effort in.
“Back in 12 view, I didn’t get very much playing, like in all reality, I was not very good at softball. I sucked. And it ended up with me being on the bench for almost every single day. I really didn’t like the outcome of it. And then I was just like, that is making me so mad. And that’s when I started to really take pitching seriously, and that’s when I started hitting seriously and to grow my talents,” senior Shea Rawlinson said.
After that, she started to spend about two to three hours a day working on softball and specifically pitching, so she could get to the place that she is now. Even now, she goes with her dad to the elementary school field three to four times a week after softball practice to practice her pitching.
Now, Rawlinson has a batting average of .423 throughout her high school career, and a pitching ERA of 3.56. She has had 2 home runs this season, and has struck out 54 girls.
Rawlinson is extremely dedicated to softball. She spends a lot of her own time working on pitching, hitting, and other softball things, just so she can improve.
“I think on average I spend two to three hours a day on my own working on softball,” Shea Rawlinson said.
One thing Rawlinson hates is letting down her team, and that’s one of the reasons that she works so hard on everything that she does.
“In softball, when you make an error, your whole team pays for it, and I guess what motivates me is just to make my teammates lives a little easier by putting in the time and focusing,” Rawlinson said.
Not only does Rawlinson excel at softball, but she also excels at the other sport that she plays, tennis. She was the first varsity singles player this year and played doubles with Madi Johanson the other three years. She ended up taking region every year in her high school career.
Rawlinson loves to interact with anyone whether it’s on the field, the court, or anywhere else. For some people it may be awkward, but she doesn’t care, and takes the first step.
“When she interacts, of course nobody just wants to walk into a situation and have to be the first one to say hi, first one to talk, and the first one to kind of break the ice, but she will,” said Rawlinson’s mom, Shauna.
Whenever the team is down on themselves, Rawlinson is the one that brightens the mood and lifts them up. Her teammates love to be around her and talk to her.
“She’s able to just be somebody that lightens the mood, and everybody likes to be around,” softball coach Landon Bailey said.
Rawlinson is always upbeat and she is constantly encouraging everyone around her, but especially her teammates when they make a mistake or when they need some help, and she is always supporting them too.
“She is always positive and encouraging to other girls,” Bailey said, “She’s always looking out for people and wanting to support them and help them in any way.”
Rawlinson strives to treat everyone with kindness and respect and if she had one thing that she hopes to leave behind it would be to be kind to everyone. “Being nice to people matters more than winning. It’s important to win, that’s the goal of playing sports, but in reality people remember how you treated your teammates when they made a mistake,” Rawlinson
The soccer field is a buzz as the two teams battle near the goalie’s box. The opposing team makes a shot. The goalie lunges off the ground, arms outstretched, trying to block the shot, but it knicks their hands and continues hurtling towards the goal. It is inevitable. The other team will score.
Until the ball suddenly connects with the head of a defending player who had run behind the goalie and thrown himself in front of the ball to block it. The ball is blasted out of the goal box and the goal is saved.
The defending player who saved the goal was senior Alan Lozoya, the heart of the defense on the NS boys soccer team. The block was a moment that occurred in a memorable game against Delta during Lozoya’s high school career. The team went on to win that game and Lozoya has continued to be a strong player on the team.
Lozoya was introduced to soccer at a very young age; his dad grew up playing soccer in Mexico, and it has always been a part of his life.
“I learned to fall in love with the game,” Lozoya said. “It’s just like a beautiful game the way it’s played and the strategy and the hard work that’s put into mastering it. I just think it’s really cool.”
Lozoya has recently been playing right and left wings, which are defensive positions. As a senior, he is able to help the defensive line move as the game develops.
“I think like having that seniority, I’ve learned a lot about the game more so I know when to move, when to stay back,” Lozoya said. “I think I’m helpful to my line, my defensive line on when to push up, when to pull back, where to go. I can help guide them in a way from what I see. But really it’s a team effort.”
His coach recognizes him as a strong player and admires his qualities.
“On the field, he has no fear, [he is] a tremendous defender, not too many people can pass him,” head soccer coach Jorge Riveros said. “He has tremendous speed and a good vision on how to play football. Overall a wonderful young man… He’s a great teammate with his team and an example kid.”
Lozoya has a great work ethic and strives to keep his head and body in the game.
“I’d say he’s a team player,” goalie and junior Mason Murphy said. “He wants to do what’s best for the team and his heart is in the game so he puts everything out on the line every game whether it’s his body or his mind he’ll make sure he can do everything he can to make sure he succeeds.”
Gracie Larson, a friend of Lozoya, recalls a time when he cut himself on the field and rubbed dirt in the wound so he could keep playing. Lozoya is a very tough player and is not afraid to be physical.
“I think at least once a game he does a front-flip in an attempt to stop the play,” Murphy said. “He’ll just go out for a slide or get slide-tackled and you’ll see Alan in the air. I think he’s broken his ankle a few times and he’s got sores all over his legs.”
The hard work and sacrifice that Lozoya dedicates to his sport truly convey his personality.
“I’m going to miss him next year, he is the heart of the defense,” Riveros said. “To find another like him, I don’t know if I ever will.”
