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Saturday
March 20, 2010 Since 1922 |
Olson selected to 2005 Futures team
By Michael Pineda
Baytown Sun Published June 17, 2005 BAYTOWN—One of the greatest honors that can be given to an athlete is the chance to represent his or her country. Such an honor was bestowed recently on Amy Olsen, a 13-year old student at Cedar Bayou Junior High.
Olsen, who plays water polo for the Dirty Bay Buccaneers, was named to the USA Women’s 2005 Futures Training Team. Olsen and Taylor Barnett of Houston were the two representatives out of the Southwest zone named to the team, which is comprised mainly of Californians. The team is made up of girls 14-years-old and under.
“There is a tremendous gulf in the difference in ability with the athletes that play internationally,” said Sterling coach Mac McDonald. “Even here in our country there is a big gulf between the kids that play out in California, where the sport is dominant, as opposed to us who play out here in the hinterlands.
“When you represent your country, when you play with USA on your uniform and you’re playing against people from other countries, we’re proud of you for getting to that level. Now we want to find out what she can do at that level.”
Olsen went to Long Island, New York to try out for the national team as a member of the Southwest zone team, one of 11 zones in the United States for women’s water polo.
“It was so much harder,” said Olsen. “They (players) are so much bigger and a lot stronger.”
After the cut to 48, Olsen became a little more comfortable. “When we dropped to 48, we were all at the same level,” she said.
The next cut was to 40, which was the number that would make up the team. Olsen made the cut and became a member of Team USA.
“I played my best there,” said Olsen. “I played better there than anywhere else because I wanted it so badly.
“I was very thankful for making it to the top 48. Even if I would not have made it to the top 40 I would have been thankful. Now I know what to expect from now on from all the girls from California.”
In Baytown, Olsen plays for the 14-and-under team, the 16-and-under team and the 18-and-under team. Her experience playing against older girls, as well as playing in tournaments across the United States, was a key part of her ability to make the team. Despite being younger and smaller than most of the girls she faces, she is still able to hold her own.”
“She (Olsen) is definitely developed for her age,” said Shelby Slay, a former All-American at Sterling and a member of the Arizona State women’s water polo team. “She has skills, just natural skills that most girls her age don’t have. She’s playing at a higher level than most girls her age.”
Olsen began to play water polo three years ago. Prior to that, she swam for the Buccaneers swim team.
“It was scary,” said Olsen. “But when I began to get used to it, it was fun. I got really tired. Swimming is hard enough, but then you have all this extra stuff, like treading water, passing the ball and getting to your position faster.”
Olsen still competes in swimming, which helps her to build speed in the pool. Her favorite events are the breaststroke, freestyle and individual medley. Olsen also plays volleyball and basketball for Cedar Bayou Junior High, but her first love is water polo, a sport she hopes to win a state championship in at Sterling. Olsen will have plenty of help attempting that, as both her and McDonald say that there is plenty of talent.
“There are some good girls still here from my team that didn’t get to go to the tryouts,” said Olsen.
As for Olsen’s future, the sky is the limit. McDonald says that Sterling could use her next year, but will have to wait one more year until she becomes a freshman. And when she gets to high school, she has the potential to make a big difference.
“By the time she gets here she will already have international experience,” McDonald said. “And she is on target to be one of the best that we’ve had here — and we’ve had some good ones.”
Baytown Sun Published June 17, 2005 BAYTOWN—One of the greatest honors that can be given to an athlete is the chance to represent his or her country. Such an honor was bestowed recently on Amy Olsen, a 13-year old student at Cedar Bayou Junior High.
Olsen, who plays water polo for the Dirty Bay Buccaneers, was named to the USA Women’s 2005 Futures Training Team. Olsen and Taylor Barnett of Houston were the two representatives out of the Southwest zone named to the team, which is comprised mainly of Californians. The team is made up of girls 14-years-old and under.
“There is a tremendous gulf in the difference in ability with the athletes that play internationally,” said Sterling coach Mac McDonald. “Even here in our country there is a big gulf between the kids that play out in California, where the sport is dominant, as opposed to us who play out here in the hinterlands.
“When you represent your country, when you play with USA on your uniform and you’re playing against people from other countries, we’re proud of you for getting to that level. Now we want to find out what she can do at that level.”
Olsen went to Long Island, New York to try out for the national team as a member of the Southwest zone team, one of 11 zones in the United States for women’s water polo.
“It was so much harder,” said Olsen. “They (players) are so much bigger and a lot stronger.”
After the cut to 48, Olsen became a little more comfortable. “When we dropped to 48, we were all at the same level,” she said.
The next cut was to 40, which was the number that would make up the team. Olsen made the cut and became a member of Team USA.
“I played my best there,” said Olsen. “I played better there than anywhere else because I wanted it so badly.
“I was very thankful for making it to the top 48. Even if I would not have made it to the top 40 I would have been thankful. Now I know what to expect from now on from all the girls from California.”
In Baytown, Olsen plays for the 14-and-under team, the 16-and-under team and the 18-and-under team. Her experience playing against older girls, as well as playing in tournaments across the United States, was a key part of her ability to make the team. Despite being younger and smaller than most of the girls she faces, she is still able to hold her own.”
“She (Olsen) is definitely developed for her age,” said Shelby Slay, a former All-American at Sterling and a member of the Arizona State women’s water polo team. “She has skills, just natural skills that most girls her age don’t have. She’s playing at a higher level than most girls her age.”
Olsen began to play water polo three years ago. Prior to that, she swam for the Buccaneers swim team.
“It was scary,” said Olsen. “But when I began to get used to it, it was fun. I got really tired. Swimming is hard enough, but then you have all this extra stuff, like treading water, passing the ball and getting to your position faster.”
Olsen still competes in swimming, which helps her to build speed in the pool. Her favorite events are the breaststroke, freestyle and individual medley. Olsen also plays volleyball and basketball for Cedar Bayou Junior High, but her first love is water polo, a sport she hopes to win a state championship in at Sterling. Olsen will have plenty of help attempting that, as both her and McDonald say that there is plenty of talent.
“There are some good girls still here from my team that didn’t get to go to the tryouts,” said Olsen.
As for Olsen’s future, the sky is the limit. McDonald says that Sterling could use her next year, but will have to wait one more year until she becomes a freshman. And when she gets to high school, she has the potential to make a big difference.
“By the time she gets here she will already have international experience,” McDonald said. “And she is on target to be one of the best that we’ve had here — and we’ve had some good ones.”