Cameron Felsher
Written by Allison Lipschitz – Staff Writer
Hoping to fit in with his older sisters, sophomore Cameron Felsher traded in his skis for a snowboard at the age of 10. As his skill level and passion for the sport grew, Felsher joined the Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team with which he competes all over the nation in the United States of America Snowboarding Association.
As a versatile snowboarder, Felsher specializes in five different disciplines including slopestyle, half pipe, boardercross, slalom and giant slalom. Due to his diverse abilities, Felsher was able to win third place overall in the last USASA national competition at Cooper Mountain in Colorado. Even though achieving something of this caliber takes a large amount of hard work and dedication, there is nothing else Felsher would rather do.
“I enjoy snowboarding because you are free to do whatever you please,” said Felsher. “You can ride rails and half pipes and slide along powder or execute an infinite amount of jumps. The possibilities are endless. I also love winter and being in the mountains.”
Through his devotion to snowboarding, Felsher has been able to master some seemingly impossible tricks, like a back-side 540 jump in which he lands blindly. This trick, according to Felsher, feels great when it is executed correctly. Even though snowboarding may look easy on television, Felsher’s previously stitched face, a testament to his experimenting with some difficult maneuvers, suggests a different story. Throughout the years, Felsher has endured the pain that comes with mastering snowboarding on his inspiring climb to the big leagues.
With role models such as Mark McMorris, Sage Kotsenburg, Travis Rice and two-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, Felsher holds aspirations of participating in the X Games and the Olympics on his way to becoming a professional snowboarder. Utilizing this motivation, Felsher practices painstakingly, hitting the slopes every weekend and in all his spare time. Having natural talent as well as a strong inclination for success, Felsher is sure to be seen shredding down mountains for the prestigious Olympic gold medal.
Sarah Chamberlin
Written by Daria Gershkovitch – Staff Writer
While other current juniors diligently work on their college applications, junior Sarah Chamberlin is readying herself for her journey to †he United States Military Academy West Point on behalf of her full soccer scholarship. Chamberlin committed to the school at the beginning of 2014.
“I decided this year that I wanted to go to West Point,” said Chamberlin. “I knew I wanted to take a different path than everybody else.”
Chamberlin spent her entire life playing soccer. She first experienced the joy of playing soccer at the age of four and joined Division One club soccer when she was merely eight years old. Chamberlin plays the grueling position of holding center midfielder; her position is roughly divided between attacking and defending the ball. But blood, sweat and tears are sacrifices Chamberlin is willing to give up for her sheer love of the game. Over the years, soccer has fed Chamberlin’s competitive spirit and has taught her many life lessons. From private sessions to countless hours of practicing at Pierce College, she has learned that nothing comes easy and anything she must work hard for is ultimately priceless.
“I just want to savor all the years I have left with soccer,” said Chamberlin. “It has taught me how to accept the losses, rejoice the wins, take instructions and how to be disciplined.”
West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy and has a Division One soccer program. During soccer season, the National Collegiate Athletic Association permits 20 hours of practice. Whether their workouts entail ball work or weight room, Chamberlin will be expected to attend practice daily. Students are treated as cadets and are graded on three different topics: academics, physical and military. Tuition for all cadets is fully paid for, in exchange for an active five-year service obligation upon graduation.
After completing four years at West Point, Chamberlin plans on proceeding onto medical school. The army will pay for her tuition, housing and car in addition to a salary. She hopes to be a neuroscience doctor at an army hospital.
