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It is more than coordination and much more than genes. It is some extra sense - an athletic balance - that makes them stand out at an early age from the rest of the players. OC Family Magazine has chosen five among hundreds of local standouts who reflect the future in a number of sports. Remember these names. AARON CORP,18, OF VILLA PARK Palmer, Leinart, Booty...Corp? The recent legacy of USC quarterbacks has been unprecedented, with two of these bringing home the Heisman Trophy. Could there be a more elite quarterback training ground? Perhaps not, and Pete Carroll seems to believe he has found his next protégé in Orange County. He is Orange Lutheran's recent graduate Aaron Corp, the helmsman of the CIF Division II State Champions, who racked up staggering stats, awards and places among "Best" lists throughout the county, state and country this season. "Winning the State Championship was the highlight of my year. To work that hard for something that our whole team was striving for is a great sense of accomplishment," says Aaron. Aaron, who is listed at 6 feet 4 inches, 190 pounds, passed for 2,379 yards and had 21 touchdown passes, according to the O.C. Register. He also completed 68% of his passes and rushed for 1,197 yards. His junior year gpa was listed at 3.6. "It is a great honor to be chosen for the USC quarterback system. I am happy to be going there, and to be part of that legacy is incredible." "My coach Jim Kunau is one of the main reasons I am privileged to go to college on scholarship. He put out film to all of the programs and really advertised me well. My mom and dad were always by my side supporting me and providing me with advice," says Aaron. He doesn't know if he'll be redshirted next year but he says it's a possibility. Many coaches opt to further develop young talent by having them practice, mature and learn the system for a year while not compromising their four-year eligibility. This is especially valuable in a complex offensive system such as USC's. Athleticism, size, composure and intelligence are primary contributors to the most talented quarterbacks; Aaron Corp possesses these attributes and more. – By Susan Belknapp JEANETTE POHLEN,18, OF BREA Jeanette Pohlen has had one great year. Her accolades include being chosen for: McDonald's All-American Team, Women's Basketball Coaches All-American team, Parade Magazine All-American, second team, Gatorade Player of the Year, California, L.A. Times Girls' Player of the Year and a place on next year's Stanford team. She has also been invited to compete for the 2007 USA Basket-ball U19 World Championship Team at the USA Basketball Junior National Teams Trials in Colorado Springs. She accompli-shed all this while helping lead the Brea Olinda Lady-cats to 30 regular-season victories on their way to the Southern Section Division I-AA championships and the State Division II finals. Stanford, apparently as impressed by her 4.0 gpa as her exceptional basketball skills, offered her a scholarship. "It's so exciting - Stanford was one of my first choices," says Jeanette. This 6-foot guard is known for superlative scoring, rebounding, assisting and defense. Her phenomenal work ethic and "basketball I.Q." have earned her praise from coaches and scouts alike. "This year has brought so many incredible memories and experiences," says Jeanette. "In addition to our victories, our team got along great on and off the court. We had so much fun." - By Susan Belknapp LOGAN DOOLEY, 19, OF LAKE FOREST Often considered a leisurely pastime, the trampoline is also a competitive sport and 19-year-old trampolinist Logan Dooley is on pace to be the first Ameri-can man to compete in this event at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Don't even think about blinking when Logan shoots 20 to 30 feet in the air, then performs triple-twisting flips for over a minute. The El Toro High School graduate and Saddleback College student is one of the top four in the nation; he recently won the state title. "Winning my first gold medal in a national competition was probably the turning point for me," he says. For the next six months, Logan will endure intense training of seven hours a day, six days a week with U.S. Team Coach Dmitri Poliarush while preparing to compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. "Trampoline skills are very similar to diving, with each assigned a degree of difficulty (DD) value," he says. "A routine consists of 10 consecutive skills. My goal is to master all of the maximum DD skills to increase the total DD of my routine." After training for 12 years at World Elite Gymnastics in Rancho Santa Margarita, Logan continues his journey by working for a spot on the Olympic team while making history. Watch Logan on youtube.com. – By Ashley Eliot HANNA ZANZI, 14, OF WESTMINSTER She may sport pigtails, but don't be deceived. The under 5-foot Hanna Zanzi zooms from contests to commercials, beats out the boys and has us doing 360s wondering what she's doing next. The 14-year-old Marina High School student is skateboarding her way to fame and not letting anyone stop her. "She's really tiny and doesn't let anyone bother her," says Donna, the skateboarder's mother. "She knows how to take care of herself." The youngest of four, Hanna has been riding the ramps since she was 8 years old. A year later, her friends suggested she should compete in the All Girl Skate Jam in Florida. She entered the contest, went up against girls who were three times her age and won first place in the mini-ramp and street categories. Since then, she's been practicing five days a week and proving her strength. The driven teenager has also been featured in magazines, such as Transworld, Automatic and Concrete Wave, and is also making her mark in television. She does commercials from Bratz Dolls to Nickelodeon, as well as Converse Shoes and Vans Footwear ads. Even though she's imprinting herself into the media, it's her talent and passion for the feel of a Nine Star board beneath her heels that has watchers talking. Whether it's her preferred skate spot in Westminster or competing and winning first place at the All Girl Skate Jam, Vans Warped Tour or even an all boy mini-ramp competition, Hanna is dominating the skateboarding scene. "When I am the only girl competing with the boys, there's a little pressure," she says. "Of course, I want to be as good as them, if not better." Hanna is young, inspired, dedicated and has an impressive resume. "I'm the type of kid that has to be moving and doing something constantly, so this sport is perfect for me," she says. "I hope to one day compete in the X Games and Slam City Jam." DREW WEAVER, 15, OF ANAHEIM Drew Weaver loves to get air, whether it's while riding his snowboard above a snow-covered slope or during an aerial trick on his skateboard. His favorite vehicle, though, is his motorcycle. His dad and uncle, who both used to race, first took Drew to a dirt lot when he was 7 years old. Three years later, Drew started competing. Today, the 15-year-old competes in three or four national races and 20 local races each year. He's often spotted at Lake Elsinore Motocross Park where he practices several times each month. The park offers several tracks, from beginner to pro. "He rides the pro track and jumps every pro jump out there," says his friend and promoter Gale Webb. "He's just amazing." Drew, who usually places in the top three in his class, performs 80- to 100-foot double jumps with ease. His greatest accomplishment thus far, he says, was placing in the top 10 in his division in the 2006 Mammoth Motocross, the oldest continuous running motocross event in the nation. He competes again this year in the event, this time on a Honda CR 250 rather than a mini bike. Approximately 4,500 riders are expected to participate in this year's 10-day event, which is held in June. (Drew's results were not available at press time.) "I love motocross," he says. "(What I like most about the sport) is winning and being competitive." His competitiveness and talent have caught the attention of several sponsors. Drew has contracts with three racing sponsors and three skateboarding sponsors. Other companies help him as well though they do not technically sponsor him. Among his sponsors are ASV Invention, Thor and Cycle Gear. Drew's sponsorships serve as a testament to his commitment, talent and discipline as do his grades. A sophomore at Pacific Coast High School in Tustin, he earned straight As this year. His ultimate goal: to go pro. – By Sandy Bennett Where they are now: COURTNEY CONLOGUE, 14, OF SANTA ANA The surfing phenom continues to carve out quite a reputation for herself. Among her accolades, she was invited to participate last October in the ISA World Championship, which brings together 32 countries. The youn-gest surfer in the event, she placed fourth in the Open Women. She also took first place in the Southwest Open Wo-men for the third consecutive year, tying famed surfer Holly Beck for the most consecutive conference titles in the event's Division 3. Courtney, a sophomore at Sage Hill School in Newport Coast, was profiled in OC Family's February 2005 issue and was the cover girl on our July 2005 issue. ELLIOTT DOMANIC, 17, OF TUSTIN The senior standout of Foothill High School's lacrosse team led the Knights to the CIF-Southern Section championship. He scored six goals in an 11-10 win against previously unbeaten Palos Verdes High. Foothill ended the season at 20-2 with Coach Jon Fox. He was profiled in OC Family's May 2006 issue. |
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