Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 5, 2011

17

SPORTS

 Mountain Views News Saturday, February 5, 2011 

LA SALLE’S SAMANTHA WHITEHEAD SIGNS WITH ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY Story and Photo by John Blackstock

Pasadena, CA - La Salle High School 
senior, Samantha Whitehead has signed a 
National Letter of Intent to attend St. John’s 
University in New York on an athletic 
scholarship. Samantha, a varsity starter as 
a freshman, will earn four varsity letters in 
soccer. 

After an enjoyable, yet unofficial tour of 
the St. John’s campus last spring, Samantha 
decided she would like to play soccer there. 
And on her 17th birthday, St. John’s decided 
it was a good idea too. “I’m looking forward 
to the new experiences, new adventures, 
new weather and New York City. Plus, it 
will be great to play D1 soccer in the Big East 
conference at such a great academic school. 
(St. John’s men and women’s soccer teams 
are ranked in the top 10 academically in the 
nation). It is a beautiful campus. It has it 
all!” she exclaimed. “St. John’s seemed like a 
bigger ‘La Salle’,” Samantha said. “La Salle’s 
motto; Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve is in 
keeping with St. John’s very active role in 
student community service.” 

Whitehead has been 
recruited to play left 
defender for the Red 
Storm, but has been 
used as a left mid-
fielder and forward 
because of her speed 
and outstanding 
shooting ability at La 
Salle. “She has great 
ball handling skills 
and a very accurate 
strong shot, especially 
from the left side. And 
I needed a real team 
leader up front,” said 
Lancer head coach 
Edgar Manvelyan. 
“We just needed her 
up there and it’s paid 
off.” Whitehead leads 
the team in scoring 
and assists and has 
two hat-tricks (three-
goals in one game) 
during her four years 
as a Lancer. “Our 
season’s not over yet. She may get one 
more,” said Manvelyan. 

Even though Whitehead is small, (5’2” and 
under 120 pounds), she is extremely fast 
and highly skilled. “I’m glad the coaches at 
St. John’s were able to see past my size and 
offered me a scholarship based on skill and 
character rather than pounds,” she said. 
“I really know the game and I think they 
could see that, in this case, size is not all that 
matters.” 

“I love La Salle,” said the three-time soccer 
All League member in a recent interview. 
“La Salle prepared me academically and 
athletically to reach my goal to play soccer 
at a major university on the east coast. Every 
one has always been so supportive,” she 
said. But it was not an easy road to travel. 
“I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 
after my first day of summer camp practice 
for La Salle in 2008. It was difficult for a 
young person to deal with such a seemingly 
devastating setback. But, Samantha believes 
she has the disease under 

control. She would occasionally miss 
some practices and sit for more minutes 
than she wanted in a few games, but all 
her teammates understood her situation. 
“The support from my teammates was 
really great. It helped a lot. I prick my 
finger to check blood sugars 3,916 times 
a year, but from the beginning, I refused 
to let it (diabetes) keep me from my 
dreams.” 

After this season, Whitehead will continue 
playing soccer with her club team, LAFC 
Cosmos, to prepare for her move to New 
York, and the Red Storm at St. John’s. Offers 
from other west coast schools included UC 
Riverside and California State University at 
Fullerton, but Whitehead preferred to play 
on the east coast. She laughed as she said, 
“But I hope it get’s a bit warmer!”


Samantha Whitehead in action against St. Joseph High School last evening.

La Salle senior, Samantha Whitehead, prepares to sign her National 
Letter of Intent, accepting an athletic scholarship for soccer to St. John's 
University in New York. She is seated with her parents, Gerald and Melody, 
while La Salle's Athletic Director, John Matheus, left, and Lancer 
Soccer Head Coach, Edgar Manvelyn, stand behind her.

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2011 Adult Men’s Winter Basketball League!

The City of Arcadia Recreation and Community Services Department is offering an Adult Men’s 
Basketball League in 2011. Get in shape and sharpen your skills at the same time! Teams are divided 
into leagues based on their skill level and play 10 games in the brand new Dana Gym, located at 1401 
S. First Avenue, Arcadia. The fee for adult basketball is $475.00 per team (due upon registration), 
and includes officials, scorekeepers and awards. A separate $40 forfeit fee is also due at the time of 
registration. Teams will be accepted into the league on a first-come, first-serve basis. Just go on-line 
to the City of Arcadia’s website: www.ci.arcadia.ca.us, to download the registration form or stop by 
the office, 375 Campus Drive in Arcadia. For more information please call 626.574.5113!


SPRING BASEBALL 2011


Opening Day for Spring Baseball is right around the 
corner. Join us on Saturday, February 26th at 8:00 AM in 
Memorial Park for our Opening Day Parade. All players 
assemble at Memorial Park ride down Sierra Madre 
Boulevard, Parade-style, banners, whistles and all, to 
the Opening Ceremonies at Heasley Field. Ceremonies 
include the parade, diner opening, and good carnival fun.

For additional information on Sierra Madre Little League, please see our website: www.
smll.org.

Contact information or questions: Steve Tanner, 626-355-1249, stanner@arguscg.com or 
Brenda Wendt, 626-355-6027, brendaawendt@aol.com. 


HOW TO CHIP THE GOLF BALL WITH PRECISION 

If you want to improve your short game you have to learn how to chip the golf ball with solid contact. 
I am going to explain to you exactly how to just that. The address position for chipping the golf 
ball has three components. Today I am going to tell what they are and how to apply them.

#1. Ball position is critical for consistent impact. It has to be in the middle to middle back of your 
stance. If it is too far forward you will hit up on it and top the ball or hit it thin most of the time. 
The other reason you want it in the middle to middle back of your stance is so the clubhead will approach 
the ball on a steep angle.

#2. The second part is to make sure you have 75% of your weight on your left foot at address. Once 
you place the weight on your left side, leave it there during the backswing and downswing. If you 
stay put during the swing the clubhead will swing steep into the back of the golf ball and it will have 
the same flight and roll every time.

#3. After you have placed the ball in the center of your stance and you leaned over to the left with 
75% of your weight on your left leg, it is time now to move the handle over to your left side. Remember 
when you address the golf ball the handle of the club is in the center of your body. When 
you moved your weight over to the left, the center of your body is now on your left side. That is why 
YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE HANDLE OVER TO THE CENTER OF YOUR BODY.

When you move the handle over to your left leg it will allow the club to swing UP in the backswing 
and DOWN in the downswing, thus creating a steep and consistent impact. 

If you follow these steps you will chip the golf ball better than ever.


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