By Tom Ganser
Correspondent
On April 5, members of the Whitewater Rotary Club were charmed by three Whitewater High School athletes whose accomplishments during the recent winter sports season was one for their personal record book as well as Whitewater High School.
“This past winter sports season was actually a very historic season” Whitewater Unified School District Administrator and Rotarian Eric Runez said in introducing Benny Liang, Kelly O’Hara and Myriama Smsith Traore. He said it was the first time in the history of Whitewater High School that three Whippet athletes were selected as athletes of the year in their conference: Liang, boys swim athlete of the year and O’Hara, gymnastics athlete of the year for the Southern Lakes Conference; and Smith Traore, girls basketball athlete of the year for the Rock Valley Conference.
Runez said he had invited them to the meeting to share their experiences “and to show them off.”
“Playing basketball for Whitewater High School is a lot more than just chasing the gold ball (state championship trophy). Basketball has impacted me in many important ways, but basketball doesn’t define me and that’s not who I am,” Smith Traore, a junior at WHS, said.
However, she said, she has learned many lessons through basketball that have helped shape who she is.
“I’ve learned to be patient and wait for the right shot or the right pass. I’ve learned about time management because having hours of homework and practice in one night can be tricky. I’ve learned to pretend seeing my face on the front of a newspaper doesn’t embarrass me. I’ve learned how hard work and perseverance pay off. And I’ve learned how to handle a broken heart and put my whole art into the things I love. And most important, I’ve learned how to be a teammate,” she said.
“Whether they’re spectators, coaches or teammates I’ve been connected to some people who have supported me not only during games but though the ups and downs of life” Smith-Traore added.
Liang, a senior, spoke with pride about being a member of an “All American Scholar” team requiring Grade Point Averages above 3.5, and said that was “a goal that we were working toward all season.”
He said his best moment as a swimmer was during his junior year when the 200-yard medley team he was part of won the race at state with the fifth fastest time in history.
“What I love about this sport is that I think there are always things that I can improve on and I just love working toward improve myself,” Liang said.
“The thing that I’ve appreciated the most about my time at Whitewater High School are my coaches who always take a lot of time to help me be the best that I can be,” he added.
O’Hara said she’s been in gymnastics since the age of 3 and continued all the way through her high school career.
“I really enjoy the sport and encourage others to go out for it because it teaching you lifelong skills, time management, organization and teamwork,” O’Hara, who is also a member of the WHS track team, said.
Asked about their plans following graduation, Liang said he is interested in studying biology or communication, Smith-Traore’s goal is to pursue a degree in teaching high school English while O’Hara has yet to decide on a field of study.
