Decorated CHS athletes move on to college careers

Every spring Claremont High School announces the senior athletes who have received scholarships. And there’s no doubt this is a banner year with 22 students heading into college competition.

Four-year distance running phenom, Annie Boos, is heading off to UC Berkeley where she will be on both the track and cross-country teams. Boos has set numerous records at CHS and will undoubtedly continue to get faster at Cal.

Boos is not alone among Claremont distance runners who received scholarships this year—Janelle Baeskens will attend Wartburg College and Jax Heckers, California State University San Marcos. Boos, Baeskens and Heckers were the triple threat that helped Claremont win league titles in track, and were key to the girls success in cross country, which Claremont has dominated recently.

Kyle Scalmanini, who played varsity basketball all four years and was a consistent top scorer, got a full scholarship to Westmont College. Scalmanini proved his skill as an all around athlete this year, joining the baseball team where he was consistently strong at the plate.

Multi-sport star athlete Duy Tran-Sampson is heading to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he will play football. Tran-Sampson has been the key to Claremont’s offense at running back, racking up some impressive stats, even as the team had a rough year. He was also a sprinter on the track team that won the league title this year.

Owen Bishop is one of three athletes who will attend an Ivy League institution, joining the cross-country and track teams at Columbia University. Bishop is the reining California State cross-country champion.

Bishop’s teammate, and frequent running partner, Ryan Renken is also headed to the Ivy League, where he will compete for University of Pennsylvania. Renken recently won the 1600-meter race at the CIF Southern Section Masters meet and was a star on the Pack’s cross country team. He plans to study business at Penn.

The last of the Pack’s Ivy League bound athletes is water polo star Bruno Snow, who will attend Harvard University in the fall. Snow was the top scorer for Claremont during the past several years and was part of the team that won the CIF title in 2014.

Katrina Strash, who was a team captain of the swim team for her senior year will attend the University of Virginia. Strash, who excelled in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle during her four years, will actually be competing in rowing at Virginia. Strash had offers to compete as a swimmer, but because she is six feet tall with a 72-inch wingspan rowing teams were interested as well.

Twins Harrison and Hunter Bojalad were essential to the Claremont boys tennis Palomares League title, playing doubles, though not with each other. They will attend different colleges, albeit both here in southern California—Harrison at Chapman University and Hunter at Occidental College. Number one seed singles player Christian Settles is heading off to Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Katelyn Kempton is heading to sunny San Diego State University to play on the softball team. Playing shortstop, Kempton was key to the Pack’s defense and was a solid hitter as well. She plans to study kinesiology.

Kaitlyn Weaver, Sophia Reyes and Lexi Deahl helped the Claremont girls soccer team win a Palomares League title and ultimately reach the CIF Southern Section finals this year. A talented defensive player, Weaver will attend California Lutheran University. Deahl, who was a reliable scorer this year, is headed to the Pacific Northwest where she will attend Evergreen State University. Reyes will attend California Baptist University.

Tyler Risher will play basketball for George Fox University in Oregon. Risher, who played center, led the charge this season as the Pack earned a second place finish in league. Teammate Davis Haley, who played guard and forward for Claremont, is staying close to home and is attending Whittier College.

Girls volleyball co-captains Simone Bliss and Nicole Omwanghe, provided the talent and leadership that the team needed to win a Palomares league title, making it all the way to the regional semifinal game in the CIF Southern Section tournament. Bliss, who also competed in track, is headed to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland. Omwanghe will attend UC Santa Barbara.

Jake Gentry played both baseball and football for the Pack, and will be joining the baseball team at Azusa Pacific University, where he will study communication. Teammate Tyler Jaques was a solid pitcher for the Pack this year and will attend Lawrence University in Wisconsin this fall.

—Steven Felschundneff

steven@claremont-courier.com

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