Athlete of the Month
By Sydney Teves
By Sydney Teves
The cross country team had big accomplishments this season. A big contributor to their success was Bella Peretti, 12.
Peretti joined the team in her freshman year as a way to stay in shape for soccer. She had never particularly enjoyed running but after being on the team for a while, she realized that she actually liked it and quit soccer.
This year, as a senior on the team, she feels that she’s stepped up into the leadership role and helps her teammates.
“I would say I’m definitely more of a leader since I’m a senior and I love helping the younger girls on the team and I love just talking to everyone,” said Peretti.
As one of the 14 athletes at BVALs, she and the six other girls came in second. At CCS, Peretti won the Division II girls race with the fastest time for all the girls divisions, qualifying her for states.
“I’m not sure we ever had an athlete win the CCS Championship Race and have the fastest time out of all five divisions as Bella Peretti did this year,” said Klemencic.
At CIF states, Peretti got tenth place out of 189 other racers in the individual race and for the combined girls times, she got thirty-fifth place out of 977 total individual girl competitors.
“Pushing through the fatigue and pain to finish her race and never giving up even if she falls behind or has other challenges,” said Klemencic. “She showed she is one of the top high school female cross country runners in the state.”
After she graduates, Peretti will be running track and cross country for San Diego State University.
Peretti joined the team in her freshman year as a way to stay in shape for soccer. She had never particularly enjoyed running but after being on the team for a while, she realized that she actually liked it and quit soccer.
This year, as a senior on the team, she feels that she’s stepped up into the leadership role and helps her teammates.
“I would say I’m definitely more of a leader since I’m a senior and I love helping the younger girls on the team and I love just talking to everyone,” said Peretti.
As one of the 14 athletes at BVALs, she and the six other girls came in second. At CCS, Peretti won the Division II girls race with the fastest time for all the girls divisions, qualifying her for states.
“I’m not sure we ever had an athlete win the CCS Championship Race and have the fastest time out of all five divisions as Bella Peretti did this year,” said Klemencic.
At CIF states, Peretti got tenth place out of 189 other racers in the individual race and for the combined girls times, she got thirty-fifth place out of 977 total individual girl competitors.
“Pushing through the fatigue and pain to finish her race and never giving up even if she falls behind or has other challenges,” said Klemencic. “She showed she is one of the top high school female cross country runners in the state.”
After she graduates, Peretti will be running track and cross country for San Diego State University.